is brunch after worship at 11:30 and new member installation
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Good Morning Seeking, Gifted and Following Students of Jesus and His Ways! Please Lord! Amen! You are custom made for such a time as this. God has gathered you into our Body for His plans and purposes. He is training and sending us in the ways of Jesus and to make disciples. He has gifted and empowered you to do all He created you to do and His Holy Spirit will guide you as you seek His face and follow His planned steps for you. That is His easy yoke! Be you and do what you're made to do. There you will find joy and peace and purpose for your life. Amen! Thank God for these! Keep seeking, using your activated gifts as you study God's Word and follow Jesus--the author and perfecter of our faith. Amen. Ask for wisdom and direction . Ask for partners and the gumption to be one for His glory. Be who you are created to be and ask for help to do well all He made you to do and has planned for you . Ask for faith and trust to follow well. I'm praying for you and us to be all that we can be in Christ and Kingdom impactors. Two devos below speak into this. Go! Live and love like Jesus as you are created and gifted to do. And worship Him! Amen!
I to We
Upper Room: Desiring Wisdom
Wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with her. - Proverbs 8:11 (NIV)
What do you desire? Does wisdom top your list? If I were honest with God and myself, I would have to admit that although wisdom is on my list, it isn’t the first thing. My immediate wishes are more along the lines of peaceful relationships, not to be cut off in rush hour, or a waterproof phone since my last one broke after getting wet at the pool. While there is nothing wrong with desiring those things, Proverbs 8:11 challenges my choices and makes me wonder: why is wisdom so much more desirable than anything else?
As we read the book of Proverbs, we learn quite quickly why wisdom is supreme: it knows that the path to life is found by keeping God at the center of all we do and following God’s commands. By doing this, we can stay on the path that is blessed by God and find peace in our relationships, patience for the shortcomings of others, and contentment with what God has given us. However, the greatest blessing is that this path leads to eternal life, and there is nothing more precious than that.
's Prayer
Merciful God, help us set our hearts on following the path of your wisdom. Guide us to experience the blessings you have for us. Amen.
Larry Paul News
Hello to all of our family, friends, and partners,
We are back in the Philippines after being in the USA this summer. After Richard graduated from Faith Academy at the end of May, we traveled to the USA to visit family and meet with our friends and partners at our supporting churches. Enol and Brayden returned to the Philippines at the end of July so Brayden could start his Junior year (grade 11) at Faith Academy while Larry returned at the beginning of September so he could help care for his Mom and make sure Richard was enrolled and settled at Lehigh University. Larry's brother and sister have been taking care of their Mom since her health declined last year. We were able to help care for her while in the USA, especially with Larry extending his stay until September. Larry and his siblings are currently making plans to sell their childhood home so Mom can move to an independent living apartment where they have the services she needs. It's hard to make such a transition, so they're taking it slow to help her adjust to the new living situation.
Faith Academy's new school year started . We have over 560 students enrolled this year from 18 different countries! This is the largest enrollment in recent years. Larry's facilities team did a lot of work over the summer to prepare the campus for the new school year. They supervised the contractors finishing the 100kw solar panel system, the new parking lot, replacing half of a high school building's roof, converting 2 dormitories to co-ed dorms with separate sleeping areas for the boys and girls, renovating bathrooms to add PWD toilets, along with numerous smaller projects to prepare the campus for the new school year.
Larry continues to take the prescribed maintenance drugs to take care of his heart after his heart attack last December. He's also exercising and eating healthier to take care of himself. He's trying to reduce his stress but it's not easy with Richard off to college, his Mom's health needs, and his responsibilities at Faith Academy. He's already preparing for next year's campus projects which includes: adding another solar panel system, replacing the other half of the high school building's roof, and replacing a number of split air conditioning units with a large Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) system where one outdoor unit serves multiple indoor units. The Solar Panel system and roof replacement need to be done January to April to avoid rainy season so he's working on writing specifications and gathering bids so the necessary funding will be allocated for the projects. This is in addition to his "normal" tasks of running the maintenance, grounds, transportation, custodian, and security departments.
Richard is settling in at Lehigh University. Larry helped him moved into a dorm before he started a week of orientation to prepare for the start of college life. He likes his roommate and is making other friends on campus. He found a part-time job off campus so he'll be working about 16 hrs/week while going to school. He's excited because he made the men's volleyball club team. Lehigh does not have a varsity men's volleyball team, but the club team travels to other colleges to play in tournaments. We're so glad he's making friends and is still able to enjoy playing competitive volleyball.
Brayden started his junior year (grade 11) at Faith Academy in August. He's taking a few AP classes this year and preparing to go to college after he graduates next year. He's on the varsity volleyball team and enjoys playing with his friends and teammates.
Enol has been busy at our house in the Philippines working with a contractor replacing the galvanized piping with plastic piping in addition to the normal things that need to be done while living in the Philippines. Now that Larry's back and the pipes have been replaced she's able to volunteer at Faith Academy's Pre-K classes and monitoring the playground during lunch/recess.
Praises
Larry's ongoing recovery
Richard making friends and playing volleyball at Lehigh University
Brayden doing well at Faith Academy, both with schoolwork and volleyball.
Enol can volunteer at Faith Academy
God's continued provision for our needs
Prayer Requests
Larry's complete recovery from his heart condition
Finances for Richard to attend Lehigh University
Enol's sister Zeny, complete recovery from stroke, and her financial needs
Thank you again for your continued prayers and support of our ministry at Faith Academy in the Philippines.
