There was a lot of excitement in the house yesterday. We were up early to attend the funeral of our sweet friend Ceta. Nang Ceta as we called her; served in Happy House for many years. She was precious to us. As we were leaving the house I saw an unusual number of police. When I ask what was going on they told me that the President was coming. Wow the President of the Philippines coming to Ozamiz, that is big news! After lunch some of us took the car to the airport to see the President. As I suspected we were not allowed inside the airport area so we decided to park on the road behind the airport to watch the President’s plane arrive! There were military police on this road also but they allowed us to park and stand outside to get pictures. Once the President went inside we went to the road so that we could wave to him as he was transported to the rally! We waited for almost two hours and finally the motorcade arrived. Very unlike the United States I might add. There was one police car and two trucks preceeding the President’s car which was a white Lexus SUV. As his car approached we began to wave and as he approached he rolled down his window and waved to us! As you will notice in the picture, we were all so excited to see the President; we almost forgot to take pictures. 
On Saturday morning we packed up the bus and a pick up truck and headed for Lusot! I ask where are we going? I could not find this place on the map!! We drove two hours down the road and turned off on a very rocky road for another 30 minutes. We were in the middle of the jungle. Big trees and banana leaves all around, no houses in sight and suddenly there is a tiny community basketball court. We stopped our vehicles and the Happy Church Crusade team kicked into action. The musicians set up equipment, the drama team set up the puppet stage and the others went door to door inviting people to come to a free concert! Two hours later the worship team began the concert and people began to trickle in. Our young people have an excellent drama that they perform and then we do a puppet show for the little ones! Now it’s time for the speaker of the day! Oh that would be me!! Feeling a little intimidated I started with the only Cebuano that I could remember and that got the crowd’s attention! Wow is that American lady speaking our language. Now that I have their attention I ask them what the source of their joy is? My translator was wonderful and once we finished delivering the message we ask if there was anyone that wanted to know the one who is the source of our joy!! In the picture are all of our new friends that will be attending Happy Church in Lusot! As we began our journey back to Ozamiz I thought how amazing our God is. The word of God is so true and Matthew 18:10-14 said it best! “See that you do not look down on one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven. “What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? And if he finds it, I tell you the truth, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off. In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost.
As a group of us were leaving a local business I saw a little girl begging for money. Not an uncommon sight here. I couldn’t take my eyes off this child. I thought how can this be; a child so small living on the street? She had on a t-shirt that was four sizes to big and nothing else. As I approached her I could see that she hadn’t taken a bath in a while and by the looks of her skin she was on her way to being malnourished. I knelt down and ask “unsay imong ngalan” (what is your name) she smiled at me as she answered “Sandy” I said “ako si Beth” (I am Beth). Then I ask her age and she held up 3 fingers. I almost cried. How is a three year old living on the streets? I gave her some change and a hug! I haven’t stopped praying for this precious child and I have tried several times to find her. I am sure I will see her again and when I do I will post a picture! Pray for little Sandy she needs our prayers. Sandy is just one of the 10,000 children that live on the streets in Ozamiz City. One of the Happy Church outreaches is for street children. They meet every Saturday afternoon. The children are always given something to eat and also taught a Bible lesson. There are some children that have been attending for three years and they also attend church every Sunday. Keep these children in your prayers.
And the King will reply, “I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me”. Matthew 25:40
Pastor Jun has prayed for years to have a motorbike to get him to his outreach each week. He has been a faithful Pastor in Kinuman for years. Building a small outreach into what is now a 150 plus member Happy Church! After years of taking a motor for 20 miles then walking the rest of the way, he was blessed to receive a motor bike of his own. Thanks to our Life Group at Celebration Community Church. Pastor Jun has now begun a new out reach in the Hoyo Hoy area. Thanks CCC family for helping to advance the kingdom!
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