After spending a few days resting and recovering from jet lag, K squad dispersed from the city of Manila and out to their specific ministry sites here in the Philippines. My team was paired up with Team Magnetic Light this month. Our transportation to our ministry was a jeepney built for 9 people. We fit 14 World Racers, 14 Day packs, 14 Packs, 2 guitar cases, 2 camera bags, and 3 Filipino men. Getting into the Jeepney and sitting like packed sardines together spoke volumes into the character and attitude of these 2 teams. Everyone was light hearted, laughing their butts off, and adjusting to make sure other people were comfortable. It was a beautiful foundation for what this next month was going to be like together.
We drove out of Manila, through the smog and city skyscrapers, and began driving through beautiful a mountain range that had been hidden behind the city lights and crowded housing of Manila. After a couple jeepney jumps and a few hours of trekking along, we made it to San Mateo. The town of San Mateo is peaceful and full of running children and smiling faces. People sit outside of their houses with friends and family and wave at everyone who pass by. Though their homes are usually pieces of sheet metal that are pushed up against each other, it is still a roof over their heads and they make the most of it. They pack as many people as they can into their homes and welcome in foreigners they just met to entertain and talk with them. Life is simple here. The mountains are wondrous and the people are hospitable, joyful, and content.
Our ministry site sits upon the side of a mountain and looks over the valley. It is such a blessing to call this place home this month. To spend a whole month in one location and to be living within a community. Camp New Beginnings is a ministry that reaches out the street boys in this region. Our contacts, Mike and Natalie go into the streets daily developing relationships and showing a continual care for these boys. Our host, Ryan Lee puts on a camp here at Camp New beginnings 2 times a month. This last week we were able to help with camp and some of our team went down with Ryan, Emile, and Noi go down into the city and collect the boys. They were gone for 7 hours, gathering the boys individually in alleys, smoking on the street, drinking, or high on solvents. The camp is located well outside the city to be able to act as a retreat center for these boys. They ranged in age from 12-22. The camp brings the boys here a night early before camp so that they can detox overnight and start the next day fresh and alert. The next day was full of obstacle courses, games, devotions, worship, bonfires, basketball, and a huge scavenger hunt! It has been a blessing to get to know these boys. To hear their stories from the streets, to see them let go of their mentality of “survival or die” and just be kids for a bit. Camp New beginnings does that for them. It gives them a safe place.
It is a place full of life and hope. It is beautiful to think that the people that walk into it’s doors, play in it’s field, worship in it’s walls, or get to sit in the vastness of natural beauty will be in awe of God’s presence. It is an honor to be here this month and I am excited to continue the journey God has here for me and my Team.
PS. I am still in need of support for the deadline that is coming up in 2 weeks on December 1st! I am $1,257 away from meeting my $11,000 Deadline! Please prayerfully consider joining me in this journey that God is working so fiercely through! To continue to do work for the Kingdom! Thank you for your prayers and love!
-T Hill 🙂
