Lots to talk about...

Well, it has been a while, hasnit it? Things are going great over here in the humid tropical nation of the Philippines. We are well into our seventh session of 2012 and I've been having a blast teaching.

I've got three classes on my plate this session. I'm teaching Can We Believe the Bible? on Wednesday nights to four students: Mario Mata, Ben Bayaton, Michelle Entrampos (all three members), and a new student named Arnel Baltonado. Arnel joined us for our seminar in September and was so interested that he decided to enroll in classes with us. I'm also teaching our course on Christian Evidences to Jimmy Co, Gia Puzon, Galilee Puzon. RJ is also joining us. It's nice to have him in class, especially because he has been helping me revise the course. Gia and Galilee are both members, but Jimmy Co is not yet, and has been a bit of a challenge for all of us at the BSC. He is a Bible teacher himself, so when you teach him you get the sense that he is trying to make sure you know what you're talking about. This is a good thing, but makes teaching him extremely difficult. He definitely keeps you on your toes.

The last class I'm teaching is Jesus: Lord of our Lives, the follow-up course to Jesus: Man of the Bible. My three students from last session (Dan Torion, Daniel Borela, and Jesus Almadin) make for an interesting class. It's interesting having Jesus in the class, and many jokes have started because of his name. We've just finished talking about the Scheme of Redemption. We've been having good discussions and study, and they are asking the right questions. I've really enjoyed this class. Please pray for all our students at the BSC and their studies.

I recently met a man named Al Jay Gancheon here at the BSC who is not your average student. Al Jay is a man who has been deaf since around the age of 2 years old. He dropped by the BSC a few couple months ago and we "talked" on a piece of paper about him. He's quite an interesting fellow. Because of him I've started learning more sign language and now can have decent conversations. By decent I mean that I don't need the paper anymore :). Al Jay has been going through our correspondence courses because of his schedule and the lack of a teacher who is equipped enough to have a class with him. He does drop by and we talk about all sorts of things. My "talks" with Al Jay have gotten me interested in the possibility of working with the deaf. Before I get any further though I need to hone my skills :).

The last thing I want to mention before I go is the newest addition to our family. Jasmin Rae Yulo Murrell was born on October 2, 2012 at 7 1/2 pounds and is GORGEOUS!!! She and her family are doing well. I haven't seen much of them since they arrived, but they looked well and I believe that Sean is adjusting well to being a big brother :). Everyone is doing well. There are sniffle and sneeze bugs that keep getting passed around, but we are all in pretty good health right now. Please continue to keep us in your prayers. May God continue to be with you always!!!

In him,
Sara Murrell