From Derek:
As most of you know, over the last month I have been just a wee bit excited about Jenn’s return ♥️ She arrived back in Asia on May 17 after a long but fruitful three months apart! It is taking some time for her to adjust and settle in as she arrived exhausted. Jenn took on a lot of work to better prepare us for the transition to living and serving again full time overseas. What didn’t get taken care of we will try to do from abroad or when we return for a visit some day. We are back to living by faith in a cross cultural ministry environment. We have always lived this way and it is more familiar and in line with our mission leading experience.
Note from Hope the Island Canada. Living by faith means that Derek & Jenn do not receive a salary from Hope for the Island and live entirely dependant upon God’s provision through personal donations. Their income is dependant on donations specifically indicated for them personally through Youth with a Mission or Hope for the Island.
Arriving with Jenn was our furry Canadian turned island girl Daisy 🙂 It was a long and tedious process but Makana’s dog Daisy has made the move. She is adjusting incredibly well to a very different world with all the new sights, smells and humidity.
Jenn & Daisy
Before departing the smog of Manila we were requested to make a personal appearance at the Bureau of Immigration. We have been trying for months to recover our permanent residency visas that expired while we were out of the country as requested by the Canadian Embassy when the area we were in became dangerous for foreigners.
After an exhausting eight hours of being sent from office to office, our visas were signed and approved! Having our residency secured is critical because of the nature of the work we are involved with here.
Bureau of Immigration
As mentioned in our last update we are preparing to fill every livable space at HOPE with those seeking to temporarily serve alongside us. The Ywam Maui team and our mission equip crew have been with us for a while now. It has been a joy to get to know and mentor them as they develop in Christlikeness. They are nearing the last couple of weeks on their discipleship training journey in Philippines. Each one on the team has been eager to serve and help wherever needed. There have been consistent tests that made way for growth. As they’ve stepped out in obedience and faith, God has been using them. As a result of their team building relationships with high school students, up to fifty youth have now been coming out to HOPE weekly! We are creating a space where everyone coming is welcomed and treated like family. That has and will continue to be where we see long term spiritual fruit.
Serenading Livia on her Bday
High School visit to invite students to ministry night
Youth evening at HOPE
We are currently in a staffing transition that we know God will provide for. We had an incredible celebration honouring Jing’s 19 years serving with us at HOPE. Jing and Randy leave for Manila with our love and support. God has been preparing and leading others to fill some much needed leader role boots.
Randy & Jing
We will soon have Sherben and Joh An with their young son serving alongside us. They are moving to HOPE from a neighboring town. They contacted me the day after I heard about Jing and Randy’s plan to take the Pastor role at a church in Manila. Sherben and Joh An have longed to join the HOPE team for years. God’s timing!! This couple love the Lord and come with recommendation because of their God honouring character and experience serving faithfully in their village. Thank you God for your provision!
Sherben & Joh An
Our Home Visitations / Bible studies have been growing. There is such a positive response in part because of the great need and new found struggles people have experienced since the typhoon devastated our island. Each week some of those being ministered to come to visit and fellowship with us at HOPE. Now saved, they desire to know God and open His Word.
Home Visitation
Home Bible Study
Neighbors have already been persecuting them as a result of these new steps taken to follow the Lord and take their faith seriously. There have been requests asking us if they can come for consistent fellowship at HOPE!! This is confirmation as to what we have felt God preparing us for. We are planning and preparing at some point to open up one afternoon each week to hold a church service at HOPE that welcomes everyone God is drawing. We will call it HOPE Family Fellowship. This will provide a consistent space for those we already minister to. They will be part of the body where they can grow and serve. We anticipate God drawing many others to faith and fellowship who are currently alone, struggling and blinded by sin.
HOPE Campus ministry and After School Clubs have been operating for a few months now. Beyond access to high schools, we have also been invited into the local elementary school. This weekly ministry is with the grade 4, 5 and 6! Unfortunately recent campus ministries were cancelled by the Principal and Department of Education due to super typhoon MAWAR that loomed over the Philippines.
The Principal gave us a list of student who are struggling and in desperate need of tutoring! Jerbie is passionate about helping others overcome barriers because of all that God helped him overcome.
With Jenn back we will start the volleyball club. This will develop students physically and provide us more opportunity to open God’s Word to disciple these youth.
Kid’s Ministry is fruitful and has expanded again into a neighbouring town. Adding this new area has brought with it opposition and persecution from some religious groups who feel threatened by our programs there. Pray for wisdom and courage as we continue to serve in face of this threat. Pray for me as I seek God for the right opportunity to meet with the leaders of these groups. I will share our love for Jesus and the vision of our Kid’s Ministry.
Loving locals
Continue to keep our widows in prayer. So many of them express that they feel their strength really fading and the end drawing near for them. The intense summer heat is not helping with this struggle. In tears and with slurred speech Nanay (mother in our language) Etan said she feels so weak and is trying to hold on until her birthday in July.
Nanay Etan with Makana
Widows Ministry
Prayer & Encouragement for Nanay
Tatay (father in our language) Baquero loves to worship the Lord and prays intently. He is almost deaf. Jerbie felt prompted by God to give Tatay his own new hearing aid. It was incredible to witness this sacrificial act of kindness and the joy it brought Tatay to hear again!
Tatay Baquero
Nanay Linda faces age related health challenges and is always in fear. She is ready to leave her home because of the abuse at the hands of her own son. The son became unstable mentally after an infected appendix years ago. The first abuse came in an attack of biting. That incident left her with out the tip of her nose and a mangled ear.
Nanay Linda
These dear widows and many others are so precious to the Lord! Pray we can effectively and compassionately care for each of them. Even at this late stage of life we encourage them to trust and grow in Christ until they see Him face to face where they will be conformed spiritually and physically in His glorious image.
In Christ
Derek & Jenn
