Meet our Dibagat Team 2012

 “Many, O Lord my God, are the wonders you have done. The things you planned for us no one can recount to you; were I to speak and tell of them, they would be too many to declare.” Psalm 40:5



I always marvel in AWE when I think of what God is doing in our lives as expressed on the verse above. I think of all those I have met practically all over the world that have impacted my own life and the lives of the Isnag people! That’s why I am excited each time I take a team to the Philippines or send them. God always provides the right people at the right time, and of course the funding for each team and the project always comes at the right time.



Meet our Dibagat Team 2012

Reggie (yellow shirt)– originally from Rutland, VT and now living in Elmer, NJ! The church they were going in VT – Ira Baptist Church was the church Dick Roe grew up in back in the 40’s, and have supported him and us over the years until he boarded his heavenly flight in 1995. Reg is an engineer and had done several trips to Dibagat since 2001. He will be going for two weeks this time and will be showing us how to build the concrete columns, concrete beams to support the existing metal trusses on the Dibagat church. He also designed our water system in Dibagat in 2005 and the expansion of the church in 2007 and did all the engineering work on it. His wife Darlene came along in 2007! So I am thankful to the Lord for making him able to go for two weeks! 

James – owns his own plumbing business in OH! He is like a doctor, on call 24/7 especially during the winter time when people forget to insulate their water pipes, or water pumps needs fixing. So, he is  also one of those I call when it comes to mission trips, because he is always willing to go and use his talent for God! When I first met him I was speaking at a Wycliffe Associates banquet in their area. I asked him what he did for a living and he told me he was a plumber! Of course I told him God could use his talent in missions especially going on a mission trip with me to Dibagat! So he came for the first time in 2002 and God got him  hooked in mission trips to the Philippines and other parts of the world!  He also recruited members of his family to go along including his son Kirk and wife Marilyn and grandson Ethan. This time around he recruited another grandson to go along.   He and his wife and family also invested in helping an Isnag young woman get her college education and now a teacher in public school! Investing for eternity is what they enjoy doing best! 

Ben – Watering his younger sibling Ethan who has been to Dibagat!   I think he was helping him remember the cold showers in Dibagat.  Ben is also from OH, and James’ grandson is going for the first time! I don’t know much about Ben but I am sure we will learn more about him. His younger brother Ethan went to Dibagat in 2008 and I am sure they recruited Ben to go! Of course he does not know it yet, but since he is the youngest of the group – we might just make him carry our stuff up the mountains! Seriously, having young people go on mission trips while they are young to see firsthand what God is doing will impact their lives for future ministry for the next generation! So I am excited about Ben going!

Nolan – from OH as well - did brick/mason work all his life and having him come along and showing the Isnags his expertise will be a special blessing to us. James introduced him to us and he did a special chicken barbecue for us in 2006 for our Isnag Bible dedication here at JAARS. His wife just died 3 weeks before our barbecue, so I was sure he was not going to do anything like that after just losing a special person in your life! However, Nolan felt God called him to do that work and he came and blessed us all with some of the most delicious chicken barbecue for our dedication! They do chicken right in Ohio! This is Nolan’s first time in Dibagat, and I am sure he will have a great time!

Jim – AL - I first met Jim and his wife Carla while speaking at a church near Birmingham! I asked him what he did and he said he was a pharmacist! Then I told him about  a radio project we needed in one of our projects in southern Philippines and Jim helped fund that project! Then of course I told him about a mission trip to the Philippines and Jim was all excited about going, so he came for the first time in 2005 while we were doing our water project! From there on God had him hooked into going to Dibagat and helping the Isnags! I love hearing from Jim because every time he calls me – he always asks when the next trip is because he has his ticket funds ready for another trip to the Philippines! He helped us with the major renovation of the Dibagat Bible church in 2007! He and his wife’s life’s goal is investing for eternity and that’s exactly what they did with the Dibagat Bible Church – funded the expansion of the church– and the Isnags

Chris – from FL – I first met Chris when we were building Rudy’s house in 2001! He came with his friend Dwight who also came to help in Rudy’s house in Dibagat! He retired from Continental Airlines – so he has a way to get to the Philippines. He is another guy who got hooked on mission trips for God – doing anything and everything they can with their God given talent! He and his wife Carol came together to help build a translator’s house in another area south of Manila in 2002. Chris did the plumbing and Carol helped the translator with everything she could find to do! God providing teams to bring honor to Himself!

Karl – from Waxhaw and a colleague with Wycliffe – grew up in NH but his father grew up with Dick Roe in VT! He and his family spent two terms with SIL in Papua New Guinea as an aviaonics technician and 6 months in Kenya, Africa! I met Karl when he was a student at Moody Aviation! When I told him about this trip to Dibagat he was ready to go and the Lord continues to provide for his trip. He is now doing IT work at JAARS, so I look forward to having him with us in Dibagat! After all his family back in VT had prayed for Dick Roe when he first went there in the 50’s as his parents were part of those young people from Ira Baptist church whom God sent out to the ends of the earth!

Rudy and Mark

As our team goes – we look forward to working with Rudy Barlaan, Mark Pugyao and all the Isnags in Dibagat and surrounding areas! I also look forward to seeing my immediate family members - siblings and nieces and nephews whom I have not seen for a few years, along with colleagues, missionaries, and friends we also have not seen for a long time. Each mission we do, God always provide special people along the way to touch and impact our lives! I am sure God is smiling away as His people work together to bring honor and glory to Him! That’s what this MISSION TRIP TO DIBAGAT is all about --- will you faithfully pray for our team and the Isnags – for safety, team work, being a blessing to one another and the Isnags and all those we meet along the way – missionaries, government officials and etc, and for good health and completion of the project. Of course each mission trip – our motto is: – THE BODY CAN REST, THE SHOVEL HAS TO KEEP MOVING! So that’s what we will do, but there is always time for fellowship!!



Finally …. Investing for future generations is what we all need to do, especially those yet unborn! –

            …..we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, His power, and the wonders He has done…..so the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born….” Psalm 78:4, 6.