The Last Leg of the Journey 

Last night was the last speaking engagement of our home assignment, a district-wide Mission night. And what a way to end! We are excited for Central Visayas District (CVD) along with the other districts we got the pleasure of knowing these past few months.

Since we started this home assignment, we loved playing this game where we would set our expectations very low, so that the simplicity of our situation would surprise us or overhelm us. Well, it worked! We already lost count of the times God has surprised through out this home assignment! And just when we thought He was done, here we are caught off guard by His goodness through our CVD family. 

Our expectations were always met by God’s reality! 

We cannot begin to express how thankful we are for the welcome and support our CVD family has shown us. There was no dull moment and everytime we would end the day with a church family, we would look at each other and say, “What just happened?” Every church we spent time with greatly encouraged and blessed us. We are privileged to be part of a district that is so passionately engaged and invested in global missions! Thank you very much CVD family!

We won’t lie, we are excited to be done with Home Assignment. Mainly because we will finally have a place to call home that doesn’t zip up and weigh less than 23kg! 

Update on Baby Lustaña!

In our last newletter, we asked that you pray for an upcoming doctor’s appointment to check-up on our baby. It takes weeks to schedule an OBGYN appointment in the States, and after four months, we finally got an appointment… and it turns out it was to see an OB finacial advisor that we are required to see before seeing the actual doctor. We’d have to wait another month to see a doctor! We were heartbroken. 

However, Ingrid was able to get a free Emergency insurance for pregnant women, so we decided to head to the ER to finally see a doctor. Baby was perfectly healthy and we were given a green-light to go on a two-day flight around the world.

We left the States on August 29 and arrived in the Philippines at midnight of Sept 1. The next morning was our first speaking engagement at the anniversary service of Terence’s home church, Solid Rock. However, Ingrid woke up not feeling well. What started as light chest and jaw pain spread through her shoulders and left arm. Even after resting to lighten the jet lag, she was feeling worse and worse. At the last second, we had to cancel dinner plans with Terence’s pastor and head to the ER again. The hospital didn’t have the tests available to check for a heart attack, and she was sent home. 

But don’t worry! After a night of full sleep and some pregnancy-safe pain meds, she was feeling better and hasn’t had a scare since. We went to an OB-GYN later and was told mother and baby are still healthy. We had been doing everything right despite not having an OB for months. Ingrid’s body probably was just overly exhausted and stressed with multiple long flights, carrying everything we own around multiple airports, and creating a human life at the same time. We praise God for His protection over the lives of our Lustaña girls! 

Prayer Requests

Thailand Travels: Next time we send an update, it will be from Thailand! We praise God that we were able to get our Thai visa through Terence’s father. We still have a long ways to go in the field of paperwork. We ask that you keep us in your prayers this weekend as we fly to Thailand and as we join the work that is happening there. We will begin Language Study and help prepare for the Asia-Pacific Regional Conference. Let's hit the ground running!

New Team Member: If there was one word to describe God in this journey is that He is the Great Protector. We thank you for keeping our little girl in your prayers. We also thank those who helped us get tests and talked to doctors for us on our behalf. We ask that you continue to pray for protection as we fly again. We are nervous after the last flight, but God is faithful. We also ask that you pray that God will provide a doctor and hospital that is right for us. We now have three months to prepare for a baby. 

Central Visayas District: CVD has been hit hard by the enemy. We are encouraged by their response to these trials and challenges, and are humbled that they continued to keep the mission of God as their vision despite their personal troubles. Many times, when trouble hits our homes, we keep it in the dark and concentrate on taking care of ourselves. Not only has CVD brought their trials into God’s light, but they continue to go beyond themselves and seek God’s Kingdom. We ask that you lift up Terence’s home district who has faithfully committed in sending their first official Nazarene missionary through Terence. Praise the Lord!

Man of Peace: It's almost time to meet this "man of peace" we have been praying for since the beginning of the year. We know that God has been working ahead of us. Please pray for our man of peace and that we will be sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit as He guides us to this person.

Home Assignment 2019: Everyone, we want to thank you all so much for your support this entire five months! We are kind of in shock of God's faithfulness. From LA to Florida, from Montana to Mississippi, from the islands of Central Visayas to finally, Bangkok, Thailand. We have reached beyond our goal in finances, and we have gained more friends and prayer partners than what we deserve. Thank you all so, so much! We can't wait to see you again for Home Assignment 2021.
(If you are interested to book ahead for 2021, please reply to this newsletter.)