W.I.N. "Women In Need": January 2009

Saturday, January 10, 2009

Please Forgive Me

Things have been so crazy here since I returned from the States in October. Of course the holidays are always busy where ever you are in the world. Here in the Philippines they love to celebrate holidays. Duane and I celebrated Christmas with a filipino meal and then went out riding on the motorcycle through the barro (country side) giving candy and tracts to the children. One road is about 200 children. There in that place there is no sign of a church. It seems to be a place left out and untouched. Well, it is a place we visit frequent now. And the people love to hear us (especially Duane) speak in their language (Ilocano). He is doing great, me well I need more work, but Duane can carry on a conversation and they love it.
There is a place on the top of a mountain we travel that we go and sit and look out at all the villages down below with no apparent gospel. I am here to tell you that if 100 more missionaries come over here we will still never reach everyone. But we are putting forth ever effort to reach as many as we can here in North Luzon Philippines. Men are being trained to help us. Duane is working with and training 15 men that are in our missions here to go out and help reach their people.
The New Year here in the Philippines. WOW! I just don't know how to explain it. Fireworks, fireworks, fireworks and more fireworks. No need to try to go to bed until at least 3 am. Festivals are going on almost every week during the month of December and January.
I will try to work on my blog and update you on everything that we have been doing the past few months. Also give you an update on my breast cancer. I had my check up yesterday and all was not good. I have another test on Monday and then I will update you completely on the outcome of all test. Thank you for your prayers and support. Please pray for my and Duane's strength on the decisions to be made. We want to follow God in everything and we are seeking His will and direction and His alone. We want to follow His plan because we serve the most powerful God and an all knowing God. Please come back to visit me here and I will have you all up to date in just a few days and thanks you for being patient.
Your sister in Christ,
Diane

Welcome to My Blog - W.I.N. "Women In Need"

~Listen to My Heart & Look with New Eyes to See God's Compassion~

W.I.N. Meeting the Needs of Women and Children in the Philippines and Southeast Asia

“But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? My little children let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.” 1 John 3:17-18

Hello, my name is Diane Arender. I am a Missionary to the Ilocano speaking people of North Luzon, Philippines. I am continuing the work my late husband and I began and following the will of God in my life. As the Filipinos say “by God’s Grace you visited me today”. I am so glad you are here and pray there is something here that will bless you and encourage you. As you travel through and my blog I pray that you will be able to see my heart for the people of the Philippines. But most important I pray that you will be able to see Jesus in me.

Close to my heart is the women’s ministry, W.I.N. “Women In Need”. W.I.N. wants to reach out to the needs of the women and children, not to change their culture but to show them we care by helping them with their physical needs; medical, food, clothing, and education. Then we bring them into the most important part of our ministry, showing them and telling them about the One who loves them so much that He died for their sins, Jesus Christ. We put all direction toward Jesus Christ. We teach them the Word of God and let the Holy Spirit do a work in their heart that only He can do.

So many people in North Luzon have never had medical help. This is an area of the ministry that we are working on. We have some Doctors in the states that are interested in coming over and doing medical missions along side some Filipino doctors that are willing to donate their time to help the people in the remote areas here. W.I.N. distributes maternity packs to new mothers in these areas. We have people in the states that ship us baby cloth diapers, diapers pins, newborn t-shirts, baby blankets, soap, baby washcloths, etc. and we put them in packs and go out and search for women in need of these things. Have you ever looked into the eyes of a women fixing to deliver and she has nothing to put on her new born child? I have, and I think my pain is greater than theirs. I think I leave a piece of my heart in these mountains every time I go up there. Our supporting Churches also donate clothes to be distributed in our area. Again, the look in the eyes of a little girl or little boy when they receive a dress or pair of pants and shirt is priceless. Material things are not important to the people in the areas that we work in for the Lord. I have learned so much from the Filipino people. Their hearts are real and friendships true.

Another area of prayer for W.I.N. is the feeding program. This program is having a big impact on the people in the mountain area and in the rebel territory. Doors are being opened so please pray for this ministry.
They know us and know why we are here, but there is still much work to be done to gain their trust. They are learning we are here for only one reason, to bring Jesus Christ to a lost and dying place. At times you will think that it is a forgotten place. The mountains of North Luzon has its own mysteries.

W.I.N. is becoming well known in our area for helping children with school supplies. We get shipments from our churches with boxes of school supplies for the children in our area. Just like the maternity packs we put together school supplies packs for all grades. We are able to supply tracts and Bible in these packs. The Bible and tracts gives us the opportunity to share with them Eternal life through Jesus Christ. The schools will allow us to give out Bibles, there is only one rule, we have to have enough to give one to every child in the school. Thanks to “BEAMS “and “Bearing Precious Seed” we are able to follow this rule. We also give out many “John and Romans” books.

W.I.N. is teaching the women in the churches planted how to reach out to the needs of the community around them. W.I.N. is also teaching the women the biblical way of the home and church. Their culture is very difficult and it can sometimes be difficult for them to understand God’s plan for the home and church. God is working in the Philippines through Potters Clay Ministry and W.I.N. and I know that His plan will be accomplished.

Please Pray for this ministry!
“Be careful for nothing: but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” Philippians 4:6

We believe in the power of prayer and we know that the effectiveness of this ministry will come from the support of dedicated Christians who partner with us in prayer. A great part of the success of our mission rest on those who partner with us in prayer. Please be aware of the regular, special and emergency needs that we communicate through our website, prayer letters, blog and email.

Email: diane@pottersclayministry.com

My Testimony

The fact that I am a woman does not make me a different kind of Christian, but the fact that I am a Christian makes me a different kind of woman. For I have accepted God’s idea of me, and my whole life is an offering back to Him of all that I am and all that He wants me to be.

I was raised in a Christian Home, and taught to love and obey God. In June, 1970 I gave my life and heart to Jesus as my Savior. My parents made sure I was in Church and they always tried to teach me the right things of life according to “thus saith the Lord”. My mother was a working mother so I spent a lot of time with my grandmother. The one person that I wanted my life to be patterned by was her. She loved the Lord in a way that was and still is so real and genuine. She gave her talents for the Lord without question. She taught me about being a Christian, how to be a lady, a wife, and a mother. She went to be with her Lord in May 2009 at the age of 97. She ministered all the days of her life. She was in a nursing home (of her own choice) ministering to the shut-in’s as she calls them. I always saw the reflection of Jesus Christ in her.
All Christian women should be courageous, patient, longsuffering, joyous, loving, kind, and flexible. Yet, she also has to be mother, wife, homemaker, nurse, teacher, etc. I am sure that you get the picture. But, you know what? When my husband answered his call into the ministry twenty five years ago, I was not qualified, how could I be a Pastor’s wife, I was doing all I could do being a mother and wife, working a full time job and keeping my home in order! God, help me! And, you know what? He did! God is there for us just in time. He comforted me and has never left me since. Now, sometimes I have put Him behind me thinking I could do things better my way, but found out very quickly I was not in control. My husband answered a new call from God, “Missionary”, and now I am a missionary. I am also a mother and grandmother “Granna” and leaving our children and grandchildren behind is the hardest thing we have yet been asked to do. As Christians we make sacrifices and my husband and I have been obedient to the call of God. Duane, my husband of 32 years, gave his life on the mission field and now I am continuing this work and the will of God in my life. God expects us to obey Him whatever the cost. He will sustain and take care of it all.
I am a missionary to the North Luzon, Philippines. The women of the Philippines need ministering to and this is a task the Lord has given me to help accomplish for Him. (Please see W.I.N. “Women In Need” our women’s outreach ministry). The needs over here are great and the women need to k now that God loves them and cares for them. I love the Filipino people and now we call this “home”.

God is still molding me for His service and glory. God is never finished with our lives until we meet Him face to face. Therefore, I know that God is still taking me and shaping me as the potter does the clay to make me a better woman for His ministry. I pray every day to be the wife, mother, grandmother and the woman that he wants me to be and to do everything that glorifies Him in my life.

Who ever you are and what ever walk of life you come form, a Pastor’s wife, Missionary’s wife, Deacon’s wife, or Christian woman be encouraged, because God is your refuge and your fortress. One of my favorite Scriptures is Psalm 91:1-2. “He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: My God, in Him I will trust.”

If you are a woman without Christ in your life, know that He wants to be your Savior and your fortress. Read Romans 10:9; Romans 10:13; John 3:16 and Romans 5:8. Also, you can contact us on our web site for any help you may need or for prayer.

“Miracles happen continually to those who have the eyes to see.”

THE A TEAM

OUR FAMILY THE “A”(Arender) TEAM
"And all thy children shall be taught of the Lord; and great shall be the peace of thy children". Isaiah. 54:13
Duane and I married on September 10, 1976. The Lord blessed us with four sons; now all are men and three are married and beginning their families. All of our sons have been saved by the blood of Jesus Christ. All of our sons love the Lord and seek His will in their lives. Our oldest son, Joshua Duane was born March 14, 1978, and is married to Amanda Wheat. Joshua is an electrician by profession. Joshua and Amanda work with the youth in their church in Mississippi. Amanda grew up in the McComb area and her Dad is a Baptist preacher. They have our first grandson Joshua Slater, born September 16, 2009. Justin William was born April 16, 1980 and is married to Angie Black. They have three daughters, Laken Nichole, born March 10, 2004; Lauren Olivia, born August 30, 2005; and Laci Alexandria, born February 7, 2007. Angie grew up as a deacon's daughter and her brother is a Baptist preacher. Justin surrendered to preach in 2003 and is now going to Bible College and working as a diesel mechanic. Justin and Angie are involved in many ministries in their church. Justin helps with the prison ministry of the church. Joel Ladd was born August 15, 1982 and is married to Lindsey Smith. They have one daughter, Presley Elizabeth, born September 21, 2005. Lindsay also grew up as a deacon's daughter and her grandfather was a Baptist Preacher. Her grandfather was our pastor when Duane and I got married. Joel and Lindsey are very active workers in Summerland Baptist Church in Mississippi. Joel and Lindsey both teach Sunday school and help with Awana’s. Joel is employed by Georgia Pacific. The Lord blessed a few years later by giving us Jon Aaron. He was born November 2, 1988. Jon is now 20, loves the Lord, and seeking for God's will to be done in his life. Jon is beginning a new job as an electrician and furthering his education in this profession after two years of Junior College. He will be working with his brother Joshua while going to school. We are a great distance from him, but we know that the Lord will always be close and watching over Jon. Please pray for all of our family as we are now on a new chapter of our lives, without Duane. The Lord brought him home to glory. The boys grew up knowing that the Ministry is our way of life so they understand why I am still in the Philippines continuing what God has set for me to do. It is all about Christ and His will for our lives and we will always seek and obey Him!
"... :but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." Joshua 24:15

W.I.N. "Women In Need"

Saturday, January 10, 2009

Please Forgive Me

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Welcome to My Blog - W.I.N. "Women In Need"

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THE A TEAM

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