Serving as a Sender: a reminder from a student

I finish the year with a student from my missions class sending me this reminder this weekend....

Let's keep holding the ropes!

A lot of pictures and a little bit of words from the Philippines Team

 Flight Plan:  Boise to San Fransico 
(get breakfast) 
to Honolulu 
(get some sleep)
to Guam 
to Manila.

  Mail Call in Honolulu and Guam. (Thanks for Serving as Senders by writing notes of encouragement to our team.  We had enough notes for 1 note per day)

(text from Pastor Dave)"We are almost ready to board to Honolulu then on to Guam.  We are pretty trashed (tired) but its good." 

"Honolulu-aloha!"  "We are back in our same seats but refreshed."

"We are here!"

One concern for the team was getting from the airport to the NTM guest house in Manila.  Kirsten's friend's family in Manila helped them get to their destination.  Thank you MFBC senders for your prayers that they would make all their connections!

"It's 11:30 and we have to get up about 5:30 or 6.  I think as we have early breakfast and then we load up and hit the road."          "Good morning and afternoon... I slept pretty good and now I'm going to repack a little, read the devotional book and then it will probably be time for breakfast and meet and greet all the missionaries.  We were the last ones to join the group so D & K were excited when we arrived." 

"We made it to the camp and will soon have lunch.  It's nice and tropical and we've met lots of people but not even half of the group.  We traveled by two buses and it was great.  No teen boys on our bus but I got to talk to some of the teen girls and one boy-he's cool-he brought swimming goggles."

"Very  green and tropical-like San Diego kinda but warmer and more humid but actually very nice.  Big camp and very warm cultured people.  Much like Mexico."

"As we came to a short introductory session for the youth (after worship, and a skit and other general introductions with the entire group) we took them over to the SNAC shop and bought everyone ice creams.  And then we went upstairs to a little meeting room.  We did a team builder and then mail call (a big thank you to Mrs. Moehlmann's classes at CVCS for writing notes to the kids at camp).  It was great as they read their mail-one kid received a cool bandaid.  Fun.  We laughed and enjoyed the time. I shared part of my testimony and of course had funny stories throughout....God is so AMAZING!  We are so tired and yet He showed His strength through us. The camp is like a little paradise.  K & D send a big THANK YOU to our church for the things they sent to them.

"breakfast is at 7:30 and then we are 'on' about 9:00 as chapel starts combined singing and then we will split off the children and youth to go separate ways."
"we went on a river boat ride-in these long narrow canoes.  The canoes are towed up river (first we drove in a jeepne for an hour - 25 of us crammed into it) and after a 15-20 minute tow through town- we unhitched and then were paddled or pulled by our paddling up little river rapid rocky sections- I think 18 sections - these guys are incredible- of course no shoes.   And amazing.  The view was amazing as teh river cut a gorge probably 200 feet dep but filled with jungle plant life, vines and 2 water falls.  The second falls was the end and the grand finale as it was thik and perct toget onto another flat raft and go under part of it and be completely drenched...we all had a blast.  It was cool and tiring.
"The youth had a great time bonding around the campfire last night."

"Pray for the spiritual growth and maturing of the youth and that God's Word would impact them.  They are very engaged and open.  We are tired, but good tired."  

See you soon!

I don't know what is easier, going or sending.  I do know that it is easiest to walk in obedience.  

Psalm 90:14-16

New International Version 1984 (NIV1984)

Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love,
    that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.
Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us,
    for as many years as we have seen trouble.
May your deeds be shown to your servants,
    your splendor to their children.

Have you read the latest from the Horton's?

In February, MFBC will be sending 3 ambassadors from our midst to the Philippines.  One place that they will go to visit and encourage is Doane Rest where Ben and Sarah Horton and their family live and invest in the lives of others for eternity.

Here's the latest newsletter from the Hortons.  Enjoy!

Training Center Progress
We are excited to report that we our making good progress on setting up our Training/Resource Center!

The new vinyl lettering is now adhered to the glass entry doors


Sarah has done a great job with the decorating of the training center

Looking at the new training room as you walk into the Training/Resource Center


Here's a view of the inside of the new training room


The shipment of books that we collected for our Resource Library arrived in August


A lot of the books are now on the shelves, but there's still more to unpack!

LDI Training Events
We have conducted two LDI training events so far using our new training room! The first was an LDI Leaders Training for pastors and mission leaders. It was so exciting to see God work in each life throughout the week of training. Near the end of the week, one pastor commented that even though he has been to scores of training seminars over the years, this was the first time that he had ever "encountered God" in a seminar.

One of the highlites for us, the trainers, was to see the incredible work our students invested during the week to produce a S.M.A.R.T. (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, Time-Bound) mission strategy for reaching key, Asian cities through a church planting movement effort! This strategy is now being further developped for implementation within a local mission agency! The second LDI event was a Cross-Cultural Missions Track to help career professionals and pastors gain a better understanding and strategy for handling the mission challenges they will face as the seek to serve Him and train others to go.

John, our lead trainer, is introducing the students to some of the concepts they will be learning throughout the week of training.

Our ministry partner, Pastor Gestupa, is seen here teaching the class about the forms and functions of the church.

Along with my administrative, organizational and logistical contributions to the team, I also specifically work with each student one-on-one as they develop their specific action plans to implement the ministry strategies they have learned through the class.


The Kitchen Ministry is also an invaluable part of our team ministry philosophy. Sarah, Bethel (John's wife) and Ruth (Pastor Gerson's wife) work hard behind-the-scenes to provide a delightful international cuisine for our students to experience another culture through their taste buds! We are blessed with wonderful wives who help us in the ministry!

Thank you for your continued prayers for our ministry! Together, we are challenging believers to consider their role in fulfilling the Great Commission and equipping them to intentionally use their gifts, talents and abilities as we strive to expand Jesus' name throughout Asia! We treasure your critical partnership in this endeavor and ask for your continued involvement as we push forward for God's glory!

Joyfully Training!

The Molsees are in France!

source: FaceBook: Ethan Molsee

from Facebook today: We made it. Thanks to lots of help on the states side we made our flight and all 15 checked bags, 5 carry-ons, 3 carseats, and a stroller arrived with us in Albertville, France our new home.