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There’s a common saying that you have probably heard at some point in your life… If you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans. Another way of saying this comes straight from Proverbs 19:21: You can make many plans, but the Lord’s purpose will prevail.

And I’m finding this to be true already during my time here in Manila. While in contact with Jeff while still living in the states, we discussed what I would be doing and where I would be focusing my time here. My answer was always pretty simple… I love babies. I just want to be in the nursery. I remember upon arriving telling someone that I was pretty open to helping wherever the needs are, as long as I didn’t have to help out in the school.
 
 


And I should have known better than to say such a thing. Because when you make that kind of a statement, you are really saying…. God stretch me. And that’s just what God plans on doing. After about 3 weeks spent in the nursery, I realized that God was calling me to something else. While in the nursery I felt anxious and discontent. Because being in the nursery isn’t where God has called me.

Instead, I’ll be spending a lot of my time in the school (go ahead and laugh). My focus will be two-fold… discipleship with the older girls, and helping with the children’s education.
 
On the discipleship side, I will be teaming up with Ernalyn, a local Filipino staff member who is about my age. Together, we will be taking care of the older girl’s (Age 10-13) physically and spiritually. The four eldest girls in the house-Roseanne, Vanessa, Maria Fe, and Joanne-will be moving over the the YMC (the guest house where Iive) and will begin to do things separately from the younger children. Ernalyn will help with most of their caretaking, such as making sure they are up and ready for school, overseeing their chores, teaching them how to cook and do their laundry, etc. During the day time, I will be teaching bible class for these 4 girls, for 30 minutes each day of the week. In the afternoons, I hope to spend time with them in a relaxed, non-structured environment. And at night time, Ernalyn and I will take turns leading devotions before bedtime. It is my prayer that these girls would begin to understand what it really means to have faith in Jesus and to truly accept Him as their Savior. Unworthy and unequipped as I am, I pray that God will use me to impact the lives of these 4 girls for His Kingdom.
 
 

As for the educational aspect, I will also spend a good chunk of each day tutoring, and will be teaching two classes: library and computers. Monday through Thursday, I will teach 3 classes each day… I even have a teacher’s assistant! The focus of library will be reading of course, for them to practice and for me to read to them. As for computers, I will be teaching basic computer skills, including typing, which will hopefully be a huge asset to many of these children in the future.

Part of me thinks that this whole thing is quite amusing. And then part of me is scared to death. But mostly I’m just focusing on the part that knows that God sees the big picture, and has the absolute best plan for my life. Although I am about to dive in head first to things that I would have never chosen on my own, I still feel the peace of being obedient to what God has called me.

Because it doesn’t take faith to be obedient. Rather by being obedient, God will build my faith. So I am blindly walking into something that is way beyond my abilities, way beyond my equipping, and way beyond my comfort zone… yet I know that God will be there every step of the way, giving me everything I need and guiding my every step, letting me be a part of this awesome thing.