I promised several weeks ago to share a bit more about our month of ministry here in Malay Balay. I have to be honest, though, and say that I'm not sure I can adequately capture all that has been going on here.
There are two teams in Malay Balay: Team TUFF (Brandon Barnum, Drew Phelps, Kayla House, Peggy Randall, Jaime Rhodes, Olivia Coward, and Jessica Walton) and Team CLP, and all fourteen of us have been living together at the New Faith Family Children's Home at Mt. Moriah, just outside of the town of Malay Balay (pronounced "Ma-Lie Ba-Lie"). Beyond living together and eating together, though, we have been channeled out into a multiplicity of directions, each taking on different ministry opportunities here and delving in with varying degrees of involvement.
From tutoring to painting to jail ministry, here's a small snapshot of some of the things we've been up to this month, although the list certainly extends beyond this.
New Faith Family Children's Home: Because we live at the home, it's easy to spend the day wandering arond the grounds when we're not in town doing ministry, spending time with the 23 children, ages 6 months to 13. Our time with the kiddos can be anything from working with the infants and toddlers in the nursery to waking the kiddos up at 5am to get ready for devotions and school; leading devotions; helping with an after-school reading program; playing soccer with the kids; helping at meals; read-alouds before bedtime; and pretty much anything else we can come up with.
Bethel Baptist Christian Academy: tutoring in the classrooms as needed. For me, personally, it has been such an incredible blessing to be back in the classroom, teaching lessons and interacting with students.
New Life Home: started by a former World Racer, this ministry specifically works with rehabilitating young minors who previously served prison sentences and who are trying to get back on their feet. From painting murals, moving furniture, paving a basketball court, and spending time with the boys here, I know we have all been blessed to help contribute back to this amazing ministry.
Malay Balay Prison Ministry: Every Monday and Thursday, Jodi (from New Life) takes a group of people into the local jail to minister to the minors there by holding a Bible Study and tutoring sessions. The young men in the prison certainly ministered to me by their strong convictions and changed attitudes as a result of coming to the Lord. This is truly a testimony of 2 Corinthians 5:17, which says, "Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has gone, the new has come."
There are many smaller ways we've been able to get involved with the community, and I'm sure there are many ways we will never know how the Lord used us while we were here. The truth, though, is that this beautiful community and the other members of the Body of Christ that we have met along the way have had such a powerful impact on each of us. We certainly feel so blessed to have been able to experience all that the Lord is doing here in northern Mindanao. I only wish we could stay here in this paradise for a few more months!
Anyway, enough words from me. I'll let my pictures and video show the rest. Enjoy!
