im back in Davao...its about 11pm saturday night......we've had a long journey north, we traveled about 6 hours north two days ago...got to meet some incredible people and see how their dubbing operation was going....(they are dubbing the ACTS movie in Cebuano...very cool experience......they we're working on a mac computer in a hut.....it was a trip!!!!) we spent the night in a municipal building which was a very non fancy concrete, one floor building for government workers...we stayed in a room with several bunk beds.....the thin foam was very comfortable and we actually had an AC window unit that kept us somewhat cool....IT WAS GOOD...some of my new found friends slept in the extra bunks...we stayed up late bonding, we ate good food and had good fellowship in Charlie's family hut....yesterday we headed north and west for another 3 hours with a couple of our new found filipino friends...charlie, my new buddy,, and i sat in the back of the truck the whole way.....hiding under a tarp on an occasional scattered rain storm...the rest of the time i shot footage out of the back of the truck...BIG FUN!!!!!!....stayed with an amazing family who lives off the land in and among banana, coconut, pupae, rubber trees,co co plants, sweet potatoes, and an endless score of other indigenous vegetables in the middle of a jungle landscape...i have now had some of the best fresh food ive ever eaten actually prepared over wood cooked fires in the jungle in a hut...it could go head to head with any restaurant back home...we've been sitting around in huts, laughing, sharing, eating, telling our testimonies...GOOD TIMES.... ive been getting some really good footage.....we went to a film showing last night with a lot of precious children.....again, got some really good footage...slept in a hut with dirt floors and a sceeter net.....as you can imagine, i was in hog heaven...we got up and shared more of our stories among the banana and coconut trees...we headed back home and took about 7 hours to get back to Davao....which i rode in the back of the truck again the WHOLE way with camera in hand....LOVED IT!!!!!
we're heading out at the crack of dawn to go north, a couple of hours away, to church and then pushing even further for another film showing...then we will head west monday...i wont be back to Davao till tuesday evening.....
its INCREDIBLE what the people are doing here...the impact they are making....the faith they have to BLINDLY and BOLDLY spread the gospel in this unique ministry even in the face of danger!!! im honored to know my new friends and humbled to be here and even get to meet such people of God...i dont know what im supposed to do with ALL of the info im intaking...but dont need to know for now....im just thankful i said yes...and that you aloud me to go...this is amazing work for the kingdom....im blown away by it ALL and we've only scratched the surface.....it seems like one really long day since we've arrived.....i feel like ive been here for weeks and its only been 4 days on the ground.
please continue to pray for safe travels...im exhausted and have to sleep......just wanted to catch you up......i should be back in touch teusday night...(which is midday monday for you....love ya!
and thanks again for allowing me to come and encourage brothers and sisters i Christ all the way across the other side of the world with your giving! this is life changing stuff...i wish you all could axperience these people and their work....it would change your lives!
In His Grip,
Deric
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Davao City
We were picked up at the airport by a bearded Swiss missionary. His Name is Dalfi...he's a VERY interesting guy who loves the Lord, the people here, and has a INCREDIBLE SINCE OF HUMOR!
Needless to say, Jared, Colin, and I have been a little jet lagged. But Dalfi has entertained us with wonderful hospitality, incredible home cooked food that some young tribal kids have fixed for us to eat. (He and his wife, house and "train" young village people in the "ways of the city life", as opposed to village life, that way they make a better transition to modernism as they attend schools to learn trades.)
We have checked equipment to go north...fellowshipped with Filipino evangelist in seminary.....watched a new Manobo people movie that has been made for the village film showings.....given a little rest.....invited back over to Dalfi's house for dinner...and then went Filipino Bowling...(which was a SURPRISE!!!! It's kind of like bowling back home just thinner lanes, smaller pins and balls, and a lot hotter!!!;) Even though we were exhausted...we had a blast fellowshipping, laughing, getting to know some of "Dalfi's Kids", and playing a mean game of bowling. (the running joke was....how many Filipinos can you get into the back of a small truck?...the answer: just one more!!!) There had to be close to 15 young adults in the back of the truck as we navigated the insane night streets of Davao City.....GOOD TIMES!!!! We made it back to the mission house absolutely EXHAUSTED!!!!
I personally have had an "in and out" night of rest.....I've been up for an hour or so...since 3am our time..the roosters, humidity, and guard dog bellow our window...have encouraged me to go ahead and get up! :)
KEEP US IN YOUR PRAYERS AS WE HEAD NORTH TODAY to meet some ministries there.
I hear NC has snow.......that's just funny to me!!!
Love you ALL!!!!
In His Grip,
Deric
Needless to say, Jared, Colin, and I have been a little jet lagged. But Dalfi has entertained us with wonderful hospitality, incredible home cooked food that some young tribal kids have fixed for us to eat. (He and his wife, house and "train" young village people in the "ways of the city life", as opposed to village life, that way they make a better transition to modernism as they attend schools to learn trades.)
We have checked equipment to go north...fellowshipped with Filipino evangelist in seminary.....watched a new Manobo people movie that has been made for the village film showings.....given a little rest.....invited back over to Dalfi's house for dinner...and then went Filipino Bowling...(which was a SURPRISE!!!! It's kind of like bowling back home just thinner lanes, smaller pins and balls, and a lot hotter!!!;) Even though we were exhausted...we had a blast fellowshipping, laughing, getting to know some of "Dalfi's Kids", and playing a mean game of bowling. (the running joke was....how many Filipinos can you get into the back of a small truck?...the answer: just one more!!!) There had to be close to 15 young adults in the back of the truck as we navigated the insane night streets of Davao City.....GOOD TIMES!!!! We made it back to the mission house absolutely EXHAUSTED!!!!
I personally have had an "in and out" night of rest.....I've been up for an hour or so...since 3am our time..the roosters, humidity, and guard dog bellow our window...have encouraged me to go ahead and get up! :)
KEEP US IN YOUR PRAYERS AS WE HEAD NORTH TODAY to meet some ministries there.
I hear NC has snow.......that's just funny to me!!!
Love you ALL!!!!
In His Grip,
Deric
WE ARE HERE SAFE AND SOUND!!!
I know its late there....but I thought you might want to know that we are here SAFE AND SOUND in Davao City! It's 3:04 PM Wednesday.....strange cause it's 2:04 AM there!
WHAT A JOURNEY! HOLY TOLETO!!!!
Let's see if i can recap through the fog of jet lag...First, I broke my phone trying to get off the plane in snowy Detroit, I shattered the screen thus, i couldn't see if Colin, (the VVMI Executive Director that organized the trip) was texting me because he was missing in action, plus I couldn't look at my contacts to call out, (I did get to call Mom and Carrie on speed dial), Jared and I had a 6 hour lay over in Detroit, Colin missed his flight in Peoria, had to catch another flight an hour and a half from where he was originally, and showed up right before we bordered the 747 to head to Japan, we got on the plane, taxied out on the run way, and had to go back to the terminal for "maintenance issues" we sat there another 4 hours while they de-iced the plane several times while working on "who knows what else", the 4 hour delay put us SUPER late to Japan, which in turn put us SUPER late to our connect in Manila...we met Darwin (the VVM Director on the ground) with the equipment with ten minutes to get to the domestic airport which was longer than 10 minutes away, we split up the equipment, got to the airport and had to wait 4 hours to catch our flight to Davao City...But God is GOOD and there are as many God stories as there were speed bumps.
The God Stories...my camera bag was to large to fit in the over head in the smaller jet going to Detroit, but as God would have it, I was the only one on the whole plane that didn't have someone sitting next to me...so i was able CRAM it under the seat next to me:)...I have dropped my phone a million times but never hurt it until i NEEDED it to try and figure out where in the world Colin was...(my phone still works, even though i couldn't see my contacts...so I was able to contact carrie, mom, and colin's wife (cause carrie looked up his contact info back at home, which in turn, at least gave us info about Colin's where a bouts,...we got stopped by customs in Manila, they made us open boxes which we were supposed to have paper work on that we didn't have (a new president's in charge so new rules)...but they let us go with out paying extra money that we should have had to pay...(THIS WAS A HUGE GOD THING)...we got $50 "rebate" coupons from Delta because of the inconvenience of the late flight...which interesting enough, was the EXACT amount it cost to change the tickets to a new flight to Davao, plus i didn't have to pay extra for the 40 lbs carry on that was only suppose to weigh 15lbs. (in fact, they weighed every bit of the ...luggage, bags, etc,...but didn't weigh mine.......INTERESTING DONT YOU THINK????!!!! ANYWAY, GOD HAS BEEN WITH US EVERY STEP OF THE WAY IN PLANE VIEW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I'm TRULY convinced we were delayed because of even LARGER speed bumps that were avoided due to the delay....and for that I'm thankful!!!
So i love you ALL........we are in good hands!!!!! KEEP PRAYING!!!!!!!
In His Grip,
Deric Cook
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Filipino Trip Itinerary...Daily Schedule for Daily Prayers for the Trip
Jan 24, (Mon) Departure Airlines (629)
Jan 26, (Wed) Arrival at NAIA Terminal #1, 12:10 AM, Meet Darwin, then immediately hop another flight to the southern island of Mindanao. Darwin will be at the airport to meet MVs. Reserved Davao flight for Jan 26. PAL Davao flight at 5:00 AM. Proceed from NAIA #1 to PAL Terminal #2. Baggage separated for Luzon and Davao.
Hand over Davao flight ticket and others (to Colin Edwards)
Hand over Davao flight ticket and others (to Colin Edwards)
Jan 26 - Feb 2nd
Time with VMN. Dolfi Annen (missionary) facilitating...Mindanao is a turbulent place, terrorist and muslim extremist...potentially dangerous for the first 8 days. Dolfi has a death threat on his head and we will be heading toward the extremist to deliver equipment.
26th Davao City
27th Equipment Dedication (Michael Mundo). Hinatuan
28th with Pugado’s & Lorelie Salas. Talacogon (James & Eddie)
29th Travel back to Davao City.
30th Tagpopoot and Kabayangan (Worship & Film showing)
31st Tigwa Valley and Valencia City (Dodong Sabuan and Crew)
Feb 1st Davao via Sinuda. Davao City with Dolfi
Feb 2 nd. Flying Back to Northern Island of Luzon
Time with VVM. Darwin Bayani (Northern Island of Luzon)
(Wed) PAL Flight to Manila. (Take 12:20 PM flight). Take airport Taxi to take you to Victory Bus Terminal in Pasay City. Stay at APTS.
3 (Thu) Baguio Time. You will be staying at APTS for the duration of your stay in Baguio.
4 (Fri) Meeting at VVM Office (start at late noon): CMI Partners from Luzon and Palawan.
5 (Sat) CMI Partners Meeting and Sharing. Morning only. Partners travel back home at noon.
6 (Sun) WORSHIP DAY. You may choose a nearby place GCF Baguio City or Loakan, Itogon.
7 (Mon) Audio and Video Training Workshop (General Principles. Jonah Lim)
8 (Tue) Audio and Video Training Workshop (and some hands-on training. Jonah & Deric)
9 (Wed) Audio and Video Training Workshop (and some hands-on training. Group sharing)
10 (Thu) Field Production (New Ibaloi Production) Travel Day
11 (Fri) Field Production (Film Showing at night) Village
12 (Sat) Field Production (Film Showing at night) Village
Mission Outreach Partnership—Medical Mission in Kabayan Barrio as to be coordinated with IBALOI Team and DPM of Bro JR Andres. Medical Mission footages would be part of the new Ibaloi production.
13 (Sun) Travel back to Baguio City. (Travel to Manila. Stay at SIL)
14 (Mon) Fly out back to US 6AM. (Be at the airport before 2:00AM). Delta Air Flt #630
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
My Mission Testimony
Five years ago I found myself sitting next to a dumpster, rubbing my sore feet, taking a break from hauling medical furniture from one warehouse to the next...I had walked thirty miles in three days...back and forth between warehouses...but, as I moved the equipment, I thanked God for the opportunity to start my life over, as uncertain as it was, and asked Him how I could work for Him full-time. As I sat there for a moment to rest, I heard the words..."Photography, Getting Dirty, and Missions." I knew this had to be from God, because missions had never been on my radar up till that moment...I said, "Yes," to God but what I couldn't know was the journey He would take me on to this date.
A long story short...God began to guide me through a series of events that took my life down the path He predicted for me five years ago.
Through a lot of surrendering, learning, and giving back, my life started to change rapidly to what it has become today.
Four and a half years ago I had a mountain top conversation with a close friend about starting a video ministry with children...I said , "Yes," and we prayed about it...
Three months later I owned a small video camera, three months later I was on my first mission trip in the mountains of Jamaica filming and taking pictures of children in need for the first time.
It was there, at the age of 38, that I realized for the first time in my life, what I was supposed to do...and that was to use my talents with photography (and newly found video) to promote the plight of the less fortunate...my life was forever changed. I said, "Yes, and praised God for an unseen future and thanked God for what He was working on in my life even though I couldn't see it yet.
Next, my pictures from Jamaica were on display at church, I had an impromptu conversation with a man I barely knew, he hired me to learn video and editing.
I ended up in Guyana, South America, TWICE, bringing awareness to the poverty, AIDS epidemic, and struggle of an elderly woman and her grandchildren living in total poverty...my life was, again, forever changed.
I lost my job due the economy, my wife and I felt we were supposed to start a non profit called "The Mission Advocates" to promote missions, ministries, and non profits that couldn't normally afford video promotions in the worst possible year anyone could start anything...let alone, a non profit... but...life was forever changed...we were faithful and God was too...we said, Yes."
God turned my attentions to the mission in my backyard through Celebrate Recovery, where, through saying ,"Yes" to a series of God events, I ended up leading the ministry...this was not comfortable for me...but God was refining my heart and teaching me to lean on Him and not make life about me...God was teaching me to love when it was not easy to love...again, my life was forever changed...
Then God had me work harder on the mission that is my own household, focusing on being a better husband, a better father, and a better son...and that is where I am now...five years later...a man, who is continually being forever changed, one, "Yes" at a time.
But in all of this I have been trying to learn not to get ahead of God's timeline for me and to not create my own timeline...I am trying to ACTUALLY better communicate with God and TRULY TRUST GOD in all of my decisions no matter how large or how small.
Recently, through events only God can orchestrate, the Executive Director of a non-profit called, Vernacular Video Mission International or VVMI, http://www.vvmi.org/ , has asked me to go to the Philippines to teach, fellow VVMI partners on the ground how to better be efficient in the pre-production, video production, and post production methods they now use on the islands to spread the Gospel. (VVMI partners with and equips ethnic Christians, around the world, to proclaim the Gospel through video and other media in their own common languages.) Filipinos are literally packing in a projector, a generator, gasoline in coke bottles, a white sheet to project the movies on, Bibles to hand out, and a message of "THE GOOD NEWS" across the unreached people groups along the mountain ranges, in order to share the Gospel with their fellow Filipinos!!! The cool things is, people are actually being reached...missions and ministries are truly advancing...churches are literally mobilizing on foot...people are actually being reached that would other wise never hear the Gospel! Now that's something I can get excited about!!!
I Praise God for the opportunity to go and be apart of something like that! God has been working on me...changing me, molding me, even training me...for a time such as this.
We all live in finical hard times...the economy stinks...trust me when I say, "I'm living the dream too." But I really believe God is calling me to do this type of ministry. I am saying, "Yes," to God and giving of myself, my time, and my visual gifts He has given me on loan, to give back, by trying to be the hands and feet of Jesus. I will be able to do God's work in the Philippines, only if I have a team of warriors to support me here in the States. I need prayer support and financial support in order to go. I know times are tough...but it would be a blessing if you would pray about if God wants to use you in this ministry. Whether through prayer or contribution...anything at all...any amount...it all ads up.
Thank you for considering being apart of something that you will probably never physically see or feel the repercussions of in your life time...but isn't that how God works? I know, without a shadow of a doubt, through your giving, in a time when giving seems impossible...lives will be changed because of the decisions you're making now.
Unfortunately, we live in turbulent times. I can't give out exactly when I will be leaving. Just know, now is the time to act. If you do decide to give monetarily, please make your check out to VVMI and put Deric's Mission Trip in the memo. The address for VVMI is: PO Box 37 Austin, MN 55912.
If you have friends in other churches who might be interested in knowing about this out-of-the-box ministry, feel free to send them my email...dericcookphotography@yahoo.com...or more importantly send them to http://www.vvmi.org/ email Colin Edwards the Executive Director of VVMI at cjedwards@vvmi.org.
Again, thank you.
In His Grip,
Deric Cook
A long story short...God began to guide me through a series of events that took my life down the path He predicted for me five years ago.
Through a lot of surrendering, learning, and giving back, my life started to change rapidly to what it has become today.
Four and a half years ago I had a mountain top conversation with a close friend about starting a video ministry with children...I said , "Yes," and we prayed about it...
Three months later I owned a small video camera, three months later I was on my first mission trip in the mountains of Jamaica filming and taking pictures of children in need for the first time.
It was there, at the age of 38, that I realized for the first time in my life, what I was supposed to do...and that was to use my talents with photography (and newly found video) to promote the plight of the less fortunate...my life was forever changed. I said, "Yes, and praised God for an unseen future and thanked God for what He was working on in my life even though I couldn't see it yet.
Next, my pictures from Jamaica were on display at church, I had an impromptu conversation with a man I barely knew, he hired me to learn video and editing.
I ended up in Guyana, South America, TWICE, bringing awareness to the poverty, AIDS epidemic, and struggle of an elderly woman and her grandchildren living in total poverty...my life was, again, forever changed.
I lost my job due the economy, my wife and I felt we were supposed to start a non profit called "The Mission Advocates" to promote missions, ministries, and non profits that couldn't normally afford video promotions in the worst possible year anyone could start anything...let alone, a non profit... but...life was forever changed...we were faithful and God was too...we said, Yes."
God turned my attentions to the mission in my backyard through Celebrate Recovery, where, through saying ,"Yes" to a series of God events, I ended up leading the ministry...this was not comfortable for me...but God was refining my heart and teaching me to lean on Him and not make life about me...God was teaching me to love when it was not easy to love...again, my life was forever changed...
Then God had me work harder on the mission that is my own household, focusing on being a better husband, a better father, and a better son...and that is where I am now...five years later...a man, who is continually being forever changed, one, "Yes" at a time.
But in all of this I have been trying to learn not to get ahead of God's timeline for me and to not create my own timeline...I am trying to ACTUALLY better communicate with God and TRULY TRUST GOD in all of my decisions no matter how large or how small.
Recently, through events only God can orchestrate, the Executive Director of a non-profit called, Vernacular Video Mission International or VVMI, http://www.vvmi.org/ , has asked me to go to the Philippines to teach, fellow VVMI partners on the ground how to better be efficient in the pre-production, video production, and post production methods they now use on the islands to spread the Gospel. (VVMI partners with and equips ethnic Christians, around the world, to proclaim the Gospel through video and other media in their own common languages.) Filipinos are literally packing in a projector, a generator, gasoline in coke bottles, a white sheet to project the movies on, Bibles to hand out, and a message of "THE GOOD NEWS" across the unreached people groups along the mountain ranges, in order to share the Gospel with their fellow Filipinos!!! The cool things is, people are actually being reached...missions and ministries are truly advancing...churches are literally mobilizing on foot...people are actually being reached that would other wise never hear the Gospel! Now that's something I can get excited about!!!
I Praise God for the opportunity to go and be apart of something like that! God has been working on me...changing me, molding me, even training me...for a time such as this.
We all live in finical hard times...the economy stinks...trust me when I say, "I'm living the dream too." But I really believe God is calling me to do this type of ministry. I am saying, "Yes," to God and giving of myself, my time, and my visual gifts He has given me on loan, to give back, by trying to be the hands and feet of Jesus. I will be able to do God's work in the Philippines, only if I have a team of warriors to support me here in the States. I need prayer support and financial support in order to go. I know times are tough...but it would be a blessing if you would pray about if God wants to use you in this ministry. Whether through prayer or contribution...anything at all...any amount...it all ads up.
Thank you for considering being apart of something that you will probably never physically see or feel the repercussions of in your life time...but isn't that how God works? I know, without a shadow of a doubt, through your giving, in a time when giving seems impossible...lives will be changed because of the decisions you're making now.
Unfortunately, we live in turbulent times. I can't give out exactly when I will be leaving. Just know, now is the time to act. If you do decide to give monetarily, please make your check out to VVMI and put Deric's Mission Trip in the memo. The address for VVMI is: PO Box 37 Austin, MN 55912.
If you have friends in other churches who might be interested in knowing about this out-of-the-box ministry, feel free to send them my email...dericcookphotography@yahoo.com...or more importantly send them to http://www.vvmi.org/ email Colin Edwards the Executive Director of VVMI at cjedwards@vvmi.org.
Again, thank you.
In His Grip,
Deric Cook
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