Hi friends! Kamusta?! (How are you?!)
If you were wondering what ‘Ate’ means in front of my name, it means ‘older sister’. It is sort of like how in the USA we say ‘Mrs. or Ms.’, here the kids say ‘Ate’. It sounds like (ah-tay).
I really am building some of the best friendships. I knew that I would be great friends with my teammates, and to be honest it feels like I gained 14 sisters instead of 14 friends (cheesy, I know), but I was really hoping that I would build friendships with people from the Philippines and I have! There are some girls around our age that come and hangout every day and some of the boys that come and play basketball have truly become my friends. I know that these friendships will continue even when I go back to the USA because the Lord has blessed us with such connections that have broken through language barriers and I know won’t be held back by a few thousand miles.
But the sweet kiddos here!! So smiley and sweet. They bring out my inner child and have me running around and swinging and jumping around like an idiot and I love it. I am truly happy when I am outside, barefoot, and playing with the kids. One little girl came up to me the other day and asked “Ate Sam, why are you always dancing?” I just laughed. I do love to dance and most of the time I am dancing to a song in my head, but I never realized I do it so often! I told her that I was joyful and always had a song in my head to dance to, and she just said OK! and walked away.
I really do dance a lot here (just ask any of my new sisters) and I am not a great dancer. But ever since I have been here, I have so much joy and literally can’t stand still. All glory to God, y’all. He has filled my heart with so much happiness. Trying to put it into words is hard, so I’ll rely on scripture.
“Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.” 1 Peter 1:8-9
I am joyful because I know who my savior is and I know of his love for me, I feel his presence and know his promises to me. I am also joyful because of the fruits that I am already seeing of the Lord. I am seeing kids becoming more curious about who Jesus is, I am seeing my new friends worship the Lord and rely on him. I am joyful because this love and hope and promise is for everyone. I literally can’t hold it in, so I dance and am in constant awe of how good our God is.
I have rambled on and I will never truly have the right words to be able to explain the goodness of the Lord, but He has given me a way to express it: through silly, crazy dancing and laughter and play.
I wish I could tell you so much more, I have endless stories of the way the Lord is beyond good to me. “I have much to write to you, but I do not want to use paper and ink (or technology). Instead, I hope to visit you and talk with you face to face, so that our joy may be complete.” (2 John 1:12) Feel free to reach out, email me, text me, something. I would love to share more, but I look forward to a time that I can meet with you and share this in person, it will be so much better that way. 🙂
770-851-4358. [email protected]
Reach out anytime. It may take me a day or two or three for me to see it, but I will always reply!
Prayers for you,
Sam
