HSH in the Philippines
I live on the floor on a mattress, in a hallway, next to two
other girls. A fan blows over us as we sleep, in an attempt to keep the sweat
off. I wake at 5:45 a.m. to the sound of street vendors and a bike horn, just a
few feet outside the gated walls that surround our main ministry’s base. I
share a bathroom with 17 other girls. One shower, one tank, one sink. The
temperature has yet to reach below 80 and I sweat. All the time. I am happy to
have three meals a day, prepared by Grace, Lania, and Mahlo, all beautifully
short and lovely local Filipinas. My team’s ministry centers on cooking and
feeding within 10 communities 12 times per week. We also all have separate
ministries, which includes Casondra in VBS, Kerry in pulling teeth at a
dentistry office, Leisa in coaching basketball, Jeanne in making videos to
better represent the ministries here as well as marketing for the Jeepney©
magazine, Nicole in taking care of the sick at the feeding locations, and I in
writing proposals and meeting with politicians to further the ministries here.
The entire M squad is here, as well as 3 N squad teams. Which means the
compound is made up of about 70 Racers, all hard at work, furthering the
Kingdom. There are mango trees in this area as well as laundry facilities and
comfortable couches. There isn’t much to complain about-there is space, even
though it is crowded. Local modes of transportation include Trikes, Jeepneys,
cabs, buses, and cab-vans. I have NEVER seen such horrendous traffic, pollution,
and poverty. I have also never seen such love and joy in the lives of children
and adults alike.
I love the ministry here and am willing to come back, if
that is what God wants of me. But time, patience, and His direction will tell
in this matter-as it always does.
