Ethics, among other things

Howdy y'all! Here I am with another quick update!

Our most recent session of classes started on June 4th and we are currently closing out our third week of classes. We had three additions to the family here, with Miko Alda, Medina Alda, and Federico Alda all deciding to be immersed together. You might remember me mentioning May, Tan-tan, and Sheba Alda in previous reports. Well, because of these amazing ladies, their parents and brother decided to study with us (and with them!) and were immersed after a couple's dinner held at the BSC last Saturday (June 16). In other family matters, Sean; Jon and Gina's little boy, turned 3 on June 14th. I can't believe how these little ones are growing up!

We have some new faces at the BSC this session. In the Messenger (send me a note if you want to be added to the mailing list!) that I just sent out I mentioned a young lady name Flordeles who has been studying with us through our home-study program. She works at the pharmacy across the street from the BSC and has burned through our courses like you wouldn't believe. She is hungry for the word! We usually give our home-study course materials out in three or four lesson blocks. In one week, Flor completed 2 of our major courses: 12 lessons total! She has proceeded to complete almost every course we have and so we have modified some of our newer courses so that she can continue studying. When she has free time, she sometimes drops by the BSC to talk, whether about her studies or not. She even joined us for our bi-weekly church outing on Sunday! I haven't seen her in a few days and she wasn't at the pharmacy tonight when I dropped by, but I'm sure she'll be around soon. In addition to her own studies, Flor has invited all her workmates to join the home-study program and 6 of them have enrolled!

We have another new student at the BSC, Jason, who dropped in last Monday interested in courses. He enrolled in class every day, but then got sick in the middle of the week and wasn't able to come after Wednesday. He was finally feeling better tonight, though, and joined the class on Archaeology we offer which is being taught by two of our new teachers (Gia Puzon and Hope de los Angeles). They had two class meetings back-to-back to make up for his absence, and it sounded like they were having fun :).

I've also been doing more course work. This is my second session of teaching our new course called "Ethics", in which we have been looking at Old Testament Bible stories and the ethics either practiced or neglected by the characters. We have talked about Abraham, Adam and Eve, the Pharaoh of Egypt, Moses, and yesterday we talked about King David and Bathsheba. It amazes me how these people who were so close to God still made such awful mistakes. Nevertheless, I am always reminded of 1 Corinthians 10:13 and how God always gives us a choice in every situation we encounter. James said in chapter 1 of his letter that our desires are what really influence us. "The green-eyed monster"; isn't that what they call jealousy? I am really enjoying these classes and the discussions that I have with my 16 students :).

Tomorrow is another day full of teaching and preparing materials! I will go and buy some paper for printing supply needs in the morning (hopefully!), and in the evening I am teaching our course called "Christian Evidences" (which is basically a course on apologetics) to my two students Mark Anthony and Miko (mentioned above). Tomorrow we talk about the Biblical evidence of the deity of Jesus. Really interesting stuff!

Thank you so much for your interest in what's going on over here! Please continue to keep us in your prayers. May God bless you!

In him,
Sara Murrell