Tag Archives: Birthday

Elizabeth Baran

 September 28th marked Elizabeth’s second birthday since we moved to the Philippines.  It has been a blessing to see how well she has adjusted to living here. She is learning the language and starting to feel brave enough to use what she knows. People are shocked when they hear her say something in Cebuano. Cebu is one of the top ten tourist destinations in the world so a lot of foreigners come and go and never really speak Cebuano. So when Elizabeth speaks, people are very curious why she is learning their language. I am very thankful for Elizabeth’s willingness to be a missionary’s wife, so far from home, in a land that is very different from her own. Happy Birthday sweetheart!

We had fun celebrating our baby girl’s second birthday!  I can hardly believe she’s a toddler!  These days she is quite the chatterbox and sings just about everywhere she goes.  She has taken the three languages she hears around her, English, Cebuano, and Tagolog and has made it one.  The people at church regularly ask her if she is Filipino or American on that particular day because of all the different words she uses.  Little Abbie loves to go with me on Saturdays and watch as we do Backyard Bible Schools with the neighborhood children.   We pray the Lord gives us wisdom as her parents to nurture her sweet spirit and that she’ll get saved at an early age!  We are so blessed to have this energetic little one in our lives!

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!

This past Friday we celebrated my wife’s birthday!  Her first birthday in our new home.  It has been a blessing to see the Lord provide for both our needs and even our desires.  My wife loves classical music and even though there’s no orchestra here in Cebu I was able to take her to a restaurant where a small group plays beautiful music.  We had no sooner sat down when they started to play Elizabeth’s favorite song.  I was surprised to see tears in her eyes but I could tell they were happy tears.  I guess I did good!  :)  In a time when she was missing her family and friends the Lord blessed her and made her birthday even more special.  It may seem simple but to my wife it was a sweet blessing.  I am thankful for my wife and best friend! Happy birthday dear!