Friday, May 15, 2009

Rice Rats

As we zipped through the rice fields men by the roadside were selling half dozen rats they held by their tails. “They eat rats here?”, I exclaimed to my friend. “Only the ones they catch in the rice field, not garbage rats”, he said indignantly.
After eating rice 2-3 times a day for 5 weeks, I had a big-mac attack. It had been a long time. I actually thought I’d been delivered from unhealthy junk food. You know, the kind that clogs your arteries and contains a whole day’s worth of calories. I felt a little less guilty when I gave the middle of it to my wife who used it to take the edge off her bone dry fish filet. (The sacrifices I make for that woman.)
Now you know: this riveratt is not a rice rat…

PS Now home and recovering.

Thursday, April 30, 2009

Oxy the Moron

Now we are in the mts. of N. Luzon, Baguio City. Rainy in dry season just like Manila. The wedding last Sat. went off relatively smoothly except the candle lighter laid his lit candle down and could have burn down the table with a huge antique Bible on it - so sacred to the rented church we couldn't move it for the wedding. Fortunately I saw the fire and put it out quickly - I watch for that having had experience... I forgot to pray over the couple before the pronouncement so I gracefully slipped it in before the picture taking... Sunday is a bit of a blure but the Fire of God meeting that night was a kind of a reunion/anniversary with the affiliated churches coming together, young people leading fabulous worship, the founders, Ben and Carmelita saying nice things about us, Ben singing without his front tooth which unbeknowst to him fell out while he was singing in the morning service. I said nice things about Ben and Carmelita, then preached for 20 minute and got everyone up to pray. Glory rained and the end worship turned into a slam dance...
After 2 days visiting relatives, etc while staying in a water park without swimming, we drove 7 hrs. to the mts. (4-30)Today was the first of 2 days of extention Bible school "Principles of Revival". Are there such things? I was the ox that came up with the title. Diane ended the teaching with a call for people to come forward if they wanted to receive an increased anointing, if they were hungering for more. Most of the 100 students came forward.
Theorectically Saturdy is a day off, Sunday at church here, after lunch ride the bus back to Manila, repack for the umpteenth time and Monday a 4:50AM flight to Zamboanga City in the south to see our son, Don, the kids and friends there. May not have another post til we get home.

Last Tuesday Andres family took us to lunch up a small mountain to a hotel. On the way in the middle of no where we crested a ridge and there was this little store with a huge sign 'Convenience Store'. We all busted up laughing. Rino said it was formerly a coffee shop that went bankrupt. Do we do church like that?
That's all for now. By this time next week the people here will saying of me, "The swine flew."

Sunday, April 26, 2009

What a scream

Thurs 4-23 I (Diane) spoke first but Ludie Grace Ramirez needed help sewing her gift for her 50 guests at her 70th B-party tonight. Since I got the sewing machine from you know where to work I was the one to help her. After that I went back to the church and prayed with Yoni’s sister who has a lump. They say is cancerous but no known origin. I’m believing God healed her cause she was manifesting and it was a spirit of infirmity then shaking and praising and then more of this and that and she got such a powerful release.
The last day of the Puppet Sem? Wow, what a shock the puppets came back completed with all the facial parts, hair, sunglasses, hats, do rags, dresses, coats, shirts, hoodies, jewelry, ribbons, and you name it. So fun. And they were all excited about their creations and so was I. We had a fun 4 hours of instruction, practice, and performing their skits . We laid hands on the people and the puppets and commissioned them to preach the Gospel. Everyone went out with a shout and a visions of ongoing ministry for their lives.
I am taking Amie out to get our nails done for the semi-formal B-party tonight. Since I haven’t been cooking, chopping, laundry or scrubbing I actually have nails. I needed to do it for the wedding anyway.
I was listening to my ipod today and discovered an unknown album. So I listened to it and it sounded familiar. The music and words were awesome. I felt the power of God so strong I couldn’t move. Then I realized it was the 2 songs Joy wrote. I was overwhelmed and blessed. Those need to be recorded for the rest of the world. I remember when Joy, Hope and Faith sang “To be a Witness” in church. I think should sing both those songs together.
Does it sound like I miss them? Ya! And the Rivers gang... sumpan fierce

Friday, April 24, 2009

The Cat's Still Flat

But we are determined to follow the advice of Wintston Churchill during the dark days of the Second World War: "Never, never, never give up"
Hey, if Ben W. can practice on a dead mouse before he went to India...

Tonight is the last night of B.school. Tomorow we pack up, move to Taytay for Noy's wedding, and preach 3 times on Sunday: Twice back in the city in Greenhills, then back to TNLF for our Fire of God meeting. Thanks for praying, getting a bit weary. Mon. and Tues. are supposed to be rest, but we have a lot of visitation to do.

Thursday, April 23, 2009

Rehydrating

Since Mike Olels left on Sunday, we have had lightening and thunder storms and raining cats and dogs here in dry season... Every time we walk across the street to the church, we pass a cat that died long ago, someone ran over it, and it dried up so much that it was flatter than a pancake. Mike even took a picture of it. (Mike, put it on face book - along with the picture of you in our men's meeting at camp as you played David with the long red hair) Tonight I teach on resurrection. The way that cat has soaked up the rain, I might take it to the streets after the class and have the students do workshop on that flat cat...

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Just finished a puppet seminar with 45 puppets being made. Glorious confusion but we got the job done. I have lots of stories about it. Tomorrow they get to practice with their new puppet after instruction and setting up puppet teams in each church. Dennis is teaching on Faith tonight in the Bible School. I taught on Repentance. It always makes me want to repent. Miss you all. Thanks for your prayers.

Monday, April 20, 2009

Bible School

I've got a connection!!! I'm sitting in class as Dennis is teaching on the Validity of the Word and Bible interpretation. We have 5 nights of teaching Heb 6 fundamental truths. I have been preparing for the puppet making seminar every spare moment. I was tying to work with the sewing machine from Hell and I conquered it but lost alot of time. God has given me a great helper who is artistic and great with directions. So he has take me to all the places where we had to buy the materials for the stage and foam for the puppets. I brought alot of stuff with me but it all has to be prepared and packaged in sets. We have prepared 45 puppets to make. I'm not sure how many churches are involved. Tomorrow I'll teach the class from 9-5pm.The next day I'll teach the mechanics of puppetry as well as setting a vision for evangelism adults/children. And then 7-10pm I'll share the time with Dennis in teaching at the Bible School.
We have about 50+ students in the B-School. Thanks for praying. This is a busy week but lots of laughs and victories over mechanical and technical difficulties.
Diane

what?... whatever...

I'm performing an important wedding next Saturday so made the decision to get my first store bought haircut since 1993. Passed up the 35cent, 50cent, and dollar haircut for a professional shop. As the barber was finishing with a razor shave of the neck, etc. he made the independent decision to eliminate my right sideburn. As I watched in shock I made the decision not to scold a man with a straight razor and felt people at the wedding might be distracted by the minister with one sideburn. SO he finished my 2 dollar haircut and away we went. I'm looking forward to doing this again... in about another 15 yrs.

Thursday, April 16, 2009

Southern Luzon

4-14 After 7.5 hr vanride from Manila we settled into our suite (province style) courtesy of Bong and Eva. Our goal besides out-of-meeting relationships was two days in which to present, on behalf of Zion Ministries International extension Bible school, Foundational studies in 8 sessions from Hebrews 6:1-2. Diane did two sessions, Mike two and led worship twice, and I did 4 as well as preach the first night revival. Mike griped about the heat - no wonder, that day was the hottest of the year! Around 96F and super humid. Pastor Edwin ran out of steam after interpreting 9 messages so we cancelled the last night of revival and came back to Manila (left 10PM and arrived 2AM). We wanted him to live to fight another day! For those following our itinerary: the family camp was cancelled for no venue. Sunday Diane will speak in the main church here in Mandaluyong and then speak at the ladies' luncheon. I will go to the N. side of the city, Malabon, to be with Eric and Janet's church and then come back to get Diane and we will speak at Village East PM church (I think it was originally started by Elmer and Joy). Stay tuned.

Sunday, April 12, 2009

Melting Mountains

Mountains melt like wax in the presence of the Lord. Ps. 97:1-6 Camp Theme 'Going Forward'
4-9 706 people registered for camp. Jesus melted a mountain of unbelief as 40 people first time commitments to Jesus! Then I had about 40 pastors and prayer people come and pray for the 200 people who came because they were stuck in the valley of discouragement, stuck half way up a mountain, or stuck in a comfort zone. (good can be the enemy of the best)
4-10 Mike Olels and I had the men's group for 3 hrs. We got the guys to do a drama of David and Goliath. Mike (David) wore a long, red wig. It was a scream. Then he spoke on about Dvid as a man after God's heart. Then we did a 'sketch' with David bringing deliverance to Saul (1Sam. 16) and I talked about worship as warfare.
Diane had the women for 5 hrs! Best let her tell you what happened.
PM meeing I did a long altar time in phases out of Ps. 68:1-10: First we prayed with the fatherless, widows, and the lonely. Many tears (some have spouses working in other countries)
Second phaze was freedom from addictions, rebellion (esp. the attitude "whatever you want to do or require, I don't!), the weak, burn out, weary for refreshing, and healing.
4-11 am Diane got th little ones to make their armor of God from newspaper. One 3 yr. old refused to take it off most of the day. Mike did the youth revival meeting and I worked on mountains of unforgivenes in the afternoon. (If you still think about it, a lot you haven't dealt with it.)
4-12 Ressurection! Finishing well - Fixing hearts, minds, and eyes on Jesus as we run the marathon. A mob came up! Norm, the mission leader, said he was going to preach the same title, same passage, with similar illustrations before we swapped schedules (he did Sat. night so his video clips would show up better)
4-12 Brunch and 3hr drive back to Manila. That night the hosting church leaders gave a special Japanese restaurant dinner and cake for our 40th wedding anniversary. Some of these people were my B.school students in the early 80's. They've passed me up! God is so amazing.
4-13 studying for the next thing - 6hr. travel tomorrow afternoon for 2 day extension B.school - a team teach with Mike and Diane of 8 lessons on Heb. 6:1-2. Then night meetings.
Back on Friday. Thanks for prayers.

Tuesday, April 7, 2009

blast off

Tuesday 3-31 Finally found the visa service office and greeted with, "Dennis Teague!"Last time we saw Cathy she was pregnant. Today the baby girl graduates from high school! (more connections) Lunch with pastors Bob and Delor included the laptop God led us to buy for them. After we had both received a word on it the same day, we went to buy it and then the money came in! Net result - no expense to us!
Wed. 4-1 repacked suitcases and stored 2 to travel lighter going south. Touche base (and lunched) with staff of ZCFB (formerly MCLC) and adjusted schedule. Got a slow taxi driven by former welder (here welders often do not use proper eye protection so we eren't sure he could see.) Got out early and crammed into the back of an FX (a toyota something like a blazer) Met with the elders of TNLF (where we were formerly pastoring for 3 yrs.) Mel (35yrs) had been hosptalized for vertigo so we prayed for him and ate pancit (filipino noodles) Then went to Rino and Merietta's house for dinner.... Talked to Noy, the groom for the wedding I will perform on 4-25.
Thurs. 4-2 up at 4:30AM stored luggage and promised laundry lost. Will catch it on the return next week. Flew 500miles south to Davao, Mindanao and greeted by pastor Julie (man) who drove us 4 hours around the gulf to Tibanban, 2 m. past General Generoso.
Friday 4-3 98 youth (ages 15-25) came for first camp! Theme "Walking with Jesus" They had basketball, volley ball, worship leading, extemporanious preaching, and other cometition! I wrote my first play! based on Acts 9 "Saul's Life Changed Forever", the conversion of Paul and got the youth to act ut the parts with me. Diane had the girls and then we guys presented to the whole group and I preached on it. Diane and I walked to town, road tricycle (motorcycle w/ sidecar) back and preached with prayer and bapt. of the Spirit.
Sat 4-3 In order to get a cell phone signal we had to stand outside the camp under a coconu tree. I was happy cause my Globe phone got a signal while the 2 guys standing on chairs got no signal on their Smart phones. Everyone here knows you don't stand under coconut trees. You can die from a falling coconut. but somethings are worth the risk.... I rewrote the song "Don't sit under the coconut tree with anyone else but me..."
Raining the whole time - supposed to be dry season. Girls volley ball called a tie because of a down pour. I woke up from my nap because of an earthquake and just laid there watching the room move. So much for preparedness. The youth went home rejoicing
Sun 4-5 Diane spoke in the main church while we ventured up the muddy road to the end. Abot 15 youth came forward to confirm their salvation (he result of God doing stuff in them at the camp.) In the PM meeting in town we arrived 20 min. late - 5 minutes before the pastors. 40 peope mostly young people came forward many with tears.
We mainly went there to support our friend's (Beth Lemm) mission, Future and Hope Ministries. We were the first foreign visitors since we were there 14 months ago! It was good to see God encouraging the people. Thanks to the Rivers gang who let us go to these places.
Mon. 4-6 Left 7AM and arrived at hotel in Manila 5PM. Lost laundry still lost. Departed in 5 min. to go to pick up Mike Oleles at Bob and Delor's. She is a fabulouse cook!
Tuesday 4-7 What a day! Diane spent all day buying materials for the puppet making seminar and building the stage. Mike and I went to OMF (my publisher) to meet the new CEO and get my Joy booklet reprinted. Then got a txt that James Pekas was rushed from Baguio City last night for emergency angioplasty because of a heart attack. Was successful, but please pray for him. During that visit I got another txt about a serious marital problem. While riding in traffic for 2 hours and txts and prayers over the phone, we have set up separate meetings with the couple tonight.
Wed 4-8Diane is sewing the curtain for the puppet stage. I bought Sky flakes (crackers) and more Off. Will visit James at the Heart center again today.
Another schedule change for camp - we leave tomorrow so no blog until next week.
Camp theme "Moving Forward" My series of 5 messages titled "Moving Forward Melting Mounains"
Other than that nothing, except laughter and sweat is going on....

Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Arrived

Got more sleep than the usual none... no good movies anyway.
We touched down and the minute we stood up to exit, the lights went out on the plane. I couldn't resist, I said, "Well, we are in Manila, it's a brown out (Black out to americans)." We were only in the hotel for less than an hour and I killed my first cockroach. I went out for a bottle of water at 1AM and passed a naked drug addict passed out, laying on the sidewalk. Nothing I could do for her. I was thinking it was a little unsafe to be out, but glad to pray for her that God would catch her and set her free.
We had lunch with missionaries and gave them a new laptop the Lord put it on our hearts to buy for them. What an amazing God: we agreed with Him to buy it, we went to buy it and God provided for a way to buy it.
We had a prophecy when the church sent us out that we would reconnect with old friends and make new ones. Before we got our luggage, the guy next to us turned out to a friend of a mutual friend. With 500 people waiting for their bags, how cool is that?! We are just on our way to meet a person for dinner that we haven't seen for 16 years.

Friday, March 27, 2009

Leaving on a Jet plane

Thanks for praying for us. We will be leaving Sunday March 29th after fellowship. You will be hearing from us in about a week. Love, Diane

Saturday, March 21, 2009

Philippines - March 29 - May 8, 2009

Dennis & Diane will be in the Philippines March 29th through May 8th!

The Schedule...
  • Depart Seatte - March 29... Arrive Manila - March 30
  • April 2-5 Fly to Davao in Southern Philippines, Speak at Youth Campand area churches in Tibanban, Mindanao
  • April 6 return to Manila
  • April 9-12 Speaking at Family Camp with churches affiliated with ZionChurch of the First Born in Mandaluyong (formerly MCLC)
  • April 10 our 38th born again birthday
  • April 12 Dennis & Diane’s 40th wedding anniversary
  • April 14-19 Travel to S. Luzon, teach two days at Zion Extension Bibleschool, speak at Family Camp and area churches
  • April 20-24 Nightly Teaching Zion Extension Bible school in Mandaluyong
  • April 21-22 Diane teaching a puppet making seminar
  • April 23 Diane speaking at one day women’s conference
  • April 25 Performing the Wedding of Pastor Rino’s son, Noy Andres inTaytay, Rizal
  • April 26 AM Speaking at Bob and Delor Rogers’ church in Green Hills
  • April 26 PM Speaking at 27th anniversary of Taytay New Life Fellowship
  • April 27-29 travel to Subic Bay for R&R
  • April 29 Travel to Baguio City, N. Luzon
  • April 30-May 1 Teaching 2 days at Zion Bible school
  • May 3 Speaking at sponsoring Church
  • May 3 Travel back to Manila
  • May 4-7 Fly to Zamboanga to visit our son’s family and arrange future meetings.
  • May 8 Return to the USA