the Lord your God is with you
Lying in bed at night with your eyes open,wondering if anyone is thinking of you. Searching for that one who will love you the way you need to be loved. Blinking back tears as you seek and then you hurt. Compromising for less than you looked for because you think you have to. Losing trust in everyone and everything. Grappling for the hope that true affection exists.
He is mighty to save
There is an odd hole in the human heart. Not one that you can see or poke your finger through. It is a deep and dark and empty place. It is this void that makes the poets fill their paper with words and singers spit out lyrics that become melodies that become hits. It is not something that is very talked about. This thought that every person is somehow broken. That, when you look clearly, life is merely a quest to fix the broken thing inside. And that most attempts to do so end in heartache and the cycle of searching repeats itself.
He will take great delight in you
This missing element inside each being is not as complex and confusing as it seems. She wants to be loved. He wants to be loved. I want to be loved. You want to be loved. It is as simple as that. And all of us desire a flawless and unconditional love that we can't seem to locate.
He will quiet you with His love
My view of God has changed alot over the past year. I remember the days I would feel sad and hopeless and I would hear a sweet whisper in my ear,"I want to fill that void you have. I want you for my own. Let me love you." This was the voice of God. He wanted to be closer to me than my family and friends. He wanted to have a romance with me.
He will rejoice over you with singing
For me and for all of us who long to be truly loved, there is a God. A God who whispers in your ear. A God who is protective of you. A God who will hold you. A God who promises you can trust Him and then doesn't let you down. A Zephaniah 3:17 God. A God who knows when to listen and when to speak. A God who adequately fills the void in hearts and satisfies the longing to be loved. A God who wants a romance with you.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Monday, August 11, 2008
Summer 2008
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A little over two months ago there was a girl in an airport.She is crying and hugging those around her. She cannot see what is about happen or even guess what will unfold as she heads off on a journey over the earth. She doesn't know that God, who has sent her on this journey, is about to change everything she is and everything she is about. The hands who have guided her to this moment in the airport will soon guide her into danger. The hands will toss her onto an obscure island in the Pacific Ocean. This moment, though she has no idea as she waves to the people she knows and loves so dearly, will change her life.
June 3rd- Plane ride from Jacksonville,Florida to Dallas,Texas
"Feeling scared. I can't help but cry as I think of all the people I left standing in the airport a few hours ago. I can't believe I am actually doing this. A trip to the Philippines to share the gospel in unreached areas sounded great four months ago. But, now I am on my way. I have been praying nonstop for protection from God as I sit by the window and look out into the blur of the storm. I am worried because I will have seven minutes to board my flight in Dallas thanks to the delay in leaving Jacksonville. If I miss my flight in Texas.... this could be bad. The flight attendant just asked if I was flying alone. I said yes but meant no. I feel terrified but safe at the same time. He's with me and so are the prayers of the ones I have left behind. That's all I can be sure about"
June 5th- Davao City, Philippines (Orientation)
"Long three straight days of flying. I am jetlagged and tired right now. But, I am safely here. Wow, the Philippines is different. The streets are insane. No traffic laws.Riding in a jeepney...thats different for sure...there was monsoon rain and the tires were submerged in water. Everyone's pretty shocked I am sixteen. There is fifty one college students and one highschool student-me. The missionary leader says I win the prize for youngest this year. I am holding up fairly well-not terribley lonely yet. Tonite we went out and ate chicken on a stick and gummy rice(gotta get used to that stuff-could barely eat it,ew). I have met my whole team. They all are friendly. We are in somewhat of a hostile tonight but tommorro move into tents. Ok, jetlag is forcing sleep on me. Can't wait for the next few days..."
June 6th- Davao jungle
"It's me laying my mat and sweatin a ton in the middle of the Philippines jungle. I am in a tent with Leah. I haven't ever been so hot and yet it is raining so hard. Water is coming in. I miss my family. Heard a message about Nehemiah tonight. Big things can be done in a short amount of time. Found out we are gonna do True Love Waits this summer as a team. Thinking about the twenty four hr prayer chain back home that Mom told me about. Wow, thats incredible.I wonder who is praying for me right now..."
June 12th-Camotes Island, Philippines
"Made it to Camotes. Bamboo huts and motorbikes. This is a beautiful place. The people here are so friendly and will let us in their home whenever we walk up.... This is getting harder... I am lonely now and feeling like God is very far away. I miss mom and home. But I belong here for whatever reason. Taught a bible study, the first one I have ever taught, on Matthew 14. Preached to myself. The storm rages huge outside and I am afraid but I hear a whisper saying,"Do not be afraid it is I"
June 22nd-Camotes Island,Philippines
"A typhoon hit. Very scary. Right now possibly another one on the way. Trees fell, one on the side of the parsonage. Been stuck inside because of it. I can't say I have been through a storm so loud and where it rained so much. Have met some people I am praying for right now. Bruce and Paul. Trying to take my mind off the storm."
June 26th-Camotes Island,Philippines
" Falling in love with a group of kids down a street called Tugas. Been teaching them bible stories. They are so poor and dirty and some of the babies are halfnaked. I wish there was something I could do...Today I had diarhea pretty terrible. It hit me while we were in Poro(the part of the island connected to us by land bridge) Not so good. Took a motorbike back to the parsonage. I feel terrible. I am pretty frustrated with the way we are doing ministry. Throwing tracts and shoving the Gospel down peoples throats. This feels wrong. Are we showing love or just pushing ourselves on the people? Is this God's love in action? I don't know what God is telling me but 1 Corinthiams 13 means something different now all the sudden If I have not love I have nothing..."
July 2nd-Santiago Bay,Philippines ( from resort-on vacation)
"God has humbled me. Inside me I am realizing how forgiving he really is. I was created to love him and for him to love me back and then for me to love the world the way he has loved me. Every person has a desire to be loved unconditionally. I am here to introduce that love and to live out that love tangibly so they might see my Saviour through my life. Wow, tall order. That is my thought in the hammock by the beach.Maybe when ministry is done right it is just who you are, not what you do."
July 18-Camotes Island,Philippines
"We have our last True Love Waits tommorro. I am sure there will be more questions that are tough to answer. Like,"is it ok to be homosexual?"(yes a kid asked that). Nobody warned me that I would be asked questions like that. It is all unexpected here on the field. oh random thought-is there such a thing as a missionary call? I think not. Didn't "go ye therefore" sum it up for us? Evaluating all I have been taught about missions and thinking some of it was probably garbage or maybe most of it. Whoa. My whole idea of God's global purpose is radically altered. "
July 20th-Camotes Island, Philippines
" 'If I were standing by the bank of the stream and some little children were drowning, I would not need any officer of the law to come along and serve on me some legal paper commanding me under such and such penalty to rescue those children. I should despise if I should stand there with the possibility of saving those little lives,waiting until, by some legal proceeding, I was personally designated to rescue them!'-Robert E. Speer"
July 23rd-Camotes Island,Philippines
"Things are wrapping up here on Camotes. The last bible studies and church services are being conducted soon. I will have a hard time saying goodbye but I am ready to see the family. Thanks for showing me all sorts of stuff,God.Never thought I'd be changed this way."
July 22th-Camotes island,Philippines
"Thinking about Liza,a dedicated lady from the church here, trying to follow up on all the bible studies we have began and people we have met while we have been here...could we have done more? will Liza be able to really follow up on all these people? what will happen to our studies and the kids we have taught?"
July 24th-Camotes Island,Philippines
"Block party! Wow. 200 people showed up including Tugas and ate and danced and played and talked with us at the church! This is a legendary day for us here on Camotes. I had so much fun. All our bible study contats showed up and even more people. What a night. I am crying right now, even though tonight has been great, because of Tugas. I looked into the faces of the children I have seen for weeks and taught bible stories for and just bawled at the end of the night at goodbye time. I hugged them over and over. I have fallen in love with them and their dirty hands and feet. Their beautiful almond eyes. They asked me a question that keeps me up tonight. My eyes are swollen and I cannot stop crying. The tears just roll from my eyes uncontrollabley. They questioned,'Who is gonna teach us now?' "
July 28th-Davao,Philippines (Debrief)
"I am planning to GO but willing to stay.I will go until or unless He stops me. No special call, just know theres a need and I know what God wants his disciples to do. That question that was posed by the children will haunt me for the rest of my life, but it was God's plan that they asked it. He is challenging me everytime I think of them. Gotta do Acts 20:24"
July 30th-Hong Kong,China (airport)
"I am about to get on the 13 hr flight. All I am thinking is when I get home missions will have changed for me. When I think missions I will think faces. Faces of hurting men, women, and children on Camotes Island. I will think of their faces daily. Especially the kids in Tugas. I must paint a picture of these faces for others so they too can in a small way be a part of what has happened to me. I am overwhelmed."
The girl is in an airport again. She is surrounded by her family and friends like before.But,this time she is crying tears of joy. She has returned home. But, now her heart aches within her for a country. For an island. For a people. She has seen suffering that she cannot forget. She cannot even try to be who she was when she got on the plane-but then why would she wanna be that girl again? Living in the Third World for two months has opened her eyes. She carries a huge responsibilty now as someone who has seen the faces. She laughs and hugs those people she has missed so incredibley. All the while she thanks the One who has brought her home. She prays her life is a symptom of His grace.
..now I was just a cupbearer to the King...(Neh 1:11)
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Rotten yet cradled
Our team is reaching the end of our journey. With a little over a month already gone, we find ourselves trying to push for the finish with all the heart we have. There is so much we would like to do in these next few weeks. The hardest part is figuring out how to do the things we need to do, and want to do, effectively and unified.
I would say,if I am being honest, that this past month or so has taught me more about how not to do ministry than anything else. It has taken so long it seems to figure out what works and what doesn’t. A lot of tripping and stumbling. One thing I can say I have learned I will illustrate through a story.
After our first True Love Waits seminar,I didn’t blog about these feelings, butI felt fairly confident I hadn’t said anything the students would remember or had even listened to at the time. I was scared to share my age because I knew some of the audience would be older than me and might realize how unqualified I was to be in front as teacher….like,oh, yeah, they send the twelve year old up there to tell us to keep our purity..whatever, what does she know? And I couldn’t argue with that..what did I know? I wrestled with that for days after. I even considered asking Matt to have somebody do my lesson for me. I felt like I had nothing to offer- as a highschooler myself with the same weaknesses and struggles and heartaches. Then, over vacation in beautiful Santiago Bay, I had one of those moments.You know the ones I mean, where something simple that you were blinded to becomes amazingly clear.(random example-when the disciples discovered that they ‘ought to obey God rather than men!!’ No, really,guys? But when it became in their face and personal, even a truth as simple as obedience to God seemed new and bizarre and phenomenal) It came after talking with an American who worked as a teacher in Korea and was vacationing for a few days in our resort. We were talking religion and church backgrounds. I told him my story and got the part where grace comes in and I fall on my knees. It was then, while explaining my testimony of grace, that I realized what I had been running from would find me no matter where I ran. I could ask to sit out on the lessons, I could pretend I am not sixteen, I could act like I knew what I was talking about, I could fake confidence, I could trick the students into thinking maybe I had never messed up and therefore seem more worthy to teach them…but that would mean I was a dirty liar.Actually, I AM terribley unqualified and I stutter. I am too young and I ramble. I am inexpierenced to say the least as a teacher and I run out of things to say. But the glorious moment when I realized my resimay was absolutely dreadful was the moment of spiritual rebirth I longed for. This Saturday I began the lesson with a game. Guess how old Kaylee is. Then I gave my testimony. God took away my pride. That changed everything. And that is grace in action. I am now certain my message is not how wonderful I am because of Christ..my message is how rotten I am, but how forgiving Christ is. Rotten, yet cradled in the very hand of a perfect God.
I would say,if I am being honest, that this past month or so has taught me more about how not to do ministry than anything else. It has taken so long it seems to figure out what works and what doesn’t. A lot of tripping and stumbling. One thing I can say I have learned I will illustrate through a story.
After our first True Love Waits seminar,I didn’t blog about these feelings, butI felt fairly confident I hadn’t said anything the students would remember or had even listened to at the time. I was scared to share my age because I knew some of the audience would be older than me and might realize how unqualified I was to be in front as teacher….like,oh, yeah, they send the twelve year old up there to tell us to keep our purity..whatever, what does she know? And I couldn’t argue with that..what did I know? I wrestled with that for days after. I even considered asking Matt to have somebody do my lesson for me. I felt like I had nothing to offer- as a highschooler myself with the same weaknesses and struggles and heartaches. Then, over vacation in beautiful Santiago Bay, I had one of those moments.You know the ones I mean, where something simple that you were blinded to becomes amazingly clear.(random example-when the disciples discovered that they ‘ought to obey God rather than men!!’ No, really,guys? But when it became in their face and personal, even a truth as simple as obedience to God seemed new and bizarre and phenomenal) It came after talking with an American who worked as a teacher in Korea and was vacationing for a few days in our resort. We were talking religion and church backgrounds. I told him my story and got the part where grace comes in and I fall on my knees. It was then, while explaining my testimony of grace, that I realized what I had been running from would find me no matter where I ran. I could ask to sit out on the lessons, I could pretend I am not sixteen, I could act like I knew what I was talking about, I could fake confidence, I could trick the students into thinking maybe I had never messed up and therefore seem more worthy to teach them…but that would mean I was a dirty liar.Actually, I AM terribley unqualified and I stutter. I am too young and I ramble. I am inexpierenced to say the least as a teacher and I run out of things to say. But the glorious moment when I realized my resimay was absolutely dreadful was the moment of spiritual rebirth I longed for. This Saturday I began the lesson with a game. Guess how old Kaylee is. Then I gave my testimony. God took away my pride. That changed everything. And that is grace in action. I am now certain my message is not how wonderful I am because of Christ..my message is how rotten I am, but how forgiving Christ is. Rotten, yet cradled in the very hand of a perfect God.
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Our team left San Fransisco(our home city) on thursday for a little barangai called San Jose. It was crazy far up a mountain and pretty secluded. The road up, on a jeepney, was ridiculous. I think everyone almost puked by the time we reached the destination. We stayed in a barangai hall, which is pretty much just a giant room and a bathroom. As soon as we got there we realized we were the main attraction..the hall had "windows" all around that were just rails that let air in. The kids from the neighborhood, sometimes sixty at a time, would hold onto the bars and just stare at us all day and some of the night. Awkward, maybe? Nope, thats the Philippines.
We met the neighborhood for the first couple days. Oneday me and a Matt and Leah trekked up a path leading farther up the mountain. Once we reached a little village, we had a bible study for about 15 people.There was a older lady with her five-month old grandbaby in her arms, rocking back and forth on her feet. I smiled and turned around to listen to what was going on in the study. A few minutes later, I turned around again and the lady was still on her feet as the baby randomly criedout and fussed. It suddenly occured to me that I was passing up an opportunity to love..I motioned to hold her precious grandson. She placed him in my arms willingly and sat down to attentively listen. I realized so far, over the past month, that love is not just a spoken word. It's not a tract. It's not a sermon. It's not a bible study. Love is sacrifice in any form. Sacrifice your time, desires, energy and love someone else. Jetter told me that people don't care how much you know until they know how much you care. Corny and I have heard that before but its relevant now.
The seminar was all day Saturday for juniors and seniours in the local highschool. Nerves got to me, especially at first, but I made it through the lesson. I was intimadated by the group of students looking at me, some older than me... I knew I was unqualified, but I was the one in front and I had to teach this thing no matter what. I taught about what real purity is and how you can regain it even if you've lost it. I told them about the forgiveness of God and His love. Looking back, I can't believe I actually did it. I haven't ever taught something like that before, especially not to my peers. In a foreighn country. Up a mountain. God carried me through it though.
So, its been a month. I want to think of all the things I have done now that I couldn't say I had done a month ago...
1.Woke up to roosters crowing incessantly
2.Bathed by bucket
3.Ridden a motorcycle
4.Ridden a motorcycle without a helmet
5.Helped teach true Love Waits
6.Watched a kid relieve himself right in front of me while I taught a bible study
7.Sang at a karoake bar
8. Looked up while bathing to stare into the face of an iguana
9.Eaten peanut butter for breakfast and lunch pretty much everyday
10.Seen a huge roasted pig being carried through a market
11.Washed my clothes my bucket(I'm not so good at it, they still smell a little after they're dry)
12.Seen a beetle kite(these gianormous beetles that fly were in the barangai where we stayed and kids would tie strings to them and fly them-no joke)
13. Ridden in a jeepney
14.Carried around my own toilet paper in my purse
15.Sang a Cebuano song
16.Seen a spider as big as my hand
17.Eaten fresh coconut
18.Had diarhea and constipation in the same day (...how does that happen?)
19. Been so tired of my hair(if its chopped off when I get back, don't be surprised!)
20.Looked out a window and found sixty plus kids staring back
Alright, peace. I'm out.
We met the neighborhood for the first couple days. Oneday me and a Matt and Leah trekked up a path leading farther up the mountain. Once we reached a little village, we had a bible study for about 15 people.There was a older lady with her five-month old grandbaby in her arms, rocking back and forth on her feet. I smiled and turned around to listen to what was going on in the study. A few minutes later, I turned around again and the lady was still on her feet as the baby randomly criedout and fussed. It suddenly occured to me that I was passing up an opportunity to love..I motioned to hold her precious grandson. She placed him in my arms willingly and sat down to attentively listen. I realized so far, over the past month, that love is not just a spoken word. It's not a tract. It's not a sermon. It's not a bible study. Love is sacrifice in any form. Sacrifice your time, desires, energy and love someone else. Jetter told me that people don't care how much you know until they know how much you care. Corny and I have heard that before but its relevant now.
The seminar was all day Saturday for juniors and seniours in the local highschool. Nerves got to me, especially at first, but I made it through the lesson. I was intimadated by the group of students looking at me, some older than me... I knew I was unqualified, but I was the one in front and I had to teach this thing no matter what. I taught about what real purity is and how you can regain it even if you've lost it. I told them about the forgiveness of God and His love. Looking back, I can't believe I actually did it. I haven't ever taught something like that before, especially not to my peers. In a foreighn country. Up a mountain. God carried me through it though.
So, its been a month. I want to think of all the things I have done now that I couldn't say I had done a month ago...
1.Woke up to roosters crowing incessantly
2.Bathed by bucket
3.Ridden a motorcycle
4.Ridden a motorcycle without a helmet
5.Helped teach true Love Waits
6.Watched a kid relieve himself right in front of me while I taught a bible study
7.Sang at a karoake bar
8. Looked up while bathing to stare into the face of an iguana
9.Eaten peanut butter for breakfast and lunch pretty much everyday
10.Seen a huge roasted pig being carried through a market
11.Washed my clothes my bucket(I'm not so good at it, they still smell a little after they're dry)
12.Seen a beetle kite(these gianormous beetles that fly were in the barangai where we stayed and kids would tie strings to them and fly them-no joke)
13. Ridden in a jeepney
14.Carried around my own toilet paper in my purse
15.Sang a Cebuano song
16.Seen a spider as big as my hand
17.Eaten fresh coconut
18.Had diarhea and constipation in the same day (...how does that happen?)
19. Been so tired of my hair(if its chopped off when I get back, don't be surprised!)
20.Looked out a window and found sixty plus kids staring back
Alright, peace. I'm out.
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Surviving a typhoon...
Hey, guys. Internets been dwon for a few days due to a typhoon that swept across the island. I have never been in a storm so crazy. There were times, laying with my head against Sally's back in the parsonage, and hearing the winds blow outside, that I wondered if it would stop. Trees dropped onto the house and all around us outside. The roof leaked. We just tried to sleep. We were stuck inside for around three days straight. The rain poured and winds blew and trees fell..like Katrina. Geez. I was so terrified. But, the typhoon passed and now I can say that the rain has stopped. I hear there may be another one coming. We are right next to the coast so it was intense...please just pray for us. Your prayers kept me safe through my first typhoon in another country. I was so afraid mom had watched the weather channel and was worried, but all the electricity was off throughout the island, so I couldn't tell the family I was safe. I don't have time for details, but the roads now look like huge salads, covered with trees and debris. God has sent us a way to practically help, I guess. Wow.
Our team is all well now, which is a praise. Our seminar got canceled sat., but we are trying for this sat. again. Still hiking and talking and now we are planning to travel out of camotes quite a bit until we have to go back to debrief in Davao. I don't know how much I will be able to update. We are spending weekends away and some weeks in another island. Alright, going to say happy birthday to my brother. (13,dogg!!) Love you all and thanks. Mom told me how you have been praying. I love you all. Will update when I can again.
Our team is all well now, which is a praise. Our seminar got canceled sat., but we are trying for this sat. again. Still hiking and talking and now we are planning to travel out of camotes quite a bit until we have to go back to debrief in Davao. I don't know how much I will be able to update. We are spending weekends away and some weeks in another island. Alright, going to say happy birthday to my brother. (13,dogg!!) Love you all and thanks. Mom told me how you have been praying. I love you all. Will update when I can again.
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Sweatin it out
Hello from the Philippines. Things have been crazy and I haven't been able to blog. I have to be quick, but here goes..
Okay, the man Paul who I told you about is reading a book I gave him called the Ragamuffin Gospel. He says he believes it and even though he is not "religious" he thinks the book is a good read. Keep praying. I see God moving with his life.
Pray for Poro. We have walked there twice or three times(it is about a forty minute hike in the heat..sweating my brains out). We are doing bible studies everywhere possible and openair stuff-giving away tracks and the Jesus film. But, we may travel to Poro for a week or so to minister there some more than we already have.
Last night our team had a talk about the way our first week in Camotes has gone. We all shared the conviction that we as a group had been trying to sell the gospel like a Hoover vaccum...meaning that instead of just telling the good news we feel we need to show it in practical ways. There are may ways, especially rurally, to show God's love. We know a lady who plows her giant filed alone while her husbands gone.... and we offer to do a bible study..see what I mean? So now our approach is going to be more practical. Our team expeirenced a huge moment of unity through that.
Carly is very sick with on and off fevers and is having to stay at the parsonage everyday and try to get well. Please pray for her.
The people are responsive to the Gospel and some have, just in the last week, come to know Christ through our bible studies. Pray for the islands new believers as we try and disciple them for the next seven weeks.
We visited the Mayor of Camotes on Monday to tell him what we were doing with the people and schools and make sure it was ok-he gave us his blessing. I was scared when we went into his office, but was reminded of Nehemiah chapter 2( I think it is) where Nehemiah gets favor from the king. Thanks, God. The Mayor said tell him if we need help with anything. Pray for the government here that the heads of the schools we teach at and the officials will be just like the Mayor.
I am learning missions is exhausting!!! By nighttime, after hikes in the heat all day and peanut butter sandwiches all the time, that I am ready to hit the mat!!! The climate is so hot!
Oh, quick story. I was in the bathhouse doing what I could to scrub up with the bucket and scoop and I look down at my arm and there is a spider the size of my palm climbing up my body!!!!! yeah, I was freaked out.
Heres some things to look for at a Camotes bible study:
1.Naked babies
2.Women openly feeding the naked babies
3.Chickens sqawking incessantly
4. Little kids without pants sqatting and peeing
5.Random farm animals mooing, bleating, yelping,etc.
I am loving being here, but I am scared of who I will be when I get back. I have seen so much already in a week that is disturbing, enlightening, challenging...I am changing to someone who is scarily aware of the worlds poverty, both spiritually and physically. I cannot go unmoved anymore. I must help the world. I am dealing with missions as a longterm goal lately. I just don't know yet. I am so different. My mind is completely turned upside down. America and Camotes Island are complete opposites. There is no way that you could see what I see and do what I do and not be moved and touched. Who will I be when I return? God knows the answer and I am just along for the ride.
I want to thank y'all who have been praying for me..I miss y'all. The prayers are working.
Oh, please pray for True Love Waits Saturday. I am teaching about keeping and regaining your purity and also presenting the Gospel afterwards. True Loves Wait is a great tool to teach the Gospel in these highschools. I am excited but nervous. Thanks everyone. I read your notes all the time. I love yall. I will write soon.
Okay, the man Paul who I told you about is reading a book I gave him called the Ragamuffin Gospel. He says he believes it and even though he is not "religious" he thinks the book is a good read. Keep praying. I see God moving with his life.
Pray for Poro. We have walked there twice or three times(it is about a forty minute hike in the heat..sweating my brains out). We are doing bible studies everywhere possible and openair stuff-giving away tracks and the Jesus film. But, we may travel to Poro for a week or so to minister there some more than we already have.
Last night our team had a talk about the way our first week in Camotes has gone. We all shared the conviction that we as a group had been trying to sell the gospel like a Hoover vaccum...meaning that instead of just telling the good news we feel we need to show it in practical ways. There are may ways, especially rurally, to show God's love. We know a lady who plows her giant filed alone while her husbands gone.... and we offer to do a bible study..see what I mean? So now our approach is going to be more practical. Our team expeirenced a huge moment of unity through that.
Carly is very sick with on and off fevers and is having to stay at the parsonage everyday and try to get well. Please pray for her.
The people are responsive to the Gospel and some have, just in the last week, come to know Christ through our bible studies. Pray for the islands new believers as we try and disciple them for the next seven weeks.
We visited the Mayor of Camotes on Monday to tell him what we were doing with the people and schools and make sure it was ok-he gave us his blessing. I was scared when we went into his office, but was reminded of Nehemiah chapter 2( I think it is) where Nehemiah gets favor from the king. Thanks, God. The Mayor said tell him if we need help with anything. Pray for the government here that the heads of the schools we teach at and the officials will be just like the Mayor.
I am learning missions is exhausting!!! By nighttime, after hikes in the heat all day and peanut butter sandwiches all the time, that I am ready to hit the mat!!! The climate is so hot!
Oh, quick story. I was in the bathhouse doing what I could to scrub up with the bucket and scoop and I look down at my arm and there is a spider the size of my palm climbing up my body!!!!! yeah, I was freaked out.
Heres some things to look for at a Camotes bible study:
1.Naked babies
2.Women openly feeding the naked babies
3.Chickens sqawking incessantly
4. Little kids without pants sqatting and peeing
5.Random farm animals mooing, bleating, yelping,etc.
I am loving being here, but I am scared of who I will be when I get back. I have seen so much already in a week that is disturbing, enlightening, challenging...I am changing to someone who is scarily aware of the worlds poverty, both spiritually and physically. I cannot go unmoved anymore. I must help the world. I am dealing with missions as a longterm goal lately. I just don't know yet. I am so different. My mind is completely turned upside down. America and Camotes Island are complete opposites. There is no way that you could see what I see and do what I do and not be moved and touched. Who will I be when I return? God knows the answer and I am just along for the ride.
I want to thank y'all who have been praying for me..I miss y'all. The prayers are working.
Oh, please pray for True Love Waits Saturday. I am teaching about keeping and regaining your purity and also presenting the Gospel afterwards. True Loves Wait is a great tool to teach the Gospel in these highschools. I am excited but nervous. Thanks everyone. I read your notes all the time. I love yall. I will write soon.
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Di basta basta
I made it to Camotes!! I have so much to tell I don't know where to start.
We are staying in a church parsonage with a few local believers on our mats on the floor. But it is pretty nice-better than tents for sure. We are washing clothes and ourselves with buckets still but I am getting used to it...okay, my hair is always dirty but other than that...
The culture is so fascinating. They live in straw huts, but drive mainly motorcycles around everywhere. It is strange to see a hut and a motorcylce together for sure. The island is absolutley paradise. But, it is so hot and humid all the time here.
The first day Leah and Matt(my team leader) boated back to Cebu and talked to the head of the school system about True Love Waits. We are able to have seminars with the highschools every Saturday all day and teach them.
The team left behind on the first day had a two hour prayer walk around the island and claimed the land for Jesus through our prayers. Carly asked God to give us a sighn that he was here. Towards the end of the walk we were along the coast and ran into a British man. He is staying in Camotes and as he said,'trying to find the meaning of life'. We shared Christ with Him. He is Catholic by birth but he is doubting his religion. Please pray for Paul. There was the sighn.
Yesterday and today we have been trying to make contacts and build relationships throughout the island. The people are friendly and treat the Americans like celebrities. Oh, quick story(my time is limited in this cafe). Today we split in groups of three and hiked to different areas for evangelism. I hiked with Bobby and our wonderful translator Sally all the way to a town called Poro. It was about a thirty minute jaunt, but it was worth it. We introduced ourselves to a family living in the rural area. One man, Julius, could speak a little English. I handed him a tract. I explained the tract as best I could. His eyes were sad and he said,"I have made many mistakes' I told him about grace. Before we left me and Bobby prayed over him and his neighbors. We are going back to visit Sunday night. God is working in Julius's life and heart. Pray for him, please.
We had to meet the group after that so we started to trek back. Sally prayed someone would offer us a ride as the heat was so bad. Just then a motorcycle drove by and stopped. Turns out the dudes a christian pastor from Cebu on visitation. he offered us a ride. So..we said yes. My first ride on a motorcycle. Sorry, Mom. It was just so hot I couldn't say no. Me and Sally flew through the hot air and thanked God for the ride. It was awesome!!! I was terrified, but we arrived back in town safe. Oh, we have alot of services and home visits set up for the weeks ahead at various places all over the island. Sunday we will have church in the am at the local church we sleep behind. I am gonna sing a special with Sally, possibley in Cebauno. Hopefully I can learn it and they can understand. Matt is preaching Sunday so pray for him. Then we are going to do a house church or two. Oh, tommorro we are gicing testimonies to the highschoolers at lunch.
We are submerging ourselves in this new culture- praying to be accepted by the people. Today was Independence day for the Philippines and we attended their parade. It was super fun. I love this place! They put on these skits and dances and waved flags and sang. I was able to tell the head teacher of the elmentary what we were doing on the island. God is opening doors for ministry there as well (at the elementary school. )He is filling up our schedule rapidly!!
So, pray for the house churches we have started and the local church. Sofia is a sick lady next door who won't let us pray for her. Please pray for her. I know this alot of rambling but I have no time to think right now.
This is di basta basta. Not easy. But, rewarding. I love this island and the people and the culture even if I don't understnad it all yet. We have met an American named Bruce who wants to start a bar on this island. He wants us to come visit him too.
You should feel the breeze at night. You should see the stars from where I stand. You should see the faces of the village people on the outskirts of town. You should see the motorcycles whiz by. You should hear the roosters crow all night. You should meet Sally and Jetter(our translators). They are so on fire for God.
We have about four or five bible studies and things like that throuout the day. We are reading through some bios on missionaries which have challenged me so much. Yesterday, Pastor Mercado taught us from Matthew. I cried because he kept using phrases my dad uses when he preaches. I do miss my parents and all the family so much. That is the hardest I think. I also miss my friends. I have compiled a list of things you can send me when you get the chance.
1.Clean feet
2.A shaved head
3.Milk(there is no milk here at all anywhere)
God is moving so much already. The group is crazy pumped for the rest of the summer. I have been altered so much already. God is preparing me for something, you guys. I have learned nothing matters except the Gospel. I am being prepared to give up all I have for the sake of it. This is scary, but worthy is the Lamb. Your prayers are being answered. I appreciate them so much I just cry!! I love you so much for doing this for me and Camotes. People are searching for truth here. Most are Catholic and don't know the real Jesus.
Rewind real quick back to right before our boat to Camotes. Our team got to go to the Santo Nino where Magellans cross still stands. I watched people go in and out praying. They clutched the hand of the statue of Mother Mary. They prayed to her and held the ceramic hand for dear life. I felt sick in there. Next to the crowds gathered around Mary, there was a statue of Jesus hanging bloody on the cross with compassion in his eyes. Yet, we watched as the droves of Filipinos walked right past him to get to Mary. I could almost hear Jesus crying out for them. i did this for you. I did all this for you. I cannot explain what that moment meant to me. Okay, I am gonna go now. Everyone is waiting on me. Love you guys.
We are staying in a church parsonage with a few local believers on our mats on the floor. But it is pretty nice-better than tents for sure. We are washing clothes and ourselves with buckets still but I am getting used to it...okay, my hair is always dirty but other than that...
The culture is so fascinating. They live in straw huts, but drive mainly motorcycles around everywhere. It is strange to see a hut and a motorcylce together for sure. The island is absolutley paradise. But, it is so hot and humid all the time here.
The first day Leah and Matt(my team leader) boated back to Cebu and talked to the head of the school system about True Love Waits. We are able to have seminars with the highschools every Saturday all day and teach them.
The team left behind on the first day had a two hour prayer walk around the island and claimed the land for Jesus through our prayers. Carly asked God to give us a sighn that he was here. Towards the end of the walk we were along the coast and ran into a British man. He is staying in Camotes and as he said,'trying to find the meaning of life'. We shared Christ with Him. He is Catholic by birth but he is doubting his religion. Please pray for Paul. There was the sighn.
Yesterday and today we have been trying to make contacts and build relationships throughout the island. The people are friendly and treat the Americans like celebrities. Oh, quick story(my time is limited in this cafe). Today we split in groups of three and hiked to different areas for evangelism. I hiked with Bobby and our wonderful translator Sally all the way to a town called Poro. It was about a thirty minute jaunt, but it was worth it. We introduced ourselves to a family living in the rural area. One man, Julius, could speak a little English. I handed him a tract. I explained the tract as best I could. His eyes were sad and he said,"I have made many mistakes' I told him about grace. Before we left me and Bobby prayed over him and his neighbors. We are going back to visit Sunday night. God is working in Julius's life and heart. Pray for him, please.
We had to meet the group after that so we started to trek back. Sally prayed someone would offer us a ride as the heat was so bad. Just then a motorcycle drove by and stopped. Turns out the dudes a christian pastor from Cebu on visitation. he offered us a ride. So..we said yes. My first ride on a motorcycle. Sorry, Mom. It was just so hot I couldn't say no. Me and Sally flew through the hot air and thanked God for the ride. It was awesome!!! I was terrified, but we arrived back in town safe. Oh, we have alot of services and home visits set up for the weeks ahead at various places all over the island. Sunday we will have church in the am at the local church we sleep behind. I am gonna sing a special with Sally, possibley in Cebauno. Hopefully I can learn it and they can understand. Matt is preaching Sunday so pray for him. Then we are going to do a house church or two. Oh, tommorro we are gicing testimonies to the highschoolers at lunch.
We are submerging ourselves in this new culture- praying to be accepted by the people. Today was Independence day for the Philippines and we attended their parade. It was super fun. I love this place! They put on these skits and dances and waved flags and sang. I was able to tell the head teacher of the elmentary what we were doing on the island. God is opening doors for ministry there as well (at the elementary school. )He is filling up our schedule rapidly!!
So, pray for the house churches we have started and the local church. Sofia is a sick lady next door who won't let us pray for her. Please pray for her. I know this alot of rambling but I have no time to think right now.
This is di basta basta. Not easy. But, rewarding. I love this island and the people and the culture even if I don't understnad it all yet. We have met an American named Bruce who wants to start a bar on this island. He wants us to come visit him too.
You should feel the breeze at night. You should see the stars from where I stand. You should see the faces of the village people on the outskirts of town. You should see the motorcycles whiz by. You should hear the roosters crow all night. You should meet Sally and Jetter(our translators). They are so on fire for God.
We have about four or five bible studies and things like that throuout the day. We are reading through some bios on missionaries which have challenged me so much. Yesterday, Pastor Mercado taught us from Matthew. I cried because he kept using phrases my dad uses when he preaches. I do miss my parents and all the family so much. That is the hardest I think. I also miss my friends. I have compiled a list of things you can send me when you get the chance.
1.Clean feet
2.A shaved head
3.Milk(there is no milk here at all anywhere)
God is moving so much already. The group is crazy pumped for the rest of the summer. I have been altered so much already. God is preparing me for something, you guys. I have learned nothing matters except the Gospel. I am being prepared to give up all I have for the sake of it. This is scary, but worthy is the Lamb. Your prayers are being answered. I appreciate them so much I just cry!! I love you so much for doing this for me and Camotes. People are searching for truth here. Most are Catholic and don't know the real Jesus.
Rewind real quick back to right before our boat to Camotes. Our team got to go to the Santo Nino where Magellans cross still stands. I watched people go in and out praying. They clutched the hand of the statue of Mother Mary. They prayed to her and held the ceramic hand for dear life. I felt sick in there. Next to the crowds gathered around Mary, there was a statue of Jesus hanging bloody on the cross with compassion in his eyes. Yet, we watched as the droves of Filipinos walked right past him to get to Mary. I could almost hear Jesus crying out for them. i did this for you. I did all this for you. I cannot explain what that moment meant to me. Okay, I am gonna go now. Everyone is waiting on me. Love you guys.
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