Happiness with tears

Hello to all our friends and family, so since the last post we have had a kids camp, kids are preparing for closings (end of the school year programs), and fully scheduled our entire summer. Our first Kid,s camp of the year was on March 16, 2024 and had a theme of the Armor of God. This year we did some things different, like the staff put on a little skit to introduce the kids to the theme, we had new staff members and tried new songs and attention getters. We started the day with decorating the venue and praying over the day, the kids, and the staff. We prayed that the kids hearts would be open to the word of God and that they would learn how important it is the put on the full armor of God. We had a total of 140 kids from our church and the surrounding villages.

This is all the kids with the staff

We had our traditional coloring and activity page table with coloring pages and activity sheets that were all about the armor of God.

For the short skit the teachers did, we had the boys and me (Precious) dress up in the armor of God that we hand made and we had the armor on when the kids started to arrive so we had their attention even before we started.

We invited three people from our church to be speakers and the three speakers divided up the 6 pieces of God's armor. A couple weeks after camp we had a meeting with the staff to asses the camp. At the same time we took the staff to a really nice beach and gave them a day and a half to swim, enjoy themselves and just relax. We also got to celebrate of the staff memebers birthday.

In order to get to the beach/resort where we would have the retreat we had quite a drive so we borrowed a relatives dump trcuk put some plastic chairs in the back and loaded all the people and bag in the back of the dump truck. It was a fun drive with everyone in the back taking turns on what worship song to sing.

We cooked together, swam in the pool and in the ocean and took lots of beach pictures.

The entire team including my family was able to just relax and refresh themselves.

The morning after we arrived some of the girls woke up really early to do a prayer and devotions on the beach where they were greeted by one of the prettiest sunrises. reminding us of how beautiful God really made our world, our home. After the retreat the entire church busily prepared for its annual Thanksgiving (Anniversary). The Youth prepared a dance and drama. The kids did a dance so did the moms. But the highlight presentation was the dads' dance. We were also able to update our family photo.

As you guys may see we are missing one. Back in January Things came to a head with Mickaila. There have been some problems leading up to this but at this point tried to discipline her and she tried to run away. We thought to give her a couple of days and she might settle back in but insisted she wanted to move back to her sister. We decided to drop her off and thought after a weekend she might want to come back when she realized that life was so difficult there. Jonah kept in touch with her sister and we learned that Ella was telling the sister lies about us and our pastor/sister in law. Jonah tried to go meet with her to discuss the lies and when he arrived he was met with anger and a refusal to even talk about the issues. It was also at this point that Mickaila said she would not return to Juagdan and basically wanted nothing to do with us. We still love her and Pray that God softens her heart. We also still support her for school and food. As of this point though we are proceding with the adoption of the other three and Just praying she finds peace in the life she chose for herself. Anyway, now that you are all caught up on what has happened in this year so far, how about I tell you on what we have planned all summer. The very beginning of summer will start with a bang as me and daddy will be heading to Negros (Another Island) for our churches national convention. where all of the churches in our donomination get to together in one place and celebrate. We will be accompanied by our children's ministry staff and some other people from our church. We will leave the third of June and be back either the 6th late at night or the seventh midday. A couple weeks after that my mom is putting together a youth camp for all christian churches on our island and every young pchristian who comes is encouraged to bring a non believer friend. The camp will be held on lcal camp grounds and will start on June 27th and end June 29th. THen in the beginning of July my parents new ministry will begin. They are starting a bible school for anyone who wants to become a pastor. My mom will be a teacher, and my dad will be part of the first batch of students through the school. Then towards the middle of July we are gonna plan on another kids camp in one of the surrounding villages. Then after that it is back to school. Please keep our family in your prayers as we go through this upcoming summer and prepare to start a new kind of ministry. Also that throughout the rest of the year of family can experience lots of Joy and less sadness. we thank you all for your undying support and hope you all have a joyous summer. Until the next post friends and family. Love from the Cajigas family

Returning to chaos

Since the last post school has started again. Our family tries every year at the beginning of the school year to put together some back to school packs for the local elementary students. So this year we did exactly that for all the students that enrolled at the local elementary from grades Kinder to 6th grade. We provided the students with pencils/pens, paper, crayons, earaser, sharpeners, and a couple notebooks all that an elementary student would need to start the year. So the start of this year saw Precious entering 10th grade, Mickaila starting 7th grade, Faith entering 6th grade which in the Philippines means her last year of elementary, Andrew starting 4th grade, and the twins Mark and Marah starting 3rd grade. So because of Politics the Department of Education is considering ending its K to 12 Program meaning that there is the possibility that this could Precious' last year of highschool.

Just as school has started Mommy (Jessica) found out that in order to be completely rid of the cancer in her cervix she would need to get a hysterectomy. So she had the surgery on the 13th of september was admitted the 11th and was released the 16th.A little before that my Grandpa on Daddy's side was hospitalized for a week, he came home but never really got back on his feet he passed towards the beginning of October at the age of 92.

This was at a family dinner 2 weeks before Lolo (Grandpa) passed.

This was taken on his 91st Birthday As a tradition in our house every year we have to celebrate American Thanksgiving before we even talk about Christmas. But when we do celebrate we always invite our neighbors meaning we have to have a filipino twist. So we had the traditional mash potatoes, corn, and pumpkin (Squash) pie and for our Fiipino twist we had a whole roasted Pig and of course RICE!

Daddy and some of the kids behind the roasted pig

Some other Pics from Thanksgiving This year for Christmas we decided to take a Family Vacation to Mindanao for a week so as soon the the kid's Christmas parties has ended we left for our week long family vaaction. We spent the first couple days with some cousins of ours up in the mountains. Then we went to see some friends of ours in Tagum. These friends have been such a huge blessing to our family and while we were there they treated us like royalty. We didn't have to cook, drive or anything hard work. They took us to see the tallest Christmas tree in the Philippines, a hot spring (which was too hot), and then they gave us all a Christmas surprise with a big breakfast and presents for all of us including mommy and daddy. They also let some of us kids tag along to for some caroling.

Daddy came with us to go Caroling

One of the best Christmas Breakfasts ever

Family with Ate Val

Hot spring in Tagum

Tallest Christmas tree in the Philippines When we got back from vacation instead of resting and recovering from travel for a few days it was Go! Go!Go! for Precious to get ready for the Children's Christmas Program. This year the kids performed a skit while dancing of the Christmas story. A cousin of ours came up with the choreography and Precious directed everything. The staff also handmade all the costumes, from the star to the Angel's gowns and wings.

Me and some of the kids in the skit

Almost all the kids that were apart of the skit (all in costume)

One of the young boys wanted to pretend he was a king

The young girl that volunteered to be Mary. For the year ahead we look forward to doing at least 3 kids camps, two youth camps, and a Children's ministry staff retreat. Our first Kids camp is gonna be March 16. Details are still being figured out but we are excited for the year ahead. So from our family we would like to say God bless to each and every one of you.