Administrator

Dear friends,

This past summer Lorrie and I traveled across the United States and visited with our friends, supporters, and fellow missionaries. As we traveled we were encouraged by many and hopefully encouraged many as well.

In June we attended a “Salt and Light” conference at Bethel Church in Redding, California. The emphasis was for us as Christians to positively affect our culture wherever we may live and work. The worship and teaching were excellent! After the conference, we returned to Alaska and met with friends, family, and churches.

As I write, we are in Ireland visiting our daughter Heather and her husband Noel and their children. Noel pastors a multicultural church in the city of Portlaoise and Heather is involved in children and women’s ministry. Lorrie has ministered at a women’s group and met with women individually. I have spoken at two of the services and look forward to meeting with the men’s group as well as with some of the leaders this week. As a bonus, we are planning a visit with our youngest son Jeremy and his wife Nicole in Finland. They attend nursing college there and plan to do mission work in Africa in the future.

After Ireland and Finland, we are scheduled to return to the Philippines where we will speak at our annual pastor’s conference in October. We are excited to be back with our friends and co-workers there.

While we have been traveling, Amy has ministered in the Philippines. She states:
“The last month has been hectic. Planes, vans, buses, ferries, tricees, pedicabs, motorbikes and good ol’ foot.
Over the river and through the jungle, to Camporag Church we went! Across a log bridge over a flooded river and through the pouring rain.
I was privileged to be the guest speaker at the Camporag Church’s fourth anniversary service. Getting there was an adventure, to say the least! The theme was “Standing Together In Unity” and this really resonated with me, as I have been pondering unity lately. There is so much through the Scriptures about Unity. As so often is true, we see this principle illustrated first in the natural, then in the spiritual. To be a fully functioning body, every part needs to work together in unity and the same is true for our spiritual bodies. Whenever a part is out of sync with the rest, it’s hard to get things done. Not impossible, for ‘With God, nothing is impossible’, but certainly more difficult. We need to build each other up rather than tear down our fellow Christians.”

Thank you for your prayers and support!

Nels, Lorrie, and Amy

Dear friends,

I just turned the youthful age of 70. Now to some that may not be seen as youthful, but then you are probably much younger. I say youthful because as the years have passed I still feel young in my mind even if my body doesn’t always agree.  I remember my mom saying to me a hundred years or so ago that she felt as young as me (I was in my early 20’s at the time) only trapped in an old body. I remember not being able to comprehend how she could feel that way. Now I can.

One of the concerns I have as I walk in the autumn of my life is the next generation.  I just read a survey stating “the number of freshmen attending America’s colleges who have left their faith over the past three decades has skyrocketed.”  We personally know of many intelligent young people who have walked away from the faith of their parents. I believe a major assignment we have as we see the winter of our lives approaching is to influence the next generation for Him.

There is an old poem called “The Bridge Builder,” by Will Allen Dromgoole.  In the poem the author says,

“…The old man crossed in the twilight dim; the sullen stream had no fears for him; but he turned when safe on the other side, and built a bridge to span the tide.  “Old man,” said a fellow pilgrim, near, “you are wasting strength with building here; your journey will end with the ending day; you never again must pass this way…the builder lifted his old gray head: “Good friend, in the path I have come,” …there followeth after me today a youth, whose feet must pass this way…I am building the bridge for him.”

One of the themes of the Bible School in the Philippines is:

2Ti 2:2* And the things that you have heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.

We desire to teach what God has taught us through the years and train them to teach others as well.

Last month we had two youth camps, one at the Bible School facility and one in Palawan. Amy was one of the main speakers. She says;

“The theme for our camps this year was “Challenge: Accepted!”, and the Challenge was taken up by the youth attending, as well as those of us who were privileged to be a part of ministering and supporting the camps. There were 106 campers at the Virac Campus, with somewhere around double that  number with staff, counselors, and various assorted relatives helping out. The Palnab camp had 37 campers and forty or so support staff. Many games were played and much fun ensued, with a healthy dose of learning, worship and ministry to go along with it. Each day began at 4:30 with devotions and worship and continued on until lights out at 10:30, jam-packed with teaching sessions, worship, games, swimming, meals and fellowship. It was so wonderful to see the enthusiasm and boundless energy that these young people were filled with! Many of them accepted the call to serve and others rededicated their lives to Christ. This years theme was very appropriate for myself, as I was challenged to speak and minister even while I was sick, and did a lot of traveling-by plane, bus, van and Banca (boat), Tricee (motorcycle with a side-car) as well as by foot, through jungle, ocean and over exceedingly rickety bridges-and I am quite pleased to say that I was  not the one who fell off! It has truly been a whirlwind of a month, and I am glad to be home now (in Virac), preparing for the next school term and looking forward to all the new challenges and opportunities that will come!”

Thank you for enabling us to go and share Christ and His faithfulness to others!

Nels, Lorrie, and Amy

Hello dear friends! This is Amy.

Because of your generosity, the clean up and rebuilding after last fall’s typhoon has been going well. We have been able to replace the old windows on the front of the main school building and begin the reconstruction of the chapel. In addition to the projects, the work is providing jobs for several of the pastors.

This month we have been blessed to have Jon Dufendach from Alaska and Dan Ricciardelli from Florida teaching at the school and then Bob Bergeron also from Alaska. These men were well received and delivered some excellent teaching for the students. The students enjoy having different faces instructing them and the messages and ministry encouraged the churches where they spoke.

This week marks graduation for our third year students and the beginning of field training for our second year students. Soon they will be scattered throughout the Philippines, some to ministry, some for a short break before beginning Field Training. Please remember them in your prayers as they deal with the various issues that life brings their way. The new school year starts back again in June; we look forward to seeing all the returning students as well as the new ones that God will bring.

I have been asked to be the main speaker for the youth camps in May in Catanduanes and in Palawan. After the Palawan camp, I will visit some of our churches on that island. Many of our present and past students have been saved, re-dedicated their life, or encouraged to attend Bible School through these camps. Please pray that God will bring many to a closer relationship with Him.

Pastor Doming asked me to assist him in administrating the school this year. After much prayer, I have decided to accept the position. Please keep the school and me in your prayers! My heart is especially stirred with the plight of the students and pastors after they leave the school. It is my desire to find different ways to help them increase their income so that they will be able to support themselves.

From the Philippines,

Amy, Nels, and Lorrie

Dear friends,

It is hard to believe we already have started another new year! As often has been said, the older we get the faster time seems to travel. Lorrie just turned, while I guess she has stopped counting, and in a few months I will be the big 70. I sometimes feel like I am getting old, but am reminded that our new president is older than me and has a lot more to do before he stops.

Amy, Lorrie, and I are enjoying teaching at the Bible School and at the churches regularly. It is refreshing to share with the students, as they are always so eager to learn biblical truths. Most of the students are in their late teens or early 20’s but we have one pastor/student who is 52. He has a hunger to learn more of the Bible so he can better teach his congregation.

Two of our students are regularly conducting a Bible study in one of the villages on Catanduanes. Last week they told us that one person they prayed for was healed and another one received salvation. We believe a new church is being birthed out of this study and the kingdom of God is being expanded.

As most of you know, a very strong typhoon hit our island the end of last year. As a result many of you responded with prayers and financial aid. Because of your help, we are now replacing most of the old windows in the main school building with new ones that will not rust with the salt water. It is our plan to begin in March to construct a concrete roof on the chapel. The bamboo one was completely destroyed in the typhoon.

The students sing the song, “Blessed Be Your Name.” If you do not remember, part of the the lyrics are, “Blessed be Your name in the land that is plentiful where Your streams of abundance flow, blessed be Your name.” It goes on to say, “Blessed be Your name on the road marked with suffering though there’s pain in the offering, blessed be Your name.” No matter what we are experiencing, God is worthy to be praised.

I recently read Lamentations 3:25-26. Jeremiah writes, “The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him. It is good that one should hope and wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.” As I write this, we could reflect on some very difficult events that have happened over the past year, but I choose to remember all God has done for us in the past and expectantly anticipate the future.

They sing a song here saying, “It is good to remember the goodness of God…”. No matter what you are dealing with in your life, take time to remember all the good things He has done for you. Stir up that hope that perhaps you have lost and choose to rejoice.

Your friends,

Nels, Lorrie, and Amy