Dear Borothers and Sisters in the Lord,
Greetings with the love of Jesus! How are you? For me? God graciously provided
another U.S. Visit April 26 to July 16/06 with Roberto Sonio. God used Dr. & Mrs.
Donald Byker (Don & Win & my nephew and his wife Bob & Lydia Bañaga) – reason of
delayed thank you notes. Now bear with me in t his long story. This was my first travel
with a companion since 1966. Roberto Sonio ourown orphanage child in the 80’s, was
blest by God to be a student in Aug.2003 to 2006 at Gordon-Conwell Theological
Seminary for his Master of Arts in Educational Ministries – Massachusetts. Don & Prof.
Keazirian requested the school to let him finish his last subject in the Philippines via
internet (Semlink Class–distance learning) in October 2005 and back for his
graduation – so we traveled together. It was good to have him carry my hand carry
things. Commencement exercises – May 6/06, friends and I celebrated! An added
training to help us cope with the big task at the schools – then our itinerary.
Don & Win offered the use of their car plus gas and Paul VanNess the use of his Global
Positioning System (GPS) – an instrument that told us the correct highway to get to our
destinations – God gave courage to Roberto – drove to places he never had been to – an alien/ a stranger we
went fine in spite of pouring rain most of the time – the Lord was with us all along the way! We had a blessed
time with our friends who were not visited for many years – Mrs. Ruth Schauffele, overnight stay and meals
with her, good fellowship! and Dr. Leatha Humes and her home church in Guys Mills, Pa. and her cousins. M/M
Lobdel and M/M Deffengaugh where we stayed while in their area and enjoyed their hospitality and good
meals, we also got the chance to visit Dr. Burton Goddard – to Ohio: Martha took charge of GCM letters for 13
years in the 70’s & 80’s & Virginia and M/M Don Lesh. June 24-26, - Don & Roberto drove me to the
Canadian border – my friends M/M Repato picked me up – enjoyed fellowship with them and their big group of
Filipino comrades.
By Plane – Florida – May 25-30 – sweet fellowship with Lillian Zeh, the MacPhersons: Jim & Doris, Jane & her
family. In 1998 – all thought – no more visit on earth maybe in heaven – but God allowed us to enjoy their
fellowship once more. They were like parents to me while a student in Gordon.
July 1-4 St Anne Il. First GCM-donors since 1969 – they had stayed faithful. Williams family & McMillans, Mrs.
W. the mother is now in her 90’s but still active teaching Sunday School and helping prepare meals at their
Bible Witness Camp for many campers and for us their visitors. – and Beverly Lane –very kind new friend who
made 70 quilts, one for each child & several bags for the children.
July 4-15 – California for the wedding of my late brother’s grandson Bob Jr. & Aubrey. My brother’s 5 children
were all present with their families. – an honor for me to be with them! – It become to me a family reunion.
Filipino & Chinese cultures – highlighted by the money dance – audience one after the other who wanted to
dance with either one of the couple – pinned money all over their bodies to the head – dollar bills formed as
crown to fit their heads – money given are part of the wedding gifts – very exciting; people are filled with
laughter and fun.
GCM: Home – all are fine – a warm welcome to the one they said – was very much missed – with joy they
introduced our new children, thinking I knew nothing of, but while in Canada friends told me – the news they
just had over the TV on Philippine News – flashed was Eleazar Maravilla – GCM’s new Exec. Director with 5
sisters and brothers picked up from the streets of Antipolo City by the staff of the Department of Social Welfare
and Development (DSWD) TV Channel 2 News Casters helping them went to GCM – home with the 5 children
and asked help-LOVE can’t afford to refuse, took them on temporary basis: to shelter, feed, clothes and put
them in school-in spite of very limited funds for our 70 children. They will be sheltered until DSWD-will submit
their case study and that TV News Casters to also help financially. The new children are happy with our 70
residents.
Schools: Classes begun June 5/06 – total of students – 667. BADIAN – have Deeper Life Fellowship (DLF)
every year on the 2nd week of classes, but Eleazar decided to wait for us – 302 students kept asking – when
will the DLF be? – This time we had whole days of July 24-26, 7am to 4:30pm – one hour noon break- all were
always filled with joy: singing, worship, Bible studies on the Scripture chosen- In an e-mail-while still in N.H., I
suggested I Chron. 17:1-12 King Jehoshaphat’s Blessed Life- all got into individual study on the passage as
preparation – Theme:-“The Way of Blessing: Faith and Obedience – all were kept busy during the Fellowship.
Students were divided into groups: first year, 2nd year, 3rd year and 4th year classes – with their advisers –
everyday after each Bible study they shared the summary of what they learned at the assembly hall-questions
at open forum were enlightening. All of us were greatly blest-challenged to share the Gospel/Bible studies in
the communities around Badian by students & teachers.-Pray for them.
Boso-Boso – have their Deeper Life Fellowship second week of January, but this time we are thinking to also
have it at the starts of the school year – what is learned is usually carried on for the year-often quoted in
classrooms & fellowships.
Elementary – have 153 – in 6 classes, High School-212 with 5 classes total eleven classes – in the 9
classrooms of the school house. This made students very crowded – to ease the problem we agreed to start
the construction of the elementary school house by Aug. 15 pray with us – and for the finishing of the long
Boso-Boso school house – 3 more class rooms to be repaired – Pray with us for God’s provision and wisdom
for the work and adjustments on funds. FAPE-Fund Assistance for Private Education – a private organization
who volunteered to raise funds for tuition fees of poor students enrolling in Charitable schools – God blessed
them- Most of our students are under the FAPE Scholarship fund- hence from June to October the High
Schools, Badian & Boso-Boso are financially low. We are starting Livelihood Projects: in Badian-Production of
Virgin Coconut Oil – Boso-Boso are still making studies on what to do – the Home/Orphanage-“Micro”
financing.
Thank you to the churches near Gordon-Conwell who had Roberto & I visit them. 1.) First Baptist Church-
Danvers, 2.) Fort Square U.P. Church Quincy, 3.) Union Congregational Church, Magnolia and 4.) Faith
Presbyterian Church R.I. and the Ossipee Congregational Church – N.H. We are sorry – we did have enough
time for all of you– maybe next time as the Lord opens the door. You can write or e-mail Arsenia or Don if you
want GCM to visit you, give your dates.
Gratefully yours,
Arsenia D. Banaga, D.D., for GCM family
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