The Ripple Effect of a "Yes"

We Finished Well

We returned to Rancho Abierto from the Philippines and had 6 days to take in all the goodness of the beautiful place created by God for families to grow in their relationship with Him. We had 5 days of debriefing and a graduation ceremony. One final task, a ranch tradition, is to paint a family rock with words describing what God has done during this season. We chose the word discipled because we learned so much from the DTS teachings, from those who chose to travel to this remote place and share their knowledge of God's character. Because of their “yes” and your prayers and support, we had the blessing of being discipled. While in the Philippines we also witnessed how God works through people who travel to hard to reach places. 

The picture below shows our family heading to Talavera Island via a very small boat. Our team went to this island because the YWAM Surigao base leader, Soriano, grew up on Talavera. A pastor who came to the island earlier had led Soriano’s mom to Christ. When he was 6 years old a team of missionaries came to the island. In that moment he had the desire to grow up and be like them. Over the next decade he struggled with believing that God could use someone from an island, but he remembered the missionaries telling him “it’s not about your capability but your availability.” His mom encouraged him to follow the dream and he agreed to complete a DTS. He felt the Lord calling him to missions, but still had doubts. He finally submitted to the Lord’s will on his life and joined YWAM as staff. He had been leading the Surigao base since 2014.

While on Talavera Island our team felt led to have an outdoor evangelism event. We got approval from the island barangay captain (government official) to have the event and said we could use the basketball court which is a very well-known place on the island. The local church led worship and we shared testimonies and the gospel. We had several people give their life to Christ and 4 people were baptized the following day.

Soriano has a passion for working with youth. For those on the islands, he is able to say to them “I was like you.” They see how God is using him and the opportunities God has given him. He doesn’t wait until the kids are old enough to complete a DTS but gives them opportunities to serve as teenagers. He also works with the kids in the city. Ives (pictured below) went to his first YWAM event, a children’s ministry, at 9. At 12 he began volunteering with Soriano and at 20 he accompanied our team to Talavera. He helped us with translation, preparing meals, prepping for outreach events with us, serving our team and pouring love into our kids. 

We often hear about making disciples that make disciples and multiplication of God’s kingdom. Someone took the gospel to Talavera island and it changed Soriano’s life. God continues to use him to bring others to Christ.

The past 5 months have impacted our lives in a way that we never expected, and without your prayers and support it wouldn’t have been possible. There is so much for us to share about the lecture phase and our time in the Philippines. There’s no way to fit it all into one newsletter, so we will share over the next few months. 

We will be back in New Mexico on September 2 for a few weeks before heading to Corpus Christi to jump back in the water with YWAM Ships. If you would like to get together to hear more about our time in Mexico and Philippines please reply to the email or message one of us. We would love to share more about what God has done.

Prayer requests: 

~We want to implement the things we learned during DTS and don’t want to go back to “business as usual.” Please pray we will be led by the Spirit about how to do this.

~Prayers for guidance for Max and his paramedic work. Serving full-time with YWAM Ships CC is our primary focus but he wants to keep his license active and his skills fresh. We aren’t sure if he is supposed to work periodically with his previous employer or something different. 

~Prayers for a 2nd vehicle. Our Corolla died right before DTS and we could really use a 2nd fuel efficient vehicle. There is a lot of traveling for local outreaches and staff meetings. We know God will provide what we need.

We thank you again for your support to help us complete our training school and continue on the path God has called us to walk. If you feel led to partner with us in prayer or financially click here.

Love, Salt, and Light

The Massengales