Martin Family Update, Thanksgiving 2009

Happy Thanksgiving to All!

We have so much to be thankful for. God has been so good to us in
allowing us to see the fruit of His work in peoples lives. Last Sunday
we had the privilege of witnessing 27 people get baptized. It was a
true Filipino style outing with lots of laughter and a lot of food as we
celebrated after the baptisms.

So that the believers would not think that only a "professional"
minister can perform baptisms, our missionary team only baptized the
first few people. After that, the believers themselves baptized the
others, so that almost everyone got a chance to baptize someone.

It was a great experience to see the joy in everyone who was baptized
and to celebrate our faith in God together as a community. While
baptism is a symbolic act of our identifying with Christs death and
resurrection (nakigpag-isa kay Jesus), in our cultural context it is a
bold statement of their faith and their commitment to following the Word
of God over any tradition or religion. Pray that the believers will be
encouraged and that their faith will grow. Pray also that they will
develop a vision for reaching out to their friends and families.

Thank you all for your support and prayers. You all have a part in the
fruit of the ministry here, since we could not be here to share God's
Word without your faithfulness to the Great Commission.

Bryan

Martin Family Update November, 2009

Greetings from the windswept island of Catanduanes!

POSITION OPENINGS
Anyone looking for an assignment in the Philippines as a business
manager? While the salary is not so good ($0 per year, you raise your
support), the benefits are truly heavenly (treasures in heaven). Our
current Field Director is moving on to pursue another assignment, so we
are in the process of selecting our next Field Director. We are also in
need of a business manager to help keep our mission afloat in the
Philippines, which frees up the field director to do the job of caring
for the missionaries on the field, making contacts and increasing our
influence with our Filipino partner missions, setting the vision and
tactical plan for the field, and creating new ways to partner with
others to continue the advance of the Gospel in the Philippines. While
these 2 jobs do not meet the expectation of what most people consider a
traditional missionary, they are critical to the operation of the
mission and enable the missionaries who are planting churches to
continue their work. In our modern times, however, the job of business
manager now has a new dimension to it. As the world continues to be
"globalized", and Christians around the world begin to cooperate like
never before in the working out of the great commission, the role of
business manager requires a lot of creativity. New challenges arise in
moving money internationally, learning how to set up small businesses in
restricted countries, and forming partnerships between tribal church
associations and Western organizations. The business manager today is
someone who will travel to some exotic locations, learn about doing
business in several different cultural contexts, and thrive on
creatively applying their financial and business knowledge in new ways.
Anyone interested in a role like this? If you are tired of the 9 to 5
and would like some adventure, send me an email.

TYPHOONS
We get several typhoons every year, but this year the typhoons got some
international publicity. When typhoon Ondoy dumped 20 inches of rain on
Manila in a period of just a few hours, it caused massive flooding in
the city and it is estimated that 80% of Manila was under water.
Getting the entire annual rainfall amount of southern California in just
a few hours would cause flooding in most cities in the world, but Manila
is especially prone due to inadequate drainage systems and tons of trash
that clog everything up. A lot of people lost everything and are still
recovering from the damage of the storm. World Team missionaries in
Manila were able to organize efforts to help many of those affected
through a missionary school. The administration decided to cancel
classes for a week so that the students and faculty all volunteered
their time in the communities to help those in need in various ways.

BAPTISM
Baptism in Filipino culture is full of meaning. When someone is
baptized as an adult in a church other than the Roman Catholic Church,
it means they are changing their religion and turning their back on the
Catholic Church. It is for this reason that people wait so long before
being baptized. For some, they are not ready to give up their
traditions in the Catholic Church which they have grown up with and are
a part of their culture. Others are afraid of the persecution that will
undoubtedly follow a baptism, including being denied a place to be
buried, as the Catholic Church owns the only cemetery in town. Still
others don't know what the Bible says about baptism and are satisfied
with their christening as an infant. We led our group of leaders
through a 3 week series about baptism in the Bible. We believe it is
time for many to make a decision, and so they are discovering the truth
about baptism from the Bible. The reactions of many are encouraging as
they see the need to be baptized as adults even though they had been
"christened" as infants. One person commented, "I realize now that
believing must come before baptism. How can an infant believe?". After
the third lesson on baptism, we put out a sign up sheet for those
interested to sign up for a special class on baptism to prepare them for
the actual baptism. Everyone signed up! We are thanking God for this
as it means that people are truly trusting in God and maturing in their
faith as they show they are willing to face persecution for following
the truth in the Bible. Please pray for these leaders as they take a
stand in their community for God. And pray for them as they are
persecuted for their faith and their desire to follow Jesus. The
baptism will take place this Sunday with over 20 people who have signed up.

WOUNDED SOLDIER
My teammates Tom and Teng and one of the men we are discipling went to
visit some of the remote towns of Payo. On our way home, we came upon a
motorcycle that was laying on the side of the road. We thought someone
may have crashed, so we stopped and looked around to see if someone
needed help. Just then a man came out of the jungle walking towards us
holding his arm wrapped in a blood-soaked t-shirt. He said he was a
soldier, and they had been ambushed. He said his two companions were
killed. We loaded him onto the back of my motorcycle to take him to the
nearest hospital. The 30 minute motorcycle trip on rough roads was hard
for the man as each bump was painful. I didn't see the extent of his
wounds until we got to the hospital, and then I was amazed that he was
able to stay conscious on the back of my motorcycle. There was not much
left of his right fore-arm, and the doctor said he would be transferred
to the provincial capitol to have it amputated. We are thankful that we
were not caught in the line of fire, or that the snipers did not target
us. Pray that God would somehow use this for His glory. (Background
information: communist rebels and government troops have a long standing
conflict, but clashes like this are somewhat rare on Catanduanes)

In Gods Hands,

Bryan

Martin Family Update October 2009

Hi all!

We just wanted to let everybody know that we are fine and that the
typhoon that hit Manila did not affect our island very much. All of our
co-workers in Manila faired well through the storm and flooding, with
only 1 of our co-workers homes affected slightly.

There is another storm approaching although not as directly on track
towards Manila so we are praying that it does not dump too much rain on
an already bad situation in Manila. Please pray for all of those who
have lost everything in the flooding and for a fast recovery.

Bryan

Martin Family Update August, 2009

//Bryan and Jacinda Martin are on a church planting team serving in the
Philippines since 2002 with World Team (www.worldteam.org)/ /

Hi everyone! Lots of stories to tell, it's hard to pick just a few to
write about.

SICK
There was a stomach flu going around that Imogen and Arwen caught. I
soon caught it also, but when I was not getting better after 3 days like
they did, I started to wonder if I had something else. After 5 days of
not being able to eat and stomach cramps, it was clear I was not going
to get better on my own. The next day I started bleeding internally,
and after some lab tests in the next town, we discovered I had an amoeba
infection. I was getting too weak to walk, so we decided to go to
Manila, where I stayed at the hospital for 2 nights. The medicine
worked and the infection was gone, but it has taken a few weeks to heal
from the damage caused to my system, especially since my hemoglobin (red
blood cell) count was down to 6.7, where 12 is normal. Thank God I am
fully recovered now (aside from a few foods that I can't yet handle) and
my energy level is back to normal

ELIAS AND THE CAT
I sent emails out to pray for Elias after his encounter with a cat that
had his leg entangled in our fence. The cat bit him at least a dozen
times, with a few really deep wounds. The cat had his jaws still
attached to him when Jacinda got to the scene. Rabies can be a problem
here, so after seeing that there were no major pieces of his hand
missing, that was our next greatest concern. Jacinda and Elias headed
off for Manila the next day to get the rabies injections and to see our
pediatrician. We started Elias on antibiotics just hours after the
bite, and that along with your prayers has helped him heal very fast and
without infection. He still needs 3 more rabies injections, but we are
happy to see him back to his normal self. It looks like we're in for a
lot of adventures with our little boy!

PTA INDUCTIONS
I am the Vice President of the PTA for Imogen's 3rd grade class this
year, with one of the responsibilities of my office being attendance at
the induction of the officers. This is a big event, with all of the
officers elected for every classroom as well as the officers for the
entire school gathered to be sworn in. This is a good opportunity for
us to be a part of the community and to strengthen existing contacts
that may lead to starting new Bible studies. The mayor of the town gave
a speech, as well as several other local politicians, the principal of
the school, and school administrators (about 2 hours). After the
speeches, everyone eats the potluck brought by each individual to their
class table, and the drinking and dancing begin! We danced the cha-cha
until a little after midnight before we went home.

FIESTA PARADE
This year both of our girls were able to participate in the fiesta
parade as pom-pom girls. The parade loops around most of the town in
the afternoon heat. Arwen needed several drinks of water along the
way! This is a great way that we can participate in the community and
make new friends.

TIMOTHY GROUP
We started another semester of our Timothy Group training. Our previous
semester closed with a progressive dinner, followed by a simple ceremony
to recognize those who had started new Bible studies in the past few
months. Along with the worship, Bible study, and practical training,
each person will have a chance to tell their life story. We meet with
them ahead of time to help organize their stories, and then they tell it
to the group. It has been a great way to get to know people on a much
deeper level, and for the community as a whole to come closer together.

A CONVERSATION ABOUT IDOLS
After studying what the Bible says about idols, a woman came home from
Bible study with a decision to make. She decided to throw away their
house idol, so she took it and threw it into the nearby trash pile.
When her husband came home (he was not yet studying the Bible) he asked
where the idol was. At first she said she was just cleaning it. After
a while, she came out with the truth. She told him, "I threw the idol
away.". The husband replied angrily, "But you were the one who
purchased that idol. What a waste of our money! Why did you throw it
away?". She replied, "I threw it away because the Bible says that
worshiping anyone or anything but God is wrong. It says that we are not
even to own any idols.". The husband said, "Is that right? I didn't
know the Bible said that.". A few months later, her husband began
studying the Bible as well. Today they are being trained as leaders,
and are attempting to start another Bible study in their town. God is
changing people, one family at a time, to turn away from worshiping
idols and to put their trust in the true and living God.

Thank you all for allowing us to follow our call to be missionaries in
the Philippines. We would not be here without your faithful giving and
prayers.

Bryan, Jacinda, Imogen, Arwen and Elias

//To Make a tax-deductible donation to the Martin's ministry in the
Philippines, make checks payable to World Team with Bryan Martin in the
notes section, and send them to: World Team, 1431 Stuckert Road,
Warrington, PA 18976/
/To give online, go to: http://www.worldteam.org/content.asp?id=98//

Martin Family Prayer Update

Thank you for all of your prayers and concern for Elias. Jacinda and
Elias were able to return home this morning. Elias got 5 shots at the
hospital in Manila: 2 skin tests and 3 rabies shots. Jacinda purchased
all of the other shots that he will need - 1 each week for 4 weeks. The
doctor was pleased at how quickly his wounds were healing, and there
appears to be no infection.

Despite the experience of being bitten by a cat, Elias is still very
fond of them and still wants to run up and hold every one the he comes
across.

Thanks again for all of your prayers and concern. We feel blessed to
have such a great group of people standing behind us.

In God's Hands,

Bryan

Martin Family Prayer Update

Please pray for our youngest son, Elias (1.5 years old). Yesterday
afternoon he came upon a cat that had its leg stuck in our fence, and
since he loves cats, he went over to pick it up. The cat bit him
several times from his fingers all the way up his arm. Jacinda had to
beat the cat on the head a couple times so it would let go of him. He
was in a lot of pain yesterday afternoon, but he seems to be doing
better now.

Jacinda went to Manila this morning to take him to the hospital in order
to get a series of rabies shots. While we do not think the cat that bit
him has rabies, it is one of those necessary precautions. Please pray
for them as they travel, deal with the Filipino hospital system, and for
Elias as he has to get a bunch of really painful shots in the next few
days. Also pray for us financially, as we are still recovering from my
health issues last month which drained our reserves.

In God's Hands,

Bryan

Martin Family Update May 2009

Greetings from Catanduanes, Philippines! Attached is our latest prayer
letter.

Bryan

Martin Family Update April 2009

Greetings from Catanduanes! The sun has finally emerged from the 3
months of rain, and everything seems to be growing like crazy.

SIEM REAP, CAMBODIA
This month I had the opportunity to participate in the leadership
meetings for World Team Asia. It was my first time to visit Cambodia,
and it was exciting to meet some of the missionaries working there and
get a glimpse of what the country and people are like. I also got the
chance to explore the temples of Angkor Wat, which are incredible. The
needs in this part of the world are overwhelming. So many have yet to
hear about what Jesus did for us on the cross. Pray for more workers
for Southeast Asia and while you are at it, ask God if maybe you are
being called to missions here.

MARRIAGE BIBLE STUDY
Working with the believers in a few towns, we had them invite couples
who would be interested in studying what the Bible says about marriage
for 3 weeks. To our surprise, the believers were able to gather
together more than 10 couples to attend a Bible study, most of whom have
never studied the Bible before. Please join with us in prayer that
these groups will want to continue to study the Bible after the 3 week
study on marriage ends. Also pray for the believers, that they will be
empowered to be the leaders of these new Bible studies in their town.

PARENTING SEMINAR
Since the marriage seminar was such a great success, we are now planning
to do one on parenting, another great need among the Christians and the
the whole community. This time, we are having at the municipal hall,
which is where the mayor and the local government has its offices. We
had to ask the mayor and their cabinet permission to have this event in
their building, and after some discussion, they voted to allow us to use
it. Several of the cabinet members spoke up about our team and told
them about the good things we are doing in the community. For us, this
is cause to thank God, because we have worked hard to establish
ourselves as a positive group in the community, and it appears that we
now officially are.

LEADERSHIP TRAINING
We started a leadership training group that we call the "Timothy
group". We gathered together all of those who were currently leading
Bible studies and those who have potential as leaders that do not have a
Bible study yet. Our goal with the group is to invest more deeply into
a few so that they can take what they learn and invest into their
group. Another goal is multiplication - those who have Bible studies,
we want to see them with their Bible study start a new one, and those
without Bible studies, we want to help them start one. The group has
been meeting now for 4 weeks, and we have already seen new Bible studies
started and others have added members. Pray for the continued growth
and excitement of this group.

JACINDA'S VISIT
Jacinda, Imogen and Arwen will be visiting the states for a week on
April 5th, riding on free tickets purchased by one of our partners
(thank you!). They will be spending time with family for a short while
and then flying back, while Elias and I will stay here on the island.
Be sure to say hi if you see Jacinda and the girls at church on Easter
Sunday!

Thanks again to those who continue to pray for us and the people of Payo!

Bryan

Martin Family Update February 2009

Greetings from Catanduanes!

PENAFRANCIA - A REMINDER AND A DISAPPOINTMENT
I attached a photo of the Penafrancia idol, which is a statue of Mary.
This happens to be the most worshiped and celebrated idol in the region,
and for the first time, it came to our town. It was a huge disappoint
for us to see a number of those who study the Bible with us participate
in the procession (parade) of this idol through our town. It was a
reminder about how deeply rooted these practices are in peoples hearts,
and we are making adjustments in our ministry to try and address that.
It was also a reminder of how lost people are as I watched them stand in
line for the chance to get close enough to it to rub the idol with a
cloth in the hopes of getting healing, financial prosperity, or
blessing. Pray for the believers here, that God would open their hearts
and minds to depend only on Him for all their needs, and for those who
do not know yet that God alone can provide us with every spiritual
blessing we could possible need or ask for.

JESUS FILM
We showed the Jesus film in a remote coastal town (Maculiu, where I
believe almost the entire population of the town showed up to watch it.
Pray that God would use the film to ignite an interest to know Him more
by studying His word. We are mentoring the believers from one coastal
town (Babaguan) who have been studying the Bible for 2 years now as they
go to the town across the water (Maculiu) and have started a Bible study
there that is growing and maturing. It is exciting to see these new
believers reach out to their friends and family in the neighboring
town. We are there coaching them and helping them when they need it,
but the ministry is totally in their hands, and God is using them more
and more to reach the people in Maculiu.

MULTIPLICATION TRAINING
We held training in a neighboring town where there is an established but
struggling church in a town called Viga. The 2 day training was almost
completely hands-on, and after a little while, they really got the hang
of it. We trained them how to use Bible study materials that are easy
to use and train others to use also, so that we can hopefully see some
multiplication happen. Those attending the training were excited to try
out the new way of Bible teaching. In fact, on the way home from the
training, our teammates saw one of the atendees walking in the opposite
direction of his house. They asked him where he was going, and he
answered that he was going straight over to a family to get a Bible
study started in their home!

2 TIMOTHY 2:2
Trust. This verse says we should entrust the Gospel to faithful men who
will be able to teach others. We have no choice but to delegate and
trust others to carry the message, if we want to see all of the
unreached come to a knowledge of the truth. As I was reading the other
day, God showed me that it is not just trust in other people. Phil 1:6
says, "For I am confident of this very thing, that he who began a good
work in you will perfect it until the day of Chris Jesus". Paul was
confident that God would continue the work in those that he had
ministered to. So, while I must entrust the word to faithful people, I
must also trust God to work in the hearts of the people. Thank God it
is not all up to me, or the people I am entrusting the Gospel to! We
will be starting a new group that focuses on training people to start,
lead groups, train leaders, and repeat the process this week.

ELIAS TURNS 1!
We had a small, quiet party for him with about 100 of our closest
friends... well, it was anything but quiet, and to be honest, we didn't
know a few of the people who came.. let me re-phrase my description: We
had a loud, crazy, fun party with lots of people (over 60 kids and 40
adults)! Although we didn't plan for 100, we always plan to have extra
people, so we had enough of everything. Everyone had a great time and
it was a good chance to see a lot of the friends we know from the
various Bible studies gathered together.

Thank you all for your continued prayers and support!

Bryan