July 2023 PAMI Newsletter
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10 big boxes of books from ICLD received & distributed
Thank you to International Christian Literature Distributors of Minneapolis, MN ( www.icld.org ) for sending two batches of five balikbayan boxes each, totaling over a ton (2000 lbs) of Christian printed materials. This included study Bibles, reference/study/devotional books, kids books, teaching materials, and other media. Sister Ofel Mendizabal, director of PAMI’s Emmaus Bible Institute, has been distributing this literature to various pastors and Christian workers of PAMI and other missions/churches throughout Sorsogon Province from January – June 2022. Some books were given to EBI students, and some distributed to attendees of Province-wide workshops and seminars of partner organizations that are fairly often hosted at EBI.
The first five boxes arrived on January 9, 2002 and contents sorted into stacks for distribution:
EBI students were happy to each receive a couple items each:
Bags of books distributed to various pastors and ministry leaders:
The second batch of 5 boxes arrived March 27, 2022 and contents sorted into stacks:
Books distributed to attendees of March 30-31, 2022 God’s Appointed People seminar hosted at EBI:
Books distributed after Samaritan’s Purse Operation Christmas Child teacher training hosted at EBI in April 2022:
Books distributed after Faith Comes By Hearing Bicolano Proclaimer audio Bible training hosted at EBI in early June 2022:
After all these distributions, Sister Ofel still has 10 more bags of ICLD books yet to give away. All these materials provided and sent by ICLD are much appreciated. We send a big thank you to John Stacknik and the rest of ICLD’s volunteers, and all those who donated these wonderful resources.
For more pictures of ICLD book distribution, you can view previous blog posts:
Or see the following Distribution of ICLD Books pdf file listed in the following December 22, 2018 post:
2021 Summary and January 2022 Bulletin
Here’s a summary of 2021 PAMI highlights that was included in donor year-end statements:
Dear Friends:
Thank you for your gifts and prayers for PAMI in 2021. John 3:16 says "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son..." God is a giver, and he wants us to be like him. We give because God gave first. Our giving is a way of saying thank you for all that we've been given by God.
Despite the continuing challenge of COVID, much was accomplished this last year. 172 people were baptized (about twice a typical year)! The first graduation of the new Emmaus Bible Institute Modular extension program was conducted on December 20, with 21 students in 6 locations who completed 12 months of weekly classes. EBI also continues its regular 4-year program, with 16 on-campus students. Weekly on-line ukulele music lessons have been ongoing since April. 160 Compassion sponsored kids continue to be served with home-based visits by case workers/teachers. Food distributions were conducted, along with some in-person feedings. Several balikbayan boxes were sent with books, CDs, games, toys, school and office supplies, hygiene supplies, clothes, and laptops. New chapels were constructed in San Jose Bulusan and Juag Island Matnog. And we are soon ready to buy the property of the PenaFrancia Sorsogon and Candumaay Santa Isabel Matnog churches. It’s through the partnership of dedicated Filipino workers and faithful supporters like you that all this is possible.
Here’s the latest PAMI publication that was also included with donor year-end statements:
Fifty bags of ICLD books distributed to Christian workers
Thank you to International Christian Literature Distributors of Minneapolis, MN ( www.icld.org ) for recently sending four large balikbayan boxes of Bibles, reference/study/devotional books, and other Christian literature to PAMI’s Emmaus Bible Institute that were distributed to various pastors and Christian workers of PAMI and other missions/churches throughout Sorsogon Province in February – March 2021. A Bible and devotional booklet were given to each EBI student, and fifty bags of books were distributed to pastors and Christian workers in various towns.
Bags of books distributed to pastors and Christian workers in Bulan:
Bags of books distributed to pastors and Christian workers in Matnog, Prieto Diaz, and elsewhere:
2020 Summary & January Bulletin
For 2020 donors that received a year-end gift receipt, the following 2020 ministry summary and January Bulletin were included. They are included in this blog post for others to see as well.
Click on the following: January 2021 PAMI Bulletin
Dear Friends:
Thank you for demonstrating your love for the Lord through your gifts and prayers for PAMI in 2020. I am reminded of Jesus' example of service by washing the disciples' feet at the Last Supper, followed by issuing the mandate of John 13:34, "As I have loved you, so you must love one another."
Despite the restrictions posed by COVID for most of last year, there was still much accomplished. When large groups were forbidden, messages were streamed on-line and via radio, and small groups in homes or yards still met. 34 people were baptized, and about another 20 are waiting to be baptized once beach venues open up. 4 EBI seniors completed their four year program in March, and 10 Freshmen began their studies in August. Weekly modular EBI extension classes were started in September in 6 locations with 40+ attendees. 160 Compassion sponsored kids were served, shifting from weekly sessions at the EBI campus to home-based visits by case workers/teachers. Children’s feedings were converted to relief food distributions. Several balikbayan boxes were sent with books, CDs, games, toys, school and office supplies, hygiene supplies, clothes, laptops and projectors. Some typhoon repairs and building refurbishment/improvement were done, including replacing an EBI bamboo classroom with a brick one, and reroofing the EBI church, Candumaay Matnog church, and Mabini pavilion. A lot in Tabon-tabon Irosin was purchased through a combination of local and matching mission funds. It’s through the partnership of dedicated Filipino workers and faithful supporters like you that all this was possible.
Thank you very much for your part in this work. May God richly bless you.
PAMI and Emmaus Lutheran
This post includes info put together for Emmaus Lutheran because PAMI was their featured mission for the month of June, but others might appreciate it too. Emmaus Lutheran is a long-time supporter of PAMI and currently sponsor the Garduque family that serve in Barcelona, Sorsogon, Philippines. Here are three pdf documents:
A little history of the connection between PAMI and Emmaus Lutheran
Garduque family update for Emmaus Lutheran
Here is a link to the June 15th worship service from Emmaus Free Lutheran Church of Bloomington, MN because it includes an 8 minute Faith Moment interview between me (Mike Thorud) and Pastor Kevin Olson about PAMI (Philippine-Asian Missions Inc.), of which I am the volunteer administrator. This interview is located about 2/3 into the service, at about the 40 minute mark, if you want to scroll the cursor directly to it. Or you can start listening from the beginning to first hear some great worship music and a message from Pastor Nick Dyrud from John 12 on God Be Glorified. Just like Jesus submitted to the Father’s will by accepting the cross in the face of strong emotions leading up to it, so we can avoid being controlled by our own emotional trying times by submitting them to God, and accepting what Jesus did on the cross for us.
Here are my notes for the interview. This includes additional info that didn’t all make it into the interview in the church service video.
Mission life just before and during COVID quarantine
Here’s a pdf that includes an April report from Sis Ofel of EBI, along with pictures of a Valentine couples night, distribution of books/food/relief, gardening, and family worship: April 14th report
2019 Summary, January 2020 PAMI Bulletin and Typhoon Recovery
By the end of January, year-end statements and a January 2020 PAMI Bulletin were mailed out to those that made 2019 contributions to PAMI. The year-end statements included the following summary of PAMI ministries in 2019:
Dear Friends:
Thank you for your gifts and prayers for PAMI in 2019. They are fitting of Hebrews 13:16 that says “And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.”
This has been another fruitful year of ministry. About 65 people were baptized! Three graduated from Emmaus Bible Institute on April 3rd. Two of the three were added as workers, along with a couple that graduated in previous years. We were able to distribute another 500 Operation Christmas Child boxes and carry out a lot of discipleship along with that. 160 Compassion sponsored kids were served weekly at EBI. An all-PAMI youth camp was held in April and a crusade in May, with a couple hundred attending each. Churches were started in Culasi Matnog and San Jose Bulusan. Other gatherings, retreats, and workshops were held. Film showings, Christian radio, Bible study outreaches, children’s feedings, and VBS continued. Weekly Values Instruction Classes were done in several public schools and Family Development Sessions were held with government welfare recipients. Several balikbayan boxes were sent with books, CDs, games, toys, school and office supplies, hygiene supplies, clothes, laptops and projectors. Some building refurbishment/improvement and typhoon relief/repairs were done. It’s through the partnership of dedicated Filipino workers and faithful supporters like you that all this is possible.
Regarding the January 2020 PAMI Bulletin , it includes before and after repair pictures of two of the worst hit PAMI buildings–the PenaFrancia Church near EBI and Candumaay Matnog Church. It also has some pictures of distribution of typhoon relief goods. And page 2 is a January 7 report from Sis Ofel that praises God for batches of typhoon relief from different sources along with corresponding ministry opportunities. For more info and pictures, see below: Read More