Mission Trip Report - by Russell and Gwen Bowles
Email Update - Feb 14, 2007
We are here safely! Yesterday was a VERY LONG day - by Australian time we finally went to bed last night 25 hours after we got up! Then the fighting cocks and local dogs serenaded us until dawn! But despite little sleep, we've had a great day today. We are staying in a private home with Celia's relatives instead of at the seminary so we enjoyed breakfast with them and then we went out walking to find the roosters! We found a few dogs that weren't too happy about us roaming into their territory so that was a short walk but we found some kids so it was worth it! Then we spent the afternoon touring around the city with a great guy who is retired Navy and was called to work here in missions after retirement. He was quite entertaining and has a great faith. Then we went to a very interesting seminary class - great teacher! Now we are out to dinner with Bob and Celia - hopefully we'll go back and sleep a bit be tter tonight - we've had a chat with the roosters and the dogs! Tomorrow is another day at the seminary and touring - then Friday the real fun starts - we get to go to the lowlands and work with children!! Saturday is the medical mission day as well as working with market kids - then church on Sunday morning and then Sunday night we're talking about marriage and love at a Valentine's Party! We're having a lot of fun meeting new folks and spending time with Bob and Celia.
Email Update - Feb 18, 2007
We are having a FANTASTIC time! The first two days were spent at the seminary and touring around in Baguio City - very interesting and fun but yesterday was a highlight! We started out VERY early in the morning and traveled through precarious roads but beautiful scenery to the lowlands. We saw many rice fields and enjoyed watching the harvesting. We visited two churches where they have a preschool ministry and got to spend time with the precious children and teachers there. The children presented a program of singing and poems they had memorized!! Amazing - long poems from five year olds!! Then we were able to teach as well. We sang songs, played games, told stories and did crafts - FUN!!!!! We gave out red clown noses at one site - those little noses were so precious! At the last site we met with the children's teachers and shared children's ministry ideas - they really enjoyed learning about various visual aids that we had brought and we are going to try to send t hem some of these materials to use in their work. The ministry is called One Hope and they are unique in that they focus on training young people - since older folks in the area are more resistant to the gospel. One church we visited has a 17 year old pastor! They really key in on the passion and energy of young people but they are also working hard to train them well.
We were served two meals and two huge snacks throughout the day - it is Filipino custom to eat and eat with your guests! We were daring and tried many different foods- well, some of us were! It was also a lesson in faith to travel - there are not traffic rules and we had a good time teasing our pastor/driver about his NASCAR tendencies!!! All in all, it was a wonderful day and they shared over and over about the wonderful work that Bob and Celia are doing here. They are the only folks willing to work with the country people - evidently most ministries stay in the cities. Bob and Celia didn't go with us yester day - they had class and were getting ready for the medical mission today.
They are VERY involved and busy. Pray that things will slow down a little bit for them when they graduate in March. We have very gracious and funny hosts named Dee and Daniel. They are Celia's relatives and are so much fun to be around - very dry wit - they keep us laughing. They have been ISC missionaries in Yemen and he is in seminary here now at 77 years old!
Loving, hospitable folks! We have a wonderful joke to share with you about a meal that Dee fixed for us - or actually didn't fix!! Hiliarious but too long to tell here. Today is the medical mission at the seminary and going to the marketplace to work with kids so i must go! Thanks for praying for us! Love to all, Gwen and Russell, Leslie and David
Email Update - Feb 23, 2007 (letter from Australia)
Dan,
We're having a great time here - yesterday we got to feed kangaroos and koalas and then saw them in the wild. COOL! Here is an article for the newsletter if you'd like to use it. If Leslie or Dave sends you one, use theirs instead- this is a just-in-case. This may be too long - if so use it on the website and edit for the newsletter. Also I'm typing as fast as I can so please proofread and correct.
What a wonderful trip to The Philippines! We were able to see first hand what the Lord is accomplishing through the ministry of Bob and Celia Munson. They are loved and highly respected in The Philippines and it was easy to see why. Springhill was a well-known word to many to whom support had been given. In a country where the average daily wage is much less than we might routinely waste, a little bit of help goes a long way. God has blessed Bob and Celia with discernment and love to disperse the funds in a way that honors Him.
Our hosts were Daniel, Dee and Marie, relatives of Celia. After serving God in the medical field while raising their children, they have dedicated their retirement years to full-time ministry. They've served in Yemen and Bohol. At age 77, Daniel is now attending seminary to prepare for further ministry in Bohol, Philippines. Dee is using her gift of hospitality to provide a haven for many visitors. Their quick wit and devout spirits made our stay with them memorable.
We were able to participate in a variety of activites during our stay.
-We attended several interesting classes at the seminary - Acts and Narrative Preaching and worshipped at chapel.
-We toured Baguio City with J.R. - a retired US Navy officer and now president of Diamem Ministries. He found us some "all beef" burgers - don't ask about others!
-Lunch with Dr. Russell - IMB missionary
-A special meal with Dee and Daniel - was it "bulut" or roast beef?!?
-A day in the lowlands with Pastors Ray and Danny of One Hope Ministry. We visited two preschools and saw a delightful program by the children. Then we sang songs, told stories and played games with the children. Later we shared children's ministry ideas with the teachers. In between we ate huge meals and mierandas (snacks). We visited a church with a 17 year old pastor and treked through the rice paddies to view some property. Later they told us about the cobras!
- Saturday was the medical mission for seminary students and the community. We made hundreds of balloon-animals (Leslie's monkeys were a hit!) and conducted a seminar on creative discipline.
- Midday Saturday we went to the city market to work with children. These children earn a living selling plastic bags and carrying packages. They took a break, however, to hear Bible stories and sing songs. Dave's white hair was an attention getter and Russell survived handing out cookies.
- Sunday morning we attended church with Dee, Daniel and Marie. Dee got so into translating that she even translated the English! Following we had a lovely meal out to celebrate Joel's birthday - we tried century egg and seaweed - well, some of us did.
- Sunday afternoon we attended a youth Valentie party and shared our love stories. The youth demanded kisses so we had to oblige!
--Sunday evening was supper at J.R.'s home - hot dogs and ham sandwiches - yum! Following supper we viewed a presentation about Diadem.
- Monday started out as a relaxing day with a visit to the hot springs - delightful. Then we headed on our six hour journey to Manila with our driver. It turned out to be quite an adventure when just after dark, we heard the driver utter an oath and then "Destroyed-engine destroyed!" The Lord was with us though and found us a safe place to wait four hours for another vehicle. Until it closed, we stayed in a Jollibee and watched as the cleanest fast food place ever closed up for the night. Then a security guard at the gas station watched over us until the new van arrived. Then we hurried into Manila - no traffic at 12:30am - to stay at the IMB mission house until time for our flights. The Weddles left two hours later. The Bowles' had time to tour in Manila the next day before leaving.
It was a fantastic trip! Vistors give the Munsons encouragement and have a great time. If God has been putting this trip on your mind, it's time to put it on your agenda!
Russel and Gwen
