Dear Friends,

We are writing to give you an update as many have inquired about our safety. We are safe and doing fine at the moment...just the normal tensions and stress over the crisis. Since the war began, we decided to stay on our compound only and not go outside for now. The boys are out of school for a holiday until Monday, then we will decide about whether they will go to school in the next week. The boys are anxious also, but seem to be coping ok.

As you know, the Philippines harbor terrorist and different militant groups. These groups have mostly been active south of us. However, there are some in Luzon, which is the large island we live on. So far, there have been no incidents since the Davao bombing and the Philippine government and military have been pro-active in security and intelligence. There has been good law enforcement here in Baguio. The President of the Philippines has been openly supportive of the US led war in Iraq as a means to prevent all acts of terrorism in the Philippines, especially bioterrorism. As you know, the political alliance between the US and Philippines is tight but always controversial. There has been a growing anti-American sentiment, especially in metro Manila. This situation is something to monitor.

So as you can see, we are in no immediate danger here on this large mountain and city of Baguio. We are currently assessing and monitoring the local and national situation as the war unfolds. We may still have to evacuate and we are prepared to do so.

On a lighter news note....we graduated 77 seminary students on March 7th. Nine of those were ABGTS graduate students who have left to go back to their Asian countries to lead their people. We also "sent out " 34 students and 2 faculty on PBTS' historic first short-term mission trip abroad. Many Filipinos have never been out of the country and done cross-cultural missions. Please pray for them as they are in Indochina, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, and Myanmar for 4-6 weeks. Also, please pray they will not contact the SARS virus. Debbie started her CPE (Clinical Pastoral Education) this week with four students who are all Filipinos. West Baguio Baptist Church has recently had 2 professions of faith and finally after one year has secured a pastor who has been a seminary student here. We are happy.

We are deeply appreciative of your faithful prayers and love, which has sustained us from the beginning of this mission journey until even now...and into the future days ahead. Please know we are praying for you all too and invite you to send us "specific prayer request." In these uncertain days, we continue to place our hope and trust in a mighty loving God who is always in control in the midst of humanity's choices and free will acts. We hope the following quotes will be meaningful to you as they have been to us:

"Prayer is not an old woman's idle amusement. Properly understood and applied, it is the most potent instrument of action."

"Prayer is the means by which we surrender our burdens, accept our limitations, see the next step, and receive spiritual endurance to go on in God's strength rather than our own."
Debra Evans, Kindred Hearts

"The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their cry."
Ps. 34:15

We love you and keep you always in our hearts,

Deb, Flint, Ben, and Chris