Being of One Mind

Philippians 2
2 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any
participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by
being of the same mind, having the same love,
being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but
in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you
look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have
this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was
in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but
made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness
of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient
to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that
is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in
heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus
Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

12 Therefore, my
beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much
more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for
it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

The above pictures were sent to Eric and me a few weeks ago by a good Filipino friend of ours living in Manila, Philippines. They had just been blasted by Typhoon Ondoy (aka Ketsana), the worst typhoon that had hit Manila in the last 42 years. She had been caught in the storm away from her family so it took over a day to risk the flood waters, some even up to her neck, to get back to her family's house. These are some of the pictures she took along the way. The last 2 pictures are of her son and some of the damage to her house.

Emily is a dear friend of ours and has worked with us through Kid's International Ministries for the last 2 years during our school mission trips. In fact, 2 years ago when we were leaving Manila we left a little bit of money for Emily to use for her ministry & we went back a year later (this past summer) and she'd used it (and a lot of other money) to build a ministry center on top of her house! Emily lives in the midst of a squatter village and has begun a feeding ministry to the kids there in her area. We were able to help with some of that this summer. But now, as you can see, the bottom floor of her house is ruined.

In fact, in the closing part of her email to us it said, "Please continue to pray for us , my community kids and their families , all the families who lost their houses, stuffs, some are died because carried away by fast running water..... "

SOOOOO...........

We've decided to GO BACK!

AND we're taking anyone who wants to go with as well. This could include other teachers, students, or people from our church. Over our Thanksgiving break we'll be flying down there to bring as many supplies, money, and manual labor as we can. I don't think I have ever been in a more giving place than the Philippines and we want to continue to give to them as they have given to us. I have also never been in a place that exhibits the body of Christ better. And so, as Paul exhorts us to do in Philippians chapter 2, we want to be "of the same mind" with them and do all we can to help our brothers and sisters in need. Kid's International Ministries is doing all they can by trying to feed 500-1,000 people a day. We'll be going to help in that effort and in any other way that we can. If any of you feel led to also help with a donation of any kind just let us know.

Thank you so much for keeping us and these wonderful people in your prayers!

God Bless!

Laurie