CEBU2YOU

A MONTHLY MINISTRY NEWSLETTER OF SHEPHERDS HEART CALVARY CHAPEL, APAS, CEBU PHILIPPINES

DECEMBER 2013

KEEP HOPE ALIVE (IPADAYON ANG PAGLAUM)

As you can probably tell from my last newsletter and all of the press recently, The Philippines has been deluged with tragedy after tragedy. We had a 7.2 earthquake, a few days later Cebu had 3 Tornados and shortly after that, the strongest Typhoon to ever touch down on land hit the Philippines. We are all now in relief mode, doing all we can for the victims of these devastating weather situations. Thank you for your prayers and support. I will attempt to share some of the situations with you and our involvement at this time with the victims, doing what we can to assist, comfort and share Jesus in the midst of everything. First let me say that, by the Grace of God, our building and tent suffered little damage. Our members were spared any real damage other than emotional stress as the ground shock, the winds roared, towers swayed and trees were uprooted. But at the same time, family members of our members suffered major damages, some lost a loved one, one man is still looking for his father and we all weep together for those who are suffering so much.

As you have seen on the news, not the same as being here, entire towns have been leveled. Entire Barangay's have been destroyed. No one knows how many died. The latest count is A s t h e m a g n i t u d e o f t h i s situation continued to reveal over 5,200.

Carrying his daughter to the makeshift morgue.

itself to us we prayed about how we could be involved with our limited resources and the Lord gave us numerous ways to be involved. Some of the ways we have gotten involved are, as we heard of all the power outages for the next few months, we began to build floating lanterns that would burn used cooking oil, also bottle lanterns that use kerosene, we completed making 500 wordless bracelets that the summer team left to use for the children, we sent 5 church members to Eastern Samar and Leyte to assist for a few days, held special prayer meetings and we have committed to feed 300 refugees 3 times a week in a local refugee center for 2 months. The feeding is stretching our people in that we use 15-20 volunteers each of the 3 feedings for about 7-8 hours a

day compensating them with only breakfast and lunch. The City Government and the Department of Social Welfare Systems have authorized us teach a Bible Study in the dialect of the refugees, all from Tacloban City, to teach the kids action songs and to share with them individually while they eat and then to pray with them. We are now waiting for permission to do a Sunday evening service for them. We have also, just naturally, because of our location become a facilitator for moving teams coming to assist from the airport to the pier and vice versa. We also pre purchase their tickets and when needed we can purchase advance Bills of Lading for larger shipments coming through Cebu. We just make ourselves available for whatever is needed to expedite getting help to the victims.

HAIYAN / YOLANDA

She is not my sister. I will line up for her food...she might be hurt or lost

Rainbow in Tacloban

They thanked soldier with a buko juice.

the fresh

December

HAIYAN REFUGEES FEEDING

FLOATING LANTERNS

REGULAR SCHEDULE
In addition to all of the above and anything I have forgotten, we continue to do all of our regular ministries. The only exception is that we have stopped feeding at the school until we are done at the Refugee Center with the permission of the principal and the Department of Education both of whom feel what we are doing is most important at this time.

TITUS2MEN
We are still in the midst of teaching Titus2Men for the first time. We will complete the class on December 17th and the first week of January we will each begin to disciple another man, a younger Christian.

SCHOOL OF MINISTRY
In the midst of these challenges we completed our first semester of the School of Ministry. We are now taking applications for the second semester where we w i l l o f f e r E s c h a t o l o g y, Hermeneutics, Orientation to Ministry and Evangelism.

20% Cooking Oil 80% Water

SUMMARY
This is a different format than usual but I wanted to relate some of what's going on here so you can understand our need for your prayers and support at this time. We are spending $700 per week on the feedings, way beyond our budget, we've added extensive hours to our daily schedules but we are being so blessed by the Lord for our faithfulness. I have seen people walk through the gate at the refugee center previously presumed dead and

seen the light in the eyes as a loved one looks up and sees them. I have seen the darkness in the eyes of so many, as everyone at the center has lost at least 1 loved one, but I have also seen the joy in faces as they learn and sing action songs, as they sample good food, other than chicken, which is what most people feed them and I see the twinge of light in their eyes as we share Gihigugma Ka Ni Hesus (Jesus Loves You). As their spirits are lifted, ours automatically become lifted Daghang also. I could Salamat! write so much.
Thank you very much!

Other Ministries

We have additional ministries including Evangelism, Home Visitation, Mid-Week Service, 2 services on Sunday, Night of Worship (once a month), Monthly Leadership committee meeting, Funeral services as needed, Weddings, Baby Dedications and we now have a School of Ministry just completing its first semester. Thank you for taking time to read this. I feel it is important for you to know who we are and what we do. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.

PRAYER REQUEST
Wisdom and Discernment Finances for the church Finances for the Refugee Feeding Car Repairs Spiritual growth Titus2Men Program That the Lord will fill every seat every Sunday Permanent home for the church Children's Ministries Personal time with the Lord Healing of my leg Salvation for Austin (grandson) Salvation for Krysta (daughter) Additional supporters God's provision Woman2Woman Ministry Medical tests and treatments Victims of Typhoon & Earthquake Refugee Center provisions School of Ministry-Second Sem Repairs to Bass Amp and Keyboard Workers and volunteers not to grow weary in well doing Church Christmas Celebration

TO SUPPORT THIS MINISTRY IN THE PHILIPPINES,

SEND DONATIONS TO:
Calvary Chapel of Downey, 12808 Woodruff Avenue, Downey, CA 90242 ATTN: Missions Support for Tom Maxwell If your donation is for a specific purpose in Cebu, please designate the purpose, ie: sponsorship for HS/Elementary, etc. All donations are tax deductible Contact us at shepherds_heart04@yahoo.com look at our website @

www.cebu2you.com

Call us from the USA @ 011-63-32-268-6280 or text us @ +639164233620. (Magic Jack number: +1 562-398-4936) Please return this coupon with your donation and thanks for being our partner in fulfilling Gods purpose in Cebu. (Please send support to reach CC Downey by the 10th of the month.) Thank you. ON-LINE SUPPORT You can now support missionaries online at CC Downey. Follow this link or contact Zully at 562-803-5631 with any questions. http://www.ccdowney.com/ missions/missionaries/ Praise the Lord.

Ptr. Tom & Sheilani