Weekly update 5/8/08
Well with the transition I have not been making these weekly updates, but as life is starting to settle back into a groove I’m going to start trying to keep up again.
We have started to move into our place here in Manila. We are getting set up and planning to start language school on the 19th of this month. We are excited but a little scared. Please pray for grace to learn Tagalog.
As well as moving into a new place we have had some wonderful opportunities. We are developing some relationships with neighbors and such and also I (Jeff) have already preached twice and I am planning to preach for the next 3 Sunday nights. During our time here in Manila we will be working with an already established church. Cross and Crown Baptist Church is a loving group of believers and we are already enjoying getting to know them, worshiping with them, and ministering with them. I love to preach and the folks here are comfortable enough with English that I can preach in English and they can understand. They have already mentioned that they are looking forward to the day I can preach to them In Tagalog. I too look forward to that day.
Thank you all for your prayers.
Posted by Jeff Stutzman on Thursday May 8, 2008
Weekly update 4/23/08
WOW after that last update life got really crazy.
God provided all we needed for our support and our outgoing fund. We got all our stuff done, took one last load to SC. We spent one week with family in the Greenville area and then flew out of Atlanta.
We landed in Manila on Sunday the 20th. So far this week we have done some research into the language school and also housing. Tomorrow we should be looking at possible apartments to rent.
Please remember to pray specifically for our adjustment to the time zone and also for a good apartment for the time in Manila.
Thank you all for the prayers.
Posted by Jeff Stutzman on Tuesday April 22, 2008
Weekly update 3/10/08
This week in the Life of Jeff and Heather.
Boxes shipped, plane tickets in hand, team members in process, and goodbyes started.
Our boxes left our home last week and they should be getting on a boat today (Monday March 10th). We ended up with 13 boxes packed and shipped out. We have another 5 weeks before leaving but due to shipping time we needed to get them headed over before us.
Our plane tickets arrived in the mail and so now we have them in our hands just waiting on the day we get to use them.
Some wonderful people from our church came over last Saturday and helped us move out of our trailer and into the cabin and we are now living in the cabin and getting it ready to be used by vacationers.
This past week we spent Thursday Friday and Saturday delivering some of our stuff to St Louis, some of it went to family for long term storage and some of it went as gifts to family. When we left the goodbyes started because some of Heather’s family is not able to come to Atlanta to see us off. It is difficult to say goodbye but we are excited to be leaving soon.
We have also talked to a young couple that has been interested and they have told us they are beginning the process of joining our mission board so they can join us in the Philippines. We will provide more details after they are “officially” accepted by the board.
Our support has also grown to just over 95% leaving us needing less than $150.00 per month to be at full support. Our departure fund has also grown to the point that we only need about another $6,000.00 to have every thing we budgeted.
Please keep praying for our last minute details. We have lots to accomplish before getting on that plane but we know God will provide and take care of us.
Thank you all for your prayers.
Posted by Jeff Stutzman on Monday March 10, 2008
