Maria and Cherry on their way

On Monday, March 29th Maria and Cherry took off for the Philippines in preparation for our missions trip. The rest of the team will be leaving on the 7th of April. It will be a blessing to join them again, I miss them already - Gordon

Philippines Planning Meeting -February 14, 2010

I wanted to provide a brief update on our trip for those of you who follow our missions trip. On Sunday, February 14, 2010 we had a Missions meeting to discuss more detailed plans for our April trip. I received a call from Bishop Soriano prior to our meeting, wanting an update on our trip plans. Pastor John will provide the Bishop with details via email. The Bishop will coordinate getting bibles (@ 50) in the local language, which will cost around $150.00. We will hold another meeting on Sunday the 21st., to discuss the program agenda. The back packs we ordered will be shipped directly from Davo, which is being coordinated by Tina and Randy Gibler. I have decided to get my International drivers permit as I am leaning towards renting a vehicle so we have transportation while in Biao. This will also enable us to have more flexibility to see some places before we leave.

Our plans were to stay at the home of Cherry's former teacher. This has changed since here daughter has moved to Manila, she was going to do our cooking. We will now stay in the Barangay Office building and Cherry will find someone to prepare meals from there. I have to honestly admit, this trip has been a real test on my faith. I have learned to just place my trust in the Lord and that He has everything under control. I am not sure where this leading me (Gordon) on a personal level, it is something that is on my mind everyday. I have no doubt that God has a plan in mind.

Inspirational Material from Andie

It is often difficult to find inspirational material now days. Today after I finished praying for our mission trip I opened an email from a friend of mine and behold there was a link to Andie's Isle, which I just have to share. I found the material to be a blessing and pray it will be a blessing for you as well.

Philippine Central Conference

Here is a nice overview of the United Methodist Church Central Conference areas. Our mission trip to Biao will be taking us to the Davao Episcopal Area.

The Philippines Central Conference today consist of 3 Episcopal Areas, 21 Annual Conferences, 200,540 Professing Members with an area of 477,181 square Km. More figures are as follows:

In 1908, the General Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church
authorized the organization of the Philippine Islands Mission into
the Philippine Islands Annual Conference, under the jurisdiction of
the Southern Asia Central Conference. The work in the Philippines
grew quickly and in 1936, the General Conference enabled the
organization of the Philippines Central Conference during the
following quadrennium. This act was ratified at the 1939 Uniting
Conference which created The Methodist Church. The first session
of the Philippines Central Conference was held at the Central
Methodist Church in Manila, beginning February 29, 1940.
Following years of growth, the 1960 General Conference
approved a second episcopal area in the Philippines Central
Conference: the Baguio Area (composed of the Northwest
Philippines Annual Conference, the Northern Philippines Annual
Conference, and the Mindanao Provisional Annual Conference)
which joined the Manila Area (composed of the Philippines Annual
Conference, Southwest Philippines Provisional Annual Conference,
and the Middle Philippines Annual Conference). The 1984 General
Conference mandated the addition of a third episcopal area, the
Davao Area.

The Davao Episcopal Area: Resident Bishop: Bishop Leo A. Soriano

Consist of the following: 5 Annual Conferences: Bicol Provisional Conference, East Mindanao Phil. Annual Conference, Mindanao Phil. Annual Conference, Visayas Annual Conference, and Northwest Phil. Annual Conference , 25,396 Professing and Baptized Members, 127 Ordained Clergy, 143 local Pastors, 201 Organized Churches, and 40 Preaching places. This Episcopal area covers an area of 3000,000 square Kilometers.