It’s more fun in the Philippines! This is a phrase they often say here, but its true – this has been an incredible month of doing ministry, building relationships and growing spiritually for me. With that, I want to share some of the memories made and lessons learned from this past month:
- The Lord has been teaching me so much this month about His goodness, character and patience with me. I was asked to team lead this month, which brought up the insecurities of people pleasing, decision making, and having boldness and confidence in myself. I realized that these root from my need for approval and fear of rejection that I have carried for years. After identifying these root issues, I then replaced these lies with the truths of God’s word. He brought me through a process of brokenness to experience this freedom and then greater dependence on Him because He must increase and I must decrease.
John 8:32 says, “And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
- We were the first World Race team to stay at our ministry site for the month so we were able to pioneer a lot of what future teams will be doing while at Grow Asia (check out their webpage here: www.growourworld.com). We held a weekly VBS for the local community kids, helped at a pre-natal clinic and had a spa day for the women attending, painted a worship hall, had campfire worship nights, held a youth conference, built a pig pen, a privacy fence and started a goat pen all completely out of bamboo, and got to minister and love on those out in the community.
Colossians 3:23 tells us, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, and not for men.”
- I saw the beauty in living a simpler life. Where our team stayed in Pintong Bakewe in San Mateo, Rizal, the community was like one big family. A typical house is smaller than a 2 car garage and holds 6 or more people, has a wood burning stove, and the entire family would typically sleep together in a mattress on the floor. The people weren’t just happy, but had a consistent joy and hope amidst their circumstances (another lesson the Lord is teaching me). It was humbling for me to see because over the past 4 months, the Lord has been convicting me of materialism and always wanting more when my real treasure is in heaven.
Matthew 6:19-21 says, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven where moth and rust do not destroy and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
- Prayer is powerful. You are actually communicating with the Creator of heaven and earth! Wow! We serve an all powerful and all knowing holy God who is good in character, great in power, full of mercy, overflowing with love, patient with us, and meets us right where we are. I would like to challenge you to step out of what is comfortable today and ask someone how you can be praying for them and then do it. Maybe its a co-worker, maybe its family, maybe its the cashier at Chickfila or Starbucks. Whoever it is, I promise God hears your prayers and you are planting a seed in that person’s life.
James 5:16 tells us, “The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.”
I want to leave you with the commands given in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, which tells us, “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
Fundraising update: I am $1,880 short for the final deadline on December 1st, so please prayerfully consider making a donation by clicking the “Support Me” link on this page. Thank you!
