April 2016 Newsletter

Just a couple of spoonsful of sugar to help the medicine go down!
Grandkids, Miles and Bree were just what the doctor ordered.

The day before Tony and I were scheduled to fly to Zamboanga for the next mission trip, he was checking me into the hospital where I spent the next three days on an IV. I sent him on without me (he was just gone 2 days) and Krystel took over hospital duty taking care of me. (Thank you sweetie.)

Then the day my platelet count was finally above 200 Tony and I found out we both had picked up an ameba which is a deadly water parasite here. Last time Tony had an ameba was in 2006 and he got extremely dehydrated and spent 5 days in the hospital. We nearly lost him. This time we both got it but we knew what to do. So with both of us sick with the same symptoms we went to the doctor and had tests run. Found out for sure we had contracted the ameba. We went on medication immediately and are in the process of healing right now at home. Still having problems and a bit sick at times but we know we’re getting better, Amen? Guess my time of rest was not quite over! Boy, am I ever sick and tired of being sick and tired!! – Calli

Each day seems to present knew ideas of what to do. I don’t want to start anything unless it’s God’s perfect will. Praise God, I need His wisdom to overtake me so that I know that know, Hallelujah! I am at peace right now with not doing a thing till I hear from the Lord.

I’m working with the insurance company to get the claim paid before we start. I’m trying not to get ahead of myself and start doing things that would get us started in one direction when we need to go another. I’m praying for a sound mind through all the stress of this!

Thank you all for praying for us so vehemently all these years and especially during this catastrophe and tragedy.

Love you all, Tony

Little did I know that after the battle between the Philippines and the Islamists in 2013, the place was overtaken by Muslims and most of the local population fled and abandoned their homes to move to Cebu and nearby places. The area is now 80-90% Muslim and the spiritual atmosphere was more Islamic than we expected. Big shock for us! Very dark area.

It was the most difficult practicum we ever had, the most number of rejections, and the first time to have to go out for practicums wearing our Dunamis IDs so we will not be apprehended. Soldiers in combat uniform were everywhere in the area and we were a bit scared to go around as scrutinizing eyes were following us since they can identify who are the new settlers or visitors there.

Despite the prevailing, not so good circumstances, the pastors and leaders won more than 900 souls to the Lord and the students renewed their hope and confidence to win souls amidst a now Muslim dominated city.

Note from Tony: I had to stay in the Hotel the whole time I was there. They didn’t want me to go out without a full escort. Since we left there, there have been 15 Philippine soldiers killed in that area. Also, 2 Canadians have been kidnapped with the threat of beheading. We slipped in to a very dark region and trained 27 pastors and leaders. Let’s just Praise the Lord together!

Ptr William Acuzar was advised by his senior pastor in Surigao City who had 2 batches of Stealth Evangelism in 2015 to organize a batch in his location. Now knowing how to promote the Program, he invited his colleagues, & leaders to attend and experience this awesome training.

A missionary for several decades, who used to do 4-8 revival crusades every month, he was surprised and amazed how the 357 magnum technique could win a soul in 5 minutes which causes revival. He is now organizing the 2nd batch to be conducted at the center of Cebu.

The batch led 1,096 souls to the Lord, and one special testimony of a soul being won was the mother of a leader who attended. He’s been born again for years, but he could not share to his mom who was a devout Catholic, but he was able to share the Gospel to his mother during one of the practicums, who was unable to resist and even cried after praying the sinner’s prayer.

Glory to God!