Takedowns and Provision: Our Manila Tournament Weekend

We were so blessed by our time in the Philippines these last weeks, especially our final weekend! When we arrived, we weren't sure how long we’d stay, but we knew we wanted to get Jeremiah plugged into a gym immediately.

I found a place within walking distance run by a Filipino national whose bio identified him as a follower of Christ using martial arts to disciple youth. Jackpot. Jeremiah connected instantly with the coach, his family, and the community. Our urban location had been a bit of a cultural shock, and various challenges were making the month difficult for our family. I truly believe God saw us and provided Gentle Warrior Jiu-Jitsu as a special provision for Jeremiah.

The team invited Jeremiah to a tournament in Manila last weekend. After praying and receiving generous support from some of you to cover the expenses, Jeremiah, Mordecai, and I headed off for a "boys' weekend."


Manila was another world—the traffic alone was enough to induce culture shock! However, we found a room near the venue, which was held in the center of an enormous mall. The energy was incredible; Filipinos truly love their volume and excitement!

Jeremiah competed in, and won five matches, staying focused and coachable throughout. The highlight was Sunday, when he won the Adult Men’s White Belt Open Weight Division. He faced bigger, stronger opponents in every match, finding victory through sheer determination. It was thrilling to watch!

I am so thankful for how God provides specific relationships at exactly the right time. I’m grateful for the friends and family He has blessed me with, and that through those connections, my son is being blessed as well.

A quick side note: We are back in Chiang Mai (more on that in the next post!). We are staying connected with Coach Hamir and his son, Ali. They may even visit for a tournament at the end of March. Hamir and I are also discussing future martial arts ministry opportunities—something I’m always excited to engage in.

Love you all and God bless,

JP 



Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

2025 Ministry Report

Image
  The Pocock Family Missions 2025 ministry report Fun fact to keep you reading: The Pocock family took 23 flights in 2025 and Brit did it with a baby on her lap!!  2025 was a year of challenge and adventure for our family.  The Lord worked in us in many ways and through us in ways we may not see until the day we see clearly!  It was a year of change, growth, networking, fellowship and obedience. It was hard in ways that drew us closer to the Lord and in ways that transformed us for the better. We were greeted with exciting news at the end of the year. At the end of the year we found out we were expecting baby Pocock #5. Our family is excited to see a new Pocock face and excited to see how the Lord will provide for all our needs in  2026. Ministry engagements by Month, countries served in and the opportunities we were allotted.  January : Mexico ; YWAM Rancho Abierto , Bible School for the Nations. Rancho Abierto is a YWAM base that is set up to transform th...
Read more

The Almighty's Ongoing Conversation (From a Raised Hand to a Ministry Launched)

Image
  Hola amigos! If you're reading this, it's likely because of your love for our family, and for that, we are so thankful! We've talked about starting a newsletter for years, and with so much to share and celebrate, we can’t put it off any longer. As I write this, I’m sitting in Phuket, Thailand . Being here has deep and special meaning for our family and our faith. Yesterday, Britt and I visited Phuket Christian Centre (PCC) . Twenty years ago, this was the place where Britt was introduced to Jesus. I still remember it. During an altar call, the pastor asked anyone who wanted to know more about Jesus to raise a hand while everyone else kept their heads bowed and eyes closed. Typically, Britt would be downtown shopping while I was at church, but not that day. She describes feeling no conscious desire to know God, yet she felt her hand go up involuntarily. A woman in the congregation approached her, but Britt felt a bit weirded out and only engaged enough to be polite. But in...
Read more

Ministry Update: From Singapore to Northern Thailand

Image
Ministry Update: From Singapore to Northern Thailand It has been just over two months since our last update, and so much has happened! Our last report came from Phuket, where we reflected on our time in India and Malaysia and remembered what God did in our lives there nearly 20 years ago. (If you missed that post, https://thepocockfamilymission.blogspot.com/2025/10/the-almightys-ongoing-conversation-from.html ). Singapore & The Pan-Asian Conference We recently attended Heartbeat International’s Pan-Asian Conference in Singapore. The training was top-notch, but the greatest blessing was the fellowship. We connected with humble, gifted leaders from across Asia—some there for the week, others for a lifetime. We were also super blessed to connect with friends from Mexico there. We met the Sho family in Mexico and they were a special blessing to us in our last days in Singapore. Making memories with the Sho family in Singapore. It was a joy to reconnect with these dear friends from our ...
Read more