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.