The medical-dental mission to Isabela, Philippines is barely 3.5 months away. Following this, some members of the team are going to serve with Action International Ministries in Manila. We have made some progress in preparation, but there's still plenty to do. I'm writing to encourage you as to how you can get involved.

Last Tuesday, your missions team and a few FFACers packed 5 boxes stuffed with clothing, shoes, toys and school supplies. These heavy boxes will be shipped to Isabela. Your missions team informed me that FFAC brought around 10 boxes to Cebu back in 2007-2008. There were more people than goods we could give away. In short, not enough.

Here's how you can get involved: 

PRAY

If you're not going, why not pick a missions team member and be that person's prayer partner throughout this whole venture starting now.  We need to pray for the people and places we will be serving and with whom we will be sharing Jesus' Good News.

God's Spirit reminded me that I need to pray more, invite and encourage and pray with more people about this missions trip as often as we can.

The Lord also reminded me that our team is going into a spiritual battlefield. Pray that there will be spiritual breakthroughs and strongholds demolished and people won for Christ in Isabela and Manila. 

GIVE

Richard Foster's book Celebration of Discipline reminds us that all that we have and our possessions are ultimately God's.

We have an informal guideline in our household that if we have not missed or used a thing for 3-6 months, chances are, we don't need it. Refuse to hoard, even new and especially designer label stuff - give.

Ask God to enable you to be generous and take pleasure in giving away things. Pray for the one who will receive what you no longer need. 

PACK

Whether you have already given or perhaps you're unable to give, you certainly can give of your time by helping us pack the goods into boxes.  September 15 is the latest date we can ship these boxes if we expect for them to arrive when we get there in early January 2010. 

LUNCH FUNDRAISERS

The good people of FFAC are making it easier for us to participate in giving by cooking lunch for us on Sundays.  Stop by the "Food Table" and buy lunch for you, your family and friends. The regular fare is $5 per serving of food. If you're feeling generous, pay more or just say "Keep the change." So instead of going to a restaurant, save the tip and give generously toward our mission trip.

We're halfway the $5,000 goal for Isabela. To serve at Action International Ministries 6-month program to feed people fish and bread, we need to raise an additional $2500. 

MINDORO & CEBU 

The Lord willing, I hope to connect with our ministry partners in Mindoro and Cebu. Jocelyn Dino, who serves among the Mangyan Tribe, has agreed to meet with me so that we may obtain a first-hand update of the work we started there. I also plan to visit the Daycare children that some FFACers are supporting in Cebu and meet the following workers: Rhonda Wilson, Pastor Glemar Rada and Christine Inferido (a personal contact of mine who served with Youth With A Mission YWAM in Cambodia and Thailand).

MANILA - SERVING IN ACTION

Bong Cabuhat and I have volunteered to serve in the teaching / preaching ministry of Action International Ministries from January 6 until the weekend of January 8-10. We have no idea at this point how many days of ministry we will actually be serving. I shall update you as soon as we know for sure. Please pray for us and all FFACers who will serve with Action;   we have to obtain police clearance and complete AIM's required documentation before our ministry proposal can be officially approved.

PRAY FOR PHYSICAL & SPIRITUAL STAMINA

While I am feeling fine at this point, please pray that the Lord will keep me and the team in good health before, during and after the missions trip. Above all, pray that the team and I will keep our eyes fixed on Jesus and stay strongly rooted in Christ. Then, let pray and trust the Lord that there will be many people who will become committed followers of Jesus Christ.

So get involved.

ricky p. mapa, pastor