As many of you know, we've been in Francis' home-town of Baguio, about a ten hour trip north from our home, for over a month now. We had asked for prayer for his sister, Fritzie as she battled stage-four cancer. The Holy Spirit met with us in so many beautiful ways in the past several weeks, and poured out His presence, walking with us in the middle of this valley shadowed with pain and death.
Francis' sister died of cancer on the 20th of October, and the hearts of our whole family are filled with grief, with the tearing pain of losing a loved-one too soon. All of this is awakening in us more sharply the fact that we were not made for death, for this harsh and violent separation from those we love, but God meets with us more deeply in the middle of it than we could have even imagined....He doesn't waste any of the pain we endure. More-so, He's stirring up an even more ravenous hunger for heaven; for the Father's heart that is the cure, the goal, and the way through.
We are now with Francis' mother, and loving her and walking through this stage of grief with her.
I (Leah) am having some health issues and we are getting tests at the local hospital, as the medical/hospital access in our island is limited.
Our children have also been wrestling through illness, and our second child, Avea has just been diagnosed with Tuberculosis. Our Son, Justice, just finished treatment for TB and we feel a bit blasted and overwhelmed with illness at the moment. We appreciate and ask for your prayers.
In the middle of these things we hear the Holy Spirit speaking that He is holding us steady, and we should not and will not lose focus on the Heart of The Father, or grow weary in what He has called us to. He is building momentum in our hearts about the next steps of acquiring land and finances for building a Mangyan tribal-led maternity and healing center. We're excited about that and wanting to build up more partners to pray and give towards this vision. We have dear friends, Scott and Ruth Buchanan, whom we have been connected with for over seven years, who have come from Australia to partner with us as Team-mates in our vision for ministry long-term and that excites us as well. They are united with us in worshiping Jesus, making disciples, and loving people with His heart in practical, tangible, and real ways. We're surrounded with beautiful community here, as well as in America, are so thankful for all of you who continue to remember us, intercede, love, and give.
Thank you!
Grace and Peace,