Happy New Year!

It is finally finished! Yea!

One down and 2 to go!

Please be in prayer for my partners. They still need to build their houses, and we hope to move in by May. As you see this is quite the challenge, but we know that God is the God of the impossible. Please join us in praying for people willing and able to come help build. We would love to have skilled, unskilled...it doesn't really matter. People who would like to help is all we are praying for.

Oh, and Happy New Year!! :-) 

Shaking things up

With all the attention that the Mayon volcano is getting I've gotten a few concerned emails. Fear not friends, Mayon is very far away. But that is not to say we don't have some fun things up north. Like last night, for instance.

Have you ever had one of those dreams where it seemed so real, then you realize that it is real? For instance, you dream the room is shaking and then you wake up to realize that, yes, the room is shaking. So disorienting!

The fun never stops around here, I guess. :)

shaking things up

AWOL

Dear Friends,

Thank you all so much for your prayers and encouragement. We are the Body of Christ and cannot function independently. I thank God for each and every one of you.

Lets lift one another up in prayer... daily.

3 year anniversary!

Can you believe that is has been 3 years already!! Granted 6 months of that was spent at home, but I think it still counts. :-)

To celebrate 3 years here in the Philippines, my partners and I are heading into the village for a week long visit. Okay, not really to celebrate but its kinda cool to look back. 3 years ago I was apartment hunting in Manila and couldn't speak a word of Tagalog. Now, I'm trying to build a house and can't speak a word of Ga'Dang! So much the same, yet so different!

I appreciate all your prayers, they are greatly needed!

Dinner Time!!

Here is a little video (no sound) for those of you who like the odd and unusual. If you don't like gross, don't watch.

Tribal house

Somehow the pictures got reversed. Either way, here is the latest progress on my little tribal house. 

If you think like me, the answer is "No" they did not leave gaps in the roof, those are skylights. 

Anyone ever try ordering construction material they aren't familiar with in a different language? I'm learning ALL SORTS of things I never knew before about construction and Tagalog.  

Hmmm, I'm not sure what the point of this picture is (I didn't take it) but I'm sure all the construction people do. 

Hard Hats? Steeltoe work boots? Gloves? Safety harness? Anyone??

Praise God that everyone working has been very safe and pray for continued safety. I think these 2 guys' names are Danny and Fernando, hopefully I'll be forgiven for not being sure.

My Rooftop Penthouse

After a couple of weeks we've finally gotten just about everything hooked up, hung up, stored, arranged and organized! We're now all moved up to our new "base of operations" :) From this little town we can get into the tribal village within just a few short hours. Hopefully, we can begin building more relationships with the Ga'Dang people as our houses are being built.

Life in small-town Philippines is quite different than Manila. Who knew that drilling holes in concrete is a must-have skill? Or that going to a hardware store is an adventure in guessing the "code-word" for objects. Asking for a caulking gun gets you nowhere but asking for a SEALANT gun gets instant recognition. Go figure. 

(Yes, Dad, you did teach me well, I drilled and hung everything myself....although I must say drilling into concrete looked WAY easier than reality)   ;-)

Somehow, the dog thought HE was the focus of everything.

Progress!

Erik and Chuck just got back from yet another trip up to the village. This time they were delivering supplies, checking on the progress and seeing how Peter was holding up. While they were in the village a typhoon went through the area! So the itty bitty stream that is usually calf deep when hiking out, was chest deep. But on the upside they got to see how well my house stood up to the typhoon. :) Granted, typhoons aren't really conducive to house building or helping wood to dry in nice straight planks!

Here's the latest pics

Everyone staying inside, hopefully nice and dry!

Pics from the last trip

Kyle's ride out of the village, along with all our junk. :-)

Kyle made some really good friends during his trip

No cranes to be had here, all done by hand!! Amazingly, no one got hurt or smashed a finger!!

They were a bit dirty and sweaty by the end of the day. As you can see, they always had an audience!

Cuties aren't they?

Its never too full for one more!

A few girls from Kyle's fan club. :-)

Family traveling at its best!

A different perspective

Some of you may know that my Dad was able to come spend a few weeks here with me to help build my little tribal house. I thought I would let him share his thoughts.

"I will extol the Lord at all times, His praise will always be in my lips, my soul will boast in the LORD."

This psalm has been much on my mind over the last month. I cannot begin to tell you all the things that the Lord has done to allow me to make this trip; also for all the many answers to your prayers, indeed the Lord was at work.

I will say it was the experience of my life, to spend 2 weeks in a remote tribe helping Christina build her house. Although I have always loved and appreciated missionaries, my appreciation for their dedication and sacrifice was awakened to the utmost.

A 600 mile trip with supplies and building materials that would have taken 11 hours in the US, took 4 days and 4 loading and unloading of all materials from van to van or into a guesthouse or a hotel room for the night, spending an extra night because there was no vehicle to hire, the final leg of the journey took the use of the vehicle winch 4 times to get out of the mud...and that was only the beginning.

To see the spiritual need of the Ga'Dang people up close will change your life, there is so much sadness, yet they are a very friendly people who want this team to be there. Though they are friendly, there are still dangers, there are many pressures, there is great difficulty with language and cultural barriers.

Of this team it is true, "They are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed, perplexed but not in despair.....all that they endure they do", that the grace that is reaching more and more people will cause thanksgiving to rebound to the Glory of God.

I commend to you with all my heart, that these servants, Christina, Chuck and Shannon, Erik and Dana (and their children) are worthy of you daily prayers and support.

Please pray also for a wonderful Filipino believer, Peter, who is the construction foreman, and even more, an invaluable friend who helps them to navigate through so many cultural, language and labor difficulties.

Let us partner with these in the ministry,

Stephen Canapp

Tough trip

We all know Murphy's Law and are all familiar with the concept that things are never what they seem. So, Why does it still surprise us when things crop up that change our plans?

This last trip in was full of surprises and new challenges. Suffice to say, we learned more about culture and how that affects house arrangements and the use of land. We are incredibly thankful for Peter (an Ilokano believer) who was a huge help to the guys. With Peter there they were able to clear up miscommunication and to satisfactorily come to new agreements regarding housing and land.

Russ and Peter

            The guys hiked while their stuff got brought in by these carabao (water buffalo) 

Please be praying as Peter left on Friday to buy/ship lots of building materials into the tribe. Erik, Dad and myself will be heading up later this week to spend 2 weeks there working on my new house. 

Headed out

Yesterday Chuck, Erik, Russ and Peter started the 3 day trip to the village. Once they get there they hope to get quite a lot accomplished before they need to head back out to meet with a translator friend here in Manila.

I think its as packed as its going to get

Please be praying along with us for:

Safety as they travel

Good meetings with the Ga'Dang people to clarify certain details

That they would be able to get a good start on things there before needing to head back.

That good relationships would begin to grow from this early time

And always, that they would be good testimony even without being able to really communicate with the people.

Shovels, rice and cooking pots

What do you buy to feed 3 men for 2 1/2 weeks with no fridge? Also take into account that they will be working on building a house so a 5 course culinary work of art is pretty much never going to happen. So something simple, quick and can be kept for long periods outside of a fridge.

It looks like a lot of canned food for them! Tuna, corned beef, mackerel, ramen noodles, oatmeal and a lot of rice! Lots and lots of rice. 

So I have been on a shopping expedition for the last week or so, buying shovels, food, saws, cooking pots, mattresses, mosquito nets. Not to mention pricing really exciting things (sarcasm doesn't translate well in typing) like roofing, cement, PVC pipes and obscure tools that I'm not quite sure what they're used for. But I'm sure I'll find out! :-)

So all in all, its been exciting.... and more fun to come!

Check this out

Jonathan and Heidi are very gracious friends and fellow missionaries here in the Philippines. When you live in another culture you can view things critically or positively; the whole half full or half empty mentality. Jonathan and Heidi see the best even in hard circumstances. 

I can completely empathize with their latest blog and thought you all would like to see a glimpse of life here.

So check it out and see a few examples of ways to travel. :-)

ps. blogger is not letting me format things right now so please bear with me.

Goodbye

Around Christmas time 15 1/2 years ago she came to live with us. She was so small at 3 months old that she fell asleep in my lap on the way home. Her name was Sheba but I re-named her Guess and she was my 13th birthday present. She was my constant companion, hiking buddy, protector and sympathetic listener. With Guess at my side I was free to wander the woods knowing no harm could come to us, and that we could always find our way home.

Some people may laugh and dismiss that she was just a dog, but she was loved very much and is missed everyday. 

Arrived safe and sound

Would you believe that after switching planes a million times and traveling a zillion miles for three months that my luggage actually arrived when I did?! Ok maybe that's a bit of exaggeration but my luggage did indeed show up at the same time and place as myself so that's awesome.

This is  quick picture Jodi and I took right before leaving for BWI.

As you can see the difference is pretty crazy. I left snow and 30 degree weather for 80-something degree weather. 

I'll post more as I get settled in, and cooled off. :-)

Some fun times

I finally got back pictures from our Fall ride. Good times with good friends. A lot of good memories to take back with me.

Since the camping/ride took place over the Halloween weekend the horses couldn't escape of few of the pranksters. TPing horses is always good fun, (for someone) but I don't think she is amused.

12 Days to go!!

  Wednesday I got all my boxes packed and shipped. Forex is such a great company! One flat rate per box, no weight limit and all your customs and tax are included. How great is that? 

My partners have been doing all the research on what generator is best. I'm so thankful, they did all the legwork, weighed the pros and cons and emailed me with a "here it is, this is the price, do you want it?" So the Talbots and I sent our money to the Peterson's for them to purchase our generators. They even did all the legwork for the best shipping deal! 

Things are coming together so fast. Please keep in prayer as I try to organize everything into "keep until next furlough", "give/loan out", and "pack for the Philippines". 

All documents are now in

I needed to get some official seals and stamps on some documents. Thankfully, everything went through the mail, several times, without a hitch. Everything is in with all the appropriate stuff on them. Now, all is good to go for the visa requirements in the Philippines.

20 days and counting...

PS...I am working on having my newsletter in the mail by Friday. Hopefully all will go well.

Happy Birthday to me!

Once agin that time of year has come...

party-time!

We had a small family dinner for my birthday. It was really nice to be able to hang out with everyone there all at the same time.

 

Granted, trying to break an egg isn't the most spiritually uplifting thing... it was fun times with the family. :-)

I also got some great gifts for my birthday. Now that I have a drill set I am all already to build my house in the tribe! Or maybe hanging up pictures is more in line with my abilities. :-)