The Carders

This is a report of THANKSGIVING for answered Prayers!

  As we mentioned in our previous report, we were discouraged about the slow progress of the Believer’s Bible Commentary translation, due to our main editor moving to the US and being busy at his new job and his local assembly.  A few days ago, we prayed specifically for the LORD to show us what to do in this regard.  Just 2 hours later, we received a message from our editor, stating that he had asked his company to allow him to work from home, so as to save him 2 hours commute every day.  His company is in favor of this and it
would free him up to start translating again!

Wow! Praise the LORD!

  In addition to that, the LORD brought us in contact with a group of “Computational Linguists“, and they are developing computer software to assist with the translation of the Bible into many Asian languages!  This group, “The Bible Translator’s Assistant Inc.“, say that their software could help us with our Commentary translation!  They are right now in Manila working with the folks at SIL (Wycliffe) on several of the more minor dialects spoken in the Philippines, and we are planning to meet up with them in a few weeks, and we are so  excited about this!

Praise the LORD!

  Also, the LORD brought us a new lady to our weekly Bible study we have been praying specifically for the last few weeks!  This lady claims that she is a “kleptomaniac”, as she is unable to control herself in stealing from others.  She has been arrested a few times and has been banned from many of the local stores.  She has 3 little children and a husband who is a drug dealer and on the run from the law.  She completed the ECS/ BSA course “What The Bible Teaches” and returned the exam, so she could get a “free” Bible!  We are so excited about this!  She needs JESUS!

Indeed, Praise the LORD!

Please continue to pray!    It makes all the difference!

Thanks for praying with us and for us!

In Him!

Patrick & Karen

http://www.cmml.us/missionaries/m1569

” Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgives all yours iniquities; who heals all your diseases; Who redeems your life from destruction; who crowns you with loving kindness and tender mercies…” – Psalm 103:1-4

We had a very good trip to Manila, praise the LORD!

As planned, we had my blood drawn and sent via FedEx to the clinic in Michigan, the same day, and it arrived only 4 days later!  The clinic was able to use it and they determined that I am a 12-out-of-12 match to my sister and therefore a valid bone marrow donor, praise the LORD!  My sister Ann is doing well so far and is still undergoing chemo treatment, but did have some episodes where she had to have transfusions to up her platelet count… We pray for her daily, for wisdom, for her and her doctors…and on how to proceed with treatments.  She feels that the bone marrow transplant is a “last resort option”, as there are risks to be considered…

We got home to the island safely, but immediately came down with a cold, which is very much typical… also, many folks in our village are sick with a cold as well. This caused our ladies Bible study to trickle down a bit… However, the LORD revived it for us, and last Thursday 9 ladies attended!  Praise HIM!  …we are so encouraged by it!

Also, we had such a great turnout during the weekly Summer meetings with the kids, that we are trying to kick off the new monthly Children’s Bible Memory Club, but we had to cancel some, due to heavy rain… after all, we are now in the beginning of what the folks here call “rainy season”…  We will be trying again today, Saturday July 15th, but as I write this, it is raining heavily…

The translation effort for WMD Bible commentary has slowed down, due to losing our main editor, who moved to the US for a new job and also to serve his home assembly there.  We continue to pray hard for the LORD to bring us some more Filipinos for the translation and for editing…we are a little discouraged by this, but it is the LORD who has to move it forward, as it is His project!

The translation of the KING OF GLORY movie is going well and I am formatting the text for final proof reading.  All the gear for the audio recording is ready to go, but we are still looking for a quiet place we could use as a studio.  Manila is a noisy place with heavy traffic everywhere and the BSA office will probably not be suitable because of that.  There is a possibility to rent a professional studio at the Christian radio station DZAS, where the San Juan assembly produces and broadcasts a weekly Bible lesson on Sunday afternoons, called “the Bible School of the Air“.  DZAS is owned by the FAR EASTERN BROAD CASTING COMPANY (FEBC), which has been operating in the Philippines since 1948…

Lastly, we have not seen any major impact in our area or Manila’s in regards to the current state of Martial Law in the south.

Please continue to pray for the following:

⚑ Ladies Bible Study

⚑ Monthly Children’s Bible Memory Club

⚑ the “On the way Home from School” feeding program

⚑ Translation of Bill MacDonald’s Believers Bible Commentary in to Filipino

⚑ Audio processing of the Filipino narration of the KING OF GLORY movie (studio)

⚑ Martial Law in Davao (south Philippines) because of MAUTE/ ISIS terror attacks

⚑ for men, women, boys and girls to receive the LORD Jesus as their Lord & Savior

Thank you for praying!  It means a lot to us!

http://www.cmml.us/missionaries/m1569

Some pictures…

Prizes Bible Memory

 

Bible Memory Club – June 2017

 

Bible Memory Club – June 2017

The children are back in school, and we concluded our weekly Bible Verse Memory Club.  We started out with 17 children, but the LORD grew it to 40 almost each week thereafter! Praise Him!  We are praying for the LORD to allow us to continue this effort once a month…

We are excited to have received the first Filipino draft of the narration of the KING OF GLORY and we both are eagerly type setting and formatting the text.  After that it will have to be proof read a few times, and then we will have a brother in the San Juan assembly read it and then record the voice.  This later part is rather complicated in regards to timing of the narration audio and further editing of the text might be necessary…

We finally received our boat tickets after almost a month wait for accommodations.  The main purpose is to find out if Patrick is a valid bone marrow/ stem cell donor for his sister Ann, who has leukemia.  Ann’s clinic sent us a “kit” and Patrick will take it to a lab and have his blood drawn.  We then Fedex the kit back to Michigan, US.  Please pray that the kit will make it back to the US in time, and that Patrick is indeed a match!

Please continue to pray for the following:

⚑  Travel to Metro Manila on Wednesday June 14th

⚑  Monthly Children’s Summer Bible Verse Memory Club

⚑  the “On the way Home from School” feeding program

⚑  Weekly Women’s Bible Study in the Gospel of John

⚑  Translation of Bill MacDonalds’ Believer’s Bible Commentary in to Filipino

⚑  Audio processing of the Filipino narration of the KING OF GLORY movie

⚑  Martial Law in Davao (south Philippines) because of MAUTE/ ISIS terror attacks

Thanks for praying with us and for us!

In Him!

Patrick & Karen

http://www.cmml.us/missionaries/m1569

“…A man’s heart plans his course, but Yahweh directs his steps….” – Prov. 16:9 (WEB)

Here are some short video clips from our “Bible Verse Memory Club”:

You probably heard it in the news: the south part of the Philippines, Mindanao, is under MARTIAL LAW!

  ABS/CBN reports:  “…President Rodrigo Duterte on 10 p.m. Tuesday declared martial law in the entire Mindanao island amid the ongoing clashes between government troops and Maute group terrorists in Marawi City…”, and He added “…the government is in full control of the situation and is fully aware that the Maute/ ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria) and similar groups have the capability, though limited, to disturb the peace…”.  The president also said in a local TV interview, that he will “…put the entire country under Marshall law, if terrorist should make it to Luzon (ie. the main island, metro area)…”.

How does that affect us?

  At this point in time we see no effect here on our island, but we are conscious & aware of the situation. The only thing to do right now is to pray for the people in Mindanao, especially the missionaries located there, and for us & the continuance of our ministry here…

May the LORD protect and guide!

Also, please continue to pray for the following:

⚑ Children’s Summer Bible Memory Club (DVBS)

⚑ Weekly Women’s Bible Study

⚑ Translation of Bill Macdonalds’ Believer’s Bible Commentary in to Filipino

⚑ Translation of KING OF GLORY

Thanks for praying with us and for us!

In Him,

Patrick & Karen

http://www.cmml.us/missionaries/m1569

“…to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen” – Jude 25

http://www.cmml.us/missionaries/m1569

“Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgives all yours iniquities; who heals all your diseases; Who redeems your life from destruction; who crowns you with loving kindness and tender mercies…” – Psalm 103:1-4

Thank You for praying for safety during the recent Tropical Storm TOKAGE (Marce)!  The power came back after about 10 hours and the storm was gone next morning…sunshine and calm waters!  And, not much damage, thank you LORD!

The weekly Ladies Bible study had to be canceled the last couple of weeks due to weather, but also due to illness in our village (cold & flue…).

The translation team is finalizing Bill MacDonald’s commentary on the Gospel of John, to get it ready for proof-reading, editing and type-setting. The next book to be translated, Philippians, is in the process.  Please pray for the team, as Satan is attacking this effort, and some of the involved are discouraged…

Also, the translation of the KING OF GLORY is in its end stages and we are eagerly awaiting the documents.  The current plan is to have one of the brother at the San Juan assembly read it and for Patrick to record the narration.  The audio will then be integrated in to the KOG DVD movie…thats means that there is a lot of work ahead, but we are very joyful to be able to do it!

Finally, our visa (PH Immigration) needs to be renewed in January.  It is always a challenge!

Please continue to pray for the following:

⚑ People’s Health

⚑ Weekly Women’s Bible Study

⚑ Second Bible Study to start

⚑ Translation of Bill Macdonalds’ Believer’s Bible Commentary in to Filipino

⚑ Translation of KING OF GLORY

⚑ Renewal of our visa with the Philippine Immigration Bureau in January

Thanks for praying with us and for us!

In Him,

Patrick & Karen

http://www.cmml.us/missionaries/m1569

“…A man’s heart plans his course, but Yahweh directs his steps….” – Prov 16:9 (WEB)

Dear Friends and Family,

We praise the LORD that Patrick is getting stronger and well again. It was quite a scare with his recent 10 day stay in the hospital, due to diabetic keto-acidosis. He still is experiencing some fatigue at times and we continue to pray for the LORD’s care and provision.

We are so blessed by the growing women’s Bible study and just recently started teaching on the Gospel of John. To our surprise and joy, Sarah, the 12 year old girl that had been sent to Manila to earn money for the family, who we were praying for the LORD to protect her in the dangerous metro area, came back to Romblon and is again attending our study group! We thank the LORD for answering prayer!

The translation team is finalizing Bill MacDonald’s commentary on the Gospel of John (into Filipino), to get it ready for proof-reading, editing and type-setting. The next book to be translated will be the BBC on Philippians…

Please continue to pray for the following:

⚑ Patrick’s health

⚑ Weekly Women’s Bible Study

⚑ Translation of Bill Macdonalds’ Believer’s Bible Commentary in to Filipino

Thanks for praying with us for us!

In Him,

Patrick & Karen

http://www.cmml.us/missionaries/m1569

“…to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty,
dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen” – Jude 25

Sarah is the 4th lady from the left…

In Him,

Patrick & Karen

“Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgives all yours iniquities; who heals all your diseases; Who redeems your life from destruction; who crowns you with loving kindness and tender mercies…”” – Psalm 103:1-4

Dear Friends and Family!

We got our airline tickets to the US, Praise the LORD!

The schedule of our FIRST furlough back to the US is, that we fly out from Manila to New York City, JFK, on April 6th, to stay at CMML, to then make our way to Michigan, Illinois, Kansas, Northern Ontario Canada, Vancouver BC, and, Lord willing, to San Francisco…We are planning to fly back to the Philippines the first week of July…Please pray that the LORD will arrange all the details!

We are planning to distribute rice and Gospel literature before we leave on our furlough, as we had wonderful responses from the recent 2 ones.  We are praying for 2 more Bible studies, since some folks from or village expressed interest in such…

The translation work of William MacDonald’s BELIEVER’S BIBLE COMMENTARY is going well, and we shipped some copies of the “Community Readability Check” version of the Gospel of John, chapters 1-6, to assemblies in Bicol! We are praying for more translators, as it is indeed a large job!

Also, the LORD graciously provided funds for Bibles, and we just go a box of 25 Tagalog ones!  Praise the LORD!  It is such a blessing!

Please continue to pray for:

• Current weekly Bible studies
• The Lord to establish 2 more Bibles studies
• Constructive & rich feedback from the community about the translation quality
• More Filipino translators
• Our furlough April 6th – June, 2016

Thanks for praying with us and for us!

In Him!

Patrick & Karen

http://www.cmml.us/missionaries/m1569