Back from Mindanao

We have returned to Kona from Mindanao, Philippines.  Our experience would be mind-boggling to some, I know that I am still processing it myself.  So much happened in two months that I am not sure where to start.  So I will give you a summary of what took place.

We went through what I would call a boot-camp missionary training program.  We started our week off on Tuesdays and went from 8am to around 8pm by the time we got into our hotel room.  We had meetings, leadership meetings, worship, planning meetings, prayer time, ministry time, and meals in that 12 hours per day and it was a non-stop motion filled day.  There were days when we had lots of energy and days when we were dragging, all in the midst of 90 degree/90% humidity weather, somedays were definitely harder than others.  We learned and experienced so many amazing things, I am incredibly thankful for this training.

One story I want to share with you is that of a 98 year old man and a 89 year old woman.  We met Basilia and Melodicio the second week we were in Cagayan de Oro in a little village called Baloy.  I had the opportunity to minister to these two with my interpreter named Michael in a very special way.  They had never made the decision to placing their faith in God, but one afternoon they were wondering what they would eat and we showed up with a bag of food.  God used this to soften their hearts because later that day during a second meeting with them they gave their lives to Christ!  What an amazing feeling that was, it made all the sweating I was doing worth every drop!

We continued to visit this couple and gave them a Bible written in Cebuano, thier native toungue and found them reading it often.  The las week we were there we talked to them about getting baptized and they seemed interested.  The Saturday before we left, we had a big celebration in Baloy where we  gave away fresh fruit, played kids' games, sang songs and at the end had a baptism in the ocean - Basilia and Melodicio joined us!  It was a glorious day and I swear I heard angels singing!!!

One of the greatest things Scott and I have taken away from this experience is that God wants to use us, in spite of us.  We know that our family is prepared to go into missions full-time and we are excited about that.  We are believing that God has a plan for us and that He is unveiling that plan in our lives now.  Remember, it only takes simple obedience to please God.

The CDO - Cagayan de Oro, Philippines

We started our travels on a Tuesday morning at 6:00am leaving Kona, Hawaii and ending on Friday at 5:30 pm in Cagayan de Oro (CDO), Philippines - can you say tired?  It was pretty wild to see how well all the families with small children did with traveling that much, I think there was only one meltdown and he is 5 so I  say bravo to all those kids!  Nick and Sydney were amazing, they are great travelers, made to be missionaries!

We are staying in one room together with a bathroom and a shower, it is definitely do-able for us.  The big bonus is that we have air conditioning, thank you Lord!  It is very hot here with the average temperature of 95 but it feels more like 110 degrees with the humidity.  The people are very friendly and the children are so cute!  The YWAM "base" here in CDO is actually in someone's house which I have been told is quite normal, their hospitality is off the charts!!!  They cook all our meals for us and will even do our laundry for a small fee, they are amazing.  One of the things I have felt God telling me is to "out serve" our hosts, this will not be an easy task as they open their home to a bunch of strangers and feed us, but I am going to try my best.  I am trying to be better at posting and keeping everyone up-to-date on our ministry here in the Philippines.  Our internet is a bit spotty, so I will try to give word at least once a week.

God bless and keep us in your prayers!

My peace I give you. (John 14:27)

Two painters were once asked to paint a picture illustrating his own idea of rest.  The first chose for his scene a quiet, lonely lake, nestled among mountains far away.  The second, using swift, broad strokes on his canvas. painted a thundering waterfall.  Beneath the falls grew a fragile birch tree, bonding over the foam.  On its branches, nearly wet with the spray from the falls, sat a robin on its nest.  The first paining was simply a picture of stagnation and inactivity.  The second, however, depicted rest.
Outwardly, Christ endured one of the most trouble lives ever lived.  Storms and turmoil, turmoil and storms - wave after wave broke over him until his worn body was laid in the tomb.  Yet His inner life was as smooth as a sea of glass, and a great calm was always there.
Anyone could have gone to him at any time and found rest.  Even as the human bloodhounds were dogging him in the streets of Jerusalem, he turned to his disciples, offering them a final legacy; "My peace."
Rest is not some holy feeling that comes upon us i church.  It is a state of calm rising from a heart deeply and firmly established in God.
    ~ Henry Drummond

FAITH

I have been reading "The Necessity of Prayer" by EM Bounds and I find it amazing how prayer is bound together by faith in God.  I am so challenged by my "lack of faith" mostly in myself.  EM Bounds says this;

Faith deals with God, and is conscious of God. It deals with the Lord Jesus Christ and sees in Him a Saviour; it deals with God's Word, and lays hold of the truth; it deals with the Spirit of God, and is energized and inspired by its holy fire. God is the great objective of faith; for faith rests its whole weight on His Word. Faith is not an aimless act of the soul, but a looking to God and a resting upon His promises. Just as love and hope have always an objective so, also, has faith. Faith is not believing just anything; it is believing God, resting in Him, trusting His Word.
Faith gives birth to prayer, and grows stronger, strikes deeper, rises higher, in the struggles and wrestlings of mighty petitioning. Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the assurance and realization of the inheritance of the saints. Faith, too, is humble and persevering. It can wait and pray; it can stay on its knees, or lie in the dust. It is the one great condition of prayer; the lack of it lies at the root of all poor praying, feeble praying, little praying, unanswered praying.

I want this to be part of my life, a part that just believes deep in my heart that I can have faith in God to complete the work He has started in me.

Miracles

What is a miracle?  The Webster dictionary says; A miracle is an event not ascribable to human power or the laws of nature and consequently attributed to a supernatural, especially divine power.  I know it may be hard to believe in miracles in the year 2013, but I have seen many as of late.  Last week, we had three families in our Family Discipleship Training School that did not have enough many to pay for the remainder of their tuition.  Consequently this meant that they would have to leave  University of the Nations if their tuition was not paid.  The amount needed totalled around $24,000.  We started to really press in and pray for these families, asking God that He would provide if it is His will.  Well I have to tell you, that not only did God provide all the money needed for tuition, He also provided extra for outreach. Praise GOD!!!!  He is so amazing!!  We serve an awesome God that loves us so much and wants us to feel blessed.  Thank you Lord for all your provisions!

An Amazing story of faith!

Hi everyone we are Kevon and Jadine Bullock from Jamaica.  We have two girls Jada and Joanna (7 years and 1 year respectively).  A few months ago we were led to pursue a Discipleship Training School.  We searched for one and found the Family DTS in Kona Hawaii which suited us perfectly.  At the time, we were serving as Mission Builders at the Youth with a Mission base in Manchester Jamaica.  We felt led to do a Family DTS because we were serving as a family and really believed God had an amazing call upon our children.  We wanted to make sure we were raising them after God’s heart.

The journey to get to Hawaii has been one of Faith and Tremendous breakthrough.  It started out with God allowing us to get accepted for the DTS without paying the application fee of $100 US.  We were not working and so had no money to pay this but God caused it to happen.  Jadine and the girls were in need of passports to get here and God allowed one of our friends (we did not even ask her) to give us enough money for the passports and traveling to and from the passport office.  Following that, we were in need of US visas.  We prayed earnestly for this and, as the time was short, we asked God for a speedy process.  Ten days before the school started, a fellow missionary in Jamaica allowed us to use her credit card to pay for four visas – a total $640 US.   God caused us to receive enough money to pay her back.  We got our visa appointment for the very day we were to arrive for school – Thursday April 4, 2013.  We went to our interview praying for God’s favor. We received the visa that day, and miraculously was allowed to pick them up the following day, Friday April 5, 2013 – this would have normally taken five days.  The following day, Saturday April 6, 2013, we decided to leave our home (3 hrs from the airport) and move closer to the airport (45 min away).  At this time we did not know where we would have gotten the plane tickets.  We still had no money at all.  We kept on praying and trusting God.  The families that were already in Hawaii for the Family DTS were also praying for us among others.  Three days later, Tuesday April 9, 2013, we received a call from our school leader saying that there was a potential donor for our plane tickets.  We sent our passport Information to him and within half an hour we were printing our travel itinerary.  The following morning, Wednesday April 10, 2013, we were on a flight form Montego Bay Jamaica heading to Kona Hawaii leaving the island for the first time.  God is AMAZING!!!

Our vision as a family is to live God’s dream of taking the gospel to the nations.  We want to be a light to our nation and other nations of the world by restoring broken families.  God has called us to disciple the younger generation and send these young disciples into the nations with God’s word.

This family is living the life of faith in God for everything and HE has proven worthy of their praise. The Bullock's are in financial need for the remainder of their tuition fees for the Family DTS.  If you believe you are led to give to them, please pray about it and let me know.  We have an account set up for them at YWAM.

God Bless you!!!

We are headed to the Philippines in June and will be involved in many different ministries.  We need your help to serve these amazing people. It takes $5.00 per child to give them the necessities in order to attend school yet many children can not go because they don't even have that.  Please, pray about what you are to give, seek God's guidance in this and know that God will multiply the gifts and bless the givers!  Donations can be made through; Desert Song Community Church, 640 SW Evergreen, Redmond, OR 97756.  

These are tax deductible donations and every penny goes to the ministry in the Philippines. Thank you in advance for making a difference!

Scott and Katie Suderno

Changing Focus Ministries

Am I listening?

Sometimes I find it hard to listen for God's still small voice amongst the rest of the noise in my life.  I tend to ask God, "Why can't you just yell it at me instead of whispering!"  Then I would get it right!  But no, instead we need to be silent, spending time in God's word and waiting . . . . .sometimes waiting some more . . . . . until, HE speaks!  Putting our faith in a God who whispers can prove to be a challenge in our life of not sitting still, but it's worth it.

Today I was sitting and listening and God gave me a verse, Luke 12:52 - "Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom."  I really needed this as a reassurance that God will provide for us during this time of beginning a new missionary ministry.  I know that He has chosen this path for us and we are to walk it out in faith.

If any of you would like to donate to our missions ministry, you can send a tax-deductible contribution to;
Desert Song Community Church
640 SW Evergreen
Redmond, OR  97756

We made it!

Well, we made it through our first week of Family DTS (Discipleship Training School) and it was amazing.  We had Darlene Cunningham (co-founder of YWAM) and David Hamilton come and speak to our group this week and they were excellent.  I love how Darlene spoke to us like we were her family, what an amazing woman!  We have worship 4 days a week, lectures and meetings of various kinds including small group meetings.  It makes for a busy week and we even have homework.  The kids absolutely love their school and they are learning some fabulous life lessons.  They are also having way more fun than we are, they even got to see dolphins yesterday!  I am thinking about asking if they need a chaperon for their next field trip (wink, wink)!

There are many things that God revealed to me this week and I would like to share them with you.
*Delayed obedience is disobedience.
*God is always consistent with us - we need to be consistent with our children
*Every moment in life can and is a teachable moment
*The Bible is the manual for all questions in life, go to it and find the answer!
*When we want to see breakthroughs in conditions we are in or others are in, prayer is the answer

These are just a few, I could go on for another page and it is only the first week!  We are loving being in an atmosphere where we are seeking, relying, asking and immersing ourselves in GOD!  Please continue to pray for strength and wisdom as we seek where God is leading us for our ministry.

The Suderno's

Family update - April 6, 2013

 Dear Family and Friends,
 
Scott and I wanted to update you on where we are and what we are doing. Thursday we started our training for becoming missionaries with the organization called YWAM-Youth With A Mission. We are in Kona, Hawaii and will be here for three months and then we will go to the Philippines for 2 months for more training. We know to some this sounds crazy, but we are listening to what God has called us to and that is to serve people who are less fortunate than we are and to share the good news of Jesus Christ. We have accomplished three days and already feel blessed to be here.  YWAM’s discipleship and training programs aim to equip followers of Christ to serve more effectively in a variety of missionary fields.  They combine classroom teaching with ongoing discipleship and practical service. Most programs incorporate several weeks of application activities, often in another culture, where the principles learned are practiced in order to accelerate learning.  Our practical training will be in the Philippines on the island of Mindanao in the region of Cagayan de Oro.  The Discipleship Training School or DTS emphasizes cross-cultural exposure and global awareness and prepares students for full-time service.  We have 7 families in our program from 4 different countries,with a total of 14 adults and 18 children.  As the parents are being trained so are the children.  The kids are participating in a program called the Foundations School where they will be trained up to be missionaries and also do their age appropriate studies along with homeschooling.  This is very exciting to us because we want Nick and Sydney to know what their gifts are and be able to use them to help others with greater needs than our own, they are very excited for school to start on Monday. 
 
Well that is a short summary of what we are doing right now, we will be keeping everyone up to date through our blog which is suderno.blogspot.com and through our facebook account Changing Focus Ministries and our personal facebook accounts.  We will be sending out a newsletter in a few weeks so if you are interested in receiving it, please let us know whether you would like it via internet or regular mail.Those who are on our support list will already be receiving it.  We appreciate all the prayers and support that we have received and appreciate everything that God is providing for us through all of you. We would love to hear from you, please keep in touch!!
 
Love to all, 

 
The Suderno's

Our new address is; 
 
University of the Nations
Family DTS
Scott and Katie Suderno
75-5851 Kuakini Hwy #430
Kailua Kona, HI 96740

Faith for today

I came across this reading from EM Bounds and found this part that I really like and needed to read today.  I need to focus on one day at a time!

"Faith covers temporal as well as spiritual needs. Faith dispels all undue anxiety and needless care about what shall be eaten, what shall be drunk, what shall be worn. Faith lives in the present, and regards the day as being sufficient unto the evil thereof. It lives day by day, and dispels all fears for the morrow. Faith brings great ease of mind and perfect peace of heart.
"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Thee:because he trusted in Thee."
When we pray, "Give us this day our daily bread," we are, in a measure, shutting tomorrow out of our prayer. We do not live in tomorrow but in today. We do not seek tomorrow's grace or tomorrow's bread. They thrive best, and get most out of life, who live in the living present. They pray best who pray for today's needs, not for tomorrow's, which may render our prayers unnecessary and redundant by not existing at all!"

Vacation time

The tropics!  Love being in the humidity after spending time in Pasco, Washington where it is very dry.  Before our jump into missionary training we are spending spring break on Oahu with my twin Sister and her family.  We are planning on snorkeling, surfing, beach combing and exploring all over the island for the next week.  We are all very excited, especially since the last day with my mom and dad was hard because I had to say good-bye for a while.  My daughter Sydney says, "Mom, it's not good-bye, but see you later".  I love that.  My mom will most likely come and visit us when we settle where we will be staying, she loves to travel.

Now, we relax and enjoy our time with my sister and family!

I was reading some of John Piper's stuff and found this list for 7 things to pray for your children.  I started praying these today for Nick and Sydney and am expecting God to meet them right where they are!

1. That Jesus will call them and no one will hinder them from coming.

Then children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked the people, but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” And he laid his hands on them and went away. (Matthew 19:13–15)

2. That they will respond in faith to Jesus’s faithful, persistent call.

The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. (2 Peter 3:9)

3. That they will experience sanctification through the transforming work of the Holy Spirit and will increasingly desire to fulfill the greatest commandments.

And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:37-39)

4. That they will not be unequally yoked in intimate relationships, especially marriage.

Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? (2 Corinthians 6:14)

5. That their thoughts will be pure.

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.(Philippians 4:8)

6. That their hearts will be stirred to give generously to the Lord’s work.

All the men and women, the people of Israel, whose heart moved them to bring anything for the work that the Lord had commanded by Moses to be done brought it as a freewill offering to the Lord. (Exodus 35:29)

7. That when the time is right, they will GO!

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20)

Mark 10:21
And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, "You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me."

This doesn't sound too hard, or does it?  As a Christ follower, all that we have is God's, so why should it be so hard to do what Christ asks.  We need to change our way of thinking and ask God to guide us in what HE wants us to do in our lives.  We need to be willing to surrender everything.  Everything?  This includes, our children, our extended families, our home and all our possessions.  Yikes, that does sound hard, but I know that it will be worth it in heaven!

Psalm 40:1-9

Psalm 40:1-9
I waited patiently and expectantly for the Lord; and He inclined to me and heard my cry. He drew me up out of a horrible pit a pit of tumult and of destruction, out of the miry clay froth and slime, and set my feet upon a rock, steadying my steps and establishing my goings. And He has put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many shall see and fear revere and worship and put their trust and confident reliance in the Lord. Blessed happy, fortunate, to be envied is the man who makes the Lord his refuge and trust, and turns not to the proud or to followers of false gods. Many, O Lord my God, are the wonderful works which You have done, and Your thoughts toward us; no one can compare with You! If I should declare and speak of them, they are too many to be numbered. Sacrifice and offering You do not desire, nor have You delight in them; You have given me the capacity to hear and obey Your law, a more valuable service than burnt offerings and sin offerings which You do not require. Then said I, Behold, I come; in the volume of the book it is written of me; I delight to do Your will, O my God; yes, Your law is within my heart. I have proclaimed glad tidings of righteousness in the great assembly tidings of uprightness and right standing with God. Behold, I have not restrained my lips, as You know, O Lord.

Do you know what unconditional love is?  In the Bible unconditional love, or agape love is selfless and sacrificial - the highest of any type of love that can be found or given.  This is the type of love Jesus has for us!

1. I’m so undeserving, so unworthy, but He loves me anyway. I question his ways, argue with him, don’t give him all of my trust even though he’s never let me down. I don’t talk about him like He’s a big deal, even though He brings life to the dead and healing to the sick. I push him away, run as far as I can, yet he still pursues me like I’ve never done him any wrong. He’s the most beautiful person I’ve ever met. He calls the stars out by name, knows the numbers of hair on my head, He even knit me together in my mother’s womb. I was running through his mind a thousand years before I was even thought of. He took the cup I deserved and poured it out on himself. He saved me, renewed my Spirit, and breathed life into me. This wonderful, marvelous, and glorious man I’m talking about is Jesus. And all of the things I just listed above can be your story.  Just ask Him.  He’s waiting for you!
2. 2

So, I know that there are countless verses in the Bible that we can read to have FAITH, but I still find myself asking God for help daily knowing that HE will give it to me!

Today, we made it through speaking in front of the congregation at Desert Song Community Church for both services!  At one point I thought I would puke, but regained strength thanks to God and Scott and I did  well together.  We share our vision and our heart of where God is taking us!  Sometimes, it is a little scary yet exciting!  Thank you to all our friends for support and to Pastor Brad for loving us, supporting us and getting excited about missions that reach the world!!

Today I am remembering my father-in-law Bob Suderno, who chose to take his own life a year ago.  I remember his smile and the many wise words he shared with Scott and I.  I am saddened that such an amazing man would choose death instead of giving up his life for what Christ has for him.  I know that he was not himself, because he believed in our Lord and savior.  Many people are struggling with different things; marriage not going exactly how we had planned, finances sinking, jobs we don't enjoy, friends and family struggling to get along, and Satan would like nothing else than for all of us to choose him over Christ.  This world sometimes begs us to focus on satan, but we know better than that. What we need to remember is that we are more than conquerors in Christ!  In Romans 8:28-31 it says; And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.  For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.  And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.  What then, shall we say in response to this?  If God is for us, who can be against us?  
I know that Jesus is holding Bob in his hands and I will see him someday in heaven.  I love you Bob, say hi to Jesus for me!

Welcome to YWAM!  We received our welcome letter today along with a list of all that needs that have to be done prior to arrival in Kona in April.  Shots (knew that), major down-sizing of the clothing in my closet and many other things.  I am actually excited to down-size, it will make deciding what to wear much easier as there will not be as many choices to choose from!  I am sure everyone else will have the same issue, so no one will make fun of the fact that I wear the same thing every week!  Wow, that doesn't sound quite as exciting when I write it, oh well, so much for variety.  We are getting excited to go.  We are sharing our story with many friends, if you would like us to come to your house and share our story, give me a call!  Keep us in your prayers, I need my list to stop growing and start shrinking!
Ta Ta for now!! :)

Scott and I have been doing alot of praying and are listening to what God wants in our lives.  We have applied for what is called a Family Discipleship Training School with Youth With A Mission.  We leave in March for Hawaii where we will do our training and then go into the mission field full-time!  We are very excited and are ready to go where God asks us to go!  Please be praying for us as we are preparing to go, many things to do and we need support.  If you are interested in prayerfully partnering with our ministry, let us know, I will send you the necessary info!  Thanks and God bless!!!

Getting ready to go into the mission field!