December 2017 Summary

Please continue praying for the people of the Philippines: 

 

Thirty-eight people perished in a 32-hour fire that engulfed the NCCC Mall in my southern Philippine city of Davao. Thirty-seven victims were call center workers. The last victim  found was security officer Melvin Gaa who had who had already helped evacuate some call center workers as fire raged through the four-story building on Saturday, December 23rd. Gaa,  10-year NCCC security worker, had helped evacuate 83 other call center employees and about 700 mall workers and shoppers before he died,  according to mall spokesperson Thea Padua. Temperatures inside the mall are said to have reached 500 to 700 degrees Celsius (932 to 1292 F). One former student of Faith International Academy perished in this fire. 

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Death toll passes 200 in Philippines floods and mudslides

ACAPS Briefing Note – Philippines Tropical Storm Tembin – 28 December 2017: 

On 22 December, tropical storm Tembin (locally known as Vinta) hit Mindanao island in the Philippines, before making a second landfall on 23 December on Palawan island, further west (IFRC 25/12/2017). 
An estimated 715,354 persons (151,354 families) have been affected in eight regions and 24 provinces, and the number continues to rise. Heavy rains caused severe flash floods and landslides. 240 deaths have been reported and the number of casualties is expected to rise as over 300 people remain missing and assessments are still being carried out (RFI 26/12/2017; IFRC 26/12/2017)


Note the white arrow pointing to waterline in right photo as a Faith International Academy teacher assists with cleanup of a FIA employee's home. Such activity would be physically very risky for me with age issues (past falls in water), but I have given money plus some clothes, and am to be notified of how I can further help our four employees affected by the floods. 

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Approaching Christmas 2017 I was again in a personal situation where choosing joy is THE very best way to deal with and ultimately triumph over life's circumstances.

On December 16, I had a ultrasound guided needle core biopsy...the third breast biopsy in less than six months for a suspicious abnormality. An ultrasound the week before showed a new solid mass with ragged edges. I was told that the ragged edge is characteristic of a reoccurrence (cancer)...or it  could be just part of  the scar tissue  - of which I am very aware. I would not get biopsy results until several days after Christmas.  

I knew what I must to do - CHOOSE JOY. But that is so much easier said that done. I  strongly agree with Henri Nowen - "Joy does not simply happen to us. We have to choose joy and keep choosing it everyday." 

PERSONAL UPDATE: No cancer - PTL!

DIAGNOSIS: FIBROSIS WITH CHRONIC INFLAMMATORY CHANGES.

I saw an oncology surgeon after receiving the written report. He wants to monitor the mass carefully, another ultrasound in three months, maybe another biopsy in six months. 

I praise God there is no cancer, but I can not fully relax, not completely out of the woods.  I choose to be even more diligent in cancer prevention actions. Have greatly cut back on sugar (bah humbug!), am exercising more to lose weight. Have lost a few pounds already, even during the long holiday season here (-ber months).  

Reading about prevention, particularly of reoccurrence.  Just got on Kindle the book - Take Breast Cancer off Your Menu: How to Prevent Breast Cancer or Stop it Returning. New Evidence Reveals Amazing Protector Foods, Glickman. Will carefully read rather than scan as before several other cancer prevention Kindle books I already had. I welcome hearing of special natural ways to prevent breast cancer return.

Romans 8:28 - 2018 will be a very health conscious year for me and I will choose joy as I eat more fruits, veggies, exercise more, etc. Having a housemate on a strict healthy diet arrive in January will be a good support. I praise God for the Christmas gift of a Xiaomi Mi Band 2 Fitness Activity Tracker Wristband from a young Korean teacher friend - a real blessing.  God has my back! 

I have posted a new page on this blog, "Joy Journey" (and plan to share more) scriptures, quotes, song links, and other resources that help me choose joy.

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Hospitality Extended: It was my privilege to host Barbara Altork, Wycliffe Bible Translators member who serves with Asia Area as a Desktop Publishing Specialist remotely from North Carolina. Barbara stayed at my place November 17 - December 5.  She came to the Philippines for the express purpose of  buying and packing nearly 700 Christmas gift bags for children in her ministry areas, particularly those who attend the Vacation Bible Schools she trains for and equips. I enjoyed meeting many of her assistants / ministry partner Filipino friends who came to Davao to help with the packing, some to transport gift bags four hours back to their churches. Five stayed here one or more nights. Blessings Barb on you, each ministry partner, and each child who received a gift in Jesus' name.

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I thank God for three opportunities to share Gospel messages during December events  at Christ Church Fellowship (CFC).

 

On Tuesday Dec. 5 during "Power Connect" at Christ Fellowship Church (CFC), I shared my testimony "Joy Is A Choice" about discovering the ability to have joy in the middle of heartbreak the year I became an orphan on Christmas morning. Sometimes I  weary of sharing this, but felt God nudging me to do so with this group. On Christmas Sunday morning, a medical student from India thanked me for sharing, told me it really touched her heart. My task is to be obedient to God's leadings.

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Purok Baybay Carpenter Outreach "Christmas Party": On Saturday, December. 9, my  Esther Care Group  hosted children and families from a sister church in Davao at our social hall.  I used puppets, story dramatization, and special props to share the Gospel.

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CFC Children's Church Christmas party. I was asked to share on December 17 at the CFC Children's Church Christmas party. After my presentation a martial arts team did a demonstration and shared a power Gospel skit using their skills.

 This young man played the role of Jesus in a powerful martial arts dramatization. (CFC has a martial arts ministry with which they use to share the Gospel.) Several folks wanted a pic of "The Good Shepherd" with my sheep.

Shaggy Sheep enjoys giving "high-fives" to children.

 The five-pointed star inside a circle (halo) with tassels called a "parol" is a traditional decoration in the Philippines. I incorporated discussions of parols into community church Christmas programs and into Christmas literature enrichment sessions at Faith International Academy.

Children squawk with my bird puppet as she lays a plastic egg containing theme and key verse of the party and my presentation.

Is it possible to cut a piece of computer paper so that that and others can step into the middle? Yes...with room to spare...illustrating Philippians 4:13.

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Christmas Parols

This traditional symbol of the star of Bethlehem, often a lantern, is the most recognized Christmas emblem of faith and hope in the Philippines.

Parol at neighbor friends' house outside the school gate

Parol in my living room, previously in the library,
2016 in 5th grade classroom where I taught
 language arts.

Parol gift from a friend above a nativity in my living room, previously
shared in library story sessions. Looking forward to taking
this one back to U.S. when I retire in 2019.

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More Hospitality Shared: I so enjoyed having Bible translator Dr. Jaqueline Huggins stay at my house and catching up on life the weekend before and Friday night after a week long workshop with the Philippines Department of Education. Bible translators and linguists work with DeptEd and public schools on mother tongue projects.

Jaqueline and I had shared a number of meals together at the October 2015 Wycliffe Connection in Orlando, FL. Here, she has joined me for some shopping after her workshop and we ran into the "Jollibee" mascot...a photo op of course.

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Other Gatherings (where photos taken)

12/17: CFC Esther Care Group, with our guest Jacqueline Huggins.

12/24: CFC Esther Care Group with our pastor's wife on Christmas Eve Sunday.
These dear sisters in the Lord enjoy taking pictures often.
 I thank God for our opportunities to discuss the morning sermons, pray
for and support one another though various life trials, and to serve together.

Happy Birthday Bill Capehart (2nd from right)!  Thank you Marla for your hospitality.

Esther Care Group and friend. Thanks Christine
for sharing your birthday celebration with us on
your anniversary. 

Esther Care Group New Year's Eve after
morning worship. The group choose to wear
purple. When I wear my purple Cameroon dress,
 "Grandma Gracie" like to come. Rich time of
 sharing reflections and goals / perceived
callings for 2018.

Photo to come: Faith International Staff 2017 Christmas Dinner


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