Manila - Sunday Morning at 5 AM

Since our last update we have been quite busy, with little opportunity to write. Thursday and Friday we were on a work project helping the Burdicks paint a house that they will be moving into this month. Everyone pitched in and worked hard. It was a joy to help them out and spend more time with their family while we did so. Friday night we also had a practice from 7-10 which went over time. Much progress was made and we were very encouraged. Saturday morning the team started out from the church. Some of us handed out invitations to people in the street, market and those passing in Jeepneys. We passed out 1000 invitations and people were generally receptive. After lunch we had a 5 hour rehearsal, followed by a birthday party for John. In the Phillippino custom, it was a party/feast paid for by the one whose birthday we were celebrating. It was a good thing for John that food is so cheap here! This was a wonderful time of fellowship with the choir and they gave us Phillippino delicacies to try out along the way. Toward the end each member of the team was presented a gift from the church in appreciation of our service.

Now we leave for the big event: Three presentations of the musical. We are excited to see how God will move today.