January 2024 - Quarterly Updates
Please watch the video above to hear updates from our three missions partners! And read on below for more details on how to pray for and support these organizations.
Abundant Grace of God Maternity Center & Macad Family Update
Macad Family:
We hope and pray that you all enjoyed a wonderful holiday season. We have been back in the Philippines for a full year now after our furlough year in Canada. There have been quite a few changes for us – but also a lot of things that remain the same!
Emmaus (15) started boarding school in August at Faith Academy in Manila. This is an American school which was created for missionary kids in Asia. Most of the students live with their families close by, but some live in dorms with other kids whose families live in other parts of Asia. Emmaus has joined the rugby team this Fall which is a great outlet for him. Georgia has been to visit him a few times since August and the family video chats regularly.
Lucas (13) has started attending the local public high school with thousands of other local kids! He is getting back into the swing of learning Filipino again and has joined the basketball program there.
Zion (11) is back at his old school where he attended before Covid. He was remembered by all his old classmates, and this made the transition back to regular school a lot easier. He spends most of his free time playing basketball and biking with neighborhood friends.
Achao has a few different projects on the go (farming, renovations, and repairs) and he has been driving staff and visitors all over the island (Luzon) for various seminars and events.
Georgia had many opportunities this year to invest in local midwives at the clinic as well as the surrounding community. She will finish her dissertation in January and is excited to see what new opportunities her degree will open for her to advance midwifery and maternal health care in the Philippines.
The Abundant clinic staff continue to care for hundreds of women every year. Every family that comes to our clinic is prayed for and cared for like a family member. We are very blessed to be able to offer competent and compassionate midwifery care for all families, no matter what situation they are in.
Thank you for being a part of the wonderful group of supporters that makes it possible for us to be here working in the Philippines!
Love, Achao, Georgia, Emmaus, Lucas, and Zion
Our Center:
Our clinic has been busy this last quarter of 2023!
This month of November we had 30 babies born under the loving and competent care of the Abundant midwives. First time mothers attended labor and birth seminars led by Abundant staff midwives, and Georgia travelled to Manila to offer a neonatal resuscitation training for some amazing local midwives. We continue advocate for equity in maternal health care in Kalinga and for empowering of local midwives.
Thank you for your support as we share God's love in this practical way in the Philippines!
Thank you for Sponsoring and Supporting AGGMC & The Macad Family
Prayer Requests:
Thank you for praying for us!
Please pray for:
Lucas and Zion to continue adjusting back to the local school
Georgia to complete her dissertation on time! (Jan 24)
Achao's safety as he drives patients, visitors and staff.
Emmaus to have a good end to his first semester at Faith Academy.
Thank you for all your prayers and support throughout the year!!
Street Hope Victoria Reflections
“How’s that chimney of yours?” came belting out of a tent on Pandora Avenue. It was King David. This one was never a shepherd, but he used to be a stone mason. When we met about 10 years ago, he introduced himself to me as King David, and the name has stuck. At that point, Street Hope was using an RV, and people would join us in the renovated space and enjoy a cup of soup and a sandwich. One evening I was behind the sandwich counter, making countless cheese whizz, PB and J, or Nutella sandwiches to order, and King David started telling me about his life as a stone mason. At that point, my husband, Tim, and I were about to start some renovations on our house, and I asked him how hard it would be to take down a chimney. Not hard at all, apparently (which we soon learned was true), and received detailed step-by-step instructions (and a healthy dose of confidence that yes, indeed we could do it).
And so, on that recent December evening when we were spending time with some people in the Pandora community, King David’s comment was a reminder of what he had given me and who he is. He is more than a person experiencing homelessness, or a recipient of our good intentions. He is a man with significant experience that he has generously shared, and that I have benefited from. As ungainly as it may be, we are in community.
King David enjoying a letter in his Christmas bag.
Giving out the Christmas bags to our neighbours in the Pandora community is always a delight. Often, something happens that shows us that God has it covered.
Although there is a posted list of suggested items to be packed in the Christmas bags, there is usually an interesting assortment of things that people pack into them. It’s impossible for us to match the present with the person, let alone go through each bag and note the items. We do pray though that God would match the gift with the person. Well once again, this past December when we were giving out the Christmas bags, God joined in and had some fun.
“Leddiygs!” I heard, and saw something being twirled in the air. I didn’t quite get what was being shouted, so I crouched down beside a young woman who was sitting on the cold, damp sidewalk on Pandora in front of Our Place. She was twirling a dark coloured clothing item in the air while various items from a Christmas bag tumbled off her lap onto the ground. I had to ask her repeatedly what she was saying, and with a huge sigh, and exaggerated slowness she enunciated “leggings, I got leggings in my Christmas bag.”
Leggings are a very unusual item to be put in a Christmas bag; they are not on the list of suggested items, and the usual clothing items include a hat, gloves or socks. The woman plucked at the leggings she was wearing. “I only ever wear leggings and now I can take these off and wash them and wear these new ones.” She was thrilled. I saw God wink.
Thank you for Praying and Giving
Please continue to pray for SHV and the people living on Pandora especially as the days and night gets colder. Pray that through our words and actions we may be able to share the warmth and love of Jesus and they may know his great love for them. Thank you for your support!
Supporters can either e-transfer to financial thresholdminitries.ca or cheque with SHV in the comments.
If you wish to pay any other format, please click here if you’d like to support SHV!
InterVarsity Victoria: Ministry of Encounter
Snapshots of Evangelism in Victoria
Two years ago, I moved to Victoria and began praying for God to send us students who were curious and open to exploring faith. Since we started praying, there has been a steady stream of spiritually curious, non-religious students participating in our fellowships. We love them!
These students are like Cae, a student who is a practicing Wicca and got involved in our Camosun lunch and discussion group last winter. Cae dropped by our group, after hearing our meaningful and fun conversations go on in the classroom next door to us for several months while she ate her lunch alone. Now, we are Cae’s primary student community and Cae is excited to join us for scripture camp in May.
These students are also like Victor, an international student from Nigeria. Victor dropped by our Open House Dinner & Discussion Group in November with two of his friends. Now he’s a regular and already texting me to ask what “Pastor Alan” believes on this or that issue.
Students who follow Jesus in Victoria are taking notice and are recognizing that their friends are encountering God in our fellowships in Victoria. Students like Simon are making radical choices to be generous with their money by covering half of the food costs at our weekly Open House. Why? Because he wants the way he uses his money to show his love and commitment to serving as a faithful witness here in Victoria on his university campus. We’re praying for more student leaders like Simon.
Positive Public Presence at UVIC
Last spring, we hosted an Amazing Race competition on campus. Planed by five students, hosted with thirty volunteers, we were blown away by the 100 students and 30 volunteers who joined us for the event. Will you help us run a second Amazing Race event this year?
To give to our Growing Momentum Fundraising Initiative, click here!
2024 Fundraising Target
Thank you for partnering together with the witnessing communities God is planting at UVIC & Camosun College! I am anticipating a need of $1700/month for the upcoming 2024 year. Would you consider making a special gift of $1000’s or more this year?
To partner with Alan and give online, please click here!