Like many days on the World Race, yesterday did not turn out the way that I had envisioned it; tt was actually MUCH better than anything I could have imagined.
Lauren and I spent the morning designing a new ad sales brochure for the Jeepney Magazine. We set out about 11 AM with big plans to sell ads to some local businesses and meet up with a new contact for coffee about 2;30 pm. Somehow, we always manage to work in a coffee date with anything we plan.
Keeping in mind that it takes at least an hour to get anywhere in Manila, we made record progress getting downtown, grabbing some lunch, and working to print our nice new brochure. We were unsuccessful with the printing, but that didn’t stop us; we were ready to sell, sell, sell. We had exactly one hour to hit up some restaurants and get back across town for our coffee date.
I was completely unprepared for the welcome we received at the Filipino businesses. We quickly realized that our light skin color was working to our advantage and we were treated incredibly kindly everywhere we went. The restaurant managers were incredibly respectful and seemed genuinely interested in helping the magazine. Because most were large chain restaurants we were pointed towards the corporate offices, but we may some good head away in creating some buzz for the magazine.
The downfall of our light skin color resulted in an incredibly overpriced taxi ride across town, but I guess you have to take the bad with the good, right?
We were to meet a new contact and friend, Janette, at 2;30pm. She was not quite done in a Bible study yet so she met us and escorted us to the last 10 minutes of her Bible study. We intended to sneak in the back and not make a peep. God had other plans and we essentially stole the show. oops! The lovely girls in the study were so intrigued by our traveling and stories that we talked with them for over an hour. Most were new believers, or non-Christians, and they had many questions. It was our pleasure to chat with them and share all that we had seen God do over the past few months.
After that, Janette told us her plans had changed a bit and she needed to get back to her house to host a Bible Study for some family members. 
A pastor friend and his son were in town and scheduled to speak at her house that afternoon. We nodded in agreement and off we went. Her pastor friend ended up being a magician and used magic to present the Gospel. She had asked him to come and speak with her family and friends that did not know the Lord. As we drove we also discovered that he also ministered in deliverance as well. Deliverance was something I was not exposed to until this year on the trip and I still wrestle with many questions. We used the horrible traffic as the perfect time for a lesson on deliverance for Lauren and I.
As we arrived at her beautiful home we were served spaghetti and chex mix! Both things we miss from home! We sat in on the Gospel presentation from Pastor Peter and are still trying to figure out his magic tricks! It was refreshing to spend the afternoon with someone who so badly desires for her family to come to know God that she will pay a pastor to come and do private Bible studies in her home. Pastor Peter drives in from over 3 hours away each week to meet with them. Please pray for Janette’s family and friends. She is a walking testimony and living out the Great Commission in a very real way.
As we zoomed back to church for a night prayer meeting we shared our lives with Janette and vice versa. The Lord certainly had better plans for the day than we could have imagined. We also did manage to get some work done and Janette is going to use her Filipino connections to get us some appointments next week with local businessmen.
Stay tuned as next week we play dress up in Janette’s closet and try to remember how to be professionals in the business world. That is bound to be a good video 🙂
On a side note: Your prayers this weekend are appreciated as Esther and I attempt to run a half-marathon at Subic Bay. Julie is coming along to run a 10K as well. The hills and the heat are going to make for a good time!
God Bless!
