As the kids arrive, Nate greets them and looks into their eyes, smiles and gives them juice and hot bread along with other volunteers. He tries to love each one he sees with a word, a smile and the food. To let them know he cares. To let them know that they are very important and the God loves them very much. It is one of Nate's favorite times of ministering.

Sweet faces of some of the youngest that are ministered to. The kids love to have Nate pick them up and love on them or several will climb up in his lap and and rest against him. He holds them and quietly prays for them. They love the time and attention Nate gives them.

For some, the hot bread and juice they get here will be their only meal that day.

Nate's heart breaks for the kids and their needs. 

Nate, along with giving lots of attention and love to the kids, also helps out with security and crowd control. 

It is wonderful how involved the kids are and so responsive. Through out the crowd they are yelling out their memory verses. It is music to the ears! There are about 6000 kids that are reached in 2 services on the weekends. And all under a huge circus tent. Even though the needs can be  overwhelming at times, serving the kids is one thing  

Nate loves most on the mission field here in the Philippines. And we thank God for this opportunity to be a part of helping spread the Good News of Jesus Christ to whom ever He sends us to. We thank God that someone did it for us. It has made all the difference in our lives and we pray it will in theirs too.

Hi Everyone!

So many wonderful things are happening!

 Jason, a young man that was visiting the base, needed corrective eye glasses but they had broken seven months ago and he had suffered with pain and sensitivity to light since then.  He could not afford to replace the glasses. 

A team member and I began to pray for Jason. 

I am very happy to report that Jason no longer needs corrective glasses!!

He got up and turned on the bright overhead light and stared right into it. All pain left and he could see clearly. Jason was totally healed! 

The following is a report of more of the goodness of God that we are experiencing here in the Philippines!

Enjoy!

 

This is a photo of Jason. 

We want to share this Psalm with you and tell you about the marvelous things our God has done!!

Psalm 103:1-5

 Let all that I am praise the LORD;

    with my whole heart, I will praise His holy name.

Let all that I am praise the LORD;

    may I never forget the good things He does for me.

He forgives all my sins

    and heals all my diseases.

He redeems me from death

    and crowns me with love and tender mercies.

He fills my life with good things.

    My youth is renewed like the eagle's!

Wednesday night is our team fellowship night. We all having dinner together at the base and then we have a time of praise and worship with singing as one or more play guitar.

There can be teaching, sharing, games, and prayer There is lots of laughter and we have a great time together. 

Last night was AMAZING!!!

Many  had been having different kinds of physical problems and as it turned out most had back issues. We all had a wonderful time praying for one another and we thought you all would enjoy hearing about what great things our God did!

It was fabulous! Wonderful! Amazing! 

Team members and visitors prayed for one another as each one had need. The people in front with their arms out stretched had one arm visibly shorter than the other, but not for log. God healed everyone! We were all ecstatic!!

 

Joy, (hands out) Juvy, (white shirt) Kelly and Khristina we were all laughing and enjoying the healing of Joy's back as her arms grew out and the pain left her!

Kelly and Joy praising God together.

We were all watching in wonder as everyone  received...incredible!

Kelly is holding team member's Jessa's feet. It was humbling and thrilling to see God's love in growing out her right leg to normal length and wonderful to see Jessa's joy!

Aiza (hand over her mouth) just witnessed her leg grow out to normal length! So did Lache (in the black shirt) and Gemma at her feet. Khristina is standing behind us, which is great because she had difficulty standing and walking days earlier. Gemma, Jessa and Marijoy and I prayed with her for her back. It was so much fun because shortly after, Khristina was dancing and bending over touching her toes!

Aiza is so happy that her leg grew out and is hoping she will be taller :)

We were so thrilled and excited to see the wonderful things God did in healing the team of back problems! Amazing! God is so good. 

Seated in the chair is Lache. Lache has been suffering for many months with high blood sugar and pain in her feet. She has served the staff and missionaries at the Global Impact base in the Philippines for a long time as a cook. Lache had difficulty walking and standing. Her feet and legs were in constant pain. She could not bend her toes with out pain. Going bare foot or even wearing flip-flops without socks were not options for her. And recently Lache was having trouble taking deep breaths without pain in her sides, back and chest. We were all concerned for her. Last night team members decided that enough was enough. After seeing the great things God was doing with healing so many we prayed for Lache. We began with her emotions. Worry and fear were trying to be her constant companions. She realized that she was carrying burdens and responsibilities that Jesus did not want her to carry. She decided to give them to Him. This was a happy moment! Then Lache asked Him to forgive her for worrying. Of course He did :) Cause He says He will! (1 John 1:9) Another happy moment! Then Jesus gave Lache understanding that she could tell worry and fear to go in His name, and they did! Oh happy day!! Then we prayed for physical healing and it was awesome.. beyond awesome! 

Lache is so happy! No more pain or numbness and she can bend her toes, walk without pain, run and jump!! We Thank God for His healing,  for His beautiful tender love and mercies towards us! 

Hi Everyone!

Here are some photos of a recent family outing we took to the mountains. It was so beautiful. The air was cooler and fresh. We had a great time enjoying being together as a family and the beautiful scenery around us. 

Enjoy!

Hope sitting in a veranda high up in the mountains over looking the city where we live and the nearby ocean.

Hi Everyone!

Many of you have asked us, "What are you doing in the Philippines?"

That is a great question! There have been many changes in our lives in the past year that have led us in that direction,  yet we are still surprised to be here!

Nate and I made a decision a long time ago to give our lives to God. That one decision resulted in lots of surprises God had for us, like our beautiful daughter Hope. 

From the time Nate and I were married, (almost 15 years ago) we began supporting missionaries through our church. And 5 years ago my sister, Laura and I went on a missions trip to Ukraine with our dear friend, Amy Muranko, the president and founder of Global Impact, a missions organisation. The main focus of our trip to Ukraine was to help street kids and orphans. That trip ignited a love for missions in Nate and me that we hadn't had before. We thought that someday, like when Nate sold our business, we could do more with missions.

That 'someday' came last July. Who would have thought that a business that made the bulk of it's income in the winter through snow removal and ice control in Illinois would sell in the middle of summer when we were in California?! Only God could surprise us like that!

A few days after our business sold, Amy invited us to the mission field in the Philippines where she has a ministry base. We knew in our hearts that God was giving us this opportunity and after much prayer, we said yes. We arrived in late September.

The work is very rewarding and fulfilling. We love the work and the people. 

We hope you enjoy these photos and that they help answer the question, "What are you doing in the Philippines?"

Enjoy!

Wow... We are really here!!

It is so good to be with our dear friend, Amy again! And in Asia! It was a surprise to us all!

God is so good.

The Troias join the Global Impact team in the Philippines. Pictured from left to right:

 Jasmin, Glen and Sarah (Base Leaders) Their son Ethan, Kim, Amy Muranko, (President and Founder)  and Hope, Kelly and Nate. The newest members.

(photo taken in the yard at the base)

Young Global Impact team members. Our daughter Hope, The base leaders' children, Ethan and Jasmin.  The kids pray for one another and others at the base and on ministry outings.

This photo was taken in the yard at the base.

Hope, Ethan and Jasmin 'just jumping!' 

Before we came to the Philippines, Nate, Hope and I  stayed with our friends, The Shannons in California. (Sheree Shannon Is sitting across from Kelly) Her son Caleb came with us to the Philippines and after the first week Sheree joined us. Those first two weeks here were made even more special by sharing it with our friends. We went to dinner at a cool restaurant set high up in the hills overlooking the city. The walls are open to the outside and the rice was served on banana leaves.We had a great time. Also pictured are  Matt, from U.S. and Global team member DonDon. And that is a team member, Kim from New Zealand on Hope's right.

From left to right: Christiopher, 16 yrs. old. He is a young man that DonDon (team member in the middle) has been mentoring. And Caleb is on the left.

Caleb is our close friends', Dave and Sheree's son that came with us to the Philippines in Sept. and stayed 2 weeks. He is 12 and had the trip was fantastic for him. He became good friends with both Christiopher and DonDon. Caleb preached at a youth meeting and learned guitar with DonDon. Caleb prayed and served and touched people everywhere he went. We were so happy and blessed and thankful he came. We love and miss him and his brothers back in California. We hope to see the whole family come for a missions trip one day soon! 

This is Caleb on the road in front of the mission's base. A picture is worth a thousand words...