Administrator

REAP International, Inc.

Sow That you may REAP.
John 4:36

Dear Friends and Family,

In past years we would be with our Filipino friends in Catanduanes in the Philippines this time of year. Instead of experiencing -25 degree weather, we would be basking in the hot humid climate of Virac. Covid restrictions continue to make it very difficult for us to return. Lorrie and I thank each of you that have been praying for the school and for us. Please continue to pray for the government to open the doors to us again!

The school is continuing to operate despite the restrictions. We are very thankful for the internet. Regularly, we are able to converse with the staff of the school through Messenger, email, and Signal. Following is a testimony of one of the older students:

“When I heard about Bible school here in Catanduanes, I have been wanting to enroll and study there but there were a lot of hindrances at first, but after a non-stop series of praying almost every day and night, God made a way for me to finally be able to enroll. I prayed to the Lord that if it is His will, my husband would whole-heartedly agree with my decision. This step that I took was not easy for my husband who is an abaca stripper (our main source of income), as he would be working alone. In other words, studying at bible school is both a blessing and a sacrifice. I am a mother of three who are all still in college. One is a Criminology student, another is taking up BSBM Major in Marketing, and the last one is taking Technology Engineering at UP Manila. Currently, there are four of us who are studying. To be honest, this was the second time that I made a deal with the Lord. I prayed to Him that I would continue studying at Bible school, but I am surrendering my family’s financial status to Him. It is my heart’s biggest desire that the four of us will be able to finish studying, despite that being in this situation was a big challenge for my family considering that studying costs us a lot of bills. I mentioned my children here not to brag, but to show how big of a sacrifice I am doing as well as the faith that I have that God will pave us a way to victory. From the moment that I opened our house’s door, to riding a tricycle, and when I first arrived here in Bible school, I felt so blessed because I can already feel the presence of the Lord. As the days passed, He already used many good people to help and be our guide in this blessed journey. I am always blessed by how the Lord works on the lives of Kuya Boboy, Ate Ed (the assistant administrator and her husband), Ate Connie (former graduate and teacher at the school), my classmates, our teachers and all of the staff of Trinity Bible School. To God be the glory.” —JOCELYN R. TINDUGAN

I am reminded of a portion of our theme verse, John 4:38, “I sent you to reap that for which you have not labored; others have labored, and you entered into their labors.” We are so blessed to know that together with you we are reaping what others are daily diligently sowing.

May you continue to experience God’s peace and blessing during this Thanksgiving and Christmas season as you look to Him!

With thankful hearts,

Nels, Lorrie, and Amy

Pray With Us!
• That restrictions would be lifted.
• Protection from sickness for all the students and staff.
• Rebuilding of the Compound walls.

Praise:
• In spite of situations, there are 20 students desiring to be trained.
• The building construction has been completed!
• That we are able to keep in contact with everyone.

Connect with us!

REAP International, Inc.
PO Box 10972
Fairbanks AK 99710

www.reapint.org

reap@globalmissions.net

Dear Friends and Family,

Summer is quickly coming to an end here in Alaska. We have enjoyed a busy summer with family and friends amidst a time of world conflict and uncertainty.

Our daughter Heather, son-in-law Noel, and their family just left on their journey back to Ireland where they pastor. We will miss them but are comforted knowing that they are serving the Lord and directly involved in seeing His kingdom expanded in all the earth.

As most of you know, we left the Philippines a little over a year ago expecting to return in the next several months. Unfortunately, due to the COVID restrictions we are still not allowed to return. Nearly daily we can “talk” via social media with the staff of the school in Virac. However even inter-island traveling has been very limited making it impossible to receive students from other islands. Despite that, we have 20 students enrolled in this fall’s classes waiting to be allowed by the government to attend.

Since the major typhoon last fall, we have been able to repair and rebuild various structures on the campus making them better able to withstand the weather. The last major project we are just beginning is the surrounding concrete fence that was almost completely destroyed. We have an engineer designing the new wall to withstand the strong winds. Though this will be expensive we are thankful for your generous support already and are confident it will be completed in the next months.

Through your generous giving, we were able to buy computers, musical instruments, and sewing machines to replace damaged ones and to add additional ones to better equip the school. We also were able to build student lockers for the dorms.

We’re excited to know that the school is continuing to operate despite the obstacles that the enemy tries to inflict. We have the victory in Christ!

Please continue to pray for the staff, the students, and us. We know the enemy is real and as we step out to expand God’s kingdom, Satan is not pleased. We are more than conquerors in Him but join us in prayer that Christ will give wisdom and direction and protection as we advance. Thank you for your faithfulness to us!

Nels, Lorrie, and Amy

Pray With Us!

• That restrictions would be lifted.
• Protection from sickness for all the students and staff.
• Complete healing for JoJo, a former graduate.
• Completion of the Compound walls.

Praise:

• In spite of situations, there are 20 students desiring to be trained.
• Most of the construction on the building has been finished.
• Noel, Heather and family visited us from Ireland.

Dear friends,

Psalms 139 is a favorite passage for me. In essence David said, You formed me and You fashioned all my days before I was even born. It occurred to me recently that I could say of each day, “Lord, You made this day for me!” That’s an amazing thought – today was formed with me in mind. If that is the case, then in spite of all the things that are happening in the world, God is not worried! He formed this day specifically for you and me.

He says in verse 23 NKJV, “search me, O God, and know my heart; try me and know my anxieties….” Are you anxious today? Are you wondering where God is in the midst of this virus that has brought much of the world to a screeching halt? God not only knows about it, He knew right where you are at yesterday, today, and in the future. We need not worry as long as we keep our trust in Him!

Lorrie and I just returned from the Philippines. As in normal years we were teaching in the Bible School, meeting with friends and co-workers and preaching in the churches. We were planning for a visiting youth team from Iceland led by Pastor Shane from Alaska and for a pastor’s conference. Then life changed! But before I go on, let me update you on the ministry at the facility.

Pastor Joey is our livelihood manager. He and his wife, Connie, are doing an excellent job in developing the program. Connie has been studying agriculture at the local university and Joey has completed a government course on agriculture. They are using compost to improve the soil and already experiencing great results with their vegetables. In addition to vegetables, the fishpond is having an abundance of fish and even some large crabs. The chickens are multiplying with the help of our new incubator and are providing meat and eggs.

We began a maintenance building this month. When it is completed, it will provide much needed storage space and a place for some practical skill training.

As I said earlier, we had plans – but God had other plans.

With the news of the virus, restrictions came to our island. Our one flight, four days a week, was suspended. Our ferries were off limits to everyone but essential travelers. Schools were mandatorily closed as well as churches and all public meetings. Most stores were closed. Only one person per household was allowed to leave their house. No one over 60 was allowed to go to the market. Later only 10 people at a time were allowed to leave the subdivision to get essentials. Our village is probably about 1500 people. In summary, no school, no camp, no conference, no church, and no building project was allowed. Lorrie and I were officially “retired.”

Then the US Embassy posted the following notice, “…U.S. citizens who wish to return to the United States should make commercial arrangements as soon as possible unless they are prepared to remain abroad for an indefinite period….”

We decided God was saying to us, “It is time to return to Alaska.” Lorrie contacted some of her friends and governmental leaders. With help from the Department of Tourism, we were able to get a barangay (subdivision) clearance to leave, medical clearances for Lorrie and I, permission from a community liaison we knew, a ferry pass and a DOT (Department of Transportation) approved vehicle to take us to the ferry and another one to take us to Manila.

On the way to Manila, we were stopped many times by police or military personal checking our traveling papers and our temperature. We thankfully made it safely to our home in Fairbanks in less than 60 hours!

On a sad but joyful note, after arriving in Alaska, Lorrie’s brother called and said that their mother was dying. Lorrie was able to fly to Oregon that night but unfortunately, Connie died before she arrived. We are naturally sad by her passing, but thankful the Lord arranged for us to be back in the States. Connie was almost 89 years old and desired to be with her husband Gordon and with the Lord. She has successfully finished her race. She was indeed a blessing to us and to many others.

We love you and are thankful for the many that regularly pray for the ministry and for us personally!

Nels, Lorrie, and Amy

Dear Friends,

Greetings from Fairbanks, Alaska where it is easy to tell that it is winter. The temperature is in the teens, there is white snow covering the ground, and the days are short, and the nights are long. This year, Lorrie and Amy left in January for the Philippians and I stayed in Alaska recovering from open-heart surgery. They are enjoying the warm weather as they minister and visit with friends.

Below Lorrie and Amy share some of their adventures in the Philippines:

Last month, we arrived in Manila around midnight and were asked to speak at one of our churches the next day. The small building was packed with people standing outside listening and participating in the service. The praise and worship was enthusiastic and touching. Amy shared about “Being who God created you to be.” Lorrie then shared about the persecuted church and the need for all of us to pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ in difficult places.

After a busy time in Manila, we left the guesthouse around 2:30 am on our journey to Virac, Catanduanes. Around six hours later, we arrived at the mission house in Virac. We were immediately faced with the usual challenge of cleaning up after the little bugs and critters that made themselves at home in our absence. With the help of the ladies on the compound, we washed linens and did the basic cleaning needed.

I, Lorrie, always love going to the market to buy our fresh foods and vegetables. It is fun to talk to, and share Christ with, the different vendors, many of who have become friends over the years. We also have been able to become friends with many people of the city. One lovely young woman that we have known since she was a little girl was going through a difficult time. I had the privilege of praying with her and witness the power of the Holy Spirit as he worked. We were both in tears as the Lord touched our hearts.

Early one Sunday morning, we traveled North on the island. Lorrie spoke at one church and Amy spoke at another village church. After returning that afternoon, Amy spoke at the church that meets on the school grounds. We love going to the churches in the villages and being with our brothers and sisters, many of whom we have known for years. They are always so excited to have us come and they share their best foods with us after the services. The fellowship is very special!

Amy teaches English to the students during the week. Lorrie will speak this week to a group of pastors on the island and at a Valentine’s dinner next week. The attitude of the churches and the people we work with is vibrant and expecting the Lord to move so it is easy to minister by the power of the Holy Spirit! They draw it out of you!

We have new students coming in early for the school year that will start again this June. We interviewed them and heard their stories. It is amazing to hear how God calls and has saved them out of lives without purpose and put a new spark in them to seek after the kingdom of God! We look forward to meeting the other new students that God will bring into our lives this year. We are excited as we prepare to began a new school year. We have a new name, TBS (Trinity Bible School), a new administrator, new curriculum, added skill training, and an active livelihood program on the campus.

Nels, for Lorrie and Amy

Prayers & Praise

• Pray for health and continued healing for Nels’s heart.
• Pray for protection while traveling.
• Please join us in prayer for the students that are already here and the ones that God will yet bring.
• Pray also for the staff. Pray that there will be a real spirit of unity and expectancy in 2019.
• Praise God for how well this trip has gone!
• Praise God that Nels’s surgery went well!