I came into staff with fears. The fear of living in an unwanted place and the fear of
carrying a load too heavy to bear. But in His grace, God showed His Word and made His
call clear. I responded. I arrived here in Manila, June 12, 2010, a day after my Birthday. I
carried with me the badge I received; “Go and take part of the mission!”
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prayerletter-ivcf-staff-frannie-soliven
It was at the height of excitement and expectations of what’s going to happen when I got
back to Northern Mindanao, in Cagayan de Oro specifically from the summer camps. Last
June, God made clear the treasures He has stored in my heart– the transformed lives of
the students and testimonies of the graduates which became my inspiration in doing my
work as “ate”, a partner to the graduates and supporters in the ministry. I am bleing
blessed in the business of “saint-making.”…
Read the rest of Jonah’s prayerletter by downloading the PDF copy here. Jonahliza Villaflor Prayerletter
My mind keeps lingering on the challenge posted by my co-staff in Manila
in an exposition in Acts 1:12-26. As I reflect on the passage, I continue to ask
myself, how much can I give or am I giving at all? Does it hurt me? Is it
sacrificially and sincerely done? Am I thinking of others? Does the real challenge
of student work still costs me? Am I intending to give more than I have or what
else can I give? The joy of being in a student work still fills my heart. I said to my
self, “this is another exciting year of journeying with students; there will be new
faces, personalities, and enthusiasm.”…
Read more by download a PDF copy of Ara’s prayerletter by clicking the link below.
prayerletter-ivcf-staff-arabelle-morales
FEB 2009 – On the Road
Dear family and friends,
Hello! ‘Musta na? How has the new year been for you? For us, we’ve only just recently ‘caught our breath’ after 6 weeks of traveling. Allow us to encourage you with stories of students whose hearts are burdened that other students might come to Christ.
I S C F R e g i o n a l V i s i t s
Di wth ISCF Counselors’ Training participants in Iligan CityIn early December of last year we visited three cities to conduct training and consultation for ISCF staff and volunteers. Iligan City (Dec 2-4) was our first stop. There is no ISCF ministry there yet, but most of the college students who came to the ISCF Counselors’ Training were interested in pioneering the ISCF ministry there. Princess, one of the participants, shared her personal vision: ‘I am a follower of Christ, saved and dearly loved…living a life that shows the difference of being a genuine Christian. Pleasing God is my goal and doing His will is my commitment.’
Then we spent the next four days in Cagayan de Oro City. Although there were only six participants, some of them are already serving as counselors in the current ISCF chapter in Corpus Christi and more importantly, some of them have a burden to pioneer an ISCF group in another high school. When asked why they want to serve as ISCF counselors, they jokingly answered that they had been recruited by their IVCF staff. But it was heartening to hear their real (we think!)answers. KC, a student from Xavier University shared that ‘it is God’s love that compels her and that she finds joy in serving.’ KC, KT and Quette are three lovely ladies who have just started to pioneer an ISCF group in Pilgrim Christian College.
Aldwin shared from God’s Word at the weekly IVCF Fellowship meeting in Cagayan de Oro. We met again some students whom we had known only at the summer camps. It was encouraging to see them leading their fellow students and applying what they had learned at Kawayan Camp.
Aldwin spoke at the Cagayan de Oro Panagdait (which means fellowship)Our last visit was to Cebu City where Di conducted the Counselors’ Training on two successive nights. It was refreshing to see some familiar faces. One of the participants was a graduate whom Aldwin had met in Kawayan Camp 2001. Di also worked with him at a college leadership-discipleship camp that same year. The college student we had known then is now a ‘kuya’ (older brother) to the IVCFers in Cebu and is so passionate about directing the ISCF Camp in April. We praised God for the continued service of this young man.
M o r e T r a v e l l i n g
Christmas break came and still we were not home because we spent the holidays at our parents’ home. We enjoyed get-togethers with family and friends. After New Year we were on the road again. We spent a week in Capas, Tarlac for the annual IVCF Staff Conference. Thank God for special times of fellowship and prayer with fellow staff and times of planning and consultation as well. Five days after the Conference ended, we traveled to San Carlos, Pangasinan to celebrate the wedding of a former co-staff.
T h e R o a d A h e a d
Student-leaders of the IVCF groups in UP Diliman and Ateneo de Manila plan for IV DAY over dinner at our homeIn the weeks ahead, Aldwin will be helping with Kawayan Camp (KC) preparations as pre-KC Treasurer and Travel Coordinator. Upgrading the IVCF Library and maintenance of the IVCF vehicles are up there on his to-do list as well. He’s been praying for donors for these two administrative concerns and so in preparation for God’s answers he will be drafting project proposals. Lastly, he will be doing a lot of legwork for our National Conference (NC) in December this year as he is the NC Associate Director for Administration.
Di will be working on the course descriptions for the ISCF Camp curricula. Along with Shebel and Joanne, she is also preparing for the ISCF Sibol Camp and ISCF Leadership Camp – Discipleship Camp to be held this summer.
Finally, we will visit Bacolod and Iloilo cities on February 19-21 to conduct ISCF trainings and consultations.
O u r P r a y e r f o r Y o u a n d U s
As stars shine brightest on a dark night, may the light of Christ bring us hope and courage in these uncertain times and enable us to trust Him all the more.
With much love,
Aldwin & Di with Yana
P r a i s e & P r a y e r
Praise God for the fruitful time of training and encouraging staff and volunteers for the ISCF ministry in Iligan, Cagayan de Oro and Cebu Cities last December. Please pray that the participants will share the vision of ISCF with others so that the work among high schoolers will thrive.
Praise God for our friend, Candy, whose generous donation funded Di’s regional visits this year. Praise God for Aldwin’s church friends and former students, whose donations enabled Aldwin to have the Hilander repaired in time for the LCDC and for Mike who volunteered his expertise for the vehicle repair.
Please pray that our visit to Iloilo City and Bacolod City on Feb 19-21 will be an encouraging time for ISCF staff and volunteers. Pray for Di that the trainings and consultation she will be conducting will equip them further in their ministry.
Please pray for our preparations for the IVCF National Conference in Dec. We are both serving as Associate Directors in NC – Aldwin for Administration and Di for Program.
Praise God that Yana is growing up well. She’s now a toddler – a challenging time for parents! Please pray that we might be wise and consistent in teaching her to do good and shun wrongdoing.
P a r t n e r s h i p
Yana (at right) enjoyed playing with her ate Yumi Orozco at the Staff Conference.We appreciate your prayers and support. If you would like to partner further with us by giving to our staff support or to any specific project of ours, do let us know!
9322878
0917-8941030 (Aldwin)
0917-8315503 (Di)
aldwin.fernandez@ivcfphil.org
di.fernandez@ivcfphil.org
Thank you and God bless!
DEAR FRIENDS,
A warm hello to you!
A few more days to go and the ‘warm’ will become hot, hot, hot as summer is fast approaching. Kamusta kayo? We hope you are well. Allow us once again to share our stories.
MERRY TREATS
How our lives are enriched by friends and mentors! Last December, the visit of the Rabuya family from Cebu whom we did not see for 4 years was a real treat for us. We accompanied them in their one- day tour over some places in Bicol. How we enjoyed our time together – going to places and catching up with stories! Then our dear staff mentors, ate Elsie Calalang and Ate Millie Guarin arrived the day the Rabuyas left to do some training among the Graduate volunteers in the region. We were delighted to be with them as well. As they refreshed us, may the Lord refresh them.
We are also grateful for the kindness bestowed to us by people who also support the IVCF ministry. Dr. Justin Novela and his family hosted a Christmas dinner at their home for ministry workers. They not only stuffed our stomachs but showered us with gifts as well. Days later another IVCF graduate, Kuya Tony Litam delivered a basketful of fruits to our house. There were also some dear friends and family members who came to visit and/or gave their gifts- though some did it sacrificially. We experienced God’s generous provision and love through all of them. May they be made rich in every way (2nd Cor 9:10-12).
Attending the week-long January Staff Conference in Capas, Tarlac has been a real treat as well. The times of listening to the Word, fellowship, sharing and praying with the staff family has been invigorating. It was also a time of planning and discussing important matters concerning the movement. During our stay there, we visited the Death March Shrine, Ninoy Aquino’s Museum and ancestral home. Moreover, after the staff conference, Nono’s 6-month sabbatical leave started. What a major treat! May the Lord show His clear direction to Nono as he seeks His guidance and will.
OF HEALING and GRACE
Your browser may not support display of this image.We also experienced God’s healing as series of illnesses beset us recently. After being healed from coughs and colds last month, Mayumi and Makisig (and their two cousins) recently contracted a viral infection (rotavirus) that caused vomiting, watery stools and fever. It was a harrowing experience watching them vomit at the same time, changing kisig’s diaper for the nth time only to be soiled again, touching their bodies hot with fever, and giving them medicine and food but throw them up anyway. We thank the Lord for His grace – they were able to recover after a few days and we didn’t have to admit them to the hospital. We are blessed to have many praying friends and family! May the Lord bless us with good health in the months to come.
Your browser may not support display of this image.The changes in the students’ schedules on the 2nd semester of this school year (08-09) have greatly affected the frequency and number of attendees in the student meetings. Nevertheless, we carried on with the usual round of evangelistic and discipleship activities albeit relatively fewer participants compared to previous years. We had more one-on-one talks with students though. Aside from the weekly bible studies, some highlights of this semester were: climbing a mountain to plant Mahogany trees (and went for a swim at a river right after!); the ISCF Spaghetti party (evangelistic event), holding an evangelistic Christmas party among underprivileged children at a community in Nabua (we might hold a separate ‘party’ for the nanays next year), and campaigning for sexual purity (True Love Waits) among highschool and college students this February. As the school year is about to end, we wrap up chapter activities, choose next batch of leaders, kick-off the graduates and prepare for summer camps. May the Lord raise more students who will serve as light and salt in the campuses and may He continue to equip us to serve in the student ministry. May He raise more people to become our ministry partners who will support the movement faithfully.
Summer Plans
We look forward to our vacation in Roxas City and be with Gerlen’s family on the last two weeks of March. On April, we will be having two camps in the region: the ISCF Camp for highschool students and Pili Camp which is intended to train college student-leaders. On May, we will also serve as camp staff and counselors at the NCR ISCF Leadership –Discipleship Camp. Engage us once again with your transforming power, O Lord!
Your browser may not support display of this image.Thank you for taking the time to read. We hope to hear from your end. We will be honored too, if you ask us to join you in praying for your concerns. May God bless you!
Sincerely Yours,
Nono and Gerlen Orozco
with Mayumi and Makisig