“Faith is not belief without proof, but TRUST without reservation”

By: J. Elton Trueblood

My Dear Praying Friends,

These days the Lord has been dealing with me about prayer.  I am reminded that prayer is an expression of my relationship with our Father in heaven, and in so doing, my true identity in Him is affirmed.  In this I also realize that being with you in prayers is an actual experience on how it is to be in God’s family.
Thank you for praying with me!

Last December we celebrated our 5oth anniversary in IVCF-Central and Eastern Visayas region, here in Cebu.  I was amazed to actually see the people whom I only know by names through our database.  Their faces, stories and lives are living evidences of God’s faithfulness through the years.  They filled my heart with expectations from the Lord.  They give me hope that the Lord’s work through our hands will bear much fruit in the future.  They help me dream that someday these students we are ministering to will become faithful disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ.  And during the event, we were brought to affirm God’s work in and through us in the past, present and even in the future. It makes me expectant!  Praise God for the labour of those people who were before us!

During my Christmas break I had a very wonderful time with my parents and all of my siblings who came home with their families.  Here are our pictures below when we had our family outing in Mahaba Island, Talibon, Bohol.

Last Jan. 5-15, I went to Manila for our Bi-annual staff conference.  Part of the conference is the “Vella Training” – a Dialogical Approach to learning.  As a teacher by profession, many of my strategies need to be unlearned.  The training forced me to let go of my old ways of preparing my lessons, but thank God because this new things I learned help me be more creative and effective in teaching.  What makes it more enjoyable is the time I had in interacting with my fellow staff.

After our Staff Conference I went back to campus works and area visitations. Praise God for the accomplishment of our successive True Love Waits seminars among our students, and the wonderful time with the grads and students in Bohol and Leyte in February.
Latest Pictures in student work…

Praise and Prayer:

1. Praise God for the successful events we have had in UB, Bohol and ANS- Cebu.  I had also an opportunity to disciple our young leaders in ANS in the area of their love life.  Continue to pray for the sustenance of their commitment to purity.

2.    Praise God! I have already saved about 28% of my target budget: P35,000.00 for my ever dreamt laptop computer.  Please do continue to pray for more funds to come.

3.    I thank God for the safe travel I had and wonderful time with the grads and students in Bohol and Leyte during our staff visit.  Please pray for my next staff visit in Dumaguete this March.

4.    I praise God for our students who are working so hard to raise their camp registration fees.  We are praying for 50 delegates for our high school camp (Leadership, Discipleship and Evangelistic camp this May26-31, 2008) and 9 delegates to Kawayan camp this April7-May 5.  It implies a lot of money to raise but we keep on trusting God with this.

5.    This month is the culmination of classes, making of year-end reports and planning for the next school-year.  Also, I am busy for summer camp preparations.  Please pray for God’s grace and wisdom.  I will be in KC by April 1-21 and then ISCF camp in May.  Please pray for wisdom in all of my teaching assignments.

With all our dependence in God, let us keep on trusting God with out reservation. The Lord knows our hearts, may we continue to seek God’s will in us and trough us, as we pray.

Trusting Him,

Celgen Aurestila

Staff CEV

Sharing with you slices and spices of life at my end. I had the privilege of meeting and listening to Kuya Jojo Remigio when he was here recently. It is such an encouragement to know of your great concern and loving efforts to help Inter Varsity. Thank you from all of us in the staff.

TO  BALIKATAN BRETHREN

Sharing with you slices and spices of life at my end. I had the privilege of meeting and listening to Kuya Jojo Remigio when he was here recently. It is such an encouragement to know of your great concern and loving efforts to help Inter Varsity. Thank you from all of us in the staff.

WORKWISE

Since coming back to work last October, I’ve been mostly involved in training and coordinating tasks; serving as resource person in camps and in students and new staff training events. My job description actually says I’m supposed to write (materials) but I don’t mind temporarily filling in some gaps as needed.  Please pray that I never lose sight of the truth that faithfulness to small tasks matters a lot.    I still desire to compile and organize needed materials for IVCF. This has been a long-time dream (I fervently hope this does not turn into a nightmare). In the midst of present realities and pressing needs may the Lord grant me impetus and fresh ideas as I carry on with work.

We had the National Staff Conference at Camp Jabez last January 6-12. We are grateful for times of refueling and sharpening. It felt odd though not to see familiar and dear faces anymore. As some colleagues had moved on. The call to sail afresh with trust and boldness is a constant challenge we face as a movement. Do pray for unity, diligence, and steadfast faith for us in the staff team. May we patiently and lovingly do our tasks and exercise our gifts in the particular roles we are presently given.

Preparation for the summer camps has kicked off! There’s more than enough concerns to keep minds and hands busy the coming days. Yet again, it is an exciting time to be in the midst of unfolding of graces, of changing of hearts and mind, to witness His power and grace at work! Kindly pray for all those involved in the preparation and actual running of the camps. Pray too for the students who will come that they will be ready and open to the work God intends to do in and through them. And by the way, KC turns 50 this year and a grand celebration is coming.   Hope to see more of you there.

ON THE SIDE

I have an exam and a report this week and the next. Pray for discipline and extra ‘intelligence’ to take on tons of readings, a research project and my not-so-favorite Statistics. Repeatedly, specifically during submission of major papers, I would ask myself- ‘why in the world am I studying (again)?’          Grad school remains to be on the periphery. I am taking two subjects per semester) but I am hanging on just fine. I pray that I will be able to find some good use of the opportunities offered me by this gift of schooling. Kindly pray with and for me.

HEARTBEAT

In my previous newsletter I shared with you the call to come alongside my dying stepmother. This invitation brought pain and gain. It  surfaced out mixed feelings and thoughts and became a period of sifting and shaping. My first impulse was to flee or stand from a distance but in His kindness, (though not easy) God has ushered me in to see the wonders He wanted displayed.

The past four months were especially difficult for Mama Flor but she never stopped affirming her faith in God. There was no trace of bitterness or of anger just hard-to-explain physical torment progressively sapping her strength. Last January 20, she passed away quietly. We were given enough time to say goodbye and to brace ourselves for the inevitable. But death stuns just the same. The assurance that it is not the final state comforts and spurs us on to take careful thought of how we live– just so we may know how to die. Life and death- these two seemingly opposite states are intricately linked as we are told. Life takes on a different meaning when death is in full view.

My heart does not always beat for that which is eternal or essential. It’s  wayward and it takes more than wooing and gentle nudges before ‘salvation dawns in my small stubborn heart’. Realities of suffering and lack, of dependence and faith, of mercy and sheer grace  which I have seen through this episode re-awakened me to very things His heart beats for. May I learn to listen and respond sensitively.

From my heart, I thank you for the prayers, help, and encouragement extended to me and my family.  I am grateful to and for all of you. The Lord saw to it that enough provisions poured in. He is indeed the Lord of the living and the dead!
ON FIRM GROUND

‘On Christ the Solid Rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand…’

This line from a familiar hymn captures what I wish to hold on to this new year. May I not forget that Christ remains the focal point. And that He is the solid rock on which I stand. Do pray that this will be real to me each day.

The truth that we’re not standing on just any ground but that we have our footing secure in Christ gives us hope in the face of the changing dollar rates and the volatile socio-political situations, in the midst of personal crisis or ministry transitions. We can be at peace and remain unmoved, because in Him, through Him, and for Him all things hold together! (Col. 1:19)

I pray that you experience His steady hand and unchanging grace in moments you need them most.  May the Lord keep you ever safe and mindful of His presence too.

Grateful for your partnership,

Mutya

Shalom!

Flashback of ‘07

Fifteen years  passed since I  graduated from  college.  I  feel  my brain stagnated which seems  need updating.During  my birthday last December,  I  was  led to  take stock of  my life’s journey. I am so grateful for this gift to study. This is  one  rare opportunity that I  can  avail  in  my lifetime.    I  am  also  thankful  for  God’s  gift of  life and work of grace. How can I ask for more?

Student life continues  to  be very tough and full of challenges. I am stretched to the limit. I hope for more creative juices to be squeezed out. I take each  day a  step at  a time in order  to  cope with what lies  before me  day  after  day.  Despite difficulties,  God’s  grace sustains  me  and I  am increasingly encouraged. I hardly go out and most of  the time,  I  am  at  DTC.  The  week  seems  to  be endlessly  busy.  It is  amazing  how God knows  my every need. He surprises me by bringing in friends. They are breathers when the place here seems to be dull  and  dreary.  These  simple  joys  that He allows  me to  experience are so  much to  cherish and treasure while I’m here.

Fabulous revelry in ‘08

The Year  2008  started with two weddings  in my family,  my cousin’s and then my brother’s.  The sad  part was that I missed both of these special occasions.  I  had to  be in Singapore to renew my student visa in two  weeks  before it expired. Female students are given only six months visa.

Last February 7-8  was  public  holiday in Singapore.  The Chinese community celebrated Chinese New Year,  and by tradition it’s  a 15  days celebration. Some schools had a one-week holiday just to  give ample time for  foreign students  to travel  to  Mainland China  to  celebrate this important family  tradition.  For  us  here at  DTC,  it
was a 2 days break and was supposedly our chance to  catch up with our  readings  and final assignments.  However,  there  were make up classes for subjects affected by the schedule. I had my first steam  boat  dinner  during  our  pastoral group Chinese New Year celebration.

Fast Break

March 1-16  is  our  short break. Everyone of us looked forward to this time  out.  It is  a time  to  just relax, stretch, and have long hours sleep. It is also a time to reflect on what God has  done to  our  lives  the past term. Thank  God for  Sabbath.  Whew!  The days  pass  so quickly.  One more  term  and I  have already done one school year!! God indeed is good!!
In your prayers remember me…

* Pray  for  my  studies  that I’ll have understanding, wisdom & knowledge to write my papers.
* Pray  for  obedience &  faithfulness  in  words  and deeds: my personal walk with the Lord.
* Pray for renewed  strength &readiness  for the  4th Qtr.
* Pray for my ministry field involvement

Thank  you for your  prayers  and partnership.  Thanks  too  for  sharing  your  life’s journey which encourages  me,  knowing  that our God is  gracious  to deliver  us  when we are in difficult situation.  There  is  no  doubt  that He  is sovereign in His ways.

In His grace,

Yvette

“Live and Love for Christ”
Erickson and Dot Velardo’s Prayerletter
February 2008

Dear IVCF Family,

The Lord had prepared another path for us to take. Erickson was recently appointed by the IVCF Board of Trustees to be the next IVCF

With Manang Gene Ambo, a grad based in New York

National Director effective June 1, 2008.  This new direction entails a lot of changes: in our responsibilities, community, family dynamics, and our home.  At his nomination in October, we were quite resistant to this shift. But since then, we saw how the Lord had prepared both of us for this change.  At present, we are ready to obey and are excited to this new call the Lord had given us.  It’s true that we are overwhelmed and quite anxious on what the Lord has in store for us. But one thing we are sure of is that, this is where the Lord wants us to be and we are willing to be of service and to give our best.  We are humbled and honored about this.

We have shared about this to you and coveted your prayers.  And this is the Lord’s answer to our prayers.  We thank you for how you have prayed for us and journeyed with us in this.  Now, we covet your prayers all the more.

We are also overwhelmed at the responses of the IVCF community here and abroad.  We are assured of all your support.  Indeed, our confidence is in the Lord.

We  had our 5th Regional Assembly last February 23, 2008.  More than 60 students, graduates and friends gathered at the said event.  It was a time of ministry updates, and tribute to the Regional Advisory Council and Graduate Team members who had served with us, but at the same time became our goodbye to our constituents.  Our hearts are heavy in leaving, but the work does not depend on us.  We thank the Lord for how our GTs and student leaders will unite and hold the fort until we receive further  instructions from the national office.

The Graduates Christian Fellowship Baguio fundraising concerts of His Sounds followed the Regional Assembly.  The choral group rendered matinee and gala concerts.  About 200 people witnessed the performances.  We were able to raise only a small amount, yet we praise the Lord for how the students and graduates had given so much efforts in this project.  We rejoice, too, for the much enjoyed fellowship with the His Sounds people, especially with kuya Romy Pizana.  His caliber in conducting has not wavered.

The weekend had been very exhausting for the four of us especially for Dot who coordinated those events.  We thanked the Lord for strength, eye for details and for good health.

We thank you for how you will still be journeying with us in this new call.  Your love, support and encouragement mean a lot to us.  God bless you.

Trusting Him all the more,

Erickson and Dot
with Zeik and Jahd

“Somebody’s praying, I can feel it. Somebody’s praying for me
Mighty hands are guiding me to protect me from what I can’t see,
Lord I believe, Somebody’s praying for me”
These are lines of a song sang by the His Sounds and are very true to us.

Please do pray for us still:

* For planning & turnover of the work here in the region.  May the Lord raise young graduates who will be staff, GTs & regular donors.
* For preparations for our assignments at Kawayan Camp
* For our relocation to Manila by May.
* For all our travels this summer.
* For our smooth transitions and adjustments especially Zeik & Jahd.