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This is the beginning of a series called “Revisited:…” where you and I will go back to the locations God took me to during my World Race experience. I want to try to report on a location during the same month I visited it a year ago, but I was unable to do that for The Philippines, so here, now, is our trip BACK to the Philippines.

There are so many emotions and memories that overcome my senses when I think back to our time in Manila, Philippines. The smells (car exhaust, human waste, burning trash), the sights (palm trees, kids running around, the haze over downtown), the sounds (kids laughing, Mario and friends singing, car horns), the feelings (sweaty, dirty, joy), they all mean so much to me, having lived there for a month last October. I had no idea that the environment we experienced in The Philippines would be so impactful and memorable for me. But it has become so easy to daydream, to drift off into a “flashback” of my time there, playing with the orphans, teaching the street kids, or building the sidewalk. And it’s not just a little picture-daydream, but a full length, full sensory experience.
 
I have tried to keep up with what is going on with Kids International Ministries since we left, especially through fellow alumni World Racer, Christie Albaugh, who has been living in Manila since April. And right about when I came home from The World Race there was a massive flooding right in and around Manila that devastated thousands of families and homes. But in the midst of it all, Christie has been doing profiles, including pictures and videos, of some of the orphans staying in the home in Cuatro, showing how much the kids have grown up. It is AMAZING to see how much the children have grown just in a year! Check them out here (click on any of the “Introducing…” links)!

Team Karis has actually kept in contact with our dear friend, Jason, and we receive updates on the community every so often. While we were in the Cuatro community, we prayed for many sick and dying people. Two of these people were Vivincia, a very old, very sick, but very beautiful woman, and Porcuano, a great man who had diabetes, but no money to treat it. Well, we found out along the way that Vivincia actually passed away on November 7th, only a week after we left The Philippines. We also found out that Porcuano passed away sometime in April. So please be praying for their families, as well as the community of Cuatro. But we have faith that they are rejoicing for eternity in the presence of The Lord!

When people ask me what month was my favorite of them all, it’s just natural instinct to say “The Philippines.” Yes, it was our first month, we were full of energy and excitement for the hype of this year-long trip, and we were ready for big stuff. But I’m convinced that even if we had been there for our last month of the trip, I still would have loved it as much as I do now- Because I left a few pieces of my heart there, with Mario, Venus, Aira, Jason, and many others. It may not be politically correct, but it’s definitely “Kingdom-Correct:”  I am 1/11 Filipino!

My prayer is that one day there would be a true revisit to Manila and to the Cuatro community, both for myself and for all of you, but until then, please join me in praying for all of the orphans at KIM, all of the families of Cuatro, and all of the street boys we taught, and that there would be a revival of God’s Children rising up to glorify Him and all His Love and Passion for His Kingdom.

Thank you so much for going with me on this trip to The Philippines. Without you, my supporters, this trip would have never happened. Now, I am working in the Training Program for Adventures in Missions, helping to raise up the next generation of missionaries to go into the world and “make disciples of the nations.” But in order to keep up this work, I have to raise support for my income. That means I need to rely on the Body of Christ (all of you) for the things I need in my life. I have to raise $3,000 by Dec. 1st in order to make this dream a reality. Please let me know if you would like to help in this amazing endeavor to mobilize this generation to glorify The Father!
 
Thanks for reading,