A Quick Update on Luv-Luv

Just wanted to update everyone on what we've been up to lately.  A little over a month ago Luv-Luv went to East Asia to be a full-time missionary.  He's been meeting local guys, traveling out to their villages and getting relationships started. Luv-Luv has also been traveling quite a bit.  There's a retired missionary who has partnered up with us that has helped us with some relationships in town.  He is currently trying to get some ag work up and going a little further south that we could potentially work alongside.  Luv-Luv spent about a week and traveled down there to see if it was a possibility for us.

Luv has also been working on his visa a lot.  He came in on a tourist visa and has been trying to switch to a business one so that he can freely go out to villages and not raise any questions.  It turns out switching visas is nearly impossible for us to do in-country.  Sometimes working with foreign countries and visas can be a little tricky.  Actual information doesn't always match the information they'll tell you and a lot of it can depends on the mood of the guy working the visa counter.  We're trying to figure out the best solution for Luv's visa and hope to have it all resolved in the next few weeks.

I'm leading a group out there in June, so the plan is that Luv will be back in time to meet up with us on that trip.  He'll help us out with translation and hopefully we can encourage him as well.  Plus I'm excited for our group to see him again and hear about the work in person.

Update on Luv-Luv

Just wanted to post a quick update on Luv-Luv for everyone. Two weeks ago, Luv flew from the Philippines to China.  Over these past two weeks he has spent time in the provincial capital meeting with some of our friends about strategy and planning.  He sent me a message this morning that he has moved down south to the town of JH to start working on making connections with local villagers.

Please pray:

-That he would meet some local guys that he can build relationships with and invest in.

-For favor with the local government, extending his visa and access to places that he needs to go.

-Villages that are welcoming and open to hearing about and trying new things.

-That he would find a language tutor and that his language study would go well.

I have been able to talk to Luv-Luv several times over the past weeks, and he is always thankful for your support and prayers.  If you have a chance, please send an email (info@undergroundcoffeeintl.org) or send him a message on Facebook letting him know that you're thinking about him.

A Message from Luv-Luv

Many of us have connected and followed Luv-Luv's story over the past several months (or for some of us, years).  I've been working with him the past few days to get his plane tickets taken care of and working out some of the final details to get him to East Asia.  His date to fly to East Asia is March 19th.  In the midst of leaving home and going to foreign country, there are a lot of emotions, joys and struggles.  In order to be able to pray for Luv-Luv, I asked him if he could write out some things that we could pray for or just to let us know how he is doing.  This is what he sent me:

About moving to East Asia to serve our Father, it has been two years that my heart has been waiting.  It was very clear when I heard Him say, “Wait, I want you to do something for me; so listen and wait.”  Then temptation, obstacles, and barriers came.  The enemy tried to take my calling and convince me to not go and stay where it is comfortable and I enjoy life.  But the voice of truth very clearly said, “Wait and see how good I am.  Do not give up.  I have something for you.”  For me, WAIT is only four letters but it is tough to do.

Father has taught me a lot of things while I have waited.  I’ve had to have patience and have had tons of words that have checked and prepared myself.  This week and last week I have been thinking over and over again and asked Him, “Father, do you think I can make it by myself?”  I am only a Filipino in the small city and isolated area.  He answered in his Word:

Joshua 1:9 “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous.  Do not be frightened and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

He reminded me three times over and over again from Joshua 1:6,7,9.  There is always a word from these verses to be STRONG and COURAGEOUS.

Now it is time to go.  I have my visa ready and I don’t know what is ahead.  I know I am not strong, but because of Him, now I can say I am strong and I do believe that He is there for me.  I am just an ordinary person who grew up in a small village.  I was saved by his mercy and grace, and because he saved me and he loves me, I need to OBEY his command.

“If you come to a crossroad and there is an easy road and a hard road before you, always choose the hard road because that is what Jesus did.”  (By Elisabeth Elliot)

Please pray for me

Luv-Luv

Please take some time over the next couple of weeks to pray for Luv-Luv and the start of a new journey for him and all of us at Underground Coffee International.