Sometimes we make special plans along the way, but the Lord is ultimately the one that leads the way! That’s how it has been with our mission to Dibagat! I am thankful we were able to all fly into Dibagat by helicopter on March 16, 17 and 18 and got the job done. I talked with James this morning and all was completed on the church as planned – columns, beams and blocks all installed and sealed – the Isnags will stucco the whole wall themselves. They ran out of sand so they had to haul some more before they could stucco the block walls. The village of Anagdong had started hauling more sand today and hopefully by this next week they will finish plastering the walls in time to have a beautiful church to celebrate Easter! The Lord provided safety for everyone and we are so thankful and grateful for your prayers for us! You have been a special part of the team in Dibagat through your prayers!
Early this morning they all hiked down the hill from Rudy’s house one step at a time on those275 cement steps down to the river. This made it easier to get to the river especially when it is raining which it had been the last few days up there. I was going to fly the older ones by helicopter, but since there was a tropical storm causing all kinds of rain, they all had to fly by canoe. They had 3 canoes taking them down river arriving in Kabugao by 8 a.m. when my nephew texted me a message saying they were in Kabugao safely! I can’t wait to hear all their stories when they arrive Manila tomorrow.
They will be departing Tuguegarao by chartered bus tomorrow morning around 6 a.m. and arriving Manila by 7pm. I appreciate your prayers again as they travel by bus! Then we will have a little bit of touring to do plus shopping and then we will all head home by Tuesday April 3rd!
Finally, every member of the team had a special part in getting the job done and working side by side with the Isnags. It was truly team work and the progress each day showed it! Reggie made it home to Elmer, NJ yesterday so that is a praise item for us! Reggie did a great job making sure all was done safely and strongly as well. So I praise God for using his skills to help the Isnags once again. This was his 8th time to be in Dibagat!! What a great investment! Of course we would not have been able to complete the project without the help of the Isnags who had come every day to help our team. It was truly a team work! I am thankful for Rudy being there as well along with my nephew Mark. They did all the shopping, and Aida and her kitchen crew cooked delicious meals for us each day, did the cleaning and etc! we were blessed to have them all there as part of the team, and we give God all the glory for what has been done in Dibagat this time around!! God picked His team and the work He assigned was completed!!
“I will praise you, O Lord, among the nations; I will sing of you among the peoples. For great is your love, reaching to the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies. Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth.” Psalm 57:5
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| Nolan and Miller plastering wall! |
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| 275 to 280 cement steps from the river up to the church! All materials including sand, gravel, cement bags, rice, rebar, lumber, plywood had to be carried up on this incline - Isnags have done all the heavy work for us!! Team member Jeremy though carried a few bags of cement from the river up one day! Everyone has to go try it one day! |
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Our Isnag video canoe! Ride to Kabugao! All our teams rode on this canoe and two others! |
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| Reggie with 3 of my nieces |
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