Ever since we arrived in Indonesia, I was anxious to find out where and what my team will be doing in the Philippines, our last stop of the World Race!
We received an email from our Squad Mentor a few weeks ago revealing what Month 11 would behold.
It entailed quite the adventure for our last for our last 3 weeks before final debrief.
Originally my squad was suppose to arrive in Manila, Philippines on July 28th and take a 20 hour + bus ride to Tacloban, Philippines.
In Tacloban, my squad was going to spend the first week and a half together at KIM Ministry. (Kids International Ministry)
KIM Ministry’s mission is to meet the needs of abandoned children and the poor by showing them the gospel. This could include construction, helping in the nursery, playing with kids, tutoring, daily distribution of food and medicine, devotions with kids, helping in the birthing clinic and disaster work relief.
Due to travel complications and expenses, we did not journey all the way down to the KIM Ministry base located in Tacloban.
However, we are staying at their location in Manila, Philippines! WOO!
For the remainder of the month (Aug 12-18th), we will be doing ATL (ask the Lord) while hiking the Banaue Rice Terraces located all the way in the North for up to three days, which is about a 12+ hour bus ride from Manila.
Each team was assigned the following task: Create a proposal of how we will get to the Banaue Rice Terraces, how we will use our budget for lodging, food, transportation, what route we will be taking, our vision for the mission and how we will achieve it.
We were also asked to do daily vlogs (video blog) of our journey – things like testimonies, things we see, people we meet and what we experience. So I’ll hopefully be able to share those with you in the future.
The Banaue Rice Terraces look absolutely amazing. While researching, we found out that the month we are hiking is considered harvest time…THAT’S RIGHT HARVEST!
For those of you who don’t know or remember, but our team name is called International Harvesters. You can read about the meaning and significance in my blog post “God Promised it’s Harvest Time!“
Therefore, I’m excited to see the harvest God has in mind for this trip. Who will God put in front of us as we travel? Will they come to Christ? Will we see any miracles? What will God teach us?
Once we complete our three days, two nights hiking trip in the north, my team will then head back to Manila, Philippines for a few days of final debrief!
In Manila at final debrief, we will celebrate our 11 months on the World Race together as a squad with our Squad Mentor, Coaches and Alumni Squad Leaders. It will also be a time of preparation for our transition back home. I fly out of Manila on the 24th of August and arrive in Milwaukee on the 24th of August. My first time travel experience!
I already know the time is going to fly bye which is bittersweet. Although I’m ready to come home, I want to soak in every last moment of the World Race.
IT’S TIME FOR MONTH 11!
*I would love prayers for safety and travel as well as for me to maximize this last month on the Race. Maximizing my time spent with the Lord, my team, in ministry, reflection on this last year of my life and preparing for what’s after the Race!
