Update from Joe

Grace and peace. I apologize that this update didn't make it here sooner. As we continue to work hard to make all communication with Joe and Sarah seamless, we often still find "seams" that need mending. Email is one of those seams that often rears it's ugly head. We've had Joe's emails get picked off as spam, get intercepted for some reason before even getting here, and just plain get lost in cyber-space. In any event, we will not be shaken. With that, here is an update from Joe from just after the team left the Philippines. Thanks for your patience and partnership in the Gospel!! Mike


Hey everyone. How are things? I just wanted to drop a line and give everyone an update. So the trip is over and we have used the last two days as a relaxation time while we recoup some energy. The time with the team from America was great!! Every aspect was amazing and anointed by the Lord. As I already informed you, there were 700 follow-up cards turned in and many more that were not. Only the people who recieved the Lord recived a card. The week after the crusade with only the U-turn and YFC teams were also very action packed with outreaches scheduled throughout every day starting at about nine and ending around four. What a busy time of ministry and fellowship. Many lives were touched with the love of Christ through the team. While here, there were two pastors conferences and one youth conference. All three went very well. I was given one session to teach on 2 Thess. 3.1-5 and it went great! Cooking for that many people was a real challenge but the Lord is good and all went ok. We ended the trip with planting a church in Hernani, a neighboring borangai to Macarthur where we did the crusade. It was a huge blessing to be a part of the trip here as we prepare fo our move to Thailand. We were also blessed to spend a day woth Dan and Becky in Tacloban and even more of a blessing to see how to deal with hardship while on the field. As most of you know, his mother passed while he was here serving. Remember to pray for the family. Like I said, it was a blessing to see how a man of God deals with this sort of thing. After two days of "rest", they began a huge remodel at my house, which involved removing about thirty feet of block walls from my downstairs; not very relaxing. We are headed to the west side of the island for a few days to do some paperwork and say goodbye to so many poeple we have grown so close to and will miss very much. After this, we will pack and begin our next step. Please continue to pray for this as I know you are. Also pray for the Fletchers as they put their hand to the plow to join us in this move. Our health is ok and we love you guys. I am hoping to get some photos this week while on the other side of the island. We love you and covet your prayers. God bless.