Wait, what? We just got here like two hours ago, and now we’re leaving tomorrow morning at 3am? That’s ridiculous. “Also, you will be teaching on how to relate to introverted and extroverted people.” So yeah this is how my first experience at ministry month went. Let me back up. On the day after Christmas, all of the guys on my squad moved to the Children’s Garden of The Philippines, where we will be doing ministry for most of January. We got to the camp late afternoon. After dinner, we were told about the camp we would be leaving for at 3 am the next morning. In that moment, I wasn’t happy at all, but the camp turned out to be one of the coolest experiences I have had so far on the race. Who would have thought?
At the camp, we were basically camp “staff”, and got to hang out with all the campers. They were mostly high school and college age people who went to various churches in the Manila area. We got to participate in worship, games, activities, and just really pour into the young people there. Some of us also got to teach on various topics during some breakout sessions. I taught on how to relate to both introverted and extroverted people, especially when leading small groups. I was able to use my experience from leading middle school groups at church for this. We had a great time at the camp, and I’m so thankful God brought me there.
Something God has been teaching me a lot the last few days has been to not have expectations, but rather to pray that His will will be done in every scenario. This is true with many aspects of the Race. Don’t get me wrong. The Race has been awesome, but it hasn’t been what I expected, and sometimes that has been disappointing. Sometimes it doesn’t feel like we are making an impact. Sometimes it is hard to love the people around us. But no one ever said life was easy, and life on the mission field is no different. One thing I know is true is that God will always give me the strength and the tools I need to meet life’s challenges. He has put amazing people in my life to love, and to lean on during hard times.
So, since we’ve been back at Children’s Garden, we have been fairly unscheduled. Our main job is just to pour into and love the boys that live here. I wake up at 7 every morning to do my personal devotions, because that’s pretty much the only time I can have quiet by myself. This is in stark contrast to the quiet and seclusion of the camp in the mountains that my team was at before. This has taken some getting used to, but I also love it because there are always boys around to talk to and mess around with. The boys do most of the chores around the place, like cooking and cleaning and stuff. It’s so cool to see boys who come from almost nothing live together in a positive community, where they feel loved and cared for. I’m super excited to see what the next three weeks of ministry brings.
I am having the time of my life here in The Philippines. I can’t believe my parents will be here in a little more than two weeks, and that I will be leaving for South Africa in less than a month. God is doing amazing things in my life right now, and I can’t wait to see what happens next. I’m sure I’ll be met with many more surprises and challenges, but I know God will be there to get me through them. I feel so honored to be able to be here serving God, and I’m so thankful to God, and to everyone who makes it possible for me to be here. God Bless!
