So at the end of every 2 months we have what is called Debrief. Debrief is a time where all the teams come together, along with our squad leaders, and squad parents to have a time of rejuvenation. We spent our mornings and evenings having worship and teaching. Can I just say that it is amazing! So… it has been a few weeks since I have blogged and I have had several written but unable to post them. I figured that I would just combine everything that has happened in the past week, so here goes it!
We left Cairns, Australia on Sunday afternoon to start our journey to the Philippines. This was one of the longest days yet! I love travel days! Why? Well it is a time where we meet up with other teams and then get to see different people! In 24 hours we were in 4 countries! Our day went like this– Cairns to Darwin, Darwin to Singapore, Singapore to Malaysia, Malaysia to Philippines!
So one of the neatest things that has happened since arriving is that our team debrief was in same neighborhood that I was in 2 years ago during my time in Manila! WOW! I was able to take some time and visit the church, youth center, and high school that I worked at! God is so great! I was even able to take my friends Caleb and Margie with me one day and we ate balut together!
Just when I think that being on the race can’t get any better, BAM, it does! My teammate, Emily, got an e-mail from her dad saying that the Managing Director of The World Bank, Dr. Juan Jose Daboub, would like to meet with her for coffee one night. It just happened to be at the same hotel that I had been telling her that we needed to eat at. So she accepted the offer and took me along. We spent over an hour listening to this man’s vision for helping people in poverty around the world. It is amazing to know that there are people in higher places that God has called and has given abilities to do things in the ways of God.
Over the last two months God has been working in me that I would realize that He is bigger than I could imagine. I have been trying to read and read and read more trying to figure out who God is. There are countless words to describe Him that give me an idea but just when I think I might have it, I realize that I do not. For the first time in my life I got down on my hands and knees to pray for someone and I fully believe that God has already started answering this prayer. Another thing that I know now is that God is working in ways that I never thought possible. God does bring you down in awe when you least expect it.
Being at debrief definitely gave me boast and I am very thankful for that. I was able to catch up with friends, catch up with my Filipino friends, listen to some great teaching, talk with my team about real issues, pray for friends, pray for Manila, pray for Dr. Daboub, relax, and realize how much God is working in us all as a squad. I love them all!
After debrief we took off for Bohol, Philippines with team Imago Dei. Please pray for us all that we are able to have a safe month and use all of our time wisely. We found out today our ministry, International Care Ministry, will be sending us out all over the island each day, working with different communities, helping them with basic needs such as food, health, and gardening. We will be partnered with a church in each of these communities in order to get those we work with involved with the local church. Please also continue to pray for finances. I still need about $4,000 to be funded for the year. If God is leading you to give you can click the support link in the top left corner. Thank you all again for your prayers and support!
Much love,
Auston
