Reap News

Dear Friends and Family,

As this year ends, we want to thank all of you for your faithful support with your finances, prayers, and encouragement!

2020 and 2021 have been years of challenges as we have had to navigate the COVID virus as well as political and social changes. The one thing that has, and will, continue to remain constant is the Lord is over all and knows all. Several times this last year I have been reminded that God is not in heaven wondering what we are going to do now? He has everything in His control. We just need to take time and look to Him for His guidance and encouragement as we journey through life.

It is our prayer for you that you have a peace-filled Christmas and New Year with the Lord Jesus Christ at the center of your attention.

With the joy of our Savior,

Nels, Lorrie, and Amy

Rom 15:13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Spirit.

P.S. Remember that if you would like to give before the end of the year, to be credited for 2021 it needs to be postmarked by the 31st of December-you can also donate online at www.reapint.org/donate  Thanks!!

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.

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

re**@************ns.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.

Fall 2020

Dear friends,

Greetings from Fairbanks, Alaska!  This has been the most unusual spring and summer of most of our lives.  There have been a multitude of things happening, not only in our country, but throughout the world.  It is easy to become afraid, or discouraged, or consumed with the various events and take our eyes off of Jesus, our Savior.  Someone made a simple statement to me that helped me to walk with more joy through these times.  He said, “we need to remember that the Lord wasn’t surprised by the events that are taking place.  He knew about them from the beginning of time.”  I already knew that, but was reminded that my trust is in Him and nothing will alter His plans.  No matter what the future holds, He holds the future and He will walk with us as we look to Him.  Will the times be easy?  We do not know.  Will they be difficult?  We do not know.  BUT HE DOES.

We were planning to return to the Philippines this fall and continue with our activities there as we have for over twenty four years.  However, the Philippine government said we are not allowed to return at this time.  In the meantime, we regularly, sometimes daily, communicate on the internet with Pastor Allen, our administrator.

Pastor Joey and his wife Connie continue to develop the  livelihood project.  Among other things, they are growing vegetables, raising chickens to sell, and making compost.

We completed a much needed new maintenance building. The building will keep things stored and protected from the weather and give an area to do maintenance type projects as well as be a garage for our new tricycle.  The old tricycle served us very well and lasted for about 20 years.

School has just started.  The students are required to practice social distancing and wear masks and be careful to use hand cleaners. According to the Philippine government website, in the Bicol region where Catanduanes is located, there are approximately  5.8 million people and so far there have been 17 deaths.  I was told that there has been one death on our island. Our village remains in semi lock down with people over 60 and children not allowed to travel or go to the market.

We are looking into the possibility of doing some classes on the internet with the school this fall.  It is amazing how the internet has changed our world!  When we first moved to the Philippines, it was difficult and very expensive to even call our friends and family in the United States.  Now we can call for free and even see their faces (if our internet is working well that day).

I often quote John 16:33  These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might  have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

Tribulation is promised, but we have peace when we look to Him. And not only do we have peace, we are instructed to “be of good cheer.”  So today, I hope you are walking in peace, and yes, even are being of good cheer!

The Lord bless you!

Nels, Lorrie, and Amy