4:00am

When I told students that we would be waking up at 4:30am each morning, I misinformed them. We have been waking up at 4am. Many schools are an hour away and start at 630am so we have to get going. Yes, it is possible to get them up this early. No, they may not wake up this early at home w/o threats from Bob Tebow.

I watched yesterday as Jonny Blount shared the gospel with multiple schools including one with only a handful of kids. It was sweet to see him share with a small school of 30 kids with the little ones gathered around his bigness under a tree. All the little Filipino eyes peered up at him as he shared the life-giving message of the gospel.

Students are amazed and amazing and we are ready for another great day.

Update!

We had an absolutely incredible first day. Amazing. Our team from Highview preached to over 3,000 people in one day with most of the Filipinos indicating they put their trust in Christ. Amazing. Every person in our group did a great job and we are all learning how to more effectively share the good news. The group going to the orphanage will leave Friday. Those not going will have a fun weekend here in Laoago City. You should be proud of your person on this trip. Many are going far outside their comfort zone and are growing tremendously in their ability to understand and communicate the gospel.

Here is a link to a picture and video gallery for the trip. I’ll try to update as often as possible.

Skype

If you have Skype on your computer (it’s free), you can add me, Dustin, as a contact – skype name “dustinschadt” w/ no quotes). I’ll be on periodically between 4am and 9am.

Everything is going great. The crew is looking forward to much needed sleep and we are ready for a great day tomorrow.

Working Hard

As you can see in the Twitter updates on the right, the team has hit the ground running.  They are already meeting with school superintendents to plan out the week.  Pray for energy for the team.  Thirty-six hours of travel is exhausting!

We are here!

Make sure to check the Twitter updates to the right. You can sign up for Twitter and even follow us via text message. You’ll want to check with the Twitter.com site on how to set up and get connected.

Everyone is healthy and well. It’s just after midnight in the ‘Ville but we are about to grab lunch, visit the school superintendent, and preach!

Pray for us!

On the Ground

After many hours of travel, the Philippines mission team is safely on the ground in Manila.  Praise God for his protection, and thank you for your prayers!

Please pray for their continued safety throughout the trip. Pray also for fruitfulness in their ministry as they share the gospel with potentially thousands of Filipinos in the coming weeks.

Check back here for regular updates and pictures as they become available and follow @highviewmission on Twitter for up-to-the minute news.

Buhay!

Buhay is the tegalog word for “alive!” Our team of 19 missionaries leaves tomorrow morning for the Philippines to tell these beautiful people that God loves them, sin separates them from Him, but God made a way for a restored relationship through Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection – He is buhay!

I’ll be updating this blog as often as possible to share what God is doing through and in our students. You can also view the Twitter updates at the right side of the screen. Twitter will be updated more often than the blog. Pray for us!

Unfettered

unfetter |ˌənˈfetər|
verb [ trans. ] [usu. as adj. ] ( unfettered)
release from restraint or inhibition : his imagination is unfettered by the laws of logic.

“Unfettered” is a word that may describe the access many young people have to the internet. They operate without restraint or inhibition. This is not to say that all teenagers have unlimited access as many parents work hard to monitor and limit their teenager’s online capabilities. The reality of internet us by teens is shown by a new study by Cox Communications detailing the openess of teenagers’ access to the internet through phones, laptops, and iPod’s. The study found that 80% of teenagers have access to the internet, using their cell phone, without any monitor from their parents.

Discerning parents should take a look at this study and do the diligent work to help lead their teenagers toward Christlikeness by both monitoring and limiting access to the internet.

You can find the Cox Communications study here. You can also check out a post I wrote on teens and iPods here.

Procrastinate?

Are you a procrastinator? Do you want me to get back with you on your answer?

Like many people, I can at times have a desire to procrastinate. I came across the following quote from a Scottish preacher that outlines a strong biblical understanding of how we should approach procrastination. This is one to print out and put in a place that you’ll see often:

No unwelcome tasks become any the less unwelcome by putting them off till tomorrow. It is only when they are behind us and done, that we begin to find that there is a sweetness to be tasted afterwards, and that the remembrance of unwelcome duties unhesitatingly done is welcome and pleasant. Accomplished, they are full of blessing, and there is a smile on their faces as they leave us. Undone, they stand
threatening and disturbing our tranquility, and hindering our communion with God. If there be lying before you any bit of work from which you shrink, go straight up to it, and do it at once. The only way to get rid of it is to do it.

‐Alexander MacLaren (1826‐1910), Scottish preacher

Good Friday Service at Buckhead Church

Check out the ending from the good friday service at Buckhead Church. It’s pretty incredible.