New Beginnings

This morning we had our first church service in Guinhawa, one of the barangays we have been working in. It is truly overwhelming to think about all the details that have happened for this to take place. Here is a breakdown from the past couple of years that my mom wrote out today in an update:


July 2010 - Lesia Mooney and I met Cita while walking down the street in Guinhawa. Cita gave us some bananas. We wanted to share the gospel with her but Cita's English was not too strong and our Tagalog was virtually nonexistent. We said we would come back with Benji to interpret for us.

July 2010 - July 2011 - We looked for Cita but could never find her home. Even with Christie staying in the Philippines for 5 months that year, she was never able to locate Cita.

July 13, 2011 - Benji and I reconnected with Cita as well as her husband Midel and her sons. We were able to share the good news of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. They prayed to received Jesus as Savior. We instructed them in simple Bible study.

July 2012 - Visted Cita and her family and continued with some basic Bible study.

July 2013 - At Cita's request, we started a Saturday evening weekly Bible study in her home. Cita invited friends and neighbors. One by one, people got saved and began attending the Bible study.

July 2013 - July 2014 - Benji continued the Bible study. Cita and Benji visited friends and neighbors sharing the gospel and inviting people to the Bible study.

April 2014 - Reymark, an 18-year-old young man, came to Christ as a result of the Bible study.

June 2014 - Reymark enrolled at Mindoro Bible College to prepare to be a pastor.

June 2014 - Reymark's mom was saved.

July 13, 2014 - Three years from the day that Cita was born into the family of God, we had the first church service in her home with over 65 in attendance. The morning started with separate Bible studies for adults, youth (led by Reymark), and small children. This was followed by a worship service with music, prayer, and a message. We ended by enjoying a lunch of pancit, spaghetti, and chicken soup.

the congregation

Reymark, mom, and Cita