We received recent updates from the blind disciplemakers who faithfully shepherd blind students week-by-week in the Philippine schools. These are from before Manila was locked down for coronavirus, and have been lightly edited for clarity:

Two weeks before the end of January, I started going out in field for my Bible study ministry. I visited the schools where I have a weekly session. I thank God because I found all my students were eager still, and they welcomed me with excitement in their hearts to once again have our schedule for Bible study this year.

I made the one-year schedule of mid-week Chapel Service every Wednesday for RBI, and also did the book binding of Our Daily Bread that will be distributed to the blind readers. Only the Lord gives new life, hope and peace. He is the true and solid foundation in the midst of a tumultuous world.

In addition, I distributed Braille calendars to blind students and prayed for the sick children. One of them has bone cancer and had a bone marrow operation. He also had broken bones in his shoulder and a lump on his face. He needs to undergo chemotherapy once a month, which will be a lifetime treatment. I hope that he will receive all the things that he needs for his medication and treatment. Most especially, I hope that he will be healed by the grace and help from our Lord. Thanks be to God!

In my Values (Bible study) class, I asked the students to share their experience during Christmas vacation. Some said that they spent time with their own family and some went to their own provinces . . . After the sharing time, we also prayed together to give praises and to give thanks and to commit the whole year to our Heavenly Father.

This month also we experience God's comfort and encouragement from His word. We have heard news about USA against Iran, eruption of Taal volcano, and the coronavirus. All these things happen not only because of the sins of the world, but also to remind the people about the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. With those happenings, I took the opportunity to relate those things in our spiritual lives.

We celebrated Bible month. I used the parable of the Sower in Luke 8:4-15, to emphasize the value of the good listeners in the word of God . . . And I also insured that everybody are already having a right relationship with God in order for them to experience the peace from God in spite of what's happening . . . I lead them to really understand that they accept Jesus Christ not only as Savior but most of all as their Lord.

This New Year, it's a privilege again for me to start ministry with energetic commitment and a passionate heart to serve people whom God values the most.

This month also I started to teach my students in my Values instruction class here in Quezon province with excitement to continue our program and activities during our session like singing Spiritual songs, games, and lively discussions of our lessons that they really miss during their long Christmas vacation.

This month of January the focus of our lesson is about fulfilling dreams, how to set goals, and forgetting the past . . . It is my desire for them to realize that forgetting the past will lead them to move forward for the betterment of their lives for God's glory, just like what Paul modeled in Philippians 3:12-14.

This month I felt sad for the affected blind individuals of Taal volcanic eruption in Batangas province last January 12. Some of them are not comfortable in the evacuation center. They are experiencing lack of supply of food packs and other basic need. I encouraged my students here in Quezon province to thank the Lord for our safety and good situation . . . I told them that we need to pray for them, and extend help for them as we can.

The usual feeling of eagerness to pursue the ministry is still in me and that motivates me to immediately go and visit these schools to which I am assigned as Values teacher. As expected, the kids who attended regularly in the class were very much eager to have our sessions -- they even requested for a quiz right then at the first day.

We launched our devotion group organized by one of my students at Paniqui North Central School. It is really a joy for us teaching these kids about the word of God to find out their interest in listening to messages from the word of the Lord and even them initiating to form a group among themselves to have regular weekly devotion through the technologies existing now. Praise God for their continuous effort in maintaining this group every Friday night so far; kids from Mindanao and Luzon are the attendees of this online devotion. 

After a two week bereavement time when my Father died, I resumed work and I felt the longing of these kids to listen about God's word and the lessons we've been discussing in the class. Being one of God's ministers and workers, no amount of money can pay the joy of continuous changes we've seen in every kid's spiritual and social life. Personally; my prayer is that the Lord will expand this ministry so that we can reach out more blind kids and share them the hope and Salvation that the Lord wants us to receive as His children. To God be all the Glory!

Precious folk, these. Thanks for your participation.