Missionary Letter

Dear Pastor Cooley and Church Family,                                                                                   March 2, 2010

Last week Kathy, a second grader, said she wanted to talk to me. She said she needed to trust Jesus as her Saviour. As I talked to her, Kathy said she had asked Jesus to be her Saviour but she still sinned. I read I John 1:9 to her and then I explained to her that we are still sinners and we will continue to sin; only when we get to heaven will we be perfect and not sin any more. Please keep Kathy in your prayers and that boys and girls will come to know the Lord as their Saviour.

Grace Baptist Academy held its first convention the end of February. We competed against Bethesda Christian Academy which is from Eastern Samar. Our guests arrived Thursday morning around 10:30 and by 12:00 some of the teachers and ladies of Grace Baptist Church had lunch ready for everyone. Competition started at 2:45 with poster-making, collage, composition, and chess; and ended around 5:00. Supper was then served and by 6:30 the evening program started. Pastor Wynn gave a short message which was followed by a video on the history of Bethesda Christian Academy. The elementary competed in a double duet and a solo; the high school had a quartet and duet. GBA also presented to their A and .B honor students their awards for the third quarter. BCA and GBA had one student to present a Bible story. Our day ended around 8:00 p.m. On Friday morning breakfast was served to our guests at 7:00 in the morning. Teachers were invited to join the group. By 8:30 the students and teachers were ready for the Spelling Bee and the Quiz Bee. I was in charge of the 1^st and 2nd grade elimination and then coaching our winners to compete with the winners from Bethesda. It-was an exciting time. Friday evening Pastor Barte gave the message and we had a video on the history of GBA. We had a musical play and the Kiddie Kollege sang, "The Crayon Box Song." There were awards for the Kiddie Kollege and for the convention winners. It was a good time of fellowship between the students and the teachers from both schools.

I want to thank the churches that have been supporting me for the last 4 1/2 years while I have been in the Philippines. You have been a blessing to me while I have been here and when I would return to the States on furlough. I have been praying about returning to the States and I believe that this is what the Lord wants me to do. I will be leaving here around the first of June or sometime in May. Even though I will be leaving here permanently, please continue to pray for me and for the ministry here. The Lord has greatly blessed the work here and Pastor Wynn.

God bless,

Mary Wilkins