We have been ministering in the Philippines since 2010. After learning Tagalog, the national language, in Manila we moved north to begin church-planting among the Ga’dang (GAT-dung) people. Raising five children and homeschooling them in a remote village is a lot like doing the same in Canada—just with more electric fans and no winter boots. In fact, that was one of the things the Lord showed Valerie as we were considering the immense need of more workers on the mission field. One day, Valerie was hanging cloth diapers on the clothesline and thought, I could be doing this anywhere in the world, couldn’t I? Why not overseas? Sure, there are a few more interruptions—people at the door needing medical attention or any manner of other things—but the Lord gives grace for all of that!
The Ga’dang of our village are steeped in a religion that has blinded them to the wonderful grace of salvation that God offers through Jesus Christ. Instead they seek God’s blessing and healing by trying to do good works.
We praise the Lord that we were able to finally teach the first phase of Bible lessons in 2020 along with our co-workers, Polter & Claudi Pulac. It was a great privilege to declare to them that Christ has paid our sin-debt in full. Two ladies have come to Christ and others are still listening to the teaching of God’s Word. Pray for the Holy Spirit to break through the lies that hold the Ga’dang in bondage.
In 2024, we transferred to the city to take a leadership role for our mission in the Philippines as Personnel Director. In this role we will help form the vision of our mission here, provide care to our members and onboard new missionaries, volunteers and short-term teams.