Where it all Started!
We spent a night in Cebu City. Getting to know the indigenous people of the Church there. It was quite a treat. We spent time there talking and getting to know our training network team. We took in their needs and hopes for getting out further trainings and got to know our youngest generation of trainers.
We were hosted by pastor Mackey and his wife Sharon. They were so gracious to us and even to the extreme of what was needed. I told Pastor Mackey that all this “going out of his way” stuff was not necessary, but he quickly replied that this does not happen every day (that he got to host for GYMN).
He let us speak to his youth leaders he was training with the GYMN material as well as the youth that the leaders were caring for. Some of these were college aged and others were as young as 16. It wasn’t until that moment I realized we were speaking to a third generation of trained youth leaders. Their pastor Mackey was a first generation as he received conformation of his calling into full time ministry after taking the first GYMN seminar. Now this was the second group of youth he was steering through the GYMN training process. Who knows how far this is going to produce leaders as all these young adults take the training process to their culture in the next 5 years.
Cebu City is certainly a hub of training resources using the tools provided by GYMN. They are setting new standards and goals for themselves to assure that GYMN digs its foothold in deep and permanently on Cebu Island and beyond to the 7,000 islands of the Philippines.
One amazing thing is how we have been blessed with trainers from the Mindanao area.
You may have heard of the kid-napping that has taken place in the Islamic areas. It is a problem, but not enough to deter our trainers. Their mind is set and we plan to advance to train the Christian leaders of youth there.
At our gathering, there we met Herman, who along with his brother Noel who were used by God to bring GYMN into the Philippines. And look how God has blessed! Herman’s belief and enthusiasm in the GYMN program has not fizzled at all. He is looking so forward to returning to train in Nepal as well as train in his own country. Herman has been busy setting up our 10 years anniversary celebration in Bora Kay Philippines. We are celebrating with a luau on tomorrow night. We are expecting 100 to attend this. Trainers and their families along with staff! How excited are they about 10 years with GYMN? Well for those who can not afford to fly in (at their expense), they will take a 12 hour boat trip just to get here! Wow! They must think it is important …. Hmmm …. IT IS!!!!!
Matt
Planning for future trainings for Asia!
Chris and Pastor Herman with the Team
