Good morning! We have been here in Wick, Caithness since last Tuesday and we have enjoyed it so much. This is a place where we can really relax and spend time with Mary's mum & dad. The weather has been truly Filipino and the kids have enjoyed their excursions to the lovely swing parks here with their granny!
It was so good to see David & Wilma again. They had not seen their grandkids for one and a half years and we were so looking forward to catching up with them. The most touching thing happened; as we were just drawing up to the house, they were waiting for us. As David opened the door, wee Josiah shouted, "Hello Granda!" We were amazed. Later we realised that he recognised his granda because he saw him every week on daddy's computer! The power of skype! If you have relatives that live more than an hour away, you need to install "SKYPE" ...it really works and is absolutely free!
Mary's mum is working full time, so we have been making the best of the lovely evenings. Saturday was the Gala day and they really make an effort for the parade at night. Pity my camera has not arrived yet! On Sunday we went to the Salvation Army and it was great to see old friends again. The people here in Wick are so encouraging and have supported us in so many ways. They were so excited about seeing Lydia and Josiah (and us!) and they were amazed at how Josiah had grown.
Little Josiah was in good form during the service. The beautiful thing here is that when Mary comes to Wick, they just include her as if she had never left! She plays in the band and sings with the songsters! Anyway, as the singing group prepared to sing they motioned for Mary to join them. Little Joe wouldn't give up his mummy without a fight. So she ended up singing with him in her arms. During the chorus he jumped out of her arms and was making for the drums! I almost died! He almost knocked over his Granda's coronet and had his foot on the base drum before I grabbed him! What a guy!
We have been keeping in constant contact with Sefton Village. In 2003, Steve & Molly Ritchie covered Sefton for us, so when we came home we could concentrate in our itinerary. But this time it's gonna be more difficult. The two Singapore ladies are doing a great ministry there. I am so proud of them and know that this will be a time where they learn and experience so much. The rest of the staff are doing great and Gemma is coping very well, according to many people.
I have some sad news to bring you I'm afraid. Last Thursday something terrible happened to one of our beautiful aunties who works in the children's home. She was travelling back to Sefton after her 2 days off at 9:30 in the morning. The taxi van dropped everyone else off along the way and she was the last to get off. When she asked the driver to stop he refused and grabbed her arm. He locked all the doors and drove to a secluded spot. He then raped her and drove away. She made it back to Sefton but was severely traumatised and in shock. So tragic - she is only 19 and was really going on for the Lord,
During the night she had suicidal thoughts so we had Uncle Jonathan sleep outside her room. On Friday she felt strong enough to go to the police and press charges. Good thing is that they caught the driver of the van and he is now in jail. But he told our aunty who he raped that if she went to the police, he would kill her. But she reported the crime and he is in jail.
Please pray for this lovely girl. Pray for our Social Worker Marilyn, who is handling the whole problem and ministering to the aunty. Pray against all suicidal thoughts and pray that the Lord would erase this terrible ordeal from her memory. Pray she will feel a sense of cleansing and wholeness. Pray that this will strengthen her love for the Lord. Pray that her lovely smile will come back again.
Of course, Mary was is really upset over what has happened. these staff are like our family. The devil is having a real go and is trying to shake our faith. Nothing like this has happened in 6 years, and we know this is the plan of the enemy. Please keep Mary in prayer also - that she can be a support to the team over there.
Yesterday, at the Salvation Army, we sang a number of old hymns. At Cornerstone in Santiago we don't sing many of the hymns because they don't know any of them! But when I come home it is sometimes good to sing these hymns that I haven't sang for a few years! In the service we sang 4 hymns. Two I knew, two I'd never heard of. But here are some of the verses from those hymns, and I hope they encourage you today:
selah ....
It was so good to see David & Wilma again. They had not seen their grandkids for one and a half years and we were so looking forward to catching up with them. The most touching thing happened; as we were just drawing up to the house, they were waiting for us. As David opened the door, wee Josiah shouted, "Hello Granda!" We were amazed. Later we realised that he recognised his granda because he saw him every week on daddy's computer! The power of skype! If you have relatives that live more than an hour away, you need to install "SKYPE" ...it really works and is absolutely free!
Mary's mum is working full time, so we have been making the best of the lovely evenings. Saturday was the Gala day and they really make an effort for the parade at night. Pity my camera has not arrived yet! On Sunday we went to the Salvation Army and it was great to see old friends again. The people here in Wick are so encouraging and have supported us in so many ways. They were so excited about seeing Lydia and Josiah (and us!) and they were amazed at how Josiah had grown.
Little Josiah was in good form during the service. The beautiful thing here is that when Mary comes to Wick, they just include her as if she had never left! She plays in the band and sings with the songsters! Anyway, as the singing group prepared to sing they motioned for Mary to join them. Little Joe wouldn't give up his mummy without a fight. So she ended up singing with him in her arms. During the chorus he jumped out of her arms and was making for the drums! I almost died! He almost knocked over his Granda's coronet and had his foot on the base drum before I grabbed him! What a guy!
We have been keeping in constant contact with Sefton Village. In 2003, Steve & Molly Ritchie covered Sefton for us, so when we came home we could concentrate in our itinerary. But this time it's gonna be more difficult. The two Singapore ladies are doing a great ministry there. I am so proud of them and know that this will be a time where they learn and experience so much. The rest of the staff are doing great and Gemma is coping very well, according to many people.
I have some sad news to bring you I'm afraid. Last Thursday something terrible happened to one of our beautiful aunties who works in the children's home. She was travelling back to Sefton after her 2 days off at 9:30 in the morning. The taxi van dropped everyone else off along the way and she was the last to get off. When she asked the driver to stop he refused and grabbed her arm. He locked all the doors and drove to a secluded spot. He then raped her and drove away. She made it back to Sefton but was severely traumatised and in shock. So tragic - she is only 19 and was really going on for the Lord,
During the night she had suicidal thoughts so we had Uncle Jonathan sleep outside her room. On Friday she felt strong enough to go to the police and press charges. Good thing is that they caught the driver of the van and he is now in jail. But he told our aunty who he raped that if she went to the police, he would kill her. But she reported the crime and he is in jail.
Please pray for this lovely girl. Pray for our Social Worker Marilyn, who is handling the whole problem and ministering to the aunty. Pray against all suicidal thoughts and pray that the Lord would erase this terrible ordeal from her memory. Pray she will feel a sense of cleansing and wholeness. Pray that this will strengthen her love for the Lord. Pray that her lovely smile will come back again.
Of course, Mary was is really upset over what has happened. these staff are like our family. The devil is having a real go and is trying to shake our faith. Nothing like this has happened in 6 years, and we know this is the plan of the enemy. Please keep Mary in prayer also - that she can be a support to the team over there.
Yesterday, at the Salvation Army, we sang a number of old hymns. At Cornerstone in Santiago we don't sing many of the hymns because they don't know any of them! But when I come home it is sometimes good to sing these hymns that I haven't sang for a few years! In the service we sang 4 hymns. Two I knew, two I'd never heard of. But here are some of the verses from those hymns, and I hope they encourage you today:
O TO BE LIKE THEE! BLESSED REDEEMER
THIS IS MY CONSTANT LONGING AND PRAYER
GLADLY I'LL FORFIET ALL OF EARTH'S TREASURES
JESUS, THY PERFECT LIKENESS TO WEAR
O TO BE LIKE THEE, WHILE I AM PLEADING
POUR OUT THY SPIRIT, FILL WITH THY LOVE;
MAKE ME A TEMPLE, MEET FOR THY DWELLING
FIT ME FOR LIFE AND HEAVEN ABOVE
GIVE ME A TRUSTFUL MIND
WHEN DOUBTS AND FEARS ASSAIL;
HELP ME CONFIDE IN THEE, ASSURED
THY GRACE CAN NEVER FAIL
GIVE ME A STEADFAST MIND
FIRM AS A ROCK, AND SURE;
UNSWERVING, LOYAL I WOULD STAND
AND TO THE END ENDURE
DEAR LORD, I LIFT MY HEART TO THEE
MY HELPLESSNESS I OWN,
THE WAY BEFORE I CANNOT SEE,
I DARE NOT WALK ALONE
SO OFTEN IN THE PLEASANT PLACE
OUR FAITH DEPENDS ON SIGHT;
THE TEMPER OF MY TRUST MUST FACE
ITS TRIAL IN THE NIGHT
THEN QUIETNESS AND CONFIDENCE
AND WAITING ON THE LORD,
SHALL BE MY STRENGTH, MY SURE DEFENCE,
AND PEACE BE MY REWARD
THIS IS MY CONSTANT LONGING AND PRAYER
GLADLY I'LL FORFIET ALL OF EARTH'S TREASURES
JESUS, THY PERFECT LIKENESS TO WEAR
O TO BE LIKE THEE, WHILE I AM PLEADING
POUR OUT THY SPIRIT, FILL WITH THY LOVE;
MAKE ME A TEMPLE, MEET FOR THY DWELLING
FIT ME FOR LIFE AND HEAVEN ABOVE
GIVE ME A TRUSTFUL MIND
WHEN DOUBTS AND FEARS ASSAIL;
HELP ME CONFIDE IN THEE, ASSURED
THY GRACE CAN NEVER FAIL
GIVE ME A STEADFAST MIND
FIRM AS A ROCK, AND SURE;
UNSWERVING, LOYAL I WOULD STAND
AND TO THE END ENDURE
DEAR LORD, I LIFT MY HEART TO THEE
MY HELPLESSNESS I OWN,
THE WAY BEFORE I CANNOT SEE,
I DARE NOT WALK ALONE
SO OFTEN IN THE PLEASANT PLACE
OUR FAITH DEPENDS ON SIGHT;
THE TEMPER OF MY TRUST MUST FACE
ITS TRIAL IN THE NIGHT
THEN QUIETNESS AND CONFIDENCE
AND WAITING ON THE LORD,
SHALL BE MY STRENGTH, MY SURE DEFENCE,
AND PEACE BE MY REWARD
selah ....
2 comments:
kuya mark,
Oh!!!thats great kuya mark,as i reading your blog with marvin and daben,i said to my self oyu really have a good time there,were very happy too that you meet again your family there.
Regards to all of them.
Take Care always with your family.We keep praying for you and your family.
God Bless..
Jun
CCS Staff
Hello Mark & Mary,
The Lord is our every present help in times of trouble and He will wrap His amazing everlasting arms of comfort about that dear Aunty in Sefton. We shall pray for her too that she will find complete cleansing and restoration in the Lord. There is power in the blood, cleansing power!
Amen.
Ruth.
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