Toledo Calvary Missions Team (day 4)

On Thursday, March 11, the team split up to minister in different locations. Pr. Keith and Steffon led a Children's Ministry seminar for local churches with over 60 in attendance. They shared fresh ideas on children's ministry and taught everyone a number of action songs. They also blessed each church with a CD of the songs used.

Others from the team painted, moved dirt and rocks, and poured a sidewalk at the church where the seminar was held.

The other team shared with people during house-to-house visits, while Jay, Caitlyn, and Evan painted rocks outside the barangay hall as part of a beautification project.

We then had dinner that night with our nurse Jhing and her family since this was our last day of ministry in Aklan. The team made it a special evening for her by presenting her and her family with gifts. All our nurses work very hard and view their position as a ministry as much as a job. Jhing shared how this team was so special to her because of their love for her and her family, and their wonderful work ethic, great attitude, and servant's hearts!

Toledo Calvary Missions Team (day 3)

On Wednesday, March 10th, we drove about an hour north to the community of Ibajay (pronounced ee ba hi) where we met Pr. Philemar. We boarded a flatbed truck with plastic chairs to travel into the mountains to an elementary school with Pr. Philemar as our driver and host.

While there, it started to rain, and as we traveled down the road we experienced a cloudburst, not to mention bumps and curves in the road that sent us back and forth in the truck, reminding us of a Cedar Point ride!

We traveled as far as we could by truck and then trekked through rice paddies until we reached the school.

Led by Pr. Keith, the team did a great job ministering to the kids in the school. Many responded to the salvation message after the presentation!

We then went to have lunch at the newly built home of a local church member, and helped them by planting coconuts and banana plants.

From there we proceeded to another school and again the team did an awesome job of ministering through songs, puppets and life stories! The team were real troopers as they performed in the sun; it was easily over 100 degrees on the concrete, and again the kids responded to the salvation message!

Toledo Calvary Missions Team! (day 2)

OK, sorry about not staying more current. I know the purpose of a blog is to post things as they happen. I'm not there yet, but I'm working on it!

On Tuesday, March 9th, we traveled to our 2nd feeding. This is held on a basketball court in the community, and during our scouting trip, we noticed there were no backboards or hoops for the court.

As a side-project, we decided to hang new backboards & rims for the community while the feeding & program were taking place.

Many in the community were eager to help, and after a supply run we were fast at work on the backboards. We ran into a snag when we discovered we didn't have a drill bit large enough for the bolt holes, but Karl Heiss was able to use his construction skills to enlarge the holes.

The rest of the team did a great job ministering to the kids and their moms in this feeding, and headed on to the next one while we stayed back to finish the backboards.

The guys in the community quickly painted the backboards, and hung them by standing on the back of a tricycle (motorcycle with sidecar), while others waited eagerly to play. In fact, a game started before the paint was even dry!

We then met up with the rest of the team as they ministered in another feeding. The great thing about this is that as they minister to the children and their families, others in the community are standing on the periphery watching the program. I believe that along with the children and their families, many were impacted by the stories and illustrations shared by the team.

Toledo Calvary Missions Team!

From March 4th through the 15th, we were blessed to host a team from our home church, Calvary AG in Toledo, Ohio. Led by our Executive pastor (former youth pastor) Bill McGinnis, and including Calvary's children's pastor, Keith Kurtz, along with 18 others(including our daughter Caitlyn!)

On Sunday, March 7th, the team divided into 3 groups and each traveled to a different church to minister. That evening, we all came together for for a combined Youth Service. About 6 churches were represented, and over 100 youth attended. Pr. Bill preached and others shared their life stories.

On Monday, March 8th, the team ministered in one of our feedings in a community right on the ocean in Aklan. Our team helped build a "kubo", which is a bamboo shelter that the children will use while they eat their meals. The team visited people in the community, and were often invited in their homes. Through these relationships, team members were able to pray with their hosts.

In the afternoon, our program started with Pr. Keith & the team sharing fun songs with the kids, then acted out Bible stories with some of the children from the feeding. Thanks to the donations from people at Calvary AG in Toledo, we were able to give gifts to the children, and a bag of food to the mothers in the feeding. It was a great day of ministry! (become a fan of CCMP: Childcare Community Ministries Philippines on facebook, and you can see pictures from the trip!)