PAMI Sept 2018 Bulletin, VVM visitors at Emmaus Lutheran, Super Typhoon Ompong
Click here to see the Sept 2018 PAMI Bulletin
When this Bulletin was sent to the PAMI email list, the following information accompanied it: Read More
EBI partition reports and slideshows
May 21st baptism of 41 at beach in Bacon, Sorsogon City
Here are reports from Sister Ofel Mendizabal, the director of the EBI Partition:
Ofel 6-7-18 June 2018 Report Letter
Ofel June 22 2018 Report Letter B
Ofel Letter 7-3-18B
Below are pdf versions of picture slideshows of some various ministries of the EBI partition:
EBI Baptism May 2018
EBI May 2018 Padaba Youth counseling
note: Padaba is another name for Compassion sponsored child (it means well-loved and cared for)
EBI May 2018 OCC Bible Distribution
EBI May 2018 Trip ro Samar & Padaba Parents Meeting
EBI Students 7-3-18
EBI Summer Camps
EBI partition y
outh participated in a couple summer camps this year. On May 3-5 was a Compassion Sorsogon Cluster Camp. On May 9-10 was a Youth Retreat and Survival Camp. On April 27 – May 1, some delegates from Emmaus Christian Fellowship and Bulabog Church joined the ABCCOP Youth Camp in Barcelona. Some of these camp experiences might have been a contributing factor to so many getting baptized on May 21, which included 33 from ECF, 4 from Bulabog, and 4 from Penafrancia, with most of these 41 being youth. Pastors and workers are already planning a big all-PAMI youth camp for the summer of 2019. Read More
Emmaus Bible Institute Updates
We praise God for two group baptisms that happened on November 4 (during the break between 1st and 2nd semesters). On that same day, 5 were baptized from the Bulan partition, and 19 were baptized from the Emmaus Bible Institute partition. 16 of the 19 were Compassion sponsored older kids, who have been deeply impacted by years of help and teaching, and decided to publicly acknowledge their commitment to follow Jesus. It’s truly touching that some of the young people that have been served themselves are now actively serving others. Several of these older Compassion kids are now assisting in worship services and outreaches (e.g. helping with outreach to kids in Sirangan, a poor neighborhood near the Sorsogon City market and jeepney station).
To see more news and pictures of the Nov. 4 baptism and other recent highlights of the EBI partition, please click on the following links.
This 11-18-17 pdf file includes photos of Nov. 4 baptism, Sirangan ministry, remembering Ptr Chito on Nov. 1, EBI facility improvements done in 2017, EBI students in various settings, and Compassion sponsored Padaba (well cared for) kids: EBIPhotos11-18-17B
This next 11-18-17 pdf file is a letter/report to accompany the above photo file. It is composed by Sister Ofel Mendizabal, head of the EBI Partition of PAMI, and includes photos, bio info, and testimonies of various EBI students: EBI Report Letter Nov 2017
It was mentioned in the above report that the Bicol Center for Christian Leadership (BCCL) in Legaspi conducts Sorsogon City extension classes each Friday at EBI, for pastors to work towards Graduate Certification in Urban Ministries, GCUM. The November sessions were on Systematic Theology and were conducted by guest professor Bill Lambert, a retired pastor from Texas (see photo to right). Here is a recent BCCL newsletter with EBI in one of the pictures (EBI is the Sorsogon City site): BCCL Nov2017 newsletter
To see a brochure that is being used to promote EBI: EBI brochure
To see the EBI student schedule: EBI class schedule 1st & 2nd sem 2017-2018B
More reports and pictures from earlier in the Fall or Spring/Summer are below:
Read More
December 2016 PAMI Newsletter and 2016 Summary
Click on this link to view: PAMI NEWS Dec2016
For a summary of 2016 ministry, below is a copy of what went out to those supporters that received year-end statements in January:
Read More
September 2016 PAMI News
Click on this link to view: PAMI News Sept2016
For further reference, here is the PAMI update email that accompanied the above newsletter: Read More
December PAMI Newsletter
Click here to see the latest newsletter, which includes a recap of 2015 ministry highlights and info about the Dec 14th typhoon that hit our area hard: PAMI NEWS Dec2015
Christmas Cantata and Celebration at EBI
A Christmas Cantata and Celebration was held at EBI on December 21st and attended by 324 people, including many of the 150 Compassion sponsored kids and their families, and members of Emmaus Christian Fellowship. Below are more pictures and a report about this and other EBI Christmas activities (including 4 nights of caroling).
Read More
Addendum to first few days of Mike, Pam & Ben's 3-week visit
Since the home church of Bro Leo (a senior student at EBI) owns a vehicle, it was nice they let Bro Leo pick us up from Legazpi airport and drive us a couple other days as well. After getting picked up at the airport, we stopped at a mall to buy a guitar, saw Cagsawa Ruins, and hiked to the top of the Lignon Hill overlook.
There was a vendor at Cagsawa Ruins that sold us a photo of a past eruption of Mayon Volcano in the background. As a bonus, she made Sister Ofel and Sister Pam look like giants. She also made Brother Mike look like superman by holding a rock in front of the camera to make it look like he was lifting a boulder (see previous post).
Cagsawa Ruins consists of a bell tower left from an old Spanish church that got covered by mud and fall out from an eruption of Mayon Volcano in the early 1800s.
From on top of Lignon Hill you get a good view of the seaside city of Legazpi. You also get a good view of Mayon Volcano and rice fields (see previous post).
Brother Ben is using his iPad in Castilla Church to show how people drill holes in the ice of Minnesota lakes to catch fish in the winter. Then he and Pam go on to ask how Filipinos fish differently than Minnesotans (i.e. with a net), and then tell the Bible story from the last chapter in John of The Big Catch and becoming fishers of people.
Had about 70 attend the first Kids Time, which was done on March 7th at Castilla Church.
Ben and Pam’s first time in a banka (canoe with outriggers), to get to the beach on the other side of the channel from downtown Castilla.
Pastor Redgie, Sister Aireen, and their daughter Aira Lois in front of their living quarters in Castilla (this is property donated by Mrs. Luz Ortega, used as the church until construction of the new church building about 1 km away a couple years ago funded by Korean Christians).
One of Pastor Redgie’s home Bible studies in Castilla
Pastor Redgie and Aireen Bonifacio, with daughter Aira Lois and baby David Chito (born last July 1, which was Pastor Chito Mendizabal’s birthday).
The travelors coming back to EBI on Friday afternoon, March 8.
Pam and Ben sharing with Padaba (well loved) kids sponsored by Compassion International. Compassion kids come to EBI every Saturday from 8 am – 2 pm.
After Compassion, we went to Sirangan, a low income area near the market of downtown Sorsogon. Children and adult outreaches are conducted there every Saturday afternoon in the building of a daycare center. Funds for feedings, school supplies, and Christmas toys for kids in this location are supplied by a business woman in Manila named Sister Carol who originally came from this neighborhood. Ben and Pam conducted a Kids Time this Saturday.
After the Sirangan Kids Time, we walked around the pier of Sorsogon City, which is sort of a public plaza.
Statue of Pili Nuts on Sorsogon Pier. Sorsogon Province is noted for their pili nuts, which are often made into a candy with a carmelized coating.
Walking on the rock wall that connects the Sorsogon Pier to shoreline.
Paying respects to at the grave of Pastor Chito after visiting the Sorsogon Pier
Emmaus Sunday school kids getting ready for singing a special number.
Sunday service at Emmaus Christian Fellowship, which is a campus church that also serves the local community.
Singing praises as Brother Leo drives us to an outreach in Capuy on Sunday afternoon.
One gets to the Capuy outreach by walking along a pathway next to a stream/inlet that connects to Sorsogon Bay. Most people that live here are fishermen. We finished walking to the bay after the Kids Time (see picture in previous post of children standing in water).
The Capuy outreach includes an adult Bible study in the veranda of this house, while the children meet in an open air cottage a block away.
Kids Time in Capuy. Note how Pam is trying to expain ice fishing with a white box with a hole in it to catch the pipe cleaner fish held by Ben below.
Ben making shredded coconut
Fancy dish cooked at EBI with Ben’s shredded coconut
Kids in Donsol playing with tops
Kids in Donsul Church
Kids of Donsul Church giving a special number with Pastor Abner
Kids Time in Donsul Church
Preparing for feeding in Pastor Abner’s kitchen. Can also see some bakery equipment in the kitchen (e.g. plates of food on top of oven in foreground, and cooling racks in right rear)
Feeding time in Donsol Church
Pastor Abner Cornelio family in their rented Donsol house/church
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After sleeping overnight in with Pastor Abner’s family in Donsol, on the morning of March 12 we decided to take a break and rent a boat for 3 hours to try to spot a whaleshark. Although we saw no whalesharks, we did enjoy seeing some friendly Nemo clownfish.
Compassion, Computers, and Weddings
Dear Brother Mike,