A Review of Our Work

Dear friends and supporters of Project Philippines,
Last week completed ten months of full-time work for most of our team here in Tacloban City. It was the first of June last year (2008) when many of our team made the move here to begin work with Project Philippines, including Charlie Sabado after his graduation in 2008. Others who began their work at that time include Sis. Chedes Onez, head teacher at Small Beginnings Christian Preschool. This Preschool began its school year in June of last year, as did LCC, our preaching school. Our family made the big move in September.
As the school year closed last week and we now look back on these past ten months of full-time activity with Project Philippines, we believe there are some successes we can point to in our work here. First, members of the team have been involved in and/or responsible for 37 baptisms during the past ten months. This number includes the 13 baptisms at Carigara village about three weeks ago, where many of our team travel each week to help the young local church in that place. I have preached there a few times. The number also includes three of our young preaching students at Leyte Christian College (LCC) who felt that their initial baptism when they were young had not been done with a clear conscience. They wanted to make their “calling and election sure” (2 Peter 1:10). Also, Bible studies are ongoing in the area, especially at Sante Fe where we held a large door-knocking campaign Feb. 28. We all feel that several conversions will occur there in the very near future.
Other accomplishments include the successful completion of the first full year of instruction for our 15 young preaching students at LCC. You may recall we started the school year with 19 students, but due to some reason or other (including in one case, sudden death!) some of these 19 left us. We now have 15 young men who have completed 25 percent of their training to become Gospel preachers. These 15 are all outstanding and dedicated to the Cause, and we are praying each of them will return when the new school year begins in June. We have word that more than two dozen new students as well want to enroll in LCC this coming June. We look forward to more fine young men to study with us.
We also report positive developments with regard to our permanent plant. During mid-February we purchased a property of approximately 14 acres to the north of Tacloban City, upon which we hope to build permanent school buildings - college, high school, elementary and preschool - in addition to a children’s home one day and possibly even a free medical clinic. A top architect, Mr. Jose Dureza, is already working on plans for this first building and for all phases of the plant. All of these dreams are of course contingent upon funding. That is where many of YOU come in. It’s true not everyone can go into the mission field. We're not all cut out for this kind of work. But it's true while we cannot all “GO” we can all “SEND.” Brethren, we need your help in this ambitious plan.
Some programs we have undertaken this year also include a feeding program. On Jan. 24, Project Philippines fed more than 300 poverty-stricken people at the church facilities here in Tacloban City. This number included around 250 little children whom we had specifically targeted among the poor. I can tell you that you really made a difference with your giving on that day. It was quite heart-warming to see the impact you and the team made. There were also several door-knocking outings by LCC teachers and students, some already resulting in conversions. We believe this has been a successful ten months, and wish to thank all our great supporters for being a part of this important work. We pray you will be encouraged about where your support funds have been used. As always, we pray the Righteous Lord will bless you for your good giving.
The Eastep family will be back in the U.S. for a couple of months in early April. It is necessary for us to try to raise more funds, not only for the increased number of preaching students but also for the new buildings we hope to put up. This is a critical and significant time in the history of Project Philippines and we need to do all we can to speed the Light here. We would certainly appreciate any opportunity you could make for us to present our work at your congregation, even just a short plea with "no strings attached" and no expectations. Individual supporters are also greatly appreciated, even if just ten or twenty dollars per month (the dollar goes so far here in the Philippines).
We do of course always welcome any comments, suggestions, or questions you may have about our work. Thank you again, brothers and sisters!