YWAM Cebu Update- February 2015

by Jonina Sharpe | Feb 4, 2015 | News, Updates

One of the June DTS teams trekking through the mountains of Bukidnon to minister to the Manobo Tribe. 

Highlights:

1. The June Sports DTS Major Outreach goes to the mountains and the islands

Split into two teams, the June Sports DTS spent their major outreach from September to December in different locations around the Visayas and Mindanao. Working with YWAM Nasuli, Cebu, Butuan and Surigao and various local churches, the teams were able to reach many with the gospel of Christ.  The teams were able to reach Higaunon and Manobo tribes in the Bukidnon, Agusan del Sur, Agusan del Norte and Surigao del Norte areas.

The teams came back with great stories of reaching people hungry for the word of God, children curious to see new faces in their remote barangays, family members blessed to see their loved ones and stories of  faith, restitution and salvation.  God is indeed faithful as He kept the team safe throughout their travels and provided for their needs.

After a three-month outreach, the June DTS had their graduation last December 12, 2014 with 10 students who finished with flying colors.  Three students are coming back to staff at the base.

Staff and students of October DTS 2014

2. October DTS begins 

October 6, 2014 marked the beginning of a life-changing adventure for 14 individuals.  The October DTS has a staff team of 6 with 14 students coming from all over the Philippines and three from Germany.

3. Celebrating Jesus Fiesta for the 10th year in a row

Last December 06, 2014 we celebrated our 10th Jesus Fiesta with the theme “Fruitful Journey With God”. There were about 1500 children and parents from eight different ministry locations. This much awaited event was blessed by a team of 38 from one of our partners, Bethesda Bedok Tampines Church (BBTC) from Singapore. BBTC has been regularly sending teams every Jesus Fiesta for the past four years. YWAM Cebu also partnered with Buckets for Jesus and Please Pass the Bread and many other individuals and organizations.

We praise God for His faithfulness in our kids ministry as we added another location last May.

New Ministries:

1. Expansion of our kids ministry to a new location 

This brings us to a total of nine locations where we serve on a weekly basis to share the love of Jesus to the kids in Talisay.

2. House in Bogo 

Since October 2014, we began renting a house in Bogo City in line with the building project there. Our goal was to strengthen our partnership with the local government, local church and build relationship with the beneficiaries of the YWAM Village as well as help in the building process. YWAM staff and outreach teams have stayed at the house since. The YWAM Village is located about 30 mins from the city proper. Teams have helped in some initial preparation for the building project as well as done evangelism in the area.

DTS outreach teams and base staff partner with local churches of Bogo for ministry in and around the city.  The BBTC team also hosted a Thanksgiving Celebration last Dec. 13, 2014 for beneficiaries of the YWAM Village.  It was an opportunity to share the gospel as well as to get to know the families we will be partnering with.

Some YWAM Cebu staff along with a visiting international team

One year after Typhoon Yolanda struck and God is still working mightily in the different ministries that were started after the typhoon.  We praise God for the many outreach teams who came to partner with us.  International teams have been sent off to Tacloban and Ormoc in Leyte, Calbayog, Samar, Dumaguete, Negros Oriental and Bantayan and Bogo in Cebu.

We praise God for His faithfulness in providing for the building project in Bogo City. We praise God for the base staff who worked hard these past months to accommodate the growing ministry needs.  We praise God for bringing us DTS students from all over the nation and beyond.

Prayer Points:

• Oct DTS has been split into 2 teams: Luzon and Thailand. Their outreach will be from Jan. 19 to Mar. 20. Please pray for safety, protection, good health and team unity. Pray for God’s favor with visas and travel, provision/finances. Please pray for open doors for ministry and hearts ready to receive the Gospel.
• Please pray for the staff of YWAM Cebu. Pray that God will give them all strength for the ministry and finances to meet their staff fees. Please also pray for more people to come and join YWAM Cebu.
• Please pray that God will continue to bless the progress of the Bogo YWAM Village. We still need a lot of finances if we are to build 150 homes. We also need a lot of staff to stay in Bogo City to oversee and work through construction etc.
• Please pray that as international teams come to the Philippines that God would protect them and allow them to easily adjust to our culture and weather. Pray that God will anoint them and they would be bold to preach the Good News of our risen Savior.

Opportunities for Involvement: 

• Volunteer to help us build the YWAM Village! We are looking for people willing to do construction work or heavy labor as we start building houses. We have a target of 150 homes that will benefit 150 families affected by Typhoon Yolanda. If you cannot do heavy labor we always need people in Bogo doing evangelism and partnering with local churches.
• Volunteer at the YWAM Talisay Base! Come and join us at YWAM Cebu and you can help serve in the kitchen, as part of the maintenance crew or hospitality crew. We are always looking for willing hands to help us with all that we do.

Ways to Give:

1. Online – You may give here http://ushare.unionbankph.com/ywam This allows you to specify the base and ministry or staff you would like to give to.

2. Bank Deposits – for more information please email ywamcebu@yahoo.com

As 2015 came rushing in, we look forward to seeing God move over our different ministry locations, our kids, youth and parents, in our DTSs and in our different expressions of mercy and evangelism.  All glory belongs to God.

Thank you for partnering with us! God bless you!

YWAM Bukidnon Update- January 2015

by Jonina Sharpe | Jan 2, 2015 | News, Updates

Base Leaders Jorge and Retchie Silada

Ministry Highlights

It was such a blessing to connect with Samaritan’s Purse to bless the kids in our children’s ministry. As a base we do weekly feeding with the children in the neighborhood.  Because of our partnership with Samaritan’s Purse, the kids were able to receive shoeboxes this year.

The Sports DTS from YWAM Cebu joined us for an outreach to the mountains where the western Manobo tribes of Bukidnon live. We were able to minister to their tribe and tell them the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Student Sponsorship Ministry

Three years ago we started sponsoring 19 high school students. Due to various circumstances such as some choosing to work or getting married early, some did not continue with the sponsorship program. Others dropped out because of their struggle just to find food before going to school. It was also difficult for them since it is a 3 hour walk from their house to the Barangay where the high school is located. Despite all these challenges, we are so thankful that the Lord provided new shoes for the remaining students in our sponsorship program (Student Sponsorship Ministry) from the Higaonon Tribe.

Out of the nineteen students only four students remain. Two of them will be graduating next year from high school. The other two are now in their 3rd year of high school. Even though some of them failed to finish high school, our hearts are grateful for the four students that are left. We also trust that even for those who dropped out, the Word of God that has been planted in their hearts will continue to bear fruit. Please help us pray that the Lord will continue to speak to them.

I, Jorge, go up to the mountain once or twice a month to continue to disciple the young people and children in the village. I help them know God more and at the same time encourage them to perform well in school.

By next year this village will have eleven students graduating from elementary school. Some of these students plan to pursue a high school education while others plan to work. We are encouraging all the graduates to proceed to high school assuring them that we are willing to help with the cost of their schooling until they finish. Please help us pray that these young people will be brave enough to step out and finish high school.

We continue to pray for people who are willing to sponsor students from the Higaonon tribe.

Feeding Ministry

We would also like to update you on what we are doing right now in our feeding ministry. We feed about 200 children and young people every week.

Now as the days goes by, as the children are growing physically and spiritually, we started to expose them to church and they love it! Every time after church service the children and young people come to our house and we have a time of sharing and discussion regarding what they learned from the Pastor that day. Every week the children and young people always say that they want to come back because they always learn something more about who God is.

New Ministry:

Youth Fellowship

We started a youth fellowship just a month ago. It was started when one of the young people in the church that we attend approached us and said, “In order for us as young people not to go astray we need someone we can freely share our feelings with. Someone who can pray for us, and somebody that we can fellowship with.” This is what challenged us to start a youth fellowship, where young people can freely come and be prayed for.

Currently we have partnered with the church to disciple the youth. We now have around 20 young people attending our fellowship. Most of them are from the church, while some are from our neighborhood.

The young generation today is unsaved. Though they have heard the word of God, they have not paid attention to it. They can be seen just drifting in the streets, in the bars, and doing wrong things because no one has taken the time to disciple them.

Testimonies

While we were distributing New Testament Bibles to the children and youth in our feeding program, one child, Mikhaila Grace was very excited to receive a Bible. When we visited the village again after one week we were amazed that she had already read until the book of Acts. This nine year old girl delighted in reading and memorizing the verses in the Bible. Her mother got worried that her child would become crazy from reading the Bible all day and would tell Mikhaila Grace to go outside and play. But we encouraged her mother and father that “through reading the bible, their daughter will gain more wisdom, not just ordinary wisdom but heavenly wisdom”.

Jun-jun is one of the boys who join our soccer ministry. He was a boy searching for direction and something that would give him inner peace and joy.

Whenever I would have Bible study with the soccer players, Jun-jun would just play around and distract others. He would not really pay attention to my teaching and this annoyed me very much. But to my surprise, when I invited him to church he became very active and even started reading his Bible. God has indeed turned his world upside down even beyond our imagination or expectations. Before Jun-jun did not know the Gospel of Jesus. He only knew that if you do good you go to heaven.  But now Jun-jun has fully committed his life to the Lord knowing that Jesus is the only way to heaven. He now has a desire to take a DTS next year.

Prayer Points:

• That the youth we are ministering to will grow in God’s Love.
• More staff to help us in YWAM Bukidnon. We currently have one other staff.
• Jun-jun’s desire to take a DTS by next year. He is praying for finances to get to his DTS, DTS fees and DTS location. Please keep him in your prayers.
• Base finances, we are now struggling so much with our base finances since we have just been renting for 2 years now as a base. The house we are currently renting is for sale and we are praying to purchase it as a permanent property for YWAM Bukidnon. The property costs a total of 7 million pesos. This is too big for us but we believe with God nothing is impossible.

How to Get Involved:

1. Volunteer– You can come as a volunteer staff or a full time staff. We only have one other staff at the moment.

2. Pray– We believe and recognize in the power of prayer. We would appreciate it if you could cover us with your prayers.

3. Give

• Sponsor a student from the Higaonon tribe
• Sponsor our feeding ministry
• Sponsor our ongoing soccer ministry
• Give towards Jun-jun’s DTS fees
• Give towards the purchase of the property for YWAM Bukidnon

 Ways to Give:

1. Online – You may give here http://ushare.unionbankph.com/ywam This allows you to specify the base and ministry or staff you would like to give to.

2. Bank Deposit

(BPI) Bank of the Philipine Island
Youth With A Mission
Valencia City Branch, Bukidnon Province, Philipines.
Account Number: 9391-0066-43

Please email us at jorge_silada@yahoo.com or retchbalbutin@yahoo.com to specify which ministry you desire your funds to be used for.

YWAM Albay Update- January 2015

by Jonina Sharpe | Jan 2, 2015 | News, Updates

Safely cradled away from the seemingly near Mount Mayon , YWAM Albay started as an outreach location for DTS and other teams from Kona, Hawaii’ back in 1996 and 1997. Uli Scmer of Germany became the first base leader. Samson “Sam” Zenarosa Jr. did a DTS in Davao to become its first Filipino staff followed by Pablo and Maria Cielo “Momsie” Ibasco and Ronald”Ron” Raynes (who were a Volunteer inYWAM Naga) became staff followed by Ruel Requijo, Fernando Bardon Jr IV and Fernando Bardon Jr.III, Martina Fromm,  Cherry Marquez and Emily Luna. Lawrence and Joanne Balisky, Eric de Roxas  Sherry Ibasco,  Wyden Ibasco, Jay-ar Ipas and Crystal Clapp-Magdaong. Currently, Sam, Momsie (on leave), Relvin Jay Taplac, Ron Raynes and Crystal (finishing commitment this month.) are the remaining staff. And the rest are now serving God in their chosen occupation. Before, the base used to rent places to house incoming teams. We were eventually blessed to buy a lot in Barangay Anislag and moved  there January 30, 2000.

We are happy to share the following highlights:

1. NCR Staff Conference in Tagaytay and “adventurous trip” (May 4-7)

As we were all blessed through worship, inputs, food and fellowship in the conference, we also experienced God’s protection as we travelled without headlights past Sariaya, Quezon for hours till we reach Camarines Sur where the vehicle’s battery finally gave way. We were grateful for YWAM Naga for their assistance throughout the journey and hospitality- we followed their van and stayed in Naga Base for a night.

2. Summer Staff Outreach

May 18-23-Bukidnon

Dinner prep with Minlanaw Elementary School teachers 

It was a meaningful and productive summer for the Albay team having spent it with YWAM Bukidnon among the Higaonon sub-tribe in Mt. Tago Range in Sitio Minlanao, Dumalguing, Impasugong. Participating in Minlanao Elementary School Brigada Eskwela (Department of Education’s equivalent of YWAM work program with the pupil’s parents) was indeed fulfilling. We spent time encouraging the teachers regarding their commitment to this remote community. The team also participated in YWAM Bukidnon’s regular feeding program among one of the Western Manobo Sub-group in New Mexico in sitio Nasuli as well as their children ministry in Sitio Pontod. The team was composed of staff Samson Zenarosa Jr., Relvin Jay Taplac and teammates Paul John Ibasco and Janina Jeutter (our guest from Germany who volunteered with us for three months).

Putting up wire fencing during Brigada Eskwela in Minlanaw Elementary School in Impasugong, Bukidnon.

May 29- June 8-Tacloban and Palo, Leyte

YWAM Albay Team after sorting relief items with Ruth Ramirez of VCF Tacloban

Cas and Crystal Magdaong arrived from Albay and joined our team bringing with them additional relief items. We had the opportunity to work with YWAM Tacloban and Victory Christian Fellowship Tacloban in unloading boxes of relief goods, sorting them and eventually distributing them to recipients by the seaside.

Sorting relief items in a Tacloban warehouse

It was fun as we had ministry time with the children in Barangay 48, rare moments of reaching out to homosexuals and hitchhiking thrice.

Bench Taplac, Janina Jeutter, Sam Zenarosa, Cas Magdaong and Crystal Magdaong doing action songs with the kids in Barangay Tacuranga, Palo, Leyte

It was also a privilege to work with Ghulab and Silma Bhatkar in Palo- they lead us in Barangay Tacuranga bunkhouse where we shared stories, songs and games to the children and their parents.

Bench Taplac, Cas Magdaong, Sam Zenarosa in Palo just before visiting the bunkhouse in Barangay Tacuranga.

3. Outreach to Mayon Volcano Evacuees, Singapore medical team and Antipolo DTS

Wyden Ibasco, a former staff and relative of our leader came for vacation and to facilitate a medical outreach  from Singapore. Two locations benefitted from their two-day outreach. We also  had an open air campaign where we showcased Arnis routines and tricks to ease the boredom of Mayon Volcano evacuees one evening in Anislag Elementary School. With the remaining medicine and additional funds raised, we, along with volunteers from two local churches, visited the biggest evacuation center and in Camalig North Central School and by grace, covered Barangays Tumpa, Sua and Quirangay. We gave out vitamins and medicines for the body, soul and spirit with a 15minute Bible study per room. When people of Barangay Sua were allowed to go back home,  Antipolo July DTS team came just in time and heartily served with us for a two week outreach. They helped us greatly especially in following up on the former evacuees, giving more medicines, reviewing salvation and praying for them in the comfort of their own homes.

Former tribal sitio Leader with Amy and Pricess Gabion, Sam, Janina and Benjie Taplac

New Ministries:

1. Arnis ministry aimed primarily to young people, students and out of school youth, informally started July 2013 with the following goals:

• Life preservation rather than a mere self defense policy
• Physical fitness
• Appreciation and promotion of this Filipino cultural heritage
• Targeted evangelism

To date, seminars and short training programs had been done among the members of Intervarsity Christian Fellowship in Legazpi City, Bible school students in San Fernando, Cebu and some special forces in Davao.

2. Runners ministry  is on an experimental stage as we reach out to other runners by joining races in Legazpi and outside Albay province gearing up to form a local running team (currently three runners with one staff, a friend and assistant arnis instructor reaching to an open minded team mate).

3. Radio Ministry with local FEBC station featuring two of our staff, each co-hosting separate program segments on family matters (Momsie Ibasco) and youth/young professional matters (Samson Zenarosa Jr.)

Testimonies:

“Thank you for the warm welcome you extended to our team. Thanks a lot for guiding our team here in Albay. Guys, you are a blessing to me because in almost two weeks I have gotten to know you easily. Thank you very much for always extending time to go with us to different locations…thank you for helping us accomplish our mission here in Albay.

– Denver Gevaña, Naic Cavite- ATC July DTS 2014

“Salamat saindo gabos (thank you to all of you). Thank you for welcoming us!! Thank you for letting us feel at home. Personally, I really felt comfortable with the place and with you guys!! I’m so blessed and grateful to have, to meet and to work with all 0f you. I can see the passion in your heart to work for people and for the kingdom of God. All of you are hard working and diligent. I never felt bored here. I never felt different! Thank you for that. Thank you for all those tricks that you have shown to us..thanks for teaching us.

May the Lord Jesus bless you more! Continue to put your heart in serving Him.. I love you all with the love of God.

-Rizza Abad-Naga City ATC July 2014  DTS”

Prayer Points:

• We are trying to raise around 250,000 pesos to build half native second floor to eliminate leaks as we have spent a lot water proofing our concrete roof which was once covered by a native roof. We intend to have five rooms, two toilets and multipurpose hall for DTS with Anahaw ( a kind of Palm Leaf) roofing to muffle the noise of raindrops during lectures, cooler feel and energy efficiency.
• Pray for additional staff. Two moved out last year to re-pioneer a new location in Daet. One just finished commitment and another, finished his season with us. Another staff’s commitment ends this month and is moving to the US with her husband. With God opening new ministries and increasing our borders, we will need additional people to walk and sweat with us towards our calling as a base: to be an instrument in reaching the Bicol region for God and raising people to steadily help us reach beyond our borders. We need staff with administration and accounting skills as well as one who blends well in the area of communications. We are also praying for staff for our second DTS batch to be run by October next year.
• Safety- rebel groups are active again in our area. Starting April, an army detachment has been sent  to secure the barangay next to us. The rebels have killed two soldiers a kilometer away from our base barely a couple of months from the time of this writing. Its never easy to be caught between troops from either side.
• Good health

Opportunities for involvement:

• Visits us! This gives us a chance to mutually encourage and physically be there and pray with and for each other.
• Tell people about us! The more people know about us and the work we are doing, the more prayer support and partners we can get. So please tell your friends, church or relatives about us.
• Intercede for us. We need all the prayers we can get to continue to expand God’s kingdom here in Albay. 
• Get in touch with us! ywamalbay@yahoo.com, gtmpfma@hotmail.com Globe 09276723072 and Smart 09294783504
• Support us Financially

Ways to Give:

1. Online – You may give here http://ushare.unionbankph.com/ywam This allows you to specify the base and ministry or staff you would like to give to.

2. Bank Deposit

Youth With A Mission Albay Inc
Checking account number: 04258003709
BDO Rotonda Branch, Rizal Street, Legazpi City

For money transfer services like LBC, please address to the following:
Youth With A Mission Albay 477, Anislag, Daraga, 4501, Albay

Update on YWAM Bases amidst Typhoon Ruby

by Jonina Sharpe | Dec 7, 2014 | News, Updates

Typhoon Ruby/Hagupit 7 Dec
8am local, 4pm Saturday Pacific, Midnight London/UTC)

—Calbayog reports at 8am: “Thank God we are all safe, very strong wind and rain until this morning. Thanks for prayers.” (Jesamine)
—Tacloban reports at 7am: “Everything is okay, not too bad, some small things to fix, the roof is still good. Wind not so strong but picking up again. Some neighbors houses destroyed.” (Isaac)
— Mitch reports at 8am: “55 hours parked in Guinlajon, Sorsogon with 12 buses. Terrible rain and unrelenting wind for 14 hours since 6pm last night. Damage in area unknown.”