Dear friends,

Purihin ang Diyos! Thank you for investing in this trip and for praying. Let me count the ways that God answered prayers and beyond. You may recall my prayer requests that God would use my time in the Philippines to accomplish the following things:

1.  to rally and encourage local alumni to give to IVCF Philippines—I believe that this happened through the first IVCF Alumni Homecoming event last Saturday, Nov. 29th. About 350 alumni from many campuses attended, including the seniors (staff 60 years or better) who were honored at the event. Alumni were delighted to meet each other. I rejoice greatly at seeing alumni whom I had not seen for over 30 years!! At the beginning of the program, Dr, Bel Magalit read his famous “I have a Dream…” talk. Alumni from different professions mentioned in the “Dream” were asked to stand and were acknowledged. That dream is now a reality in many different places.

I spoke on “Partnership in the Gospel: Some Reflections” based on the partnership Paul had with the church in Philippi. I made a strong challenge to give to IVCF. The alumni responded generously. The offering that evening was 103,000 pesos!  (Think in pesos, not dollars) One staff said she had never seen an offering basket filled to overflowing with 500 and 1,000 peso bills!

By the way, when I mentioned that I was in the Philippines through the gifts and generosity of North American IVCF-Philippine alumni, the crowd applauded!

A brief background: This whole alumni homecoming event was inspired by an idea shared by Dr. Marvin Basco of the Warrior Christian Fellowship (Univ. of the East) alumni group.  When I visited with a few of the leaders of this group last year (during my sabbatical), I shared about the needs of IVCF Phils. They said that their alumni group met regularly and would discuss ways that they could support IVCF at their upcoming meeting in December of last year. Dr. Basco called me in Wisconsin 6 months later to say that they had raised some money to help support the Resource Development Department.  Ging Marbella is the Alumni Liaison staff in that department, a new assignment for her after returning from her sabbatical. She did a valiant job contacting InterVarsity alumni around the country and organizing the homecoming event.

But beyond the generous offering, other alumni saw what a group could do to raise the level of awareness and involvement with the needs of IVCF. At the end of the evening, inspired by what Warrior Christian Fellowship started, some alumni of the University of the Philippines were already talking of forming their own group for similar purposes!

It was also appropriate, in my talk, to share about Balikatan‘s beginnings and 25 years of financial commitment to IVCF Philippines. It was a special treat to have Landy Ancheta there in person. (Thanks, Landy for taking the time and expense to make the trip on your way to Canada). He greeted the alumni on behalf of Balikatan

Erickson Velardo followed my talk with current financial information and specific ways to give to InterVarsity. After the event, the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between IVCF, Philippines and Balikatan was signed by George Capaque, Board Chair, Landy Ancheta, Erickson Velardo, and me (as witness).  The MOA is a significant step in strengthening and furthering our partnership.

2. to inspire and equip staff in their ministry- Fifteen staff attended a whole staff training day at the IVCF office on vision and resources. The staff appreciated our time together. One staff said, “Thank you for helping us see our plans and visions clearer.” Another staff wrote, “Nabuhayan ako ng loob sa words and life ninyo.”

I brought specific IVCF/USA resources (CD and hard copies especially made for them) on starting and building chapters.  They said that they had seen those resources in the past and wanted to make them applicable to the Philippine setting.

Each staff who attended the training day got a new book for their own library (from the books I brought-gifts of IVCF staff at our National Office).  The national library also received additional books.

3.  to challenge students (college and high school) to seriously follow Jesus and be His witnesses on campus – I was able address the students through different events and opportunities last week. The high school group resonated when I shared about what it means to live in 2 realities – “Woe is Me” and the “Wow is Me”.  The combined group of college students from 5 colleges that met at UP on Friday, Nov. 28th heard my challenge on seeing the campus and international students, in particular, with Jesus’ eyes (based on Matthew 9:33-38).

The effort to address the Christians’ responsibilities to our environment at the IV Day was commendable. Different chapters creatively expressed what it meant to be more intentional in their environmental responses. One group showed a YouTube video of SEGMAN, a character they created, who was careful to segregate paper from glass, etc. I gave the concluding remarks about seeing our world as our “Father’s world” and what it meant to be jealous for Him in our treatment of it.

4. to be an “Ate” to individual staff through one-on-one time together-This definitely happened over a conversation, a meal, while riding a cab, munching on “lechon kawali” or shopping.  Although I did not have a lot of individual appointment with folks, as I had thought, the group times proved to be more in context of our Filipino culture! It was a refreshing experience to hang out with our IVCF Philippines staff. They are energetic, committed, and are rebounding from the difficulties of the past. They are a loving group of people who want to impact the campuses for the Kingdom.

Summary:  I believe that God encouraged Erickson Velardo and the rest of the staff through my visit. I am humbled by God’s provision of money, strength, wisdom, and insight. God is great!

Surprises:

As always God surprised me with the unplanned and the unexpected. They include:

1. Time with some of the Board members.  Four Board members treated me to lunch on Saturday, Nov. 29th.  I got to know them a little bit through this informal setting.  I shared my intentions for this trip mainly to “come along side” IVCF Philippines. I encouraged them as “gatekeepers” of the core values of the movement and affirmed them in their role as board members.
2. Time with Center for Community Transformation- I was impressed with their work with the poor and the street-dwellers (homeless) and the roles of IVCF alumni serving on their board.
3. Alumni’s financial response to IVCF, Philippines (see number 1 of report)!
4. My Tagalog resurrected! I knew that I had to be speaking mostly in Tagalog and God surprised me with the ability to remember words I had not used before! One commented that I sounded like my mother i.e. it was good Tagalog.
5. Closeness and bonding with 3 female staff over the course of my time in the Phils.
6. I did not expect to see so many alumni who I knew from their student days! I was encouraged that the seeds planted 30 some years ago do bear fruit.
7. I was surprised with the strength and endurance God gave me through the last 11 days.

Because you prayed, God was gracious to respond.  Salamat ng marami!

Back to the US

48 hours ago I was in my slippers, perspiring in the humid weather and looking forward to a second shower of the day. Today, I was in my snow boots, driving in snow-covered roads, and shoveling my driveway and sidewalks. (Leiton is out of the country)

I miss my time in the Philippines and the bonding God gave me towards the staff during that brief period. Let us pray that whatever was planted and invested during my visit will help advance God’s work on Philippine campuses.

There may be things I missed in this report. I hope others will fill in the gap. Thank you for the opportunity to serve and come along side IVCF Philippines!

To God be the Glory!

Lisa Espineli Chinn
Your “Balik-Staff”