Worship Under the Mango Trees in the Philippines

In the middle of the rural fields of the provice of Nueva Ecija north of Manila in the Philippines,  brothers and sisters with Harvesters Christian Fellowship worship under the large mango trees that shade their family's hamlet. They have no shelter to keep them dry during the rains which begin in early June and build as the typhoon season rolls in.

On May 26 I joined the growing church to celebrate their 2nd official anniversary as a church. Some of the brothers and sisters testitifed with heartfelt sincerity of healings, of ansered prayer for work, for hopes fulfilled.

As the designated preacher for the day I spoke about Christ Jesus' first mention of the church, and its ultimate victory over the influences of evil. "I Will Build My Church". 

The congregation is excited becasue they own a nearby lot of land and are expecting to build a church building in the coming year.

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Hey!  If you are interesting in learning more about our work, drop us an email at akbushes@gmail.com.

Thanks!

To Manila

Visiting the Harvesters Christian Fellowship is always a spiritual lift.  The perseverance, joy, servanthood and willing to go the extra mile of the brothers and sisters always is a challenge to me.  Andrew will  be arriving in Manila in mid-May for three weeks of ministry with the team. The schedule is formidable, never a dull moment, but the highlights will be a day-long training for key workers from all the congregations, and a four day retreat for senior pastors in the Baguio in the mountain provinces.  Baguio is the summer capitol of the Philippines. Its cool air is a huge relief from the intensity of the summer heat in Manila. The market in the center of the city is an awesome experience.Vendors of everything imaginable, but especially of vegetables which are grown in the rich mountain soil, clog the covered market.

Doors Close to Service on the West Bank

For the last six years the government of Israel has been making it increasingly difficult to obtain and renew a visa for voluntary service in Israel and in the Palestinian Territories. Their restrictions have become more Draconian in recent weeks.  The Ha'Aretz newspaper now reports that Israel will no longer issue from the Ministry of Imigration volnteer visas for NGO (non-governmental organizaitons) workers. Volunteer visas of only a few months' duration will be issued by the military authorities in the West Bank.  It would appear that this is an attempt to restrict any services reaching needy Palestinian communities. Also, it is moving the West Bank towards the complete isolation that now seals Gaza. For those who already have received visas from these military authorities, the length of visas have been issued, for no clear reason, for  various lengths lengths of time. This leaves hundreds of aid workers up in the air as to their status.  We are praying that we can continue to travel in and out of the West Bank.  The door is closing for vital ministry.