After months of serving across the nations, I’ve had the opportunity to work with a variety of organizations and ministries. The one thing most had in common was that they were all fairly new, seedlings of a Kingdom dream looking for some tender love and care, ready to sprout and grow to bring glory to God.
So I find it fitting that for my final month on the World Race, I’m blessed to be partnered with a phenomenal ministry here in the Philippines that over the years has turned vision into reality through the grace of the Father. God has enabled them to expand and grow, giving life to those around them and spreading that Christ-like aroma as only those who earnestly seek the Lord can.
Meet KIM – Kids International Ministries
It all started with a simple question from a little girl. Our contact, Jeff Long, was teaching at a school for missionaries’ kids here in the Philippines, spending weekends serving other local ministries with his family. One day they were out to eat when his young daughter saw some hungry street kids outside the window. They took the kids some food, but when they sat back down, she turned to her dad and asked, “Why can’t we do more?” Jeff thought about it, and decided that his daughter was right – they had to do more.
That was many years ago, and I don’t know the struggles and obstacles that they’ve faced since then, but I do know that KIM now stands as an organization doing big things in the name of Jesus. At the main location in Manila, there’s a children’s home, a newly-built school, a library, reading programs, and a home for young girls that have been abused. KIM is also invested in the surrounding community, building homes for the needy, providing food for the hungry, and frequently partnering with such ministries as Trash Mountain Project to reach out to the poorest of the poor. They even have a vocational program where they train local women to work in their own salon/spa.
So what am I up to this month?
Well actually, I’m on a completely different island hanging out at KIM’s second ministry location in Malaybalay, Mindinao. We’ve escaped the busy city and nestled ourselves in between mountains and pineapple plantations at Mt. Moriah Camp and New Faith Family Children’s Home.
The beautiful hills of Mindinao!
If you read my previous blog, you’ll know that I missed out on our first week of ministry due to sickness, but the rest of my team got to enjoy serving at a sports camp that Mt. Moriah hosted.
Volleyball game at the tournament.
Since then, we’ve been doing some scraping and painting to help spiff up the children’s home.
Working hard in the kitchen.
On Saturdays we’ve been traveling out to a little country church to do VBS with the kids in that area.
Leading a song at VBS.
One day some of us joined a local Pastor in town and held some impromptu bible studies with neighbors and members of a faith community in the area.
Julie led the children's bible study.
But our biggest focus has been the kids at New Faith Family Children’s Home.
Our official job has been helping out in the nursery, and boy are they a handful! There are four toddlers and four babies, and try as I might to contain them, they’re always on the go and getting into something. I’ve done my best to chase them around, get in lots of play time on the swings, and I even suffered through more than my fair share of Pokemon episodes (though I’ll admit they’re not so bad when you’ve got a little tot in your lap loving every second of it). After an afternoon of playing, we attempt to regulate dinner time, and finally make sure everybody is ready for bed with PJs on and teeth brushed.
A day in the nursery with Jill and Sav.
One of the sweetest moments of my month has been getting to be the one to put the toddlers to bed at night. We read them a bed time Bible story and then they usually want to sing a song or two. After that it’s lights out, but not before they’ve given you a hug and a kiss goodnight.
Reading a bedtime story before getting tucked in.
It makes my heart heavy when I stop and catch the full weight of the fact that they don’t have a mommy or daddy to tuck them in each night, but I will forever be thankful for the days that I got to be on the receiving end of their sweet embraces and nose kisses, and I pray that they always know how very loved and special they are.
Though most of our attention was on the little ones, we also spent time getting to know the older boys and girls here and loving on them. A couple of days ago the adults around the home had to leave for the morning, and I got the job of being the boys’ guardian. At one point, (and totally unprompted by me, I might add) they asked me to sing Justin Bieber and to tell them stories about Harry Potter. Talk about a great day of ministry with some way cool kids!
I'm not sure who thought it was a good idea to leave me in charge, but we definitely had some fun!
And then as a big finale, we had a “Wacky Olympics” for all the kids at the home. Mass chaos, I tell you. We played all sorts of relays, including the always entertaining wheelbarrow, three-legged, and potato sack races. But for the most part, the kids just ran around screaming and plowing each other over.
They had a blast. So did we.
I think there was a bit of confusion/cheating going on in that top right picture. Three-legged or three-man?
Sometimes it just hits me – my life is so blessed.
Thank you God
for the sweet moments of love
You've given me this month.
