This Mission Has Begun

After nearly a year of training, practicing and praying, the mission has finally begun. The first batch of our team landed yesterday and today was our first day in the field.

Today was a fully packed day for our missionaries. Interestingly, our first day began with a funeral. A "church mother" or "nanay" had gone home to the Lord and we began our day visiting the family. Our mission is about being the Salt of the earth and the Light of the world. We are here to bring people hope and share Christ and yet we begin with death. But our mission director (My dad), Virgil said this, "If you don't understand death you will never understand life". And I think that this helped a lot of our missionaries to realize how important our job is here.

After visiting with the family, we proceeded to the town of Mangaldan, which is right next to Dagupan City where we are based. We were able to share the gospel with a lot of children via beaded bracelets. It was thrilling, amazing and a bit overwhelming at times

But perhaps, the highlight of the day was reuniting with our most beloved brothers and sisters at EMC Dagupan and especially the children. Words really can't describe how the missionaries, especially us veterans who are returning to the Philippines feel.

Our mission continues tomorrow, please pray for us and for the missionaries who will arrive in the coming days! (Pictures to follow soon!)

-Melissa M
(Sorry for the short entry...it's getting late)

Meet a Missionary: JP (aka JPizzle, aka JPeso)

Sam & JP

Since my last encounter in the summer of 2010, I've been anticipating to go back and reunite with EMC Dagupan and friends ;). God has opened doors for us to go back in the summer of 2012 and we have been preparing for months now. Above all, we are preparing for Christ's return and spreading the gospel to the ends of the earth! God has called me to be a light in the darkness and salt in a bitter world. To be able to join in what God is already doing in the Philippines is a privilege and honor that demands me to bruise my knees in prayer! Besides brushing up on my tagalog, I'm excited to share with the youth, the students, the leaders, the servants, the poor, the needy, the rich, the powerful, the widows and orphans that my God is bigger than life! And as people who are redeemed through Christ's sacrifice on the cross, we have a hope... we have a purpose... we have a light.



-JP

DON'T FORGET!!!!

Hey everyone, don't forget EMC International's Gala Dinner will be held this Saturday, June 16 at 6pm. We hope it will be a night of inspiration to all who attend and participate. For those who are unable to make it, continue to pray for us and our mission. We're down to our last stretch!

-Melissa M.

Meet A Missionary: Sarah

As the mission trip draws near, I can feel anxiety, hope, and excitement beginning to set

in. There is so much to look forward to - especially in what God has planned for us - that 

I can hardly wait to set foot in the land called the Philippines. With all the hard and amazing work

and preparations that Tito Virgil has put in along with the mission team, I hope that when we

get there, we will be able to touch the hearts of the people that we reach out to. A part of me

is truly looking forward to meeting the beloved people of the Philippines that are often talked about

L: Vicky, R: Sarah

by the previous mission team and the other part of me wrestles with knowing that once I've

experienced the mission, the real struggles and the truth of the need for Christ in unreached

places of the world, I cannot stay silent nor be unknowing. But I cannot wait to meet and work

with the staff, the teams, and children. There's so much that we can learn from each other

that I only hope that I give back as much as I am give!

-Sarah

Meet A Missionary: Vicky

It's hard to conceive what being in the Philippines will be like. I've never been to the Philippines before. I've seen pictures, but seeing a place through pictures and actually having been in a place are different experiences. Yet, even though I have never been to the Philippines, I can sense the importance of the mission that we will do there. My hope for our time in the Philippines is to win souls and raise up disciples who are passionate about loving and serving the Lord and others. My hope for myself in the Philippines is to learn what it means to be the salt and light for Christ in the world.

-Vicky

EMC International's Mission Benefit Gala

Your generous support of $50 per seat (or more) is appreciated! Limited Seating Available.
Please RSVP by contacting us at missionebenezer@gmail.com or emcphilnyblog@gmail.com.


Thank you.

Meet A Missionary: Rebekah

Hi, my name is Rebekah, and for the longest time I’ve been hearing great things about the Philippines! I’ve heard inspiring stories, seen touching photos, and have felt so much excitement to experience the Philippines for myself this summer! The 2012 Philippines Mission has been long anticipated, and as the date of our flight draws nearer and nearer, I can’t help but feel eager to meet all of the amazing people I’ve heard so much about. I must be honest, at the same time I feel a bit scared, because a mission like this for me is entirely new. I still don’t know exactly what to expect, but I know it will be something unforgettable! I know that God will move in great ways, through our missionaries and through our fellow brothers & sisters in the Philippines! I hope to really make a difference during this Mission, and I have no doubt that the Philippines will greatly impact my life as well!
I can’t wait!
-Rebekah