Reap News

 

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

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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

April/May 2020

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