Raindrops are falling on my head

Maganda umaga po! (good morning)

just a little update of what we did yesterday
We certainly experienced God's shower of blessings literally as we walked and ministered in the rain (the typhoon alarm was set at second stage already)

It rained non-stop throughout the day but through the rain we could see the reality the street kids and Delpan children faced.

We moved over to the River of God church where we packed food for the street kids and Delpan neighbourhood.

Woke up the next morning at about 5 to prepare

and off we go...

just a little glimpse of what Yong's and James' team did

Right in the heart of Delpan

where it still continued to rain


May decided to give skunky II away to one of the family in Delpan who had TWINS!

A picture may speak a thousand words but none of these can explain or describe what we all experienced and witnessed that day

Which we hope we are able to share with all of you when we get back home!

Signing off, Xinn.

Back at Fishport Alliance Church

We were still in TayTay for the last two days and took the opportunity to teach some of the members rope and paper stories that we learnt the past few months. We also managed to visit the homes around the area and then enjoy some Bible story time with the kids.

Our wonderful start of the day- Chocolate porridge

the view from Fishport Alliance Church

Today we helped them cleaned up their area, bless them with some basic food to the the church members and other families there, and lastly celebrated with the children there for the last time

As you can see we don't have much pictures for the day

you know why?

BECAUSE we're all busy working!!!

haha yeah for the people and for the Lord!

we're half way through already
and we gotta go now to pack for we're moving to Tondo for the night

so that we can wake up at 4 tomoro for street kids feeding and ministry

We need all the prayer power from you!!

Thank you all for keeping us in your prayers :)

till next time then

Signing off, Xinn.

Freshly Brewed from Manila

Kumusta ka?

That's how are you in tagalog.
We seven are having a blast for God
It has been tiring back-to-back activities so far
But the Lord is faithful and He has provided each and everyone of us the strength to pull through the day :)
So just to keep you people at home posted.

Day 1
Before we leave

After we Land: enjoying ouyr Jollibee(Philippines version Mcdonald's)

Orientation!!

Day 2 - At Fishport Alliance Church

This is Rex - one of our host/interpreter/chef

There's our other host/interpreter (on the far left) - Lita

There are much more pictures of what we did

But that you would have to wait in suspense till we get back then...haha!

Prayer requests:
1) There are goin to be a lot of activities and ministries that we're going to plan and carry out. so pray for strength (physical and spiritual). We truly need wisdom from God too that we will be ready and have the freshness of mind to plan all sorts. Pray for flexibility and spontaneity when we are called to do things we aren't ready for. Expect the unexpected as many of the leaders here are telling us. May God guide each detail to our plans that it may bless others and touch their lives. As we would want them to know that we are not here to just "do charity" but to share the Love of God too!

2) We like to thank the Lord for providing wonderful and hospitable host that has taken good care of us (So parents don't worry, we're in GOOD hands). Pray for the unity among the A-Team members as we put our Head and Hearts together that hopefully and prayerfully, we can establish great things for Him and the people here. Pray that we will work well with the other pastors and leaders from different churches and ministries throughout our stay here. We would like to be a huge help to all of them.

3) The weather here is uncertain and it's the rainy season. Pray that God's hand will guide the wind and that it would not cause any typhoon or massive rain this season. For one that it would not disrupt any of our activities and secondly that it would not trouble the people here who stay on low-land and are easily affected by massive floods.

4) Our upcoming events the next few days. We will still be ministering in Fishport Alliance Church (with adults and children), Streetkids ministry, and Sikatt ministry among urban school poor students. Continue to keep us in prayer that all things will go well in God's will.

1 Corinthians 9:22-23
To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.

Signing off, Xinn.

Departure and Arrival

Departure - 27/09/2008; 0720am on flight AK32. We will arrive in Philippines at 1115am

Arrival - 04/10/2008; 1145am on flight AK33. We will arrive in Malaysia at 0340pm

Four more days...

As the saying goes...
With just a blink of an eye and here we are
FOUR MORE DAYS TO PHILIPPINES!
After meeting up for the last couple of months
We are soon going to be on our way
Before we embark on this mission, I've asked each of us to write down our personal prayer requests
That all of us may continue to uphold one another in prayer

D-Way

Please pray that God will give me the wisdom and guidance to lead the group. Many months of planning and I believe it's going to be worth while. Pray also as I fine tune the schedule with Ph, they're bit slow on their side but I can show you all the rough schedule this Saturday. Please also pray that I'll have the strength (and also you all) when we're in Ph. Most of all pray against the work of the evil ones. Like Nehemiah faced opposition from outside and inside. I hope I'll not face opposition inward but I'm expecting from outward as whenever we want to do something BIG for God, satan will always want to make it small.

May

Please pray for a focus mind & heart to complete this mission task - need to remember drama roles, rope tricks, action songs, testimony, etc etc..

For new friendships to be built & for current friendships to deepen (amongst team member especially, we'll be staying together for 8 days, 7 nights)

And for sensitivity & obedience to God's voice :)

Thank you!

Noelle
Do keep me in prayer in:
Able to catch deadlines in work so that my boss will release me for long leave in "peace"
Smooth travel & Physically fit (Easily get flight or car sickness then will start dizzy follow by migraine)
Be able to adapt with the local culture and people
Able to control my emotion (Easily touch follow by tears) hahahaha
and lastly, Obedience to God

James
I was shocked to be requested by our team leader to prepare sermon. Never done it in my life and it's my 1st time. I'll be having a hard time for the week ahead, so please pray for wisdom to know and understand what the Lord wants me to speak to the people in Philippines. Starting to have fear of preparing it.

Ping Xin
That i will be spiritually, physically n mentally prepared for d battle up ahead... That i may also have the wisdom to know what and when to say and do when i meet the ppl and street kids there.. Pray too for adaptation to d environment n food there..lastly, to learn what God wants me to learn and continue placing my faith and trust in him no matter the circumstances..

Yong Yong

As for my side, just pray tat I'll still continue to strengthen my amour of God so tat when we all get into the battle field, will not be stumbled down easily...as the days is nearing for our day to fly to Ph, I'm getting anxious and also excited...all i wanna do is to fully trust in HIM and rely in HIM in everything tat i do there...

thanks

Xinn Ee
Pray that once I'm there I will be able to go all out for God and not hold back because of my doubts or fears.
That I will allow God to fully use me when I'm there. May i continue to draw strength from God each day as I prepare. I'm also busy with my assignments and my upcoming exams, so do pray that I will be able to trust God to provide for He knows what's best for me. Pray that i will be well and healthy when the trip begins as I'm also coming down with a flu. Pray that I'll be able to work well with my team and with the people there.

Philippians 4:6-7
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Thank you all for your prayer support and encouragement!
We truly appreciate them all!
God bless!
Signing off, Xinn.

So what have we been really up to?

I probably can tell that just about now

that you guys are wishing this is not another looong post and report of our daily meetings
(dun worry, I'm running out of words too)
So i shall spare you people
and let you have a glimpse of what we did last week in D-way's place

take #1

Something's not right so we revamp!

take #2
looks better but...
hmmm May's hand look like it's in the wrong pla...
nvrm :)
let's just hope ping xin's photoshop skills are good

Those going...
Clockwise(L-R) May, Xinn, D-Way, Yong, Noelle, Ping, James

The whole team
+ (L-R) Laura, Chew Sim, Linda, Timothy

Since our main focus to Philippines is the street kids and teens
we decided it's best to select a main theme verse with them as our focus
So we picked:

Matthew 19:14 Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."
That all our hearts may be such as these.

Here are some videos of the drama
There are more but the file is too big so i can't upload it here

As you can see how ready we are
haha there's another practice
(and probably our last before we head up to Philippines)
So cya people nxt Saturday at 6pm sharp ya!

Signing off, Xinn.

Statues and Benches

Updated Prayer List:
1) Anti-crime group slams shooting of Atenean grad - girl name,Tara Santelices, 23 yrs old was shot in the head by an armed robber while on board a jeepney on August 6 in Cainta, Rizal. Pray for justice upon this case as the police work hard to investigate for the murderer. pray for wisdom upon police there. also pray for peace and comfort the family of Tara Santelices.

2) Unity Among churches in Manila

3) Safety and health for the leader's of the church.

4) Pray that God will supply enough Elementary school to fulfill the needs of the poor children for basic educations.

5) Pray that God will soften the hearts of the people in Manila and leading them to the truth regardless of the poor and rich as the populations is growing enormously and sitting at 15 millions now.

6) The spiritual life of each member of A-team going for this mission trip. Also the other preparation and arrangements here in Malaysia and there in Philippines as we liaise with OM. That God will guide us each step of the way and help us carry out this plan of His.

Keep these in your prayers as we fast tomorrow.
"How's your walk with God? Are you guys prepared for the spiritual battle?" - James is reminding us in his email.
We're about 2-3 weeks away from our mission trip. Are we all geared and in shape for this mission?
Well whatever state we are in, right this instant, always keep in mind God is always on our side

Romans 8
v. 31 What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?
v. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, either the present nor the future, nor any powers,
v. 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Last week was another interesting week for us
We started practicing our dramas and managed to cover TWO - The Statue and The Bench
They're very simple to learn, simple to understand, silent dramas

The first was about a statue - rigid and stubborn.
Then along comes a friend who teaches the statue to run, dance and even offers ice-cream
But the statue still refuses to budge!
Finally the friend puts a Bible in the statue's hand and kneels down to pray for him.
Soon the statue comes to life and is intrigued by God's Words,
He alerts his friend who is praying diligently,
For now, the statue is free from the bounds of rigidity.

The second is about a kid who wants to find a friend and sits on a bench waiting for one, who would be willing to play with him.
Many different people walk to this bench - an artist, a reader and even a jogger
Neither of them interested to play with the young child
So the kid decides to do whatever it is that they are doing, but it's just not him (being playful) and soon they are irritated by his animated behavior and leave...
Their rejection crushes the kid's spirit
But, then comes along a friend....exactly like this kid.
They immediately clicked and enjoyed each others' company

Each of these drama may mean different things to different people - up to one's interpretation
So A-team troopers, do try to think whether there is any 'Story of Your Life' that can be connected to the dramas. They'll be good testimonies during our time in the Philippines.
hmmm I should have taken videos and pictures of us practicing
Next week then... we'll be practicing even more in D-Way's house on Sunday at 2-4pm
Those who haven't gave your salvation testimonies, please bring them this week ya!
See you guys then! Can't wait to see May acting again!

Signing off, Xinn.