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Dear Friends and Family,
The summer is officially over as Mackenzie is back in school and Bella is doing preschool 2 days a week (Here they both are before the first day). We just finished up our last of 4 summer basketball ministry trips and are preparing to start our follow up on the contacts we made. Val has been out working at the medical center with expectant mothers on prenatal care and with school starting is back into the "swing" of things with volleyball.
There are lots of exciting things happening here. We are so blessed to share with you how God is using all of you through prayers and giving to reach the lost all over the Philippines!
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Eric Spoelstra, Head Coach of the Miami Heat
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Many of you know
that Josh is the Philippine Director of Finance for Kids International
Ministries, and helps manage the daily financial operations of their 3 orphanage
homes, school and community center.
Through K.I.M, he was a part of showing Coach Eric Spoelstra, the head coach of the Miami Heat, around the K.I.M.
facilities and the impoverished community K.I.M. is based in. Coach Speolstra is half Filipino, and It was so exciting
to see a guy who has been so blessed express a sincere desire to help the less
fortunate in his Mother's native land.
We don't know what God will do with this meeting, but there will be so
many opportunities to make an impact in people's lives from livelihood and
community improvement projects and through basketball ministry. Please pray that God blesses the efforts of Coach Spoelstra to impact the Philippines. Below is a picture of Josh, his good friend Kirk and Coach Spoelstra.
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Buhay Sports Summer Report
| From the middle of May to the beginning of August, Buhay Sports took 4 different teams throughout the Philippines to assist local churches in recruiting and evangelizing new believers.
We took 2 teams to the Southern island of Mindanao, where they played in Bukidnon Province, Cagayan de Oro City , Iligan City and many small towns and villages in and around those areas. Our other 2 teams stayed on Luzon, mostly in Metro Manila, but traveled as far as Lucena, which was about a 5 hour drive.
As usual, wee had great opportunities to share and found that the people were very receptive to our message. Throughout the 4 trips, we handed out over 30,000 Gospel tracts and got contact information for as many as 10,000 people who wanted to be contacted by the local pastor for follow up.
For those of you who would like specific details about each of the trips, you can find it on our blog: www.BuhaySports.blogspot.com.
Thanks for praying with us for all the people who heard the Gospel, for all those who received a tract and for all of those who requested more information! The seed has been planted, and now we wait on the Holy Spirit to turn the seeds into fruit that can be harvested.
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Pregnancy Ministry
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The pregnancy clinic is doing
wonderfully! Each month, we go to two different sites for prenatal check-ups.
At the beginning, we share a devotional with the women and then give a brief
lesson on a certain aspect of pregnancy, childbirth, or newborn care.
Following the group session, one at a time, the expectant mothers come in
for a preliminary check-up, where we log their blood pressure, weight, and
urinalysis. Following that, they go into an exam room with our midwife. She
checks the baby’s heart rate, as well as the well-being of the mother and the baby. The mother’s are
always so delighted to hear the heartbeat of the baby.
Caring about women in a tangible way is a great chance to show them the love of Christ. It is our prayer that through our efforts to care for their physical needs, we will have an opportunity to care for their spiritual needs.
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Thanks to all of you for the part you play in His ministry through our family and each of you. We can't thank you enough or even begin to tell you what an honor it is to play a role.
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He is Faithful,
Josh, for Val, Mackenzie, Bella and Deacon
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Donation Address: First Love International Ministries, PO Box 15836, Love's Park, IL 61132
Field Address: Josh and Valerie Manthe, c/o Faith Academy, PO Box 2016 MCPO, 0706 Makati City, Philippines
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