Home

Very glad to be back with my wife and four girls, it is always a wonderful moment coming into the receiving area of the airport after a 30+ hour day of travel (12 hr time diff.) and seeing those little ones jumping up and down because Daddy is home.


The truth is that this was the hardest time I have ever had leaving the Philippines. I would much rather have preferred to see my wife and kids getting off at the Manila Int'l Airport instead. I expected these feelings to some extent as every visit has made me yearn more and more to be there full time but I truly felt overwhelmed by the need that is there, the lack of laborers, the abundance of souls at every turn and the open doors that abound in just about any arena in which the Lord would lead you to minister. We look forward to the growth, learning and relationships to be established in the months ahead on deputation but when time is short, the work is great and the need is immediate - there is a strong desire to be able to just go now.


I have not visited a place in the Philippines that was just saturated with the gospel - where anyone could say - "ya know brother, we have this pretty well under control, the streets are preached on, the doors are all canvased, there are solid churches within close travel distance for these people, the jails are covered, the schools are taught in steadily, the new believers are being effectively discipled and nationals are being trained and sent out. Not in Cavite, not in Makati, not in Manila city, not in Cebu City, not in La Loma, not in Batongas, not in Quezon City, not in Novaliches, not in Mandaluyong City, not in Muntilupa city have I seen even a fair sprinkle of baptist works for the droves of people that inhabit these areas. I would not say that any of these areas have absolutely no works or witnesses - I do know of some and praise the Lord for what they are doing and I certainly dont know everything that is going on by any stretch of the imagination (everybody say Amen now :). I do know this, the Christians I have worked with all speak of the incredible need and overwhelming population to be reached, they all speak of how there are open doors here, here, here and here but there are only so many of them to do the work and only so much time to go around. Pray therefore the Lord of the harvest...



I was amazed this trip when I was introduced to a couple places that I never would have expected to find an abundance of people.

1) the Manila north cemetary - The largest cemetary in the Philippines. It was one procession after another lined up this afternoon we went there.

But it is not just funeral traffic. This cemetary is HOME to MANY, MANY people - they live in the cemetary, sleep next to the cement enclosed coffins and cook, do laundry, sell their wares etc inside this monstrous facility. Their is a huge wall that goes on forever along the road next to the cemetary and as we walked along it to get to the gate we could see people climbing the wall and jumping over.
Child asleep outside of a burial place in the cemetary


Here you can see how these little memorial spaces are mad into homes.
Kids playing in their "neighborhood". There is a group that comes in and holds an extension class on Saturdays here in the cemetary. Praise the Lord. Could there be a more appropriate place to talk of the certainty of death and the hope of eternal life through Christ.

2) Sunday, after preaching at New Bilibid prison, we caught a motor-trike and then a bus to LaLoma. When we arrived, it was nearly time for those who go out on the Jeepney routes to pick up people - they go get kids/adults in the afternoon and bring them to the evening service. As we walked to what looked like a few living spaces and businesses in a plaza type setup we walked through a narrow corridor through to the back of this plaza.Upon coming out the other side I was amazed to see a huge community of people - hundreds of kids running around playing in the mud, climbing on things or playing basketball.



I had no idea this place was even there as it is not visible from the road.
As you can see, gathering a crowd is very easy when you are an American, a giant, have a camera and smile!

nothing like basketball in a shirt and tie at about 85 degrees, amen?

While we had alot of un, the situation is serious - both in the states and in the Philippines.

This isnt about tribal peoples specifically, it isnt about being sure that a person is going just to an area that has never been engaged (although this is vital work and I believe something God would have us be a part of in the mountain regions in the future), this is not just about people groups, it is about God's will and God's will concerns people. Every one a soul for whom Christ died, a soul whom Christ desires to be saved, a soul that will spend all of eternity somewhere, a soul that God deserves the glory due upon their conversion. Many churches here in the states likely have a thumb tack for the Philippines on their map, a few prob have one for Metro Manila. The city is 12 million in population - swelling to 18million during the day - the country - close to 1,000 inhabited islands, 91 million souls and a high population increase rate. The government just reported that more that 27.6 million live in poverty (by Philippine government standards - not US standards). There are 500,000 souls in jails or prisons in the country. The bulk of the population are youth under 25. Only 2.8 percent of the country is considered evangelical (consider what that may include). Catholicism has a strong foothold everywhere.


The need is incredible and the opportunites seem endless. If invested in with laborers, churches, Bible schools and the facilitation for sending nationals out, I do believe that multiplication of witnesses can take place to reach the country and be an ever growing presence as a sending agent to the unreached in Asia and the world. It is happening to some extent in some places and surely we alone will not be the difference - but God can do above all that we can think or imagine so I will think as big as I can and pray for God to exceed those expectations for His Glory. You can see from the group above that gathering a crowd to talk to about Christ is not difficult. I praise the Lord that I am a giant in this land if for no other reason than that people want to say they stood next to a giant and only came up to his elbow or whatever. If God allows that to be the means of them hearing about Christ then, praise Him - I will be a fool for Christ if he gets glory and they get the gospel, amen?

We believe strongly that God has intentions for us to be a part of training and sending nationals to unreached tribal areas in the north and Lord willing elsewhere but when you walk the streets for hours and see the abundance of people - when you blow through your 500 or 1000 tracts in an hour or two, when you see overcrowed jails, schools, squatter areas, neighborhoods, malls, streets and villages - your compassion for their soul is not rooted in the question of "is there at least one baptist work in this city" - it is more - has this child heard, has this man or this woman heard...

This is a burden that we all must seek God to increase our zeal for no matter where we are. We ought not be content with status quo because God is not (1 cor 15:34) - hordes of people around us and around the world have not so much as a gospel tract presented to them once in a while. You should see how humbly these brothers and sisters live, every peso they have is invested into transportation fare so they can get to another jail to preach another message...it always challenges me on what God's true intentions for stewardship is for us...

I am grateful to be a 6'8"american going to a country where basketball is the favorite sport and the average height (according to some chart on Wikipedia anyway) is 5'4" for a man and 4'11" for a woman allows me to gather a crowd of children and adults alike with little difficulty. I am eager to have a grasp of the language so that those fun moments of people wanting to measure themselves up to me or shake my hand could become more effective chances to transition to the gospel - perhaps with a story of how it was not the men of stature that were impressive to God (Saul, Goliath) but...


Thanks to all for the prayer regarding the trip. Can I plead with you now to pray for

• The Rock of Ages Staff in Manila
Little Betsy with Brother Jun, Sister Joyce, Sister Virge (with kids - Jon and Cameel), Sis. Yolli, Bro. Jack, Sis. Nanette (edited into the pic) and Sis. Jemma. They are a blessing and can use prayer. There is tremendous spiritual warfare in the jails and in the perception that jail ministry often receives. Support, encouragement and good health in these very unsanitary jails would be good ways to pray in addition to being Spirit led and for souls to be saved.

• For the Putney family - that we would be well prayed and prepared for the months ahead, that God would lead us to the churches He would have us be at, that He would be glorified and that His people would be moved concerning the need in this land and that as soon as God sees fit that we would be able to get there.
• For the Philippines

There are many other testimonies and thoughts regarding this trip - perhaps another day. Thanks so much for praying. First and most importantly, we saw a number of people respond to the gospel - pray that they fully understood and will grow in Christ. My family was safe and healthy here, I was able to do my job with the energy and dedication needed, i learned many new things, was blessed to have a part in ministry at jail, prison, streets and church and was encouraged by and Lord willing an encouragement to my dear friends in the ministry there.

All glory to the Lord Jesus Christ for hearing and answering your prayers and allowing even the most most unworthy to be used in His service. He pdovided the means, the messages and the motivation.

Update - 3/15

It truly has been a blessing to be back in the Philippine Islands the last couple of weeks although at the cost of my wife having a doubled workload at home. If I could, I would send for my wife and my kids and just stay here now. There truly is so much to do. As I returned to Manila City jail for the first time since '05 the other day I was again amazed at all God has allowed me to see and be a part of in these four trips. As this is likely my last time coming over here for the company, it was a time of coming full circle in some ways. The morning after arriving in Manila the first time - in November of 05 - it was Bro. Jun Monderin that met me at the hotel and took me to Manila City Jail for the first time. I remember like yesterday the smell as we approached, the heat, the sanitation, the overpopulation, the details I was learning about the food alotment for the inmates etc. Nothing has changed in those areas except I find that this time around I see it, smell it and assess it so much differently then I did three years ago. Since then I have been in multiple jails and prisons both in the Philippines and in the states and God has consistently given me an added burden for declaring His glory to the filipino people. When I went in this time we held the meeting outside of dorm 10 - a female dorm that houses 300 women - in one room - with one toilet, which is right next to its one shower - the accommodations have not changed but ya know what has - the inmates! Praise God, it was awesome to preach to these women and hear them respond and watch their attention and reaction to the word of God. God has been working in this place in great ways. The Lord worked in many lives and we saw a number respond to the gospel! As I listened to Sister Joyce better explain the message in Tagalog (understanding practically nothing), I was encouraged to see the compassion and the burden that she and the other servants to the jails have.
We have had a great time with the jail ministry, at the church, on the street and just in fellowshipping with my brothers and sisters. I had the privilege of taking the prison ministry staff out to dinner where we shared testimonies, family moments and praises for what God is doing. Looking forward to going back to New Bilibid prison on Sunday before leaving on Monday.

While I desire greatly to get home to my family - it is also heartbreaking to leave this land and its immediate need. We praise God that He is bringing us back here for good and we acknowledge all that we need to learn and grow through while preparing for the field.
Thanks for all you prayers. Maraming Salamat Po.

Pray for the Philippines

Trip update

Havent done a great job of posting updates of the trip thus far.

For time sake I will do this in the form of some bullet point thoughts/facts/observations/requests

• Interesting that 2 years in a row Rochester got hit with a storm while I was gone. That doesn't bode well for you Rochestarians once we move here :)


• Bro. Jun and Sister Joyce spent the last few days traveling to Bocolod to see her family and have some meetings while there to try to pick up some support. They just returned - safe and tired (22 hour boat ride plus the land transportation)


• Pray for their support so they can continue and expand their ministry


• Their are 44 jails in the National Capital Region (Metro Manila) - Plus New Bilibid Prison (30,000 inmates there alone) - they have works in the Prison and 6 of the jails. They had to temporarily abandon a couple other works they began because of transportation costs and logistical issues. It really takes so little to support such a national family relatively speaking and with their love for Christ and faithfulness in ministry, there are few better investments in the cause of the gospel.


• Pray that more laborers and support would be raised so the rest of these jails can be reached with the true gospel of Christ.


• Pray that local churches here in Manila would get more involved in supporting and participating in this ministry so these inmates could be discipled effectively, held acocuntable and then have a church willing to support and encourage them on release - you might expect that this undertaking is not always met with the most enthusiastic of responses.


• Other requests - Preaching tonight at LaLoma Baptist


• Tomorrow to women inmates at Manila City Jail


• Friday - New Bilibid prison - not sure what is on the agenda yet for Saturday and Sunday


• Leave on Monday - safety in travel


• My family - prayer for endurance and encouragement - the 4 girls keep both of us busy - Steph has her hands full by herself!


• Spent a great day Sunday with Bro. Jack and Sister Nanette (siblings) at LaLoma


• We spent the afternooon walking through Manila North cemetary - this was eye opening. It is the largest cemetary in the Philippines - it is enormous and you would get lost in it very easily. The crowd of people there was staggering, there were some funeral processions but the the truth of the matter is that many, many people live in the cemetary - including families with small kids. Every Saturday morning, Nanette (if she is not at the jail that day) and her Sister go with a group to this cemetary and hold extension classes with the kids (like sunday school). Praise the Lord that while physical resurrections are not happening there - spiritual ones are!


• Since I have been on my own for a few days here I have spent alot of time burning through the tracts I stuffed in my suitcase. I have had more people refuse this time around than in times past being in a more affluent business area near the hotel but they still go quite quickly.


• Realized that I have a LONG way to go with Tagalog - the one encouragement is that it only takes a little to build a rapport with people and in this area they speak English quite well. The one compliment I have received is that my pronunciation is better than they hear from many foreigners - I owe that to Rosetta Stone software (advertising plug)
• Many will be surprised to know that I have not taken pictures. I have very few thusfar and with not being able to bring them to the jails/prison - I am not likely to get many now.

I truly appreciate your prayer and support as does our family. God has blessed this trip thusfar and once again I have been placed in different circumstances, around different people and learned new things about the culture, the people, the need, ministry, myself and new and exciting ways that the Lord can work if only we will ask. No time to add more now but probably upon return I will add more testimonies.

Salamat, Inggot, Paalom - thank you, take care and goodbye

Pray for the Philippines

Leaving soon

Its about time to go, I will be flying out Sat morning.

Psa 113:4-8
4 - The LORD is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens.
5 - Who is like unto the LORD our God, who dwelleth on high,
6 - Who humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven, and in the earth!
7 - He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth the needy out of the dunghill;
8 - That he may set him with princes, even with the princes of his people.

We serve a great Saviour, high above all nations, worthy of all praise and honour and glory. He has to humble himself to look at us and yet He humbled Himself to become like us and and be crucified by and for us. What love and what mercy that He would lift us up out of the dunghill of sin and wickedness and allow us to be a joint-heir with Christ, a child of God, part of His family and give us access to His throne room.

Since it will be a busy schedule I wanted to post some prayer requests and ask if you would join me in asking the Lord to accomplish His will in these areas regarding the trip.

The agenda right now is to work with my friends - Bro. Jun Monderin and Sister Joyce Monderin in their Jail ministry. We will be preaching through the two weeks at various city jails in the Manila region as well as one of the local churches.

1) That souls would be impacted. I was reminded last night in a message of all the evil that is becoming legalized in NY and how further legislation is working its way through to open the floodgates of abortion, homosexuality and gambling even more. It is vital that there are watchmen who are standing against this and yet the key to remember is exactly what the preacher said - they are souls for whom Christ died. No matter the person, no matter the sin - Christ died for them. My sin was just as vile and only the blood could help. If we could rid the world of laws that allow these wicked sins it would make no difference if the perpetrators still die in their sin. God forbid we ever be satisfied with letting people go to hell so long as they dont committ the sins that are most grievous to us.
Pray that these inmates in the Philippines as well as those on the streets will be receptive to the Gospel - if even one soul were saved, it would be worth any physical, financial or emotional toll we could ever endure in the process.
2) That Jun and Joyce would be encouraged and refreshed. These are dear servants of our Jesus, they have given up professional careers to preach to the imprisoned masses of the Philippines - pray they would be blessed and recharged through fellowship and prayer. Pray also for their financial needs, they need to raise some additional support to fund their ministry as they have added multiple new jails recently.
3) For my family. This by far in the hardest part of travel for me and them - not being there to love and help. That Steph would have energy and wisdom and that my four little girls would get through this time without daddy being home. May God's abundant grace be poured out on them all through these weeks.
4) For strength, clarity of thought and God's leading for me. That i would preach what God would have me to, that I would be a testimony in the workplace and do above the expectation of my company while working and that I would get to know and love God more than I ever have during this time.
5) For victory over the tremendous temptations and sinful influences around the prisoners who have been saved. That they would grow in grace and would submit to God's will. God certainly can hear prayer through the bars of a prison - would that these men would be prayer warriors for the cause of missions around the world and reach their fellow inmates for Christ.
6) That I would progress in learning the culture and other considerations in preparation for our transition over there full time in the future.

We appreciate your prayer very much!

The Lord opens the door...Again!

We serve an amazing God!

As many of you know, I am still employed at a major company that has sent me on 3 trips to the Philippines in the past. God has used these trips to show me the need for the gospel there and the amazing open doors that are just waiting on labourers. He has used these trips to direct our paths to serve Him as missionaries in this country and also allowed these weeks over there to establish great relationships with families that have become dear friends and mentors.


With deputation just about to start - (our first missions conference just over a month away) and the anticipation of leaving the company in the not so distant future, I thought my free missions trips were over... Not so fast!

I was told last friday that there is a window for me to go back for training for 2 weeks starting March 1st - praise the Lord! Just today I had permisision to book the trip and begin preparations. The timing really is outstanding o go back one more time before getting into the upcoming meeting schedule. My heart has desired to get back there since I returned last February - it is amazing to think that this is the 4th consecutive year that I will be able to spend 2 weeks in the land of our calling with the provision coming totally of God!


My line of work is in call centers and so those I train work overnight shifts since they support US customers - this allows for me to work at night and minister by day. God has supernaturally helped me on the 3 previous trips with very little sleep and has always been so good to my family while I am gone. I do not take this for granted and know that the prayers of my brothers and sisters have been a major reason in God showing His mercy in these areas - so I am asking again.


We would appreciate your prayer that God would be glorified, my work would be better than the company would even expect, that the doors to minister will be open, that my family would enjoy good health and peace while I am away and that God would teach me more about Him and His plan for us in this country.

As the Lord allows I will update the blog and hopefully add some pictures when I can. Your prayer is greatly appreciated. I will leave March 1 and return on the 17th.

For the glory of His name,

aaron