This year my birthday proved to be very different but fun. I went to Manila with Pastor Travis to pick up a visiting pastor from the States. Manila has changed so much since the time I was a boy running the streets. It has continued to expand with new buildings and people looking for work. A lot has changed in my own life since I lived there. I have returned to this country with the good news of Christ. Many people look at me and my family and ask why…why would I ever want to leave the U.S. to live in the Philippines. What a great opportunity to share what has drastically changed my life! What an encouragement to see seeds of the Gospel planted in the lives of these people!
Route Blessings
Several months have passed since we first invited our landlord and her workers to come to church. For the first time this past Sunday a young girl who helps our landlord finally came! She’s a nice girl, who like many young people here in the Philippines comes from a poor home. She can’t even read or write but yet she always has a smile. We were so excited to have her visit our church! After the service she was given a clear presentation of the Gospel and asked the Lord to save her soul! Please pray for Gessa, that she would keep coming to church and grow in her new-found faith!
Our Baby Boy!
Our baby boy, Micah Christopher Baran, was finally born! He came into the world early Sunday morning on January 20, 2013. This birth story provided a little extra excitement for us as January 20th marked a special holiday in the Philippines. The roads around the hospi
tal are shut down to make way for the parades and festivities that go on throughout the day. Because of this an ambulance took us to our hospital and not a moment too soon, just two hours later our little man was born! Weighing in at 7lbs. and 10 oz., Micah was very healthy and just one day past his due date . Our thanks go out to everyone who prayed and sent well wishes! We thank the Lord for this second gift, our little man!
Family in Cebu
We are so excited to have Pastor & Mrs. Troy
er from Greenville, Pa here in Cebu. It was a blessing to see the Lord provide their way to be here as we anticipate Micah’s birth. In the midst of a new culture, my wife is especially glad to have the support of her family as we prepare for the coming baby. During their stay we have been able to show them the ministry here at North Cebu Baptist Church and the many outreaches the church is involved in. My brother-in-law was brave enough to try a trademark dish of the Philippines–Balot! The infamous fertilized chicken egg throws you off with its crunchy but juicy texture. We had fun showing the Filipino delicacy to him. I have really enjoyed introducing my in-laws to a completely different way of living and also the people we are working with!