I booked a flight from Manila to SFO last March 28th, but it got derailed because when I looked at my passport, it expired last March 18! I went to the U. S. Embassy last Tuesday (March 25), but my petition for an emergency passport was denied on the ground that my trip wasn’t a “life-and-death” situation. I quote the consular officer verbatim, “This may be ‘life-and-death’ spiritually, but not physically”! Now I have to wait maybe two-three weeks to get it processed. So here I am waiting…

Trinity URC (Walnut Creek) will have a congregational meeting next Sunday, April 6, to decide on my call to be ordained as a missionary-pastor to the Philippines. My official position is as Associate Pastor of the church, so Trinity URC will have spiritual oversight over me and my work as church planter and teacher, but I’ll also be administered by Action International Ministries as one of their personnel.

During Trinity URC’s congregational meeting, they’ll discuss both my work and my budget proposal. Our existing support is vital in continuing our mission here in the Philippines, so I’m writing you and all our friends and supporters to see if you will still continue supporting us in our new mission. We’ll send you a note when we’re officially members of ACTION.

Also, because of this delay, my plan to attend ACTION’s orientation in Seattle on April 8-12 will also have to wait till the next orientation in September, when I return to California for Oliver’s wedding.

I’ll keep you posted on my arrival. I plan to stay until May 26, and it will be a pleasure to see you while I’m there. Send me a note if you want to do lunch or dinner, or even coffee.

Update on Oliver: Please pray for Oliver as he begins a new chapter in his life as a trainee at the Los Angeles Police Academy.