“Remember this:  Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously…  As it is written:  ‘He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.’”  2 Corinthians 9:6, 9

April 25, 2009

Dear Family and Friends,

Last Night Nate Conducted many students in the K-12 spring music concert “Musical Delights.”  This year God provided another elementary music teacher, so Nate has focused more on the middle school bands and on building a music program into the high school.  It was lovely to hear the bands playing so skillfully, and they even received a standing ovation for the last song.  The high school jazz band played several hits, and Nate even joined them on trumpet—Go Mr. Becker!  I had a fabulous time accompanying the high school vocal music class while Nate conducted them (some of my former students are so fun to work with again!).  Altogether it was a wonderful evening of music and giving our gifts and praise back to the Lord!

God Has Indeed Scattered Abroad His Gifts to the Poor!  It has been exciting to be a part of filtering God’s provisions to several families here in the Philippines.  Today I visited Lin-Lin and her five kids, the same widow I wrote to you about in October.  Before when I went to visit her I kept noticing the poor conditions she was living in.  The floor was sand from the beach, the room was a curtain, there was no window or door, no water, no sink, no strong support beams and no ceiling.  We prayed for God’s provisions, and He answered us recently through some generous Christians abroad!  Praise the Lord for all the renovations we were able to help Lin-Lin with so that her house is much better.  Please visit our blog to see tons of great “after” pictures!

God Also Sent His Gracious Provisions to Sister #12—the last sister in our Bible study, who was adopted by some Canadians in November.  The money arrived and the plans were laid; the title to the land was signed to her, the materials purchased and the building for her new house began the week of Easter!  Before, she was living in a rented “house” with one room, and she was sharing the one mattress with her four other family members plus a relative.  Now, she has a two-story house with three rooms upstairs, a terrace, a private matrimonial room and C.R. (comfort room) on the first floor and her own kitchen and living area!  Praise the Lord for the generosity of the Canadian sisters and their husbands, and praise the Lord for graciously giving Ate Jean this blessing, an answer to prayer.  Please visit our blog to see the building in progress.

The First-Ever Library Is Also Finished in the poor neighborhood near where we live.  Last year we wrote to you about our vision and our need to collect books.  In this area the people have no access to a library and no money to buy books.  When I was little I wrote in a journal that I wanted to be a librarian someday, so now God has made me into a lady who builds libraries!  We collected several great children’s books from generous donors in the U.S. while we were there; we shipped them; we organized them and prepared them with a check-out system, and we waited for the money to build a place to put them.  God has recently provided yet again so that just last week the shelves were built and the library is ready.  We are planning a reading club and hopefully a Bible story time so kids can learn about Jesus through the library outreach.  Praise the Lord for all the people who donated books and for the people who gave money to build the library.  Pray that God will use the library for His glory to help people learn more and especially about Him.  Guess what, there are pictures on the blog of the library too!

Please Visit Our Blog to see Pictures!  A picture is worth a thousand words.  This is the one email that I really think you would learn more from if you saw the pictures.  Now is the time: www.jessicanatebecker.blogspot.com.

Personal News:  My parents are coming to visit on May 5th!  We are so excited and can hardly wait for their second visit to the Philippines.  They will be here in time for Elijah’s first birthday.  Please pray for their safe travel and a blessed trip with us.  We are also thankful that the Becker Baby #2 is growing so well and beginning to pop out of my little belly.  I can feel the baby kicking inside and am now 20 weeks along.  Elijah is almost weaned, so even though it is hard to separate from those bonding times, it will be good for my body to prepare for another little life.  Please pray for a continued healthy pregnancy, safe delivery and healthy baby in September (Lord-willing).

Whew!  This Was a Long One!  I hope you had time to make it through this one.  Just imagine, these are only pieces of the many things we have experienced recently and have witnessed God doing.  Thank you for your interest, for sharing in our ministry and for your prayers for us.

All for Jesus,
Nate, Jessica and Elijah Becker

*Check our blog for pictures and updates:
www.jessicanatebecker.blogspot.com

PRAISES:

• For a great spring music concert and for the lives of the students God has been working in through music.
• For God’s provisions for the poor through gifts from abroad:
• The widow, Lin-Lin, new house repairs
• Sister #12, Ate Jean’s new house
• The new library for the poor
• For the upcoming visit of my parents May 5th
• For Elijah’s first year—very healthy—and for a great pregnancy so far (20 weeks)

PRAYER REQUESTS:

• Pray that we will continue to follow Christ faithfully and grow our roots down into him, overflowing with thankfulness
• Pray for Lin-Lin and her kids to grow in their relationship with Christ and to have the daily food they need
• Pray for the poor that we know here who are learning to trust God, and for wisdom as we facilitate the gifts of many people abroad
• Pray for a safe trip for my parents and a blessed time together
• Pray for the healthy growth and delivery of Becker Baby #2 due 09/09/09!

Contact Info:
Nate and Jessica Becker
P.O. Box 81439
8000 Davao City
Philippines

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Financial Partnership:  write a note for the ministry of Nate and Jessica Becker (account #210-886)
In USA make checks payable to: Wycliffe Bible Translators; P.O. Box 628200; Orlando, FL 32862-8200
In CANADA make checks payable to:  Wycliffe Bible Translators; 4316 10th St. NE; Calgary, AB; T2E 6K3
You may also call 1-800-WYCLIFFE or visit www.wycliffe.org/give (USA) or www.wycliffe.ca/donate (Canada) to set up automatic payments.

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