But God Knows

United States, Philippines, Canada, Australia, Russia, Singapore, Luxembourg, Belgium, Malaysia, Guam, Jordan, Macedonia [FYROM], United Kingdom, Germany, Poland, China, Hong Kong, India, Nepal, Denmark, United Arab Emirates, Italy, Israel, South Africa, Lebanon, Mozambique, Ukraine, Hungary, Romania, and Mexico.

Look at where this blog has been read from. I don't even know where some of these places are.  Maybe some were just surfing the web and stumbled upon it, maybe some heard about it from a friend.  Some were traveling and keeping track of loved ones working on the project.  No matter what the reason this just like every other project that goes on throughout the world is a global project with an eternal purpose.  We thank all that have read this and that have touched this project and left your finger print.  Let it be by praying, money, letting a loved one go work, or sweating on the work site. We are encouraged by what has taken place here in Balangao. 

There were names added to the book in heaven because of this project,  I can only imagine, But God Knows. The work is done on the building, but the work is continuing on the translations.  How many people will travel from Balangao and this region and spread Gods love? Only God knows and many we will never hear about, But God Knows.  Some we will talk to, some we will not, But God Knows.  We don’t know all the ways that people helped with the building, But God Knows.  We don’t know all the ways some have helped with the New Testament translation in years past, But God Knows.  We don’t know how many people will help with the Old Testament translation in small or large ways, But God Knows.  Thanks to all the people that have gotten the project to this point, we might not have named you in the blog, But God Knows.  Thanks to all the people that will help finish the project, we don’t know you by name yet, But God Knows.

Praise God from whom all Blessing flow.   

The Celebration in early July

A day Building...with God you can move mountains

Greetings to all! And praise be to God! By His power, and provision the Bible translation office in now completed. The past several days have been very busy for the team. Lots of details needed to come together to finish. By God’s grace we actually finished several days ahead of schedule. Over the past few days, we completed plumbing, painted second coats of paint on interior and exterior walls, finished retaining walls, landscaping, exterior trim was finished, kitchen cabinet was installed, and today we cleaned up the project site, organized our tools, and packed them up for the 5 hour trip back to Bagabag in the morning, then on to Manila Saturday. Today we all shared lunch together that Grace and Joanne prepared. As Kyle, Robinson, and I reflected on the whole project, the first thing that came to mind was; that it is not about a building, but about the Word of God. Specifically the Word of God that has the power to change lives. We reminisced about arriving and getting!
  Our first look at the building site. I remember saying to the Lord, this is going to be hard work to build this on the side of a mountain, but with your strength we can do this. We have been blessed to be part of this project from the first shovel of dirt, to the last look back as we walked away, amazed at what God has done. The real work continues; Bible translation! That is the work that transforms lives through the written Word of God. Our lives have been impacted through this experience, relationships were stretched at times, as cultures worked side by side, but our lives were changed for the better through this experience. We can now say we have friends, more importantly, brothers and sisters in Christ here in Balangao.  Thank you for being a part of this great work of Bible Translation.  Some gave, some prayed and some worked.  My challenge to you is this, will you now continue to pray for the ongoing work here in Balangao!
Sincerely in Christ,
              Daryl & the team

The team at the front door of the office.

The office looking back up the hill with the new steps and the church in the back ground

A look back - this was day 2

The "keys" are handed over

Last look back with Grace looking back at us. 
Next up celebrating Gods great work!

A day Building...Jack of all trades

Here is the Monday update,
Progress continues on the translation office. Saturday the team tiled the bathroom, finished painting, cleaning up some of our mess, and moved some stone around the perimeter of the building. Monday the bathroom tile was grouted, Kitchen cabinet installed, and painted. In the afternoon the Formica counter top was glued on and sink installed. The plumbing for water was pressure tested, two fittings were found to leak, and were repaired. Some concrete caps were formed and poured for the septic, and water shut off. Some of the guys worked on the stone wall, and improvements were made for better ground drainage. Some final fitting continues on the rain gutters, downspouts and drains.
All in all it was a very busy weekend and day, thanks for continuing to pray for the team!
The Balangao Team!

A day Building...connecting to the city(water)

The team painted a second coat of primer on the outside of the building. We got a good start on the plumbing. There was a little excitement when the local guy with the large capacity pipe wrench showed up to do our hook up to the local water main. During the reconnect he stripped the threads on the union connector, and no one was sure if there was another one here locally. Sometime later another guy showed up with a new one, and the repair was made. Secondary steps were formed and poured today. Gutters are now up on one side of the building, and should be nearly completed tomorrow.
Thanks for all the prayers and Praise God for all that has been completed on the building and in the community.

Kyle has a lot of help, check out the stone wall in the back ground.

Connecting to the water main

The Balangao translation ladies are washing and waxing
the floor in excited anticipation of using their new office

A day Building...Steps and walls

Today the team poured the concrete for the entry sidewalk, painted trim, painted primer on the outside of the building. The rain slowed us down from time to time, and we had to stop and cover our concrete, and wait it out inside the building. Everything is moving steadily forward, some days seem to progress faster than others, but by the end of the day we see the goal just a little bit closer.
Thanks for praying!

A day Building...Playing with fire and water

Today the team concentrated on a number of projects at the building site. All of the windows are now installed, 90% of the trim is complete, the interior paint is now complete, except for some touch up in places. Daryl and Kyle started on plumbing today, as well as a sidewalk from the hillside steps to the front entry. The French drain is now finished. The team anticipates starting on the rain gutters next, pouring concrete for the sidewalk, and continuing with the plumbing.
Thanks for praying!

Daryl heating plastic pipe to fit over bushing,
not exactly the way we might do it at home, but sometimes a little fire,
and a sharpened stick for an expanding reamer gets the job done.

The team ran plastic pipe for the 130’ run down the hill
from the water main to the shut off near the bathroom,
then around to the front of the building to the kitchen area.

Kyle drilling through the concrete wall to install water lines to the kitchen sink.

Just a note to all who have a smart phone or Ipod, Ipad, Iphone,  and Ianythingelse.  I turned on a mobile format now.  This can be view nicely on mobile devices now. Still browse to balangao.blogspot.com.  Let me know if it is OK or not.

Brad

A day Building...Paint and doors A test run for the Helicopter

Today the team focused on painting, window trim, installing louvered windows, preparations for the gutter installation, installing the French drain behind the building, and running the water supply line from the main behind the church. Things are going well, and everyone is really focused on finishing at this point in the project. We want to thank all of you for lifting us up in prayer. The heat is overwhelming at times, sometimes a shower at noon and a change of clothes help get us through the rest of the day. Our Balangao team mates are sure a great bunch of guys, their help, and teamwork has been a tremendous blessing as we labor together.

Thanks for the prayers!
The Balangao Team

Preparing to hang interior doors.

New Tribes Helicopter came for a helipad check out today.
 (Translation office in background)

Finished paint, trim, and window.

A day Building...plugs and walls, paint and lights

The team made great progress on Saturday The interior walls were framed and sheeted, even a primer coat was finished on some of the walls. The light switches and outlets were installed. The ceilings got their final coat of paint, and lights were hung throughout the office. On Sunday the team rested and took a sort hike to take in some of the local views of the mountains.
Monday the team members will work on hanging doors on the offices, starting work on rain gutters, and French drain. The team will also continue with painting, If time allows some plumbing work may begin.
Please pray for the busy week ahead, the team is getting down to the final two weeks to complete on schedule, there is still much to do. Give thanks to God for the progress and safety that he has granted. Pray for Daryl, Kyle and Robinson and there family's as they work to complete this project. Give thanks for Grace, Joanne, and Robyn and the willingness to be an anchor in Balangao.

Daryl working on the electric wiring and plugs

Grace painting the interior walls

Kyle and Daryl framing and installing interior walls

Robinson and Grace painting, look at the new lights!

A day Building...framing walls

The team has been making steady progress on many of the building details. Today Daryl and Kyle framed up the interior walls, Hung a couple of lights, Finished installing the door hardware. Put a second coat of caulking on the ceilings, painted the ceilings, and finished sanding the window casings. We are now able to lock our tools and building materials in the new building; that makes things a bit easier now that we don’t have to haul everything up and down the hill each day.
We want to thank each of you who have been praying each day as we press forward!
The Balangao Team!

A day Building...Door to open and windows to look out

Daryl, Kyle, Robinson, Grace, Joann, and three of the Balangao men finished installing the ceiling, worked on stuccoing the exterior walls, sanding the window jams, and hanging the front door.

It was a busy day for all, but we felt like we made a huge step forward by the end of the day. Tomorrow the team will caulk the ceiling, and seams, start digging for the French drain behind the building, put primer on the window jams, and install the front door hardware, in addition there needs to be some cleanup inside before we start with the interior walls.

Thanks to everyone for praying!

Daryl setting the hinges for the front door

Robinson and Grace sanding the window jams

The Balangao men stuccoing the exterior walls around the security bars



North side looking East



East wall

Looking north at the south wall

A day Building...Watch for falling Rock

With Bob and Linda returning home Kyle is going to be sending updates again.  They are going to need our prayers and emails for support.


Daryl and kyle made a resupply trip to Solano, about 5 hrs drive on Sunday. They returned today with more water, food, and building materials. Robinson stayed behind to work with the men on some landscaping, and hauling of sand and gravel. Work will resume with the guys and the Balangao men on Thursday. The goal is to get finished in the next three weeks. Looking ahead the guys will need to finish the ceilings, Plumbing, Interior walls, Install bathroom fixtures, Tile, Kitchen cabinet and sink, Lighting, some unfinished electrical, Windows, painting, gutters, drains, sidewalk, install interior and exterior doors, and trim. Please pray for Daryl, Kyle, and Robinson, as well as the Balangao men as they labor, and partner together in the next couple of weeks. Please pray that they will finish well, and that God will be honored with this new building for bible translation.

Just one of the road obstacles we passed today.