hello?

does anyone ever check this blog? ...just wondering. gosh, it's been a while.

Jenn's Going to Fiji!

Hello PBoD Ohana!!!

thank you for your prayers in getting my flight confirmed to go on the 6th of may....and its a full days travel! i arrive in fiji the morning of the 7th. THe center was full and could not house me until the 15th of May. GOd is even providing me housing that is walking distance from the counseling center i will be working at. GOd has even the minor details under control. God has been faithfully sending his provision...i'm not all there yet but I got my airfare of $1471 covered that's for sure!!! YAY GOD!!! That is in less than a week! He certainly provides where He guides us to go!!! He has never failed in proving that to me time and time again.

As you can see, i'm still in the Philippines...i didn't fly out on May one but God always has perfect timing! I'm definitely sure He had his reasons, more now than that day i didn't get to fly out on the 1st of May.

The past couple of days has been quiet hard. I am learning more and more the importance of the part an individual plays in walking in Unity. The fight, perseverance, sacrifice, humility, and openness Unity takes. That there comes a point where fighting as a whole comes to an end and the individual's fight begins enabling the whole to be able to continue to fight. And always the important part that prayer plays!

I have in the past 2 weeks seen 3 students sent home...something that is not the usual for us but i believe was a humbling lesson for us as well. Of the three, two left within the past two days. (the reason why i didn't fly out on May 1). God is always good, faithful and righteous in all He does! Where we as a leadership and we as a school believe we have stood with and done what we could to see the students continue on to outreach but they themselves wasn't willing. The questioning of did i support enough, do what i could to have kept them going, etc...and coming out of that time of praying and examining that I have, we have....with a real peace knowing that even though 3 were sent home...it was not a failure or leaving people behind. I learned that it was a choice that were made by the individuals to pull themselves out. ONe was sent home because of a physical condition that she could not get herself to overcome and continue to be controlled by. Another was just not ready to go. There was such an unwillingness to give of himself, that I could not risk going on an overseas outreach that was not willing to put in to or sacrifice if a time comes where he needed to do it for the team. Outreach is not about us, but all about what God wants to do sacrificing often times to consider one another and others above ourself. THe third had no fear of God in him that he could lie without remorse or repentance not just to others but to the leaders and was looking to relationship with people instead of a relationship with God to benefit self. Reasons they had a choice to overcome but decided to be ruled by. Personally very hard and saddening. Because I had hoped and believed all the way up until they left. Almost feeling the grief that God has when we choose to give up or turn away. I have been challenged above what i feel was my capacity physically, mentally, and spiritually, yet God in His grace trusted in me and He brought it to pass all I had to be was willing. It was a hard week...yet God reminds me of those that still remains and how badly they have fought and are continue to fight to see God's kingdom expand not just in the Philippines and in Malaysia and Thailand. The wisdom, discernment, and understanding I needed to be able to walk through these things with each student and the school as a whole with my staff was no doubt God moving in our midst and proving true that He is with us. In exhaustion i can still smile, thank Jesus and proudly say God is Good all the time.

Please Pray:
The Lokahi DTS...God would bind them together in perfect Unity
Fiji: I will be working with children my first couple of weeks there and to be quiet honest children are not my strength. That's more my sister's arena. But God sure has something up his sleeves. Teaching me and training me for whatever he has in the future. I'm just stoked to be trained in the area of counseling.
With going and going none stop for the past three days, pray for my physical health. Sleep haven't been solid and restful. I have been unusually dry heaving and coughing.
My times with the Lord to be rich times of just breathing Him in...His love and His words filling me up... so I can give more of Him out. Pray that He is seen and glorified in all we do.

Thanks again for your prayers, financial support and most of all your notes and responses. It makes me feel at home and connected!!! God bless!

His Right hand upholds Me,
Jenn

IM with Jenn

GARY: jenn...are you there?
JENN: yeah....
JENN: Hi Gary!!!
GARY: hey jenn!!!
GARY: i'm praying for you...
JENN: i'm in the Philippines
GARY: thanks for the update...
JENN: Thanks...i need it and the team needs it...
JENN: i wish had pictures to show everyone
GARY: how are you able to get internet connection?
JENN: funny in the squatter area...there is one house with internet access...i couldn't believe it myself but its here
GARY: cool...when are you coming back to Hawaii
JENN: i don't know how to give you a picture...
GARY: don't worry about the picture
JENN: not until last week of june or july
JENN: hehehe
GARY: good...keep making God famous!
JENN: um...God's taking me on a detour
JENN: Oh...my pleasure
GARY: just as long as you are being led by His Spirit and not yours
JENN: He's taking me to Fiji...and make him famous there...apart from the DTS team...
GARY: wow!
JENN: when the teams go to Malaysia and Thailand i'll be in Fiji finishing up my Introduction to Biblical Counseling Outreach so i can be better equipped to do what I do...
JENN: what are you up to Gary?
GARY: i hope I'm not taking up too much of your time
GARY: How many times have you been to Fiji?
JENN: nope...its down time right now....i'll be running errands to get things done for school...i've been going since 3 am...so this is good rest for me...
GARY: I'm doing my studies online for seminary, teaching an OT class Wednesday nights, teaching systematic theology on Thursday nights, and giving a message this weekend at New Hope Mililani, my home church.
JENN: the upcoming trip will be my 3rd...but its gonna be different...i'll be all by myself with the focus on counseling...looks like i'll be working with lots of children....i would think that's something my sister would say...
JENN: wow....i hope i'm not taking any of your time.
JENN: if you could be praying for me...i stepped out in faith booking a flight to Fiji...the moment i said yes God gave me $163, the day after i booked my flight i got $350 more....but i need about $2000 just for airfare and housing and food for about a month and a half or 2...
GARY: wow! god is showing his glory through you going to Fiji!
JENN: God's already providing...i know the provision is there just it getting to me before May 1st is something that God will be doing to come through...
GARY: the money is confirmation that you are supposed to be there
GARY: how can the pbod donate?
JENN: he already confirmed it twice...the money is additional encouragement that i am hearing from him...GOd is so encouraging like that
GARY: how can the pbod donate?
JENN: sorry i don't know what happened
JENN: oh...
GARY: don't worry about it...internet drops every once in awhile
JENN: pink bucket of death
JENN: sorry a little slow....i thought that was your new nickname...haha....
JENN: pbod
GARY: yeah...pbod
GARY: no reference to my bod
GARY: hehe
JENN: hah..good one
JENN: i'm trying to think
JENN: because i need it soon...i don't think it can be tax deductible....
GARY: tax deduction...don't worry about it
GARY: what is the fastest way to get the money to you?
JENN: My first Hawaiian bank account
GARY: i don't have much but i'll pray as to how much
JENN: thanks Gary for even considering...and for praying
JENN: Or send it to Holoholo Ministries
JENN: PO box 4010
JENN: Kailua Kona, HI 96745
GARY: does your sister have your FHB bank account number?
GARY: or do you feel comfortable giving it to me now?
JENN: yeah...my statement goes there...
GARY: where...kona or your sister?
JENN: my sister....
GARY: do you know her cell?
JENN: Kona is where my friend does my deposits for me...when or if they come in the mail
GARY: so if i'm going to deposit to your FHB account just make it out to Jennifer Villaflor?
JENN: 351-4502 i think
JENN: yes
GARY: okay...i'll get the info from gene and send an email out to pbod
JENN: its been so long since i've called her hah
JENN: thank Gary....if possible can you let me know how much so i know the exact amount coming...it would help me when the time comes to pay for the ticket...
JENN: God is blowing my mind!!!!
GARY: yeah...i'll post our conversation on our blog so pbod knows what we are talking about and we'll see what god does from there
GARY: fyi...aya is back in town living in palolo
JENN: oh nah....
JENN: for good?
GARY: i think so...james is coming back in a few months...gonna work for yfc
JENN: kwongs back in town
JENN: so is the pbod reunion on for this summer?
GARY: i'm still trying to find out when john and andrew will be in town
GARY: just left a message on gene's cell
GARY: hey jenn...i gotta go...i'll catch up with you later...great talking with you
GARY: i'll spread the word to the pbod

DTS Update from Jenn

Aloha Pink Bucket of Death Ohana!!!

Right now we are in the 2nd week of outreach. And yes I am still in the Philippines with the LOKAHI (Unity) DTS and within a week they go to Malaysia and Thailand.

ENDING LECTURE PHASE:
The last two week of lecture phase was an exciting time of preparation for going out. We did a camp Lokahi for about 150 youths from different parts of Naga City and youths from Malabon manila in Pasacao about a hour drive from Naga City. THere our DTS students were able to be camp counselors, learning both how to lead and follow one another while we staff were there as their support. They lead small groups, worked as teams during competition, and left with heart for the young people of the Philippines. It was an amazing week of young people getting to know who GOd is, who they are, and what He thinks of them! Several young people left that camp with a sense of purpose, knowing that the GOd they serve is not just a GOd far off but a GOd ho is near and personal...and wants to be involved in their everyday lives.

Then we followed with teaching on Evangelism...these guys are excited to give out what God has poured in to them. So the week was filled with preparation for a discipleship Training Week (DTW) a 4 day taste of a Discipleship Training School (DTS) in Malabon. A squater village in Manila were we had the privilege of working with last hear and seeing God move in the hearts of the young people there to go outside of their comfort zone their home Malabon. THey went on an outreach to Naga City using the gifts of dance God has given them, their testimonies, and the gospel, sharing Jesus Christ with every opportunity they had. It was a busy week of preparation and now we are going mobile. HOLOHOLO WE GO!

WEEK 1: MALABON: LOKAHI DTW

Now we are in the heart of Malabon. YEs we are living with the people. Where you would think sadness and hopelessness would be on all peoples faces. We saw joy in the midst of lack. In the midst of this area where most people wont even think of coming to reach out or live in. But by the grace of God the staff and students of DTS are doing it. They are sharing life with people from little babes to elderly....its an amazing sight that only GOd can make possible...if was 4 days of DTS students passing on the things they learned from outreach such as the Character and Nature of GOd, Relatinship with God, Worship, Listening to the voice of God, and Evangelism. THe highlight for me was this young people learning to recognize how God speaks to them and each one hearing personaly what God thinks of them. Beloved Son, Daughter, His princess, as well as a glimpse of His purpose for their lives and what they have in common with their God. The week ended with God showing his love for them in a very tangible way and all of the 27 young people really wanting to see God's purpose in their lives fulfilled. Then practical application as the DTW participants shared their testimonies and were took part in an open air where we got the oppotunity to pray for the barangay (village) captain of the area. No longer wanting to settle for churchianity or Sunday Christianity but choosing daily to follow him. if you want to see pictures of what we've been doing please check out our websites: http://www.myspace.com/holoholoywam or www.ywamconnect.com/sites/holoholo. There are times where getting on the web is hard so bare with us. we update as often as we possibly can.

WEEK 2: TEAM LOKAHI SPLITS

Yes, 11 of the team stayed here in Malabon continuing to come along side the church going into their community going house to house follow-ups, cell groups, open airs, tutoring, and just plain hanging out with the people we are staying with and around the area. There is never a night where we have privacy...there are people constantly around us until we close the doors of the church just to get some sleep.We know that God is ready to move in a mighty way in Malabon and we are honored to be a part of it. As for the other eleven. They went up north to Ilocos Sur. That the relationships we've built there from last year will continue to grow. They are going to be working with a lot of young people and that the churches and community there would be open to them. PRay for open door of ministry as we are still pioneering in that area.

Please pray for the Malabon team 4 staffs and 6 students living in conditions where the usual comforts are simply not there...and it is easy to get caught up in the discomforts. So pray for perseverance, focus and the heart of God for these people would be what moves us to continue doing what we are doing here. Pray also for openness to learn from the circumstances...for all of us to see beyond ourselves and keep the bigger picture in check...we are not here for us but for Him and for the people He's called us to. That we would not miss his purpose for us being here. For Ilocos Sur team, for discernment and wisdom. Not get caught up in the comforts, see the spiritual needs of Santo Tomas. Thanks

We are expectant to see God move in the miraculous!!! pray with us!

Love in Christ
Jenn

Jenn's Latest Letter

ALOHA pink bucket of death ohana just wanted to keep you posted. My apologies for not being more on it with the updates...its been a crazy 4 weeks.

Please bear with me. This is pretty long but please take sometime to sit down and read it. It's encouraging how the Lord works! It's worth reading.

6th week of DTS
It’s been a crazy 4 weeks. It all began with us going “Holoholo” (mobile) within the Philippines on an 8-hour overnight bus ride from Naga City to Manila, a 5 in the morning (20 minute) jeepney ride to a Youth With a Mission base in Antipolo. The Antipolo Training Center (ATC) was our new home for our 6th week of Discipleship Training School (DTS) joining and fellowshipping with another DTS as we learned “Inductive Bible Study” together. . The highlight for our students was the hands on bible study they got to do with others and discover the bible for themselves and the day of outreach where they were tested with their boldness in proclaiming Jesus Christ with sandwich boards and signs making the most of every opportunity they had to share the gospel with those who wanted it. The students learned to appreciate what they had at the Naga base and appreciate diversity between ministries. It was also a week of discovering gratefulness in differences and treasures in new friendships. Sadly it took until the last 3 days for the students to finally feel comfortable enough to really get past the shyness and make friends…the only regret was not starting to get to know others sooner. I on the other hand felt very much at home at the ATC being a student there for Introduction to Biblical Counseling last July through September of 2006. I had the privilege of being able to teach a sign dance “I Can Only Imagine” which I learned from friends from InterVarsity at Manoa and be a funnel of God’s imparting the heart of worship through dance not just to the DTS but also to Mildred, a friend, who has the same passion for dance as I do and was hungry for more of it. I was really blessed to be a part of that and have that time with her.

7th week of DTS
Then off we went to another base in Manila called Balut base. This was a hard week for me but it was the week I really saw God move as my strength, the One who upholds me and be real with my staff of where I was really at…broken, weak, and hurting. It was the week I felt God ask me of my family and to trust Him with my dad and my family. It was the week I learned my dad was sick for a week with Bells Palsy. The same week we merged as the “Lokahi (UNITY) DTS,” where the Hawaii side of the team joined the Philippines side of the team for the 7th week of our DTS our “Team Building Week.” Also, in God’s steadfast love and faithfulness, kept a student from being sent home because of self-centered decisions he or she made without regard for others and his/her leaders. His grace truly was sufficient for me. It was His grace that sustained me through an emotionally, mentally, spiritually, and physically draining week. This person chose that day who he/she will serve, to have witnessed this person choose God and take responsibility for his or her action was worth it all. I even saw God move for my family and me. I was released to go home by my leaders and staff yet I felt that I was to stay in the Philippines. It was confirmed when I called home and my dad though one side of his face was droopy was doing well. They said to not worry and I didn’t need to come home and they released me to stay where I was.

This week was the week where staff and students learned about spiritual warfare, working as a team, learning both to lead and follow, and doing one another’s part for the team to work as one. As a team they had 5 rules to follow, and 20 items to do and catch on picture while making the most of every opportunity to pray for others as a whole team, share the gospel with people as a team, and seeing people come to know the LORD as a team as their bonus points. They learned how easy it was to make Jesus known wherever they went. I was blessed to witness one team pray with a guy in the middle of the road, on a basketball court after sharing the gospel to him. The ultimate highlight for me was what one of the 3 teams did to do not only what was required but get their bonus points and get the angels in heaven partying like crazy. One team went to a school in Naga and asked permission from the school officials to take picture of fifty kids with their team. They went further and asked permission to share something special to the students as a team. What they did was they did a program with singing, acted out a bible story, shared the gospel message and did an altar call as a team to the fifty kids and all fifty accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior that day.

Our 8th week was on “Plumbline.” It was the week of freedom and healing from past hurts that kept their heart walled up from God and others. It was definitely a week of fighting for people through prayers. We have seen breakthroughs in the lives of students as they chose to be transparent with God and others, chose to forgive and trust God, chose to break lies and receive truth, and learning how to daily and actively apply Romans 12:2 “be transformed by the renewing of the mind.” We played a basketball game last Sunday afternoon against a village team called Santo Tomas. Thought we lost the game 96-86, we won over the village. They made us dinner and Aunty Doreen (my leader) and Luana (one of our staff) shared Christ with them at the end. Throughout the game, the girls, led by Aunty Doreen was doing all this cheer stuff. Kept the crowd buzzing along. It was crazy, the whole village was there. They didn't know whether to cheer for their village team or us. Ended up cheering for both. It was awesome. One of my personal highlights was seeing God use me in a small way to speak truth into the lives of about 4 young children, their names are Jonard, Keykai, Juliet, and another little girl. They are use to finding names to put each other down and was asking me for a name that people used to tease me so they can do it to me. I asked them to find good things about each other to say and as long as I was with them to not tease one another because we were made to lift one another up, encourage one another not tear each other down and that’s what they did for the whole time. When one of the kids did, they recognized it and corrected each other and kept themselves from putting each other down. I got to lead one session of worship too. I usually lose it because of the people but this week I wanted freedom for all of us and wanted so much to be in His presence. So from the beginning I prayed Lord, I want to worship You and I will I pray that as I do people would want to come where You are with me. It was a fight to get to the place but we got there and we felt His presence with us. Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is FREEDOM! Yay God!

We are now on our 9th week. We are seeing both staff and students challenged to put truths they’ve receive from last week put into action this week, while God takes them deeper as they learn “The Cost of Discipleship.”

This past two weeks for me has been quiet humbling. Seeing more and more of pride in my life that had kept me relying on my self, my own strength and understanding to the point where I think I’m on my own when I’m the one that placed myself in a situation where I’m doing it all on my own when I have people around to help me. With the help of my leader, I realized that I needed to renew my mind in my believing that giving staffs work is burdening them when in actuality it gives them a place in the team, worth, and authority to lead out as they take on responsibilities. It showed me that I don’t trust as much as I thought I did because I’m too busy doing things others could do and end up not doing the things I needed to do. I also deceived myself into thinking that I got where I am out of my own doing, my serving, my faithfulness, my works and realizing that it was in no way any of that but because He placed me there out of His grace, His faithfulness His love, His promises, His word and for His name. It had nothing to do with me but everything to do with Him, by Him and through Him. I was also reminded that grace is to be given as much as it has been given me or until He says His grace is lifted. I cannot judge or expect more than what God asks of them (the students) as I was once where they were others learn quickly others takes a lot more time and I need to deal with people according to where they are at with the Lord and not my own expectation of where they should be or where I think they should be. I am learning a lot about surrendering control and truly trusting God who is worthy of trust. It is a daily dying for me. A daily surrendering of control and of self-reliance and choosing to trust God and trust the people He has entrusted. A daily asking of God how do I walk out trusting you today? The answer for me is trust your brothers and sisters. Not as easy as it sounds…but if God asks of it, He enables me and makes it possible. That’s where I’m at! In the midst of all this, I can still smile and smile at the days to come and only by His grace!

Coming up!
We are doing a camp for high school kids from April 2 to the 4th and preparing to do ministry with a team of 20 coming from Hong Kong. Then one more week of teaching and off we go for outreach continuing to build the relationships we built last year in Malabon and Ilocos Sur. Then to Thailand and Malaysia we go.

I would like to thank you for your prayers and partnership in the Gospel. Rest assured that my mission here is also yours. I appreciate all your love, prayers, encouragements, e-mails, care packages and financial support that you have invested in me in the past years. Again thank you for your friendship and trust. I do hope that this update has encouraged you too. Please keep me up to date with what’s going on with you. You are also in my prayers! God bless you in return.

By God's Grace,
Jenn

Aya's Coming Home

From Amber's TXT:
Aya got a job at Kapiolani Med,Peds ICU and is coming hm the last Sun or Mon of March!! James is visiting in April and coming hm in late May!! YEY!!!!!

Ring Ring

I'm sure all of you got Amber's text message tonight:

"Just wanted 2 let u know I have 'call tone' so when u call me u will hear a song while my ph is ringing. YEY!! "

My response?

"It better not be Secret Lovers."

*Shudder*.

James Kwong's Brother

I was at a worship service in Northridge, CA on Sunday. I say this guy on the worship team is James Kwong's brother. I wonder if he went to PU-NA-HOU!