Just a quick update to say that the Philippines team made it
back. The team is currently at the hotel resting after a very long trip. They are all excited to get home tomorrow.
Sorry about the title length...I just thought it would be fun!
This is our last week here, and I can't believe that things have gone by so quickly. With this being our last few days before debrief we have been winding down quite a bit. On Tuesday we had the awesome opportunity to meet a family from Australia.
10 years ago this family came to Cebu where they adopted their son Daryl when he was just two and a half years old. Now, they have come back with their whole family to show him where he came from. The family, Dave (the dad) Wendi (the mom) and their children Beth, Daryl, and Janelle, were such a joy to be around. We met them for lunch at a Filipino BBQ restaurant, and then spent the afternoon souvenir shopping and relaxing at a park.
I learned many different things about Australia, which further peaked my interest in going there, and embarrassed myself by falling down in some mud. (Yes family, I am still a klutz. Even in foreign countries) Then we headed back to "R Place" with our Canadian friend Rhonda, had some pizza, with bananas on it, and then said our goodbyes. It is so interesting how God can bring together so many different cultures in one place. Yet despite these differences, we have one thing in common. We are all a part of the family of God.
I wouldn't be surprised if our team broke an AIM record for "most DRIME performances in the period of 3 days" this last week. The students had the amazing oppurtunity of performing their DRIME 25 times for 1500+ students and parents at Basak Elementary School.
We moved from classroom to classroom, spending between 20 and 30 minutes with the children. I led the kids in some silly songs, the team performed their DRIME, and then Ruben, Sharon, and Joy (our hosts) led the students through a time of discussion and the sharing of the gospel. We ended each class time with a prayer. I have to say that it was pretty amazing watching little heads bowed in prayers of salvation to the Lord. I wouldn't doubt that there were many seeds that fell on good soil within those three days. God is GOOD!
Our team participated in a week long movie fast this last week. It may seem like a silly thing, fasting from movies, but we found it to be very beneficial to the dynamic of our team. In the time that we would normally be watching a movie, we decided to focus that time on team teaching, quiet time, discipleship, and ministry prep.
Chad began the week by teaching about fasting. Since most of the team does not have any experience with fasting, this was a great oppurtunity for learning. Along with this, I was also able to teach on Abiding in Christ, which really goes hand-in-hand with the discipline of fasting. We ended the week by breaking the fast. On monday evening we watched "The Passion of Christ" and then took the students through an activity. They went from station to station reading about the different symbols of the cross and what they meant in relation to God's gift to us through the crucifixion. At each station they participated in an activity of surrender.
Doing this simple fast, really seemed to refocus the team as we are nearing the end of our trip. Hopefully we will take the concepts that we learned about surrendering and abiding this week and use them as we finish our last two weeks here.
Here are some photos of us making jewlery with the women of "R Place." They provide a way for women to make their own small businesses to create income for their families, and this is just one of their many enterprises. The girls and I had so much fun making jewlery and hearing the testimonies of the many women there.
Today for the second time, our team went to worship service in Lorega. Lorega is a place where the people are literally living among the dead. Above the tombs of a cemetary rise the homes of the people living there.
When we first went to Lorega, the team described that it felt very heavy there. As you can imagine, the spiritual world in a cemetary is very real and very thick. We made our way toward the church as we stepped around the tombs of those burried there. Following American custom, I tried my best not to step on them, but then I quickly noticed that this was not such a concern in Lorega. To my right, a goat sleeps under the hot sun on top of one tomb, and to my right a lady takes a siesta on one as well. All around me homes are growing up from the tombs. One of our hosts said "to some, the tombs are their dining tables." It was quite the sight to see.
Yet amidst all the death and the darkness, a light rose out of this area in the form of Lorega Church. Under the cover of a tin roof, decorated with colorful cloth, and filled with plastic stools, was Lorega Church. It is the light in this dark place. The people of Lorega are plagued by gangs, drug and alcohol abuse, prostitution, and extreme poverty, yet this church is reaching in to the depths of this sin, and pulling people out alive. Though the congregation was small, their faith in the Father is very big. I was incredibly blessed to worship with them, to talk to them, and to see God work through them. This is God at work in its most raw form, and it is a beautiful thing.
We are almost half-way through our trip now! The experiences have been incredible. I have learned much about God's character through the people I have met, and the conditions I have witnessed. Many of the people that I have met are living in extreme poverty, struggling with hunger, lack of work opportunities, addictions, etc. However, these people are also extremely kind and generous. The believers that we have met in the slums have a certain joy and hope in them that is truly inspiring. God has changed their lives around, turning them from lifestyles of pain and difficulties, to a life driven by God. After hearing their stories and witnessing their joy, it is evident that God is here and so powerful and merciful. He has been faithful in these people's lives. He is also showing me a tremendous amount of mercy and grace, as well as His constant love and faithfullness. He has shown me many things in my own life and faith through this trip. He is teaching me about what it means to truly love others. I am extremely thankful and excited to learn even more about God's character as the trip continues!
I am a student of prayer. From the beginning of this trip, at training camp, I have been convicted about my prayer life (or lackthereof, rather). Through His word, God has taught me to pray. There are some amazing prayer warriors in the Bible, and Jesus Himself gives us an example of what we should pray. In a place where the poverty is overwhelming and I sometimes feel helpless to do anything, Christ has armed me with three weapons: His love for people, the Holy Spirit, and prayer.
This verse in 2 Chronicles was the beginning of my journey through the Word: "If my people, who are called, humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. Now my eyes will be open and my ear attentive to the prayer that is made in this place" (7:14-15)
From there I began to read Daniel, and these are the things that I learned from this prayer warrior:
-Humble myself before God (Daniel 4:34)
-Ask for God's mercy (Daniel 2:18, Luke 18:13)
-Pray continually (Daniel 16:10, 16 and 1 Thess 5:17)
-Petition, plea before God (Daniel 6:11)
-Trust God (Daniel 6:23)
-Obey God's voice by walking in the law He has set before me (Daniel 9:10)
-Lastly, but not least, BE BOLD IN CHRIST! (Genesis 33:22, Acts 4:29-31)
That's just a little of what God has been teaching me. Learning to rely on God, utilize the power of the Holy Spirit, and applying what I've learned about prayer in my life by abiding in Christ, are things I struggle with everyday as I try to lay down my life for Him who laid His down for me. But loving these people is a JOY! They are so full of life and affection, that loving them is not difficult but a blessing! I just pray that they see that my love for them is CHRIST'S and not mine. I love it here and pray that I will live this remaining month to the FULLEST!
We are almost halfway through our trip and it has already been unforgettable. The culture in Cebu is completely different from in the states, but I have not felt overwhelmed by it. One of the main reasons I've adjusted so well is the people. Our hosts are incredible and everyone we meet is super friendly. Their way of life, the simplicity and the humor is so addicting.
God has really been laying his word on my heart lately. I have realized that it's important for me to memorize scripture so that they come to me in my times of need as well as in others. It's crazy how useful the verses I have already memorized have been. The things I read in my quiet time seem to always pop up later in the day. By learning more about the word I have learned more about the Lord's character and about His creation. The first verses I memorized were Deuteronomy 6:4-9 which have inspired me to keep learning. Keep praying for our team and that we continue to learn without taking even one day for granted. Thanks!
I just wanted to give a quick update regarding the Philippines team. As you may or may not know, a tropical depression went through the area at about 4pm Wednesday or 4am Thursday local time. I just spoke with our hosts in the Philippines and he said the team is safe, doing well, and that there is no cause for concern. They did experienced some strong rain and winds but they weathered the storm and are doing fine. The team continues to do very well in the Philippines and with out a doubt is being used for God's Kingdom purposes. I look forward to hearing more stories of all that God does in and through this team.
