| JANUARY 2007 GREETINGS FROM GCM JESUS CHRIST brought us UNDESERVED KINDNESS and TRUTH Jn. 1: 17 |
Jan.24/2007
Dear Friends,
Greetings with the love of Jesus! How had you been? God sent hard knocks upon the
Philippines in 2006, using the 5 severe typhoons from June to December. That is now history
but as we face our brand new 2007 from the Lord with great opportunities to serve our God
and our fellow men these messages kept speaking to me. Hosea 6:1 “Come let us return to
the Lord. He has torn us to pieces, but He will heal us, He has injured us but He will bind up
our wound” Micah 6:8 “He has showed you, O man what is good and what does the Lord
required of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” God
speaks to us thru our calamities like the U.S. twin tower in September 11, 2001.
Seventy of our children in the Home went for Christmas vacation with relatives – Dec. 23-Jan.
6/07 - two girls were left behind - they are sisters - no one took them, but they enjoyed, went
from Home to Home among GCM-staff - Our social workers and the Project Administrator
made all effort to truck down the where abouts of the relatives of those not being visited - link
was made - the children are all happy having the chance to celebrate Christmas with their
relatives/love one’s - someone loves them aside from the caring GCM-Home.
Typhoon Reming (Durian) with her 200km/hour winds, November 30/06, beat the country for 12 hours - worst storm
that ever hit the country - worst hit was Albay, where our Badian School is located. The nearest villages to Mayon
Volcano were covered with mud and huge boulders, no survivor people and their houses were buried - 3 villages are
now missing in the Albay Map. Badian is about 40 miles away - not affected by the mud flow - but not spared from the
violent winds and pouring rain. Four of our teachers suffered more than the others - houses were wrecked and
blown, 3 had repaired their houses with the parsonage. Mr. and Mrs. Delos Santos are constructing a small concrete
house and were staying in a temporary house - this was blown, some of their things were carried by flood waters to
the ocean - they made a small room to keep them warm and dry - praying that soon they can have money to finish
their little concrete house.
The chapel was unroofed, but the church had money, hence they were able to buy the needed materials and got it
fixed. Our 3 school buildings by God’s mercy and love were spared and used as the evacuation center during the
storm. Our stage was unroofed, some of its debris were seen ½ mile away, but the iron skeleton is intact and waiting
for the new roof.
One village where some of our students live lost all its houses including the elementary school house - one nice
house was hoped to hold on, but it gave way the head of the house - skeleton and roof was blown to the top of the
mountain close to it. All worked together in the midst of pouring rain - put up a tent where children and mothers
squeezed together till the storm was over.
In spite of the Albay catastrophe - Badian can count lots of blessings!
1. During the storm it was law tide and day light - big flood waters quickly drained to the ocean - people could see
where to run for shelter - some of their things were carried to the ocean but they are alive.
2. The usual one week celebration of School Foundation and Christmas Program was canceled - Dec.18 & 19/06 -
teachers and students were together: Worshiped with thanksgiving and Prayer Day and Christmas Program for the
Birthday of Jesus. No gift giving and no party, it was solemn and deeper relation with God developed. We were not
able to join them – roads were broken.
3. Evelyn, our office secretary, and I visited our Badian Family – Jan. 05/07 – getting into our mountain road – the
first touching scene were dead trees and few fallen houses – heart breaking! Nothing can be done except to cut
those trees and replant – further up was getting greener with live coconut trees - around GCM – farm coconut trees
are alive with few fruits on them – as if I heard the voice of God that time “Violent wind off from these trees” – tears of
joy in gratitude to God’s kindness – hopefully these could recover in one year and bear fruits again. Our plan to
produce Virgin Coconut Oil was frustrated. His ways are best. Prov. 19:21 “Many are the plans in a man’s heart but
it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.
4. Happy welcome! All were glad to have us – few were sick – due to poor drinking water during the storm – we were
there for one week – all were well when we left. Their classes resumed Jan. 08/07 one week later than other
provinces.
5. We brought along 6.6 lbs. of Jathropa seeds – we worked together putting seeds in small plastic bags with soil –
hopefully we can have 3,000 trees that will grow – after 2 years these will bear fruits – seed are processed to Bio
Diesel.
6. Babies born to our teachers! – Mr. & Mrs. Melecio Beraquit – baby boy - Naih Mel– December 2 ’06 – 2nd child –
2 boys. Pastor & Mrs. Roberto Sonio – baby girl - Jacinth Neah – Dec. 30 – their second child – 1 boy & 1 girl.
Prayer Request:
1. When Dr. Donald Byker was with us in October ’06 – Board Members agreed to have a Missional Business – GCM-
IT Corporation (Grace Christian Mission – International Teams Corporation) that needs to get it registered will be met
and wisdom for the new set of Board Members – to keep it going.
2. College Department – Mr. & Mrs. Paraiso donated one more acre of land for this – hopefully by 2008 – 3
Vocational Courses will be offered – then on to a Junior College as the Lord provides. Pray for qualified teachers
curriculum and good enrollment.
Thank you very much for your prayers - we need more prayers “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray
for other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.” James 5:16
God bless you!
Gratefully yours,
Arsenia D. Bañaga for GCM Family
Dear Friends,
Greetings with the love of Jesus! How had you been? God sent hard knocks upon the
Philippines in 2006, using the 5 severe typhoons from June to December. That is now history
but as we face our brand new 2007 from the Lord with great opportunities to serve our God
and our fellow men these messages kept speaking to me. Hosea 6:1 “Come let us return to
the Lord. He has torn us to pieces, but He will heal us, He has injured us but He will bind up
our wound” Micah 6:8 “He has showed you, O man what is good and what does the Lord
required of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” God
speaks to us thru our calamities like the U.S. twin tower in September 11, 2001.
Seventy of our children in the Home went for Christmas vacation with relatives – Dec. 23-Jan.
6/07 - two girls were left behind - they are sisters - no one took them, but they enjoyed, went
from Home to Home among GCM-staff - Our social workers and the Project Administrator
made all effort to truck down the where abouts of the relatives of those not being visited - link
was made - the children are all happy having the chance to celebrate Christmas with their
relatives/love one’s - someone loves them aside from the caring GCM-Home.
Typhoon Reming (Durian) with her 200km/hour winds, November 30/06, beat the country for 12 hours - worst storm
that ever hit the country - worst hit was Albay, where our Badian School is located. The nearest villages to Mayon
Volcano were covered with mud and huge boulders, no survivor people and their houses were buried - 3 villages are
now missing in the Albay Map. Badian is about 40 miles away - not affected by the mud flow - but not spared from the
violent winds and pouring rain. Four of our teachers suffered more than the others - houses were wrecked and
blown, 3 had repaired their houses with the parsonage. Mr. and Mrs. Delos Santos are constructing a small concrete
house and were staying in a temporary house - this was blown, some of their things were carried by flood waters to
the ocean - they made a small room to keep them warm and dry - praying that soon they can have money to finish
their little concrete house.
The chapel was unroofed, but the church had money, hence they were able to buy the needed materials and got it
fixed. Our 3 school buildings by God’s mercy and love were spared and used as the evacuation center during the
storm. Our stage was unroofed, some of its debris were seen ½ mile away, but the iron skeleton is intact and waiting
for the new roof.
One village where some of our students live lost all its houses including the elementary school house - one nice
house was hoped to hold on, but it gave way the head of the house - skeleton and roof was blown to the top of the
mountain close to it. All worked together in the midst of pouring rain - put up a tent where children and mothers
squeezed together till the storm was over.
In spite of the Albay catastrophe - Badian can count lots of blessings!
1. During the storm it was law tide and day light - big flood waters quickly drained to the ocean - people could see
where to run for shelter - some of their things were carried to the ocean but they are alive.
2. The usual one week celebration of School Foundation and Christmas Program was canceled - Dec.18 & 19/06 -
teachers and students were together: Worshiped with thanksgiving and Prayer Day and Christmas Program for the
Birthday of Jesus. No gift giving and no party, it was solemn and deeper relation with God developed. We were not
able to join them – roads were broken.
3. Evelyn, our office secretary, and I visited our Badian Family – Jan. 05/07 – getting into our mountain road – the
first touching scene were dead trees and few fallen houses – heart breaking! Nothing can be done except to cut
those trees and replant – further up was getting greener with live coconut trees - around GCM – farm coconut trees
are alive with few fruits on them – as if I heard the voice of God that time “Violent wind off from these trees” – tears of
joy in gratitude to God’s kindness – hopefully these could recover in one year and bear fruits again. Our plan to
produce Virgin Coconut Oil was frustrated. His ways are best. Prov. 19:21 “Many are the plans in a man’s heart but
it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.
4. Happy welcome! All were glad to have us – few were sick – due to poor drinking water during the storm – we were
there for one week – all were well when we left. Their classes resumed Jan. 08/07 one week later than other
provinces.
5. We brought along 6.6 lbs. of Jathropa seeds – we worked together putting seeds in small plastic bags with soil –
hopefully we can have 3,000 trees that will grow – after 2 years these will bear fruits – seed are processed to Bio
Diesel.
6. Babies born to our teachers! – Mr. & Mrs. Melecio Beraquit – baby boy - Naih Mel– December 2 ’06 – 2nd child –
2 boys. Pastor & Mrs. Roberto Sonio – baby girl - Jacinth Neah – Dec. 30 – their second child – 1 boy & 1 girl.
Prayer Request:
1. When Dr. Donald Byker was with us in October ’06 – Board Members agreed to have a Missional Business – GCM-
IT Corporation (Grace Christian Mission – International Teams Corporation) that needs to get it registered will be met
and wisdom for the new set of Board Members – to keep it going.
2. College Department – Mr. & Mrs. Paraiso donated one more acre of land for this – hopefully by 2008 – 3
Vocational Courses will be offered – then on to a Junior College as the Lord provides. Pray for qualified teachers
curriculum and good enrollment.
Thank you very much for your prayers - we need more prayers “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray
for other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.” James 5:16
God bless you!
Gratefully yours,
Arsenia D. Bañaga for GCM Family
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race Christian Mission, Inc.
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| Paul said: By everything I did I showed you should work to help everyone who is weak. Remember that our Lord said "more blessings come from giving than from receiving". Acts 20: 35 - CEV |