Power Weekend...

G'day folks. Hope you had a good weekend ... we did! On Saturday we had our monthly Powerhouse Kids Club at the Fire Centre. All the team arrived at 11am for prayer, planning and lunch. We have around 35 of a team and they all have a role to play - on the buses, set up, drama, toilet duty, puppets, up-front, powerpoint, PA system etc. Most of the team are our young people - what a blessing they are! Their normal weekend is so busy - on Friday night most of the youth have a music practice, on Saturday they have Powerhouse, Saturday afternoon they have their Youth Cell group or service, Saturday night is church set up, play instruments at two services at Santiago then go as part of the evangelism team at Nagassican! Phew! Even writing what they do makes me feel tired!

On Saturday the buses went out at 1pm to pick up all the kids from all around Santiago. Around 300 kids arrived all excited. Many of the kids come from very poor and disfunctional family situations. Pastor Jun and his team lead the Powerhouse programme for 1 and a half action packed hours. The kids go home happy and with a packet of biscuits in their hands!

The team meet for feedback, debrief and prayer. What an amazing ministry! The first Saturday of the month is the big Powerhouse celebration, and every other Saturday morning the team go out in the Powerhouse Truck to different barangays around this area... ministering in 11 during the month!

On Sunday, we had our second Cornerstone United Service in the Fire Centre. All four churches come together for worship, fellowship, the Word, Baptisms and sport! I preached about 'Moving Up Another Gear' and challenged people about the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. So many responded ... and so many were filled and touched by God!

I also gave a call for healing and again so many responded. Pastor Julie was sitting in the service just outside the House of Refuge ... and she came forward. We prayed with her and the power of the Lord touched her powerfully. Keep praying for a complete healing in her body.

Last night Mary and I had a lovely evening together ... doing a lot of administration for today's Parents Information day at School!! I am so proud of Mary. She has done so much work for this new school year. We are moving to 9 classes a day now, so she has been working so hard recruiting staff, making timetables, writing up class lists etc. We finished after midnight, but at least we finished!

This week is a busy week. We have the SBTC Week of Refreshing that starts today. All ex-students are invited to return so we can listen to them, inspire them, encourage them, laugh & cry with them and send them out again! I am one of the speakers so please pray for me. I am trying to do a lot of video shooting for our new DVD that we will take around the churches. Also, this is the week designated for interviews for new students at the Bible School. Mary is very busy every day with the Teachers setting up the new school year. Please pray that nothing 'out of the ordinary' crops up this week!

I am so excited though ... the World Cup starts this Friday. This is one of the things in life that I look forward to every four years. I even remember the 1978 World Cup! Dalglish, Jordan ... and who can forget the amazing goal from wee Archie Gemmill? Priceless. Every other World Cup since then has been excitedly anticipated by yours truly. Even the ones where Scotland did not make it.

But in 2002 .. guess what? The Philippines was the ONLY country in the world that did not show any live games!! AAAaaaggghhh. It was agony. I remember watching England v Argentina 8 days after they played - by then every one and their dog had told me the score! But this World Cup - yehey - I have found a Soccer Channel on my local Cable Station and they are going to show every game live!! The price? A bag of donuts for the staff every week. Not bad eh? Cheaper than Sky!

I just wish my wee nephew Nathan was here to watch some of the games with me. Never mind, I'll soon be home to take him to see good old Aberdeen! Can't wait Nathan ... just me and you ... and a couple of greasy pies!!