Please enjoy the update from Mitch.
Today is Thursday and it is beautiful in Cebu! I am participating in a youth camp with about 75 students from the neighborhood and school around Wesley Home for Youth. It is going very well! Yesterday we talked about Jesus being a Lifesaver. Thanks to the Men group for the hundreds of Life Saver candies that were given out at the school, the community and at Wesley.
Today we are focused on the cross as the way of salvation. The cross necklaces that the Keenagers (a church group) sent were a BIG hit. All of the kids are wearing them! The music is wonderful and the learning activities are very good. Our Wesley students are actually leading many parts of the camp. I am so proud of them!
Pastor Lemuel is doing well. He has done a wonderful job of pulling this camp together. I met with Pastor Jerusalem on Wednesday. He is a wonderful man with a heart for ministry - especially with students. I think his commitment to Wesley Home will be strong and vital in our mission. The social workers on staff are wonderful. They have been with us only 2 months, but have made such an impression on the students. Mam Linda (our YaYa - cook) tells everyone hello. Her food is amazing.
Met with DSWD representatives - who continue to be very supportive of Wesley Home for Youth. The home is doing very well. The new comfort room and study room for the boys are great! The next group could possibly paint while here. Many improvements to the Chapel, kitchen and office since I was here last. All are very good.
Continue to be in prayer for the possibilities of building on Camotes. The need here is great!
Glenn is doing well. He will be working this summer and making money. Jolly has grown 10 feet tall. Not really, but he is growing and still has that amazing smile. It is good to see Ronilo again too. He is still quiet, but he is beginning to talk with me more and more. The girls are all doing well. Emily is such a strong young lady. Judy Ann is such a joy - and such a character. Catherine, Michelle and Jereluz all say hello. It has been fun to meet the new students here at Wesley. This week we will celebrate Dbhelinda's birthday. She will be 13.
I will be visiting and preaching at Pastor Jerusalem's three churches over the weekend. One of the churches is located in Cebu, one in Liloan and another on a different island. I am excited to meet his congregations and express to them the importance of their ministries at Wesley and pray for continued support and success.
Monday and Tuesday will be difficult as I plan to visit the dumpsites. We will do a small feeding while there. I appreciate the Bibles that were given - they will be distributed to the families in the dumpsites.
I am tentatively planning on visiting the site in Camotes on Tuesday afternoon. Pastor Lemuel will be staying at Wesley until next Wednesday. Then he will officially retire. We must celebrate his time here - he has done much to care for our students and provide pastoral care. I will welcome Pastor Jerusalem to Wesley on Monday as our new Campus Pastor.
I am grateful to God for providing this opportunity. The organization at Wesley is running very well. Everything is very efficient. Our investments are being delivered in good stewardship. I miss you all. I hope to visit on Skype with our students at FUMC on their Sunday evening and with our board on their Tuesday evening meeting.
Pray for Jo and Arnell - Jo had her baby this morning at 5:00 a.m. It is a boy and she and the baby are doing fine. Arnell is a very proud papa. The baby came 2 weeks early but everything is o.k. Jo really appreciated the baby blanket and bonnet that the women of the (FUMC) church knitted. I must go now and teach a small group. Blessings to everyone and I will see you soon!
Love Mitch
There is so much to be done in Cebu Philippines! It is non-stop working, evangelizing, sharing, giving while there. Pray for strength for Mitch as he completes all of these amazing things.
Thankful, Sheryl
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