Sweet Dreams are Made of Rice

     A morning that started out like every other morning (the one with a 2 hr drive) somehow ended with me falling asleep in the back of a truck on two bags of rice.  This made for an awesome sunburn and great tan line around my eyes! Every few minutes I would wake up either to a bump in the road or a large semi flying past us.  Each time I was able to catch a glimpse of the beautiful ocean framed by coconut trees or a view of the mountain side.  After an hour I finally woke up for good just in time to see the beginnings of Chocolate Hills.  The ride alone could have made my day perfect but as I was soon to find out there were a few greater things that I would witness.
    Once fully coherent, I found out that we were making a detour for lunch– a baptism was taking place.  We winded through some of the “chocolate hills” to the top where there just happened to be a water park.  Once inside I realized that these were the same people from last week who said they wanted to take the next step and be baptized! There were well over 30 people in attendance to celebrate this amazing event! The pastor asked if I would give a word of encouragement to the crowd. This is becoming an almost everyday occurrence.  Really, I thought? Who am I to encourage these people, only God knows but I was very humbled to say the least.  Soon after, everyone stepped into the swimming pool and 10 people were ready to make the public declaration of following Christ.  They were new people– the old gone and new creations in Christ were formed! After all 10 were baptized I was asked again to give a prayer for direction and encouragement. 
    As soon as it was over everyone was filled with even more excitement and all ran out of the park.  What the heck is going on, I thought?  Well I should have known… a celebration feast! You would not believe the amount of food here (maybe you could if you have been to the Philippines!), it was enough, as the saying goes, to feed an army! Everyone came together and brought what they could, and as a community they ate together.  Again, how do I fit here? These people, brothers and sisters in Christ, invited someone they barely know to eat with them.  This is what true Christian community is.  They probably thought I was crazy because I didn’t have many words to speak and the huge smile on my face, that I could not get rid of, was probably drooling.  This day is one I will remember forever.