St. Paul United Methodist Church

Vacation Bible School – God Is Wild About You

Admin — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 00:12:28 +0000

“O Lord, you have searched me and you know me.

You know when I sit and when I rise.

You discern my going out and my lying down;

You are familiar with all my ways.

Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O Lord.”

Psalm 139:1-4

Children will discover God is WILD about them July 25 – 29, 2011 during PandaMania, Saint Paul’s Vacation Bible School (VBS). We start at 9:00am and end at 11:30am.

The basis for this VBS theme is Psalm 139:- 4 above. We’ll encourage your child to remember that:

1. God made her/him through the story of creation in Genesis 1.

2. God listens to her/him using the example of when Elijah confronted the prophets of Baal. (1 Kings 18:16-39)

3. God watches over her/him by citing how Jonah attempted to escape from God. (Jonah 1-3)

4. God loves you, no matter what, by sharing the story of how Jesus died and came back to life. (Luke 23:1-24:12)

5. God gives good gifts by teaching how God gave Hannah a baby. (1 Samuel1:1-2:11).

We invite your children, preschool through 6th Grade, and their friends to join us for VBS!

Protected: Day 19 – Monika, pictures finally!

mbautista — Sat, 19 Feb 2011 00:36:57 +0000

Saturday, February 12

mbautista — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 00:21:34 +0000

Greetings to the Church in Fremont (do I sound like the Apostle Paul? I started reading Corinthians). Some of my reflections:
* Banaue is truly beautify. The rice terraces are magnificant – the 8th wonder of the world? Quite possibly. The greenery, the quiet (there’s still roosters in the morning). . . quite a restful and appreciated contrast to Manila.
* The Ifuga people that we did the mission are very isolated even though that are visited by many tourists. We took a wild hour drive to the top of the trail. There’s a Disney ride were you bounce around on rugged terrain. This ride was ten times worse with our heads banging the roof and sides of the car. We were in first gear the whole time, and sometimes when a car paused, it would slide because of the mud.
* Once at the beginning of the trail, we began our trek to the village. It begins with 412 stone steps down. It takes a Ifugan 30 minutes. They told us it would take an hour. Two of the missionaries did not make it. One fell and turned back. The other quickly realized that their legs were not strong enough for the trip. I escorted the 69 year old Pastor Stan. It took us 2 hours to reach the village. It took Pastor Stan 3 1/2 hours to come back up. The Ifuagans told us that if they don’t make the trip up for a week,they will struggle.
* The drivers are only willing to drive up and back once a day. Access to this area is very limited. If someone in the village needs medical attention, they must hike up the trail, and then secure automotive transportation in the afternoon. I don’t know what will happen if someone needs to be carried out of the village.
* The diet of the Ifuagans is extremely limited, largely vegetables. Lots of vitamin deficiencies. Lack of iodine is a serious problem along with calcium.
* The Ifuagans are very stong from all the hiking up and down the trail. Most amazing are the ones who carry supplies up and down the trail. One big guy (they say he eats lots of potatoes) carried the fifty kilo rice bag. We were not able to bring the other bags because no one wanted to bring them down. We donated the bags to the church. Medical supplies, toys and gifts and other food stuffs were carried on the heads of shoulders of the local people. They are like goats quickly moving along the step trails. Kids run up and down the paths with no hesitation. We Americans were slow and used walking sticks to make our way.
* This mission was mixed. The captain of the barangi (the political boss) wanted credit for this activity and forced us to operate within a very small space that they control. We were suppose to be in the school which would have given us more space, but that was not to be. Also, we only had two doctors which limited the number of people that we could see. Pastor Paul the missionary leader said that he needs to evaluate whether we can do a mission trip to this area again. The hike, the lack of support. . . Also, th

Lance’s updat 2/10

mbautista — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 02:24:03 +0000

* I’ve lost all sense of time. Had to ask Monika what day it was. It’s truly “go with the flow” here. Lots of meet and greets and waiting around. \everytime you meet someone, you have to eat. I’m slowly going crazy. ..

* We’re in Santiago City. Much better than Manila. Less crowded. We’re gathering supplies before w head up for our final mission day in the rice terraces of banaue. We’re reaching out to the tribal people. We were instructed that they speak very good English, but few speak Tagolag. We also have to be careful about offending them. We’ll have to taste any food they offer us. . . We’ll see how this goes with my tummy.

* We’re having space problems. Buying rice up in Banaue is very expensive. Didn’t realize that rice is imported in that area. Even though it’s the rice terraces, they don’t produce enough rice for consumption. We may rent a truck to help carry rice up to this area. I have offered to ride on top to stay cool.

* Yesterday, there was a brownout all day and then the water shut off. It was a long day. . . I have gotten used to pouring cold water on myself for showers. That’s one thing good about the warm weather.

* Kind of stunned at the pay for different folks around here – most of all, the pastors. Many only make US$50/month. Yikes. You need at least one year of college to work at the shopping mall. You need a college degree to work at Jollibee. Life is tough here, for the college educated as well as those without a college education.

* On a lighter note, we visited the seminary to pick up a missionary who’s joining us for the mission trip to Banaue. I have to say that the beautiful, single, American nurse, Monika Bautista, drew quite a bit of attention from the students, but Pastor Anne and I were like a steel curtain around her . . . . The mission leader’s daughter, single and a doctor here, has joined us. Monika is relieved.

* I cannot believe how dogs, chickens, cows, water buffalo’s get along with each others. . .

Anyhow, time to go. ..

prayers for a successful mission in Banaue!

Lance

Anne – leaving for the rice terraces

mbautista — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 02:04:12 +0000

Hi all,

I have left the blogging to Lance and Monika since as you have now heard our internet access is spotty. I am usually too tired to jump in.

For some reason I thought mission would be more physically demanding and I would lose weight but we seem to eat large meals and snacks between that are close in size to the meals. One day we had food on the table for breakfast as our appetizer and then cooked food came in addition as our real breakfast! I am better at pacing myself now. We are enjoying the fruit in the provinces and picking up things at the stands on the side of the road. There is always another local treat to have.

As Monika said, we have more been a presence than needed for doing things. Maybe it is an American attitude and it is very humbling. We pray that God will use our presence to encourage and inspire people to know the love of God- that people would come so far to extend care.
We have had many conversations about how people end up in squatters areas, what kinds of work they do, how much they can make, and what life is like.
Though unemployment is a challenge in the US, it will be hard for me to see it the same when people need 1 year of college to work as clerks at the mall and nurses have to volunteer and pay for their training before getting a job.
Last Sunday I was privileged to preach at Kamuning UMC in their English service, former church of Pastor Dave and many others. I am really humbled to hear how many UMC sponsor Mission pastors who start churches in poor areas. They sponsor a woman who has started and leads 2 churches in 5 years. We have a lot to learn about being in mission.
We have also been talking about what does ministry to the poor look like in the US? The economic differences feel wider here and more visible. We went to an SM mall (huge malls here and not the hugest of them all) and could not imagine the people from the slums being here. Things can cost closer to American prices.
It is nice being in the province with cleaner air and less traffic. Manila traffic was definitely making us crazy. Not just the wild driving (have not seen an accident yet though seems like they should be) but also the quantity of traffic (taking so long to get anywhere).
It has been hot and humid and cool to the locals. Feeling damp often. glad we came now and not when it is hot!

Monika mentioned our conversation with Pastor Paul about how important our presence is. We also see it as education about the Philippines and the poor so that we might advocate and support and extend the love of Jesus to them. We are surely making disciples and being made into disciples.
When talking about our presence, he reminded us that one young man came to a mission and said that he received a toy when he was a child. because of that care and experience of others, he became a doctor to care for people. Never know what God’s spirit will do. It sure is not us!
I think too of Jesus coming so far from heaven to be with us and the difference that his physical and spiritual presence makes to us. Humbled. Use us O Lord.

Blessings, Anne

Protected: Day 9 – Monika

mbautista — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 01:38:10 +0000

Lance Satuday – February 5th

mbautista — Sat, 05 Feb 2011 12:33:00 +0000

I hope Anne or Monika don’t edit my post!
My random thoughts as to date:
* Traffic lanes and signals are mere suggestions. It took an hour to go ten miles. Spent an hour driving to and from the Bishop’s office and only spent 20 minutes talking to him. Driving anywhere around the Manila area is awful.
*You have to go with the flow over here. Ordering pharmaceutical supplies, shopping for sardines and noodles took forever. They checked our order three times when we were buying food supplies. With traffic and just the buying protocols, things more very slowly. . .
* Our first mission day was Friday in Tatalon. This was a very tiring day but an opportunity to touch many lives. Church that we were partnering with was kind of new to this. Didn’t have enough doctors or dentists. Doctors left a noon, which left a number of folks frustrated because they were waiting in line. Plus, the place (a basetball gym) was like a sauna. No air movement. But creative thinking allowed us to make sure that they left with with generous food gifts. The one dentist is a saint. He worked late into the afternoon nonstop. He donated all supplies including anesthetics.
* Local volunteers gave us a tour of the local area. At one point, we took a turn into a very narrow alleyway. Maybe two and ahalf people could walk shold to shoulder. Along both sides of the alleyway were places were people lived, dark holes. It was wet, dark. We were stunned at what we saw. . . Definitely, the services that we provide make a serious impression with the lives of people.
* Church we’re partnering with has been doing outreach in this area and has members from the area attending their church, but they plan to do a church plant within the year in the neighborhood. The medical mission will go far in helping establish their presence in the community!
* Today, SAturday, the mission was in kaunlaran. The event took place in the church area. Very well organized. The medical mission has been going on for several years and the impact of the work along with the education scholarships is very noticiable. They have created 9 cell groups for a total of 200 people around the area for Bible studies. Only 50 are regular church members. Others have been influenced by the medical mission or the scholars program. God is at work in this area. Many of the scholar recipents are leaders in the church. Parents of scholars and relatives are active in the cell grops and the church. The church is truly being the hands and feet of God.
* Heard one give testimony at the Friday revival meeting of leaving the life of child prostitution. Talked to a woman who had taken in one of the scholars who had been an orphan. The mother and grandmother could not support him. He is graduating from high school and wants to be a pastor. The church family that took him in has adopted him. Lots of amazing stories from the work being done here.
* Locals gave us a tour of the community. Alley ways weren’t as narrow, but the homes were packed with people. They are dark and cramped. One place had four families crammed. People took showeres in the alley way, washed their clothes. Life was thriving in the alley ways. We visted the very small homes of several church members. Some of them hosted cell groups. Amazing what is being done with people who have so little. The area seems to be aware that the Methodist Church is at work in the area. God is truly at work.
* Always shocked when winding through the alley ways we’d find a small opening with a basketball area. Saw a bunch of kids playing barefoot on asphalt. Unbelievable. . . (i could’ve taken that particular group).
* Nina, don’t worry about your daughter. Anne and I are carefully watching over her. Pastor Paul and the DS seem to be dead set on finding her an eligible man. They always delight in introducing her as the single Monika Bautista. The Bishop even commented that they should be sure that these men are really single. . . We’re visiting the semminary on Monday and Pastor Paul and the DS have high expectations of finding some possibilities. They have high standards. Summa cum laude minimum! We’re all looking out for the best interest of your daughter.

God is Good, All the Time!
Lance

Protected: Day Two – Monika

mbautista — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 15:34:58 +0000

Protected: Day One – Lance

mbautista — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 12:19:42 +0000

Souper Bowl of Caring: Children’s Ministry

Admin — Sat, 29 Jan 2011 19:08:07 +0000

On Sunday, February 6th, 2011, 140 million Americans will tune in to the Super Bowl football game. There will be parties with abundant food, friendship and fellowship.

At the same time, there will be people worrying about staying warm, finding shelter and a hot meal at the Centerville Free Dining Room located in Fremont, CA.

Please join young people around the country as they demonstrate God’s love by loving their neighbors through Souper Bowl of Caring. It’s a simple, yet significant act of caring for others.

Drop $1 in the soup pot our children are carrying as you leave worship service on February 6th. Our Kingdom Kidz are developing hearts for giving that can last a lifetime. Please support their efforts.