Sweet miracles. I can’t locate anymore my neck lump which the doctor suspected as thyroglossal duct cyst based on the ultrasound result. Although I still need a medical confirmation, I already think of its apparent recession or dissolution as a divine orchestration. At the very start I was very hesitant to take the prescribed medical operation not only because of its financial requirement but also because of the shiver running my spine when I imagined my throat cut by some strange surgical instruments (yeah, I’ve never been admitted to the hospital or given the iv!).

Sadly, it was my Miyagi who underwent clinical procedure for a dislocated leg. I can’t underestimate the horror and strain of forcing him to the x-ray table, sedating him finally, then bandaging him and administering oral hydration and medicine to him for 2 weeks. I thank God for the vet doctor and students who successfully pulled back his leg despite suspected adhesion. Back to his jumping spree, Miyagi has no sense at all of the trauma.

Workwise, I thank God for the opportunity to provide biblical training to our students in Tacloban, Cebu, Dumaguete, Bacolod, Iloilo, Roxas, Bicol and Sorsogon the past quarter. I was surprised there is vibrant student witness in far-flung Sorsogon. The eager excitement of our students greatly encouraged me. Also, under pressure, I winded the compilation of the Bible Study manual for our Kawayan Camp, to my happiness. I’ve always wanted to do this job, believing there is precious resource in the archive. I hope to have the same bubbling zest as I finish my writing project with our literature department.

Sweet 40. I wish, as early as now, I could say that growing older is a sweet thing. But at 40, I have lesser strength, stamina, and adventure. My body is outpaced by my imagination. While waiting for the jeepney to be filled with passengers, I doze off. My fantasies of the retired provincial life are more frequent now. I imagine unharried walk to the meadows, uninhibited frolic in the sun, undisturbed slumber in the hammock suspended between mango trees, and diets of seafood, fruits and vegetables. I long to be an attentive audience of the mighty ascent and descent of the sun, of the quiet and pristine exhibition of the seas and oceans, of the snappy flights of birds, and of the resounding nocturnal choruses of frogs and crickets (Ah, I am really 40!).

May I ask for your prayer as I rethink my plan to complete my master’s at Regent this year. I have lesser impetus. I had initial talk with the senior pastor of a Baptist church in Vancouver for my student internship at their church. He is giving me 10 hours per week and my one-way fare (how sweet!). If this is God’s will, may He provide me a substantial scholarship grant and lots and lots of sweet inspiration and strength.

Since I can’t retire at 40, I will have to be content with my morning gardening. Such routine invites inner quietude and centeredness. I gain inspiration from tiny shoots adamantly pushing themselves out either from the ground or from the branch to claim space. As signs of life, they warn me not to succumb to hopelessness, deadness, frustrations, and lethargy.

I pray that God enable me to give myself more to people, to charity, to service, in response to the mysterious (sweet) grace that has befallen me. May I never cease to find sweet wonders and miracles in the ordinariness of life. May I learn more to be childlike. Thank you for your partnership.

Thank you for the sweet inspiration and love you throw all over my place. I thank God for you. Love always, Milli

Dear Balikatan Family,

Captivated by His Grace

At Kawayan Camp …

With Manong Bel magalit at KC 2008

The Lord’s grace had been evident again in our lives this month.  Together with other IVCF staff and counselors, we arrived in Bacolod City for Kawayan Camp last April 1, 2008 safely.  Kuya Gary and Ate Rose Celis, former staffworkers now based in Bacolod, hosted all of us for breakfast.  We praise the Lord for the time spent with them.

Erickson gave devotional messages during the pre-camp.  During the Kawayan Camp proper he also taught two sessions on Christology.  Dot was in charge of the Small Group Program and often helped as a facilitator, instrumentalist, singer and “yaya” (babysitter) to staff kids.  Supposedly, we were about to leave KC last April 15, but we opted to finished KC because we felt the need of having senior staff at KC. It was just Erickson who left Bacolod last April 19.  He had his US visa application interview last April 21, joined the meeting of the IVCF Board of Trustees (April 25), and did office work in between those meetings.  Dot and the boys were left behind at KC.

Staff Kids at KC 2008

The whole staff team had difficulties due to delayed salaries yet we focused on our tasks at hand and experienced the Lord’s surprises. The Lord’s grace had enabled us to give our best and minister to 60 Kawayan Camp delegates.  We also prayed for the movement for 7 days in response to the recent IVCF Appeal Letter. It has been always a joy for us ministering to different students and also learning from them.

In Our Lives …

ImageErickson was greatly favored by God when the US Consul granted him 10-year multiple entry visa.  We sang the Hallelujah chorus!  It was indeed a great favor from the Lord.

Zeik and Jahd had a separate ministry to the students.  They had befriended most of the campers. They had adjusted well to our set up and the heat of the Humayan campsite. In spite of the terrible cough and though they had been missing their routine and the city life, they had been learning so much at KC.

Rejoice with us as we continue to experience more of His grace.

Lavished by grace,

Erickson & Dot, with Zeik & Jahd

Our Prayer Requests:

•    We have witnessed the Lord’s transforming grace at work in us and at KC.  Please pray as we continue to minister at Kawayan Camp ‘08.  We still have 5 days remaining.

•    Lord willing, we hope to be back to Baguio by May 10, to do our preparations for our relocation in Manila by the 4th week.  Please do pray for extra strength and people who will help us in moving.

•    As the Lord had sustained us and surprised us in our times of delayed salaries, please do pray for provisions as we transfer.  We need funds for relocating, also in fixing the apartment where we will stay and settling other expenses before we leave Baguio.

•    Please pray for good health.  Zeik & Jahd had cough for about 3 weeks now.

•    Pray for Erickson as he prepares to do his tasks as IVCF National Director.  Pray for wisdom as he leads the movement, focusing on God’s enabling grace.

“Live and love for Christ”

March 2008 Prayerletter of Erickson and Dot Velardo

Dear Balikatan Family

Memorable Moments

Jahd, our second son, celebrated his 6th birthday last March 6.  He was requesting to go to the beach but he and his kuya, Zeik, had bad cough that time.  We had a small celebration for him when Dot baked a fire truck cake instead.  He is so much into fire trucks these days.

This month had been filled with so many goodbyes for us.  We had about 3 major despedidas (farewell parties) given by our IVCF students and graduates, and two local churches we are helping.  Several small fellowships over meals and coffee also took place.  These were all heart warming, filled with so much love, also a bit sad, yet memorable moments.

The Holy Week was spent in Vigan, Ilocos Sur. Erickson preached at the  Inter Church Sunrise Resurrection Service at United Evangelical Church of Vigan; Dot sang a worship song.  Since it was a long weekend, we took the boys to the beach and we all enjoyed the water even for just a few hours.

We are now at Kawayan Camp and stay there for almost 3 weeks.  We are again excited to minister to a new batch of students leaders and this year is the 50th KC.  After that, we will be back again to Baguio as we prepare for the bigger ministry opportunity the Lord has called us into.  We are assured that you are with us in this with your love and support.  Our gratitude to you.

In His grace,

Erickson and Dot with Zeik and Jahd

Rejoice with us for:

•    Jahd’s 6th birthday.
•    Good health especially for the boys.  They had cough but they are better now.
•    For traveling mercies.  Erickson had been to Manila and joined the IVCF Board of Trustees meeting. We have been to Dagupan, Vigan, Quezon City and now in Bacolod for the Kawayan Camp.
•    The Lord’s surprises as He sustains us in spite of delayed salaries.
•    Our new Baguio IV-Home.  We just moved to an apartment that is big enough for fellowships at Php 8,000.00 monthly rent.
•    The commitments of our students and graduates in Northern Luzon, and for a former student and present GT, Zyla Tagarino, as incoming staff.

Dear Friends and Ministry Partners,

“…From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.” – Luke 12:48b, NIV

Somebody said that leadership is a lonely place. It is very costly. Yet it is also a great opportunity to discover so many things. It’s a tough test of faith, character, decision, consistency, capacity and values. It could either strengthen or ruin one’s identity and spirituality. For the past ten months here in Davao City as OIC-Regional Director of IVCF-SMRU, I think I’m still having a sound mind and proper perspective for the ministry and life. In the midst of failures, challenges and uncomfortable circumstances, God’s grace is very evident…even in the making of this letter.

Rewind [what has been?]

* Solved the puzzling pages of NCF BS Guide for almost overnight.

* Twenty-eight students, including leaders from Kabacan and Kidapawan as well as Agape Ministries, attended the Leadership Training in Gen. Santos City last February 22-24. It was run by MSU-GSC IVCF leaders and other LCDC 2007 graduates.

* More than ten students joined the separate sessions on Leadership and Discipleship Series at San Pedro College.

* New mixed group is formally formed in Holy Cross of Davao College.

* New mixed group emerged in Brokenshire College.

* IVCF-KCAST sponsored a campus-wide Thanksgiving Worship Service last March 3 which was attended by more than 400 students, faculty and staff. After that was a 2-hour leadership session among the IVCF leaders.

* Area visit at USM-Kabacan last March 13-14.

* Twenty-two student-leaders from KCAST and USEP-Tagum flocked to the Leadership Training Day last March 15 at USEP-Tagum.

Play [wazzup?]

* Bid final goodbye to Lily Florendo (GT) last week and shared sympathy to the bereaved family.

* Labors on KC 2008 financial transactions.

* Explores and finalizes some wedding preparations.

* Explored and booked the venue for ISCF Camp on May 2-7,2008 at Hope Mountain, Catalunan Pequeño, Davao City.

Forward [things to come…]

* To meet my biological father for the third time.

* To Attend the graduation of my ‘scholar’ sister at MSU Marawi on April 2.

* Delayed arrival to Pre-KC 2008.

* KC proper on April 7 – May 5.

* More wedding preparations after KC.

* Turn-over of ministry responsibilities to the Tecson’s as new staff couple for Davao City.

Pause [praise & prayer]

* Praise for complete recovery from sickness.

* Praise for more students that have been reached this school year.

* Praise for the Lord’s creative ways of providing our basic needs.

* Pray for safe travel to KC as well as good health.

* Pray for financial blessing and some receivables.

* Pray, continually, for our big day preparation.

* Pray for good weather on June 12.

* Pray for adjustment as I go back to my former field area in Davao del Norte.

* Pray for more personal Philippian Connection partners & for on-time salary (as of the writing of this letter, we are experiencing 1.5-month delay).

Mr. Darby S. Aspacio

“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