I have been getting an unexpected response to my last couple of blogs and therefore have decided to continue with the same theme. Although I know the heavy theological/spiritual type blogs aren’t necessary and probably aren’t even what most people are looking for, I do enjoy sharing what God is teaching me. But with the highly positive response to the strictly life information blogs, it is what you get for now!
The last update was the middle of January. In the past 3-ish weeks, there has been a lot going on here. You can read in my last blog about the new girls we have welcomed in to the Hope House. Our original home has become too small and we have been blessed with an apartment in the same neighborhood as our original home. With the addition of a second dwelling, we now have capacity to welcome many more girls.
Also, two young men from the Wipe Every Tear trip heard Gods calling on their life to be here for a while longer. We will be hosting the two of them in our hone until early April.
The second to the last weekend in January I was able to orchestrate a men’s retreat with the young men from AIM’s short term trip also working here in Manila. The twelve of them, the two young men from Wipe Every Tear, a local friend plus Daniel and I made 17 men swimming around our house for a couple of days. It was a good time of relaxation, devotion, worship and chicken killing.
We are still in the process of making our house a home. In the last couple of weeks, we have bought our own beds, refrigerator and stove top. My garden is very green and flowering although quite a lot of it is weeds. I thoroughly dislike weeding. But the vegetables are flowering and we should start seeing produce soon. We have 4 remaining chicks from our most recent attempt at raising our own meat. We also have one adult chicken remaining from the men’s retreat (he’s the lucky one). Fortunately, I think we have our cat problem under control and we haven’t lost any animals in weeks. Our bank account still doesn’t exist. The motorbike follows the bank account. Internet at our house is still in the works. But we have shelter, food, electricity, running water and everything we need. You really don’t miss things when you don’t have them. Adapt and overcome, it’s the missionary way (or Marines but sometimes I like to think we are just as hardcore).
Future – Next week we are doing something very out of the ordinary. For some odd reason, the Broadway musical Wicked! is in Manila. Those of you who know me and my love for musicals, it was my only birthday wish. We will be enjoying the comical and musical talents of the Broadway cast of Wicked in celebration of my birthday. Oh by the way, my birthday is coming. My birthday is coming. My birthday is coming. ?? We are not hosting a World Race squad or team, but we are hosting the Parent Vision Trip through the World Race. This trip is an opportunity for parents to come join their child on the mission field for one week and experience the life their child lives for 11 months. There is a lot of preparation to get ministries briefed and schedules organized. The parents and their racers will be here the first week of March. My brother and sister go to Sweden tomorrow to move by sister there for her new job with her old company. And I come home in June. That’s about it for now.
Once again, I always enjoy the two way communication like this morning when my family called. It was one of those beautiful moments which makes your whole day better. But keep in mind I am in the third world and you are not. It takes time for me to receive things and will also take time to respond. See y’all soon!
As He leads me,
Jason
