Back home I sell books door-to-door… crazy but I love it, with Southwestern Advantage. On the race I have had the opportunity to do door-to-door ministry every month (except in China) and this month has been my favorite house visits thus far. This past week Meredith, a girl from team Yebo, and I tagged along with Pastor Jojo to some house visits. I was excited, me more than Meredith, to hop on the back of his motor bike because the day before I had just mentioned how badly I wanted to ride one!
When we got off we were still in town and followed him down a small, dirty alleyway where we found ourselves in a strip of huts overlooking a river. We followed Pastor Jojo into the first house we saw where a beautiful Filipino family welcomed us. Meredith and I have never done ministry together before so we were both excited to see how it would go. We both had the desire to get to know the family and ask the Holy Spirit how He wanted us to respond. The father grew up Catholic and just became saved a month earlier. The mother was raised in a Christian home and her blind, 79-year-old father shared with us how he came to know the Lord at age 16. His voice, posture, and facial expressions reminded me SO much of my grandpa. Hearing how devoted he was in raising his children to love the Lord, I was so encouraged. He was so proud in sharing with us how all his children were now raising their children to love the Lord.
Another one of their relatives named Christine who was in her early twenties was much quieter about what she believed. She had a few questions about why believed Jesus was the only way to heaven and how we knew He could bring her joy and complete fulfillment. It was so neat to see how the words flowing from Meredith and I ministered to this family and how we fed off each other. I mean it was totally the Holy Spirit, and I’m learning to expect Him to show up when we ask.
As Pastor Jojo translated, we found out that Christine wanted to give her life to Christ, so I asked her some more questions to solidfy why she desired to make that decision. I then led her in prayer, in which she repeated once Pastor Jojo translated in Visayan. She lit up after repeating Amen and her family shared with her about the thousands of angels that were rejoicing in heaven because she was now a part of the family of God. They gave us the most delicious coffee as we waited for the rain to end. (I am so thankful for the raincoat I bought in China because here in the rainforest you can count on it to rain pretty much every day. But I LOVE it!) I handed them a mango on our way out and Christine told us she would be at Pastor Jojo’s church on Sunday.
Short term missions can sometimes be exhausting. Getting settled, accustomed to a new culture, and knowing where things are takes about a week or two. With much practice I’ll learn a couple words and phrases right before the month is over and we leave to do it all over again. It’s sometimes discouraging. I’ll get to see Christine maybe one more time while we’re here, so I’m trusting that she will be discipled by and plug into Pastor Jojo’s church. This 11 countries in 11 months is definitely a taste of what long term ministry can look like and sometimes I have wanted to just stay and see what God continues to do.
I had a moment like this during another house visit this week. We followed Pastor Jojo, by foot this time, into the Islamic village. We entered a hut on stilts with a wooden floor, where two elderly men lived that were tribal leaders for a local tribe of over 5 million. They were both Christians and raised their families and lead their tribes with the wisdom they seek from the Lord. We enjoyed our time of encouraging them and being encouraged by their testimonies. They had a worn Visayan Baptist Hymnal that Liz and I began to sing from. It had no cover and the first song was The Old Rugged Cross. I had seen ‘Ang’ on signs before and found out that my nickname meant ‘The’ in Visayan. As we held hands with the family and prayed for them I looked down at the old hymnal and the Lord spoke to me.
He brought back to memory a verse in Song of Solomon that I read in South Africa and reread earlier this week. Chapter 2 begins with the young woman stating “I am the spring crocus blooming… the lily of the valley.” Notice she doesn’t say a spring crocus or a lily, but the. When I studied Song of Solomon in month 2 I wrote “I am THE one” in the margin. When I read “Ang” on that hymnal, that verse came flooding back to me and the Lord said “You are the one for where you are.” Now I’m not sure if He meant for the Philippines, for my team, or for that house, but as He said I was the one, I felt this great sense of belonging being fulfilled. It may sound silly, but I don’t think it’s any coincidence that the nickname I love means the here and that this has been my favorite month so far.
God continues to give me the desires of my heart: like motorcycle rides, or beautiful mountains, or breath-taking sunsets, to name just a few that I’ve experienced this month. He has been faithful thus far in preparing me and using me in huge ways and I know that His provision and great plans will continue!
