Our time here in Dumaguete, Philippines is approaching the end. It feels like we just got settled in our host home that Lolo and Sherry graciously “gave” to us for the month, and now we are packing up to leave. I have many mixed emotions about leaving our ministry site tomorrow morning. Although much of the ministry I took part in this month was a challenge for me, it also seems too soon to leave some of the pastors and people I met at the orphanage.
My team worked alongside International Care Ministries the whole month, but I think there were only about two or three times the entire month that our whole team of ten was together at one ministry site. We were always at different places doing evangelism, or construction, or church celebrations, or orphanage visits. I felt like I was apart of twenty different short term mission trips all packed tightly into one month. It was exhausting!
This month was also scattered with many glimpses of God’s provision and grace that showed me our work here, however exhausting it was, had an eternal impact on the Kingdom. One such glimpse happened just last Thursday with a pastor named Jun. He and his family have been ingrained on my heart forever. Their dedication and service to the Lord is truly remarkable, because pastor Jun and his family willingly follow Christ’s call on their lives even when that means not having food enough for their own dinner every night. Check out Christie’s blog about how God provided “gifts from above” for Pastor Jun.
Another moment which God used this month to change eternity and to impact each person on Team Beloved Eleven was Elmer. Just the name Elmer will forever remind me of the beautiful man in Bais, Philippines who now has a fire and life in the Lord. The verse “I once was dead, but now I am alive” has never reigned so true than for Sir Elmer. This man is dying of liver cancer, but he is more alive than ever before because now he lives in Christ Jesus. Praise the Lord that our bodies may crumble, but our Life Is In Christ! Read more about Elmer’s life in Brandon’s blog “the greatest among us“.
It was moments like these that I see God’s life and love and grace and forgiveness and blessings shining on his precious children.
Salamat Sa Guinoo! (Praise be to God)
Oh, and take a minute to view Mark’s slideshow “montage” from Cambodia, it makes me want to cry everytime I watch it.
