This month in the Philippines is going to be unlike any of the other months that we've had on the Race because we have more initiative-based ministry, rather than having each of our days planned out for us and just going along with the plan. Our mornings are either doing manual labor around Mt. Moriah, the Christian sports camp where we stay, helping with the toddlers in pre-school at the children's home on the property, or simply gleaning from the Lord's Word and spending time in prayer. If there is something else that the Lord lays on our hearts that morning to do, Will and Tara, our contacts, are totally open to it, but those three options are always there.
In the afternoons, we also have three main options. We can either help at the children's home, either with the toddlers or with tutoring and helping the older students. This is one of my favorite places to be! This home is unlike many of the other places that we've been in that it is not an orphanage; the children that live here DO have parents, but they have been abandoned by them for one reason or another, mostly because the family had too many children already and decided they didn't want anymore so they were given away. Some of the children have homes that were torn apart by fighting, substance abuse, or situations of the like. But, despite their devastating pasts, they are some of the most amazing kids I've ever met. A few of the kids are a little apprehensive at first, but once they warm up to you these kids know how to LOVE and LOVE unconditionally. They're a true joy.
We can also choose to do house to house ministry with Pastor JoJo, visiting families in the villages. I have yet to go on any house visits thus far, but it's not for lack of trying. I've tried/planned to go into the villages several times, but something always seems to come up. I suppose the Lord just had other plans for me this month and maybe it wasn't meant to be.
Finally, we can choose to do college ministry on the campus of Bukidnon State University, a university of about 10,000-15,000 students in downtown Malaybalay. For the most part this simply entails walking around the campus and starting conversations with students at attempts to form relationships with them. The Filipinos are very shy around Americans, so it can be difficult to really get them going in conversation, and the Philippines is also a very "churched" culture, wherein most people know the "right answers", but luck an actual personal relationship with Jesus. Catholicism and Islam, along with proclaimed Christianity are the most widespread religions.
Saturdays are tentative, depending on what the weather is like. Monday nights we attend WIGGLE (the blog title comes from shirts that they wear), a student-led, campus ministry at BSU; when we were told about having the option of devoting ourselves to campus ministry this month I was SO excited!! During college is when I met the Lord and by being immersed in fellowship through a campus ministry, He completely saved and turned around my life. I have a huge heart for college outreach because it's such a pivotal point in a person's walk; it's a place and a time of total self-discovery, but also a time that can be difficult for someone seeking the Lord rather than the things of this world. My heart jumped for joy at the thought of reaching out to college kids during the day, and pouring into and encouraging them at WIGGLE by night.
