Esther in High School

Esther officially started her high school career on August 6, 2009. She is now living in Davao City and attending Faith Academy Mindanao. It is an international school that was started in 1984 to educated the children of missionaries in Asia. We are so thankful that Faith Academy is so near Tagum City.

Esther will be living with friends in Davao City and traveling home almost every weekend.

Esther's Locker

Her new life is a challenge and yet it is one that will prepare her well for the plans that God has for her future. We are shouting God's praise.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord,

"... plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

Janna Emily Casayas

On July 9, 2009, Abel and Idylyn Casayas welcomed Janna Emily into their family. Abel and Idylyn both work for NEOS and have been married for 2 years. Please pray for this precious family as they adjust to their new roles and responsibilities.

Esther's Graduation

On June 14, 2009, we had a simple graduation ceremony for Esther. She has officially graduated from homeschool. Esther attended Phoster Place Academy in our home for all of her years of schooling. She only went to formal school for the first semester of first grade. All the rest of her schooling has been done at home with Valerie.

Esther recently took an entrance exam for Faith Academy in Davao City. She passed with flying colors. She should do very well in a formal schooling situation. Her teacher has prepared her well. Please pray for Esther has she enters a new chapter in her life in early August 2009.

Vacation Bible School 2009

April 20-24, 2009, was the 18th annual Vacation Bible School (VBS) at the NEOS Fellowship Center. Our theme this year was the Armor of God. The students learned only one Bible verse was during the entire week, Ephesians 6:11. We had a total of 232 children registered with 43 decisions for Christ. Esther teaching the Bible verse

The best part was that Esther, our eldest child, was the Bible verse teacher for the week. This was her first time to teach in front of that many students and she did a super job. The amazing thing was that she taught in the local dialect of Cebuano. Yeah Esther!!!

Easter in Tagum

On April 12, 2009, we had the annual Easter celebration at our home in Tagum. Each year we invite the children of NEOS to our home in the afternoon of Easter Sunday. The children sit nicely on the porch while Valerie tells them the Easter story. She uses elaborate props to help the children see what Jesus did for them.

One child even volunteers to be Jesus. Valerie places a crown of thorns on the child's head, uses a simulated cat-of-nine-tails, and places a purple robe on the volunteer Jesus.

After the story she explains the fun part of Easter and why eggs

are used. She tells the children that eggs are a symbol of the new life that Jesus gives to each one who chooses to accept His gift of eternal life.

Then, after the stories, the children get to run in our front yard and find the Easter eggs that the adults have hidden. What a delight to not only hear what Jesus did for them but to also have some fun at the same time.

Two children prayed to receive Christ as a result of the Easter celebration in our home this April 2009.

Celebrating Married Men & Women

On March 26, 2009, Mike and Valerie spoke to the government men of Comval Province. They encouraged the men in the areas of love languages, communication, and intimacy. Over 200 married men joined the seminar that day.

On November 12, 2008, Mike and Valerie did the exact same seminar for the women of the province. It was titled Celebrating Married Women.

Both seminars have had a wonderful response. Marriages are doing better because of the encouragement that was given to the couples.

The Voice of Truth

On March 16, 2009, Valerie spoke to the provincial employees of Davao del Norte. The theme was "Women: the Voice for God's Creation-the Earth." Valerie made an acronym for the word TRUTH. Her goal was to help the employees apply the lessons from 2 Timothy 3:16 to their lives. She encouraged them to be a Voice of Truth to the people around them.

T = Teach and Toil now while your children are still living in your home

R = Rebuke and find the Rotten weeds in their character

U = Usher them to the correct way by Uprooting their rotten character traits

T = Train them by doing all of this over and over until they can Thrive in the world

Then your family will be one that is:

H = Helpful to others and will bring about a rich Harvest of blessings

God wants you to be a Voice of Truth.

copyright by Valerie W. Boado, 2009

Outland Adventure

                                                                
      

     On January 10, 2009, twenty of us from NEOS went to Davao City to enjoy a day on the Outland Adventure ropes course.  

  All of us made it over the wall.

  Esther going over the wall. 

  

   It was a wonderful day of fun, hard work, exercise, learning to work together, and spiritual growth as a NEOS Family.

                    

      

 

Oshany and Rowena.   

     

      

Esther and Alvin.   

           

        

   We are so thankful to the staff at Outlands.  They taught us to face each challenge with patience and teamwork.   We plan on returning again next year.   

Christmas at NEOS 2008

   We have now completed all 12 of our NEOS Christmas parties.   We had a total of nearly 800 people come through all 12 parties.  This number includes both children and adults.   The true reason for Christmas was presented at the parties.   All the children received some token to take home with them.   Thank you to those of you who have sent fast food toys and pencils so that we could share them with the children.   We were also able to give the hotel and airline tokens that many of you have shared with us -- soaps, shampoos, toothbrushes, combs, .... We enjoyed sharing these with the adults and youth at their parties.   

Thank you so much for everything. 

                   The NEOS Family. 

  

Party with 120 students at a 

local elementary school.   

The Way That I Take

   I want to inform you that I, Valerie, have started my own personal blog.   I am writing the story of my 20 years in the Philippines.   I am going to write slowly and carefully.  As I reflect on my years in the Philippines, I can really see what God has been doing in my life.   

   If you would like to take the journey with me, please check my blog about once a week or so to read the story and catch the next segments.   

   When you go to the blog for the first time, please find the very first segment/post titled, My Testimony.   Please read that entry first and then follow the other entries in order.   That way you will get the story in its entirety.   

   Here is the link:   www.thewaythatitakeval.blogspot.com

   You may also access this new blog by going to the right side of this NEOS blog.  Find the Web Links section.   The very first web link is Val's Blog.   Click it.   Now, enjoy The Way That I Take.   

 

The Boado Band

 Dec. 6, 2008

       Here is a video that has all three Boado kids in it.  DeeAnn (9 yrs old) is singing, Esther (14 yrs old) is playing the electric guitar, and Steven (12 yrs old) is playing the bass guitar.  Also, Eugene is playing the drums and James is playing the electric piano.     This video was taken during the same Good News Class Christmas party where the video of Steven playing the saxophone was taken.   For some reason, this video cuts off almost at the end of the song.   I am not sure what happened.   But, we still think you will enjoy.   

Steven on the Saxophone

Dec. 6, 2008

     Here is a video of Steven playing the saxophone during the NEOS Good News Class Christmas party.   I am sorry that the picture is not very clear.   I am still learning how to use the camera.   But, you can really hear him playing the saxophone and , .....   it will put joy in your heart.   There is actually a full band playing with him.   Eugene is on the drums, Esther is playing the electric keyboard, and Abel is playing the electric guitar.   Now, for your information, Steven is 12 years old and has been playing the saxophone for less than a year now.  See if you can name that tune.   Enjoy!!!