In April we will be changing the address of the Blog.  It will be announced when we know it for sure, look for an email from Nard or the new email address.

Dear Praying Friends and Ministry Partners,

Next week is Holy Week, and the focus of the whole Christendom will be on the Passion of the Lord Jesus Christ. Most people in the Philippines who call themselves Christians know why the Lord Jesus Christ died on the cross. But not many of them have appropriated the meaning and significance of His suffering, His death, and His resurrection. The Isnags are no exception.

On Wednesday, March 20, I will be going to Dibagat village to join the Church there in commemorating the suffering, death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. I am going early to do some training for the Church leaders and help in the preparation for the celebration. Here’s our tentative schedule.

March 28:  Evening Bible study and worship service. 

March 29:  Morning group Bible study for all ages, worship service, lunch fellowship, and Jesus Film showing in the evening.

March 30:  Evening presentation by the young people 

March 31:  Morning group Bible study for all ages, worship and communion service, and lunch fellowship.

Please Pray:

• That I may have God’s mind as I prepare the messages that I will be sharing with the people.
• That God will prepare the hearts of the people who will be attending the activities, so that they may respond to His Word in obedience to Him.
• For the anointing of the Holy Spirit for the Church elders and the five Church workers as they counsel people who want to commit their lives to the Lord, and encourage those who have gone cold in the faith, and as they do all the preparation for the celebration.
• That God will surround us with His Almighty hand, fill us with His Holy Spirit, and let us experience His love.
• That God will be glorified in all our activities. He is the one we seek to glorify.
• Pray that God, by the power of the blood of Jesus Christ, will bind Satan and his emissaries so that we will have a complete spiritual freedom as we study God’s Word, worship Him, and experience His presence.

For my part, I am praying that as you pray for us you will experience a special closeness to the God and to the Lord Jesus Christ.

“…the prayer of the upright is His delight,” and “…his ears are open to their prayers.” “The prayer of a righteous man has great power in its effects.” These are God’s promises on prayer. So, we are counting on you, dear brothers and sisters, to uphold us in prayer during this whole week. We are expecting great things to happen, because our great God can only do great things.

Joyfully serving the Lord Jesus Christ,

December 2012

Dear Isnag Ministry Partners,

No doubt you have been thinking about what to give your loved ones and friends for Christmas, if you haven’t already done so. One thing I like about Christmas is that it makes me think of others. This is the same reason we have Christmas. God thought of us people, who need to be redeemed from their sins. So He gave His greatest gift to us underserving sinners, His only Son. 

   You, my partners in the Isnag ministry, have been thinking of other people all year round. Every time you pray for the Isnags in the Philippines or other people groups in the world who need God’s word in their own heart language, or when you send your monthly gifts to missionaries God laid on your heart to support, you are thinking of other people, just as God thought of us before the foundation of the world.

As we leave the year 2012 in our ministry journey, I want to name for you the significant milestones of our (yours and mine) service to God this year. You will notice in the list that we are moving straight ahead toward our goal of giving God’s word to every language group that needs it. Those who now have it are responding, and their lives are being changed. 

Rudy and Mark

Training Milestones

>< Linguistic training in Thailand: By God’s grace I had the opportunity to teach Semantics (the study of meaning) at Payap University in Chiangmai, Thailand from October 2011-March 2012. Five of my students are already involved in Bible translation in the mainland Southeast Asia; two from Myanmar, one from Canada, and two from the United States. 

>< Mentoring translation consultants: By God’s grace I had the privilege of mentoring two consultant trainees, who are both Filipino nationals. One is now a full-fledged translation consultant, while the other is still in the process. 

>< Exegesis training workshop: By God’s grace I had the opportunity to give lectures at the Exegesis workshop attended by about forty translators in Asia. Most of the participants are mother tongue translators who are actively engaged in Bible translation.

Translation Milestones

>< Translation drafting: By God’s grace I facilitated the drafting of 1 & 2 Peter in the Mangali, Majukayong, and Butbut languages, all from the northeastern part of the Philippines. Majukayong and Butbut languages are very close to finishing their translations of the New Testament. 

>< Isnag Old Testament: By God’s grace, three Isnags from Dibagat village came to Bagabag to help Mark Pugyao and me in drafting (and comprehension checking) Joshua, Leviticus, and the first thirteen chapters of Numbers. 

>< Translation checking: By God’s grace, 1, 2, &3 John in the Ayta language and Matthew chapters 1-12 in the Magi language were consultant-checked as part of my mentoring the two translation consultant trainees. The trainee who checked the Ayta translation, is now a full-fledged translation consultant. I am still supervising the other trainee as he continues to check the rest of Matthew in the Magi language. 

Dibagat Church Milestones

>< Church renovation By God’s grace, on March 19-30, a work team from the US came to Dibagat village, and helped renovate the village church. The wooden posts and wooden walls that were infested with termites were replaced with concrete columns and concrete blocks. Now the whole church building is termite proof, from the foundation up to the roof. Praise the Lord!

>< New believers By God’s grace, in our Holy week celebration, there were twenty one people who made commitments to follow the Lord Jesus Christ. In our Youth camp, thirty one of the fifty young people who attended committed their lives to the Lord Jesus. 

>< Bible school students By God’s grace, this year, there are two young Isnag believers who are enrolled at Word of Life Bible Institute in Laguna, south of Manila. One of them is from Dibagat, who is finishing his four year course. He will graduate in March next year. The other one who is in his first year of training is from Tubongan village, one of our outreach villages. 

Linguistic Milestone

>< Limos, Kalinga dictionary By God’s grace, I had the privilege to consult with the translators of the Limos, Kalinga language who are now doing a dictionary in the language as their legacy to the people. They finished the NT translation few years ago.

There are other practical ministries you extended to the people, especially to the Isnags. Some of you have generously given funds to alleviate the food shortage they experienced this year. On behalf of all the recipients of your gifts, I thank you.

As we celebrate Christmas, know that there are many Isnags, Aytas and Kalingas and many other cultural minorities who are also celebrating Christmas with a new meaning because we (you and us missionaries) have given the word of God in their own heart language, the best gift we can give them.

Merry Christmas!

Joyfully serving the Lord Jesus Christ,

Rudy

Update from Rudy

Dear Isnag Ministry Partners,

November 5, we started drafting Leviticus. Please pray for the three Isnags who will be working with Mark Pugyao and me. We plan to finish drafting the book in two weeks’ time. Please pray for:

· Wisdom, and mental stamina as we try to communicate clearly in the Isnag language the Jewish sacrificial system, and the Levitical laws. There are many information that we need to communicate euphemistically (round-about way), especially the sexual sins. 

   ·   The physical strength we need to finish drafting the book.
   ·  Good working relationships, especially in our discussions of words we need to use in crucial verses.
   ·  Our computers. Mark’s computer is old and sometimes quits even without being turned off. Please pray that he won’t lose any data.
   ·   Our house helpers who will be taking care of our food and keep us clean as we work intensively.
   ·   A focused time and free from any unnecessary distraction.

So far, we have rough-drafted (no checks from native speakers) all books from Leviticus to Jeremiah, with Joshua already checked by native speakers but is not yet checked by a consultant. Genesis and Exodus have been published with the revised New Testament. 

Thank you so much for your partnership in giving the complete Scripture to the Isnag people.

Joyfully serving the Lord Jesus Christ in Bible Translation,

Rudy

For your viewing enjoyment.
Here is a YouTube video from a group that went to Dibagat.  (330 Media)

 

Dear Praying Team,

“Give thanks to the Lord, call on His name; make known among the nations what he has done.” Psalm 105:1

Someone had said that I should let friends know the “rumors about my demise has been greatly exaggerated!” I got a voice message on my cell phone from my good friends and colleagues who are in Michigan, that said – “Hey Nard, we heard a rumor from our church that you have moved on to your eternal rest, and we wanted to verify – well if you are truly gone, then we won’t hear from you, otherwise please give us a call.” Then to make sure as not to upset Sandy if it was true, they called another colleague first to check out the rumor. The colleague told them he just talked to me 25 minutes before they called! Then they called and told me about it! It was funny, but you all probably thought the same way since you have not heard from me since I got back from the Philippines in April, so this was a good reminder for me to get you all updated! So, if you hear about that rumor, I am very much alive and trying to live up to what the verse above says to do! Trusting that you are doing the same. We never know when God calls us home and our ministry on earth is done, so we have to be ready at all times –“in season and out of season!” And, Jesus said - “As long as it is day, we must do the work of Him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work.” John 9:4

DIBAGAT MISSION 2012

March 18, 2012 was a special event for me as it took only 3 hours from the time we departed Manila until we reached Dibagat (via Philippine airlines, then New Tribes helicopter), otherwise it would have taken almost two days to get to Dibagat. Most of our team ranging from ages 82 to 20 arrived Saturday and were ready to start the project. Since I was on standby with another team member(thanks to a friend who gave me two passes with Delta), our flight didn’t get in to Manila until a day later and arriving in Dibagat by Sunday March 18. When we landed behind the Dibagat Bible Church, the first two people that met us were my youngest brother Francis and younger sister Benita!



First ones to meet me where my youngest brother Frances and
younger sister Benita -- on my left

What a treat for me to see them as I have not seen them for 5 years – and they have gotten older as well. It was another humbling experience for me seeing all the relatives and friends in the village, because the Lord could have made me stay there instead of living where I am now. My mind wondered and asked – what if….. Dick Roe didn’t come in 1956?, What if…. Elmer in 1954 decided they didn’t need to be there? What if….the officials in Kabugao said – ‘go to another village’, but instead directed them to go a little farther upstream on the Abulug river to the village of Dibagat where they could live and learn the Isnag language. Little did anyone know God had placed a little boy in that village needing to hear about Him and would return full circle to continue the ripple effect of what God had started! – “You have not chosen me, but I chose you to go and bear fruit for me, fruit that will last….” John 15:16 - the orchestrating hand of God is amazing. It got too emotional for me when I think of His grace! Of course the question continues – what if….Rudy Barlaan hardened his heart against the Lord, or continued his profession of mechanical engineering? What if….he didn’t listen to God?? Lots of questions- but seeing Rudy continuing the Old Testament translation and mentoring Isnag young people to reach the Isnags was one of the highlight of our trip. The young people are taking the leadership in the church- showing the Jesus film and distributing Isnag New Testaments village to village, doing Bible studies and Vacation Bible Schools is an exciting outpouring of the work of God among the Isnags! The Dibagat Bible Church under the leadership of my nephew Mark Pugyao as pastor, Bible translator with Rudy, training Isnag believers to do outreach is also exciting to see the growth! I wish I could take you all to visit Dibagat and hike up the mountains along with Jojo, Christopher, Elvin, Mark, ReAnn, Nancy to name a few and many other young men and women to show the Jesus film.

Team of nine

By March 19 our team of 10 along with the Isnags got right to work – jacking up the metal trusses, removing posts and knocking down walls, chipping away cement so the footers could be formed and poured, putting columns and beam and etc! Of course the Isnags have hauled in tons and tons of sand and gravel, made over 1200 hollow blocks ahead of time, carried all the rebar, angle iron, cement, plywood and anything else we needed to replace all the wooden structure of the church. They carried everything on a 65 degree inclined about a mile up the hill to where the church is. The Isnag team and our team were eager to get all the termite infested wooden structures of the church replaced! Within a little over a week, the concrete columns, beams and blocks were installed, and the timing was perfect as the Isnags didn’t have to get to their rice fields yet, and it was also nice weather except when we left that it started raining so we all had to scramble on canoes down river to Kabugao to get back to Manila. All were satisfied because the work was done, the Isnags were all very happy termites will no longer eat their church – but the bad thing is, termites will move on to their houses.

Church completed -- Dibagat Bible Church



MEETING WITH WYCLIFFE PHILIPPNES BOARD AND APPLIED LINGUISTICS STUDENTS

Maribel Fernandez - single. She has no experience in Bible Translation as
her ministry exposure had been in the music ministry and leading small group
Bible studies with single women. After ALP, she plans to be part of the SIL
training services team.

Rodessa Galao, single, a member of Northern Mother Tongue Translators
Assn., working with Ibaloi Scripture Translation Team

Joefrelene Vinzon, married; He is from Bukidnon, and a member of the
Hiligaynon Bible Translation Team

Ronie Amaran, single, a native of Subanen from
Lakewood, Zamboanga del Sur, Mindanao. He is a member of the Southern
Subanen Bible Translation Team

 When I got to Manila, I had a chance to meet with Wycliffe Philippines board members along with 9 students who are doing their masters in Applied Linguistics (ALP) at the Asian Center for Christian Ministry (ASCM) and are funded by the G. Richard Roe Scholarship Fund. What a treat for me to see the continuing ripple effect of what God started through Dick Roe when he got into Bible translation work back in 1953 and arriving in Dibagat in 1956. Thanks to the generosity of Bill and Patty who sent me the initial amount for the scholarship when Dick Roe died in 1995. Last year another faithful supporter sold their airplane and gave all the proceeds to the scholarship fund which enabled us to help provide funding for these 9 students, and many others who continue to contribute to the scholarship. It was also good to hear personal testimonies from the students who are mostly mother tongue translators. They want to do the Old Testament translation in their heart language, thus they are training for that purpose. It was great to see their excitement of someday doing Bible translation work in the Philippines or anywhere in Asia and around the world after finishing their own heart language!

Meeting with Wycliffe board members in Manila

At the beginning of this school year which is June in the Philippines, we had 10 more who applied to the scholarship, and that would make it 19 students doing their masters in linguistics this year. Would you pray we will have enough funding to help them all, and if you want to be a part of investing in Bible translation through this scholarship, email me or call me at 704-996-3237 and will give you the details. I thank God for faithful supporters of this scholarship along with new ones like a church in Vilas, NC who promised to provide around $1500 to be given in 2013. This will help the 19 students currently enrolled in linguistics in the Philippines to finish their master’s in linguistics.

HOME FROM THE PHILIPPINES

After returning from the Philippines, where the temperature was 95 degrees, I headed to Edmonton, Canada a week later and temperature was minus 5 degrees! What a contrast, but surviving that one as well. Then got involved in flying our JAARS helicopter in NC, SC, MI, PA, ME, OH!

Nard with the Bouwkamps in Michigan

Aside from flying had also been in conferences in MI, PA, NC, SC, OH & NY. My final meetings are scheduled in places below in case you wanted to know! We can have a cup of coffee together –

Oct 20-21 – New Life Christian Church – Saginaw, MI

Nov 1-3 – Laguna Beach, CA – Wycliffe Associates

Nov 4 – Graham Memorial Presbyterian Church – Coronado, CA

Nov 10-11 – Heritage Christian Church – Columbus, OH

SANDY’S INVESTMENT IN ESL AT OUR CHURCH IN CHARLOTTE

Sandy teaching pronunciation on her ESL class!

Sandy's ESL pronunciation class

Sandy has been investing in the lives of adult men & women coming to the US and in the Charlotte area through her ESL (English as a Second Language) classes at Calvary Church in Charlotte, NC! This is her 8^th year teaching ESL, and meeting some of her students with excitement of trying their English pronunciation and conversation in English is great to hear. She uses verses of Scriptures on their vocabularies, words to pronounce and etc, and has enjoyed doing Bible studies with her students. Her students come from different parts of the world, all trying to learn English! She finds enjoyment in teaching them learn English plus tutoring individual students when they need help! She also enjoys taking her therapy miniature Dachshunds to the hospital to visit patients, plus visiting a couple libraries where kids read to her dog. She is also involved with a bunch of ladies crocheting blankets for babies at the Presbyterian hospital in Matthews, NC where she takes her therapy dogs to visit patients!

THANKS FROM OUR HEART -

Nard's oldest sister Emma on right and youngest sister Merlina

Finally, thanks from our heart for your faithful support to us these last 35 years in ministry with Wycliffe. We are humbled in every way, and we will continue to be faithful to the Lord for what He called us to do – you have been a vital part of what God is doing as expressed by the verse below. Together we proclaim Him to the nations until all the remaining 2,000 languages have heard and read in their own heart language Jesus is Lord!

“How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, Your God reigns!” Isaiah 52:7

With our gratitude to the Lord for all of you,

Nard and Sandy Pugyao

 As we are in drought conditions the Philippines have endured very wet conditions this summer.  I am not sure of the number of storms that have gone over the Philippines but another one just pasted over the northern part of the Philippines.  You can read many reports on the internet.  Pray for them in Balangao, Dibagat, and the rest of the Philippines.

God continues to bring Isnags to Himself, both Young and Old

Dear Isnag Ministry Partners,                                                                        

“… the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God,” (2 Cor 4:15).

The Isnags are thanking and praising the Lord for their renovated Church building! During our praise time in our first Sunday morning service after the renovation, one elderly lady said, “I thank the Lord very much for giving us a beautiful Church! Let us also be beautiful and straight in our faith!”  Indeed the Church looks nice, and it is now termite proof. It looks like it could also withstand a strong typhoon and an earthquake! But unshakable of all are the praises of the Isnag believers to God for His goodness. You all made this possible through your prayers and your generous giving. Thank you.  

Despite the age of some of the expat workers (two of them are in their 80’s), they had sufficient strength to do the masonry job. Even the two workers with special physical needs did not need anything special. However one who did not have any special need needed a special care on their last night in the village. He had fever and chills just before supper on Thursday, March 29. Flying him out of the village was not an option due to severe weather. After we prayed, I gave him medicines. He got well enough to walk down the mountain to the river where we had to take the boat the following day. His legs were wobbly, but he was steadied by strong Isnag arms. He made it all the way to Manila with increasing strength. Praise the Great Physician!

Thank you to all who came and helped in the Church renovation in Dibagat. You were an encouragement to the Isnag believers.  Thank you to all of you who sent them. They represented you well. Thank you all who gave generously. God used your resources for His glory. Thank you to all of you who prayed! Rejoice!  God answered your prayers!

A week after the expat work team left, we had our annual Holy Week celebration, which started on Thursday evening and concluded on Easter. On Good Friday, the most sacred day to Filipino Christians, the Dibagat Church was full. After speaking on God’s love, an invitation was extended to the congregation for decisions to surrender their lives to the Lord. About twenty people came to the front and prayed the prayer of commitment.

On Easter Sunday, another invitation to the congregation was extended. They were separated this time. The first time believers stood on the right and the ‘returnees’ on the left. There were twenty one first time believers and eighteen returnees who came forward.

A week after the Holy Week, we had a three day, four night Youth Camp. Fifty young people, ages twelve to twenty one from seven villages, registered. Unfazed by the intense heat at the river bank where we camped, the young people gladly studied the Bible in their personal devotions, group Bible studies, and in the evening Bible hour. Before the camp ended thirty- one of them accepted the Lord for the first time. Praise the Lord!

Those who accepted the Lord gave their testimonies during our Sunday morning worship service. Some of them could not hold back their tears of joy. One young man said, “I cannot express in words what I am feeling today, now that the Lord Jesus is in my heart.” One young girl said, “Even if I were to die tomorrow, I know for sure that I am going to heaven because I have Jesus in my heart.” The others expressed the same assurance that “those who have the Son of God in them have eternal life.”

It is weeding time now in the Isnag country. It’s good to know that the people will go to their fields assured of God’s presence in the lives. Next month is also the beginning of our school year. Many of the young people are going back to school where they will continue to face the challenges in the life of a teenager. It’s encouraging to know that many of them have their hope in Jesus Christ, their new found Lord and Savior.

Please continue praying for:
  -> The young people who just became believers; that the Lord will give them strength in faith as they face the world with a new perspective.
  -> Those who gave their lives during our Holy Week retreat; that they will read the Word of God so that they may grow, and that they will remain faithful to the Lord Jesus.
  ->The Church workers; that they will be zealous in nurturing the new believers through Bible Studies, personal disciplining, and Sunday morning fellowship service.
  -> The Church workers as they travel to villages conducting DVBS and showing the Jesus Film. Please pray for health, strength, wisdom, and safety as they travel on foot through the mountains, and as they negotiate the rapids in the river.
  -> Mark Pugyao as he continues drafting Old Testament books. He is now on Proverbs 15. He and three other Isnag men will be checking Joshua for comprehension and naturalness next month.
  -> Me as I continue to mentor translation consultants, and help in workshops. Please pray for my health. I have just been diagnosed with pre-diabetic blood sugar level, and my energy level has not been good.

“The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective,” (James 5:17), and we are righteous in Christ Jesus.

Assured of your prayers, I continue to joyfully serve the Lord Jesus Christ.
Always at His Service in Partnership with you,

Rudy Barlaan

Those that came forward to give their heart to Christ. Rudy talked about these in his report

Notice the new walls. Lights, fans, and sound system all run by solar power or generator.

Dibagat Bible Church Youth group - next generation of leaders to reach the yet unborn!

Youth camp upriver from Dibagat

Young girls and young boys doing Bible studies separately

 Young people growing through Bible studies

Personal Bible study

Personal Bible study

Personal Bible study

Personal Bible study

Personal Bible study

Personal Bible study

Sharing their testimonies at church - impact of the Word in the heart language!

The joy of the Lord brings life --- and strength! - and smiles??

Pray for the young people in Dibagat.  Pray for God to protect them and feed them in the faith.