Wisconsin Group Update

By Anne Violanda-Benthien

I have been trying to establish an initial get together with two other  IVCF Philippines’ alumni families here in Wisconsin. Both are nurses, so it has been a struggle to synchronize our time to have an informal gathering. I promoted Balikatan 2011 to them last year. One of the nurses, Mercy Grace Violanda, is my sister-in-law (wife of my brother Dennis), a graduate of La Salle University in Bacolod. Dennis was involved with IVCF at La Consolacion College, Bacolod.  The other nurse is Mario Verdeflor. He was involved with IVCF at Philippine Normal College, Manila.

My weekly schedule revolves around my two part time jobs and family responsibilities. My main focus right now is supervising our youngest son who is a high school freshman at IQ Academy, an on line school. It is considered home schooling. I also drive our two older children to their respective high schools and extra-curricular activities, look after our two aging, widowed mothers, and church-related ministries.  The winter weather has been a challenge to our family’s overloaded schedule.

PRAISES:

• For the Lord’s provision and faithfulness: Steve’s health and stable job at Quad Graphics; and Anne’s flexible work schedule which enable her to manage the daily demands of work and family.  The Lord’s joy is our daily strength as we strive to keep the bonds of our family.
• Praise God for godly youth leaders and pastors who partner with us in raising our children in the Lord.
• Praise God for His sustaining grace as He uses us in the  ministry. Praise God for the privilege to serve Him through MEANS.
• Praise God for the Holy Spirit’s leading and the opportunity to share Christ love to our co-workers.

PRAYER REQUESTS:

Fellowship:

• Pray for me and Cherry Mendoza as  we invite and encourage fellow IVCF alumni to connect with Balikatan. There are five families with IVCF/Balikatan background here in Wisconsin. (Benthiens, Mendozas, Violandas, Verdeflors, and Clemins).
• Pray for God to show his vision for our group, what He wants us to do in the coming months, i.e., to promote and “fan the flame” to support student mission work in the Philippines; to meet for prayer and fellowship, etc.

Family:

• Pray for the Lord’s keeping for our family.
• Pray for the spiritual growth of our children: Richard, Danielle, and Steven; that they will desire to honor and obey the Lord in their calling.
• Pray for strength and joy, and the Holy Spirit’s wisdom and guidance, for us, Anne and Steve as we simultaneously take care of our elderly mothers and attend to the needs of our three teenage children.

Health:

• Please pray for Mercy Grace Violanda’s health, for God’s sustaining grace as she battles with Chrohn’s disease. Praise God for the recent results of her protein level, and for regulating her medications to effectively work in her system. Praise God for supplying her the strength and wisdom as she continues to practice nursing full time.

 

Reflections on the Journey

By Tess Askowitz

This page that I decided to share with you is unfinished.  My journey is still ongoing and there is no “and they lived happily ever after” ending. Although it may seem that our prayers have fallen on deaf ears, they really have not. Through it all, my GOD is teaching me patience, and that HIS will has perfect timing, and that all I have to do is sit back, relax, and HE will do everything in HIS due time. Believe me when I say that these all sound good and are easier said than done.  But this I say — that through it all, the knowledge of HIS power and might is what keeps me going.

A few years ago I sent out an email to Balikatan brethren to request for your urgent prayers for my daughter who was in a state of coma at the hospital. To those who responded, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. When this happened to my daughter, it was as if my mind went in automatic search for my GOD. I was so afraid that my knowledge of HIM was so small and my faith was as tiny as a grain of sand that it will not sustain me. But it did, thanks to all of you out there. I draw my strength from you and your prayers. My daughter came out of coma. But after over a month of inpatient rehab, she came home with a limp and some cognitive deficiencies. Since then I have watched her rapidly lose her vibrancy and high hopes for a bright, normal future. Now at the age of 27, when she is supposed to be out there making her contribution to the world, she is confined to a wheelchair, living life on a day to day basis.  She goes where she is brought to and is unable to offer any comprehensive thought. Seeing her everyday breaks my heart. Not a day goes by that I am not in tears asking GOD, “Where is the praise in this?” But I am able to get through everyday undoubtedly because of HIS might and provision. After all, whose mother’s heart can bear this sort of pain? Certainly not mine. I am also blessed with a loving husband who shares my pain and offers his love and comfort.  I also have a wonderful son who is out there doing his share to contribute to this society for both him and his sister. HIS grace to us is “out of this world” abundant.  Everyday HE gives me a baging to hold on to and to climb out of the “pit of pain” I find myself in. (Baging is the Filipino term for an aerial root that hangs out of big trees in the forest; like the one we see Tarzan using to swing from tree to tree.)  So to you mothers out there who are in the “pit” with me, I share with you my GOD who is my refuge.

 

Dear Balikatan,

Yesterday on the last day of winter, as my husband and I drove long hours from the Bay Area to LA, the nonstop strong winds and heavy rains were scary. I thought this experience was an appropriate introduction for this month’s PRAYER DAY ON MARCH 26 as we continue to pray for our Japanese tsunami survivors and our very own Balikatan groups/ members facing life’s storms.  Some of our fellowship groups like Wisconsin are struggling to meet and organize.  Families like the Askowitz’ need God’s special strength.  Many of us face difficulties with the death of loved ones, health issues, job losses, and parenting/relationship challenges.  Balikatan – let us approach the throne of God on our knees and claim His grace for our needs.

Lilia Salazar-Nigro

Prayer Committee Chairperson
Balikatan Board