Why go back?

"Wish you could be our pastor," wrote a friend whose church was without a shepherd. It is a tempting thought to stay here in the U.S. with its conveniences, resources, and (especially) comforts. We love 24/7 air conditioning. And I've always dreamed of having my own office with a secretary out front to mail my letters and take my calls. I'm really lazy at heart, a bonified couch-potato just waiting to bloom.

So why do I wish to go back to the Philippines? As I explained in Jan's book at the beginning of chapter 4, it is the place God has called us to minister, to see Him at work, saving the lost and maturing the saved. The spiritual needs there are so greater than here. The opportunities to hear the gospel there are so fewer than here. Jan and I were blessed to see dozens of churches planted during our years in the Philippines, but there is the need and potential to see hundreds planted.

When we left in 2004, we had just finished translating and printing discipleship training materials. Prior to that, I had worked with my fellow leaders to implement a church planting strategy the Mission Board calls CPM (Church Planting Movement) which calls for a more simple, yet Biblical means of planting multiple, reproducing churches. The next, and final step would be developing a reproducible and sustainable model for leadership training. This is what I would like to see completed before I can feel my work in the Philippines is done.

So, if the Lord is willing, if we can work out schooling for Martha and Jonathan, and if my health holds up, we would like to see ourselves heading back in February, a year after Jan's promotion. Hannah and Martha are eager to return; Jonathan is neutral (I think it's the Dr. Pepper that's holding him back). Sara and David would stay behind, but join us for Christmas in 2008. We would stay for one more 4-year term and then see where the Lord wants us after that.

Finally, want to see a glimpse of our other home? Sara found this. Click on the image below and you will see an info-mercial about our favorite grocery store in Iloilo City, Philippines. Enjoy the sweet-songy sound of the Ilonggo language.



If the above doesn't work, copy and paste this link in your URL:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=s8-7PT2-0oU