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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)