I can't believe a whole month has gone by since my last post! I apologize for saying that I was going to write every week and then saying I was going to only write a weekly report of what we've been up to instead of one by topic. Sometimes too much happens all at once that there is no way to keep up. It will make for a special meeting when we get to see each other again and then you can hear all the details of why God called us to Camiguin Island.

     A few weeks ago, I posted on Facebook about Stacie's health. One x-ray was inconclusive as to whether she had tuberculosis. It was determined that the two spots on her right lung were from the pneumonia that she was getting over. We started to get a little nervous after we went to the hospital on the mainland. They took another x-ray and asked her if she was a smoker or if she is an asthmatic. Both answers were “no” but the possibility of TB still lingered. One reason that made us feel a little better is that the doctor said that we have only been here 3 months. One reason that made us feel a little nervous again was that TB is VERY common in the Philippines. So, there we were again on the roller coaster heading to the doc's. The new x-rays showed her lung condition improving and the two spots almost completely healed. Praise the Lord!

     That same week I, too, entered the hospital for a checkup. I had been suffering from a very gross, painful infection from athlete's foot. I didn't know at the time because I've had athlete's feet before and after a little spray it was back to normal. A few days had passed since the initial itching and soon my toes were starting to blister and then bleed. (Sorry, I was supposed to put this warning at the beginning of the blog so that you would have time to put the PB&J down.) Anyway, it was taking a long time and showing no signs of healing. I started to get a sore spot on the top of my left foot and then a shooting pain up my leg. All through this, I was thinking of this year's Intake motto that we had put on our missionary t-shirts: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring Good News.”-Romans 10:15

     It was anything but beautiful. Then, I started to think of how Jesus struggled for many steps uphill with a gigantic cross on His back—with my sins and yours and the whole world's! I remember wondering on Good Friday how painful that had to be. He had His entire body scourged from head to toe and that was before having to carry the cross. I had a bunch of time to think of how much of a wimp I am and how ungrateful I am for not meditating on His passion as often. Every day is truly a priceless gift.

     I finally got some antibiotics and am able to walk. It was a good lesson for me to remember the Father's love for me. This Holy Trinity Sunday we read John 3:16. He loved me SO much that He gave His only Son so that I may live forever! Praise the Lord!

Feast of The Holy Trinity

     This is also a good time to wish all the fathers out there a Happy Belated Father's Day! My life is truly more blessed as a father. I thank God for all of my children and for all of their love for me. I now have more time with them doing what I was meant to do-- “Go out into the whole world and preach the Gospel.”

*****Praise Reports*****

     We just found out that Stacie and I will be teaching a Values class for the 2nd and 3rd year high school kids. I will be teaching on Tuesdays at 7:30-8:30am and Fridays at 3:30-4:30pm. Stacie will teach on Tuesdays from 1:30-2:30pm. This is one answer we have been waiting to hear that can help our mssion here.

     Another awesome report is from a woman that we met when we first arrived here in March. She is the mother of the child who had Dengue fever and was healed the very next day after we visited and laid our hands on him. Ate Arlen visited us today and was telling us of dealing with their hardships with a smile and with her faith. All the time I was thinking of the book “Happy Are You Poor” and how she could have been on the cover. I don't want to go into too much detail because Stacie will post about her soon. During Ate Arlen's talk, she invited us to attend one of her visits up into the mountains. To make a long story short, I plan on taking a few trips up into the mountains more frequently as there is a huge need of spreading the message of hope to the forgotten ones. Please pray that I can make regular trips and that God can bless the people there with much needed healthy crops.

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     That's all I have this week. So much going on now that I am “back on my feet”. Please keep checking back and know there will be more to pray for with the next post—hopefully back to weekly, or at least bi-weekly reports. Ang Dios manalangin kanimo! (May God bless you!)