Hello my friends and family!!!
I’ve been here in the Philippines on the island of Luzon, outside of Manila, since September 11. I am so grateful for safe, timely travels, and the time we’ve been able to spend serving here. We only have one more week of ministry, and we leave the country for Malaysia October 1.
Our contact in the Philippines is Jeff Long with Kids International Ministries. We’ve been busy with KIM’s many different ministries in the community from tutoring at the schools, playing with the kids at the children’s home, helping with feeding programs once a week in different villages, and working construction on the main compound and the children’s home.
Each team has done a little bit of everything, but my team has been really blessed in being able to help Jeff’s daughter Josie seek out a new ministry opportunity in a neighboring town called Olongapo.
Thursday we walked around Olongapo’s bar district and its surrounding community to pray, talk with people, and get a feel for what happens there at night. The bars open at 6 p.m. and are crawling with retired U.S. Navy men, Japanese businessmen, and many other types of clients taking advantage of the cheap commodity that is sold at almost every bar in the 1-kilometer stretch of street – and I don’t mean beer.
Sex is a thriving industry throughout Southeast Asia, and Olongapo is known for its bar scene and prostitution. We’ll return there on Monday and be a little bolder in the questions that we ask.
It’s interesting to see the beginning stages of a ministry. The fear, the uncertainty, the prayer, the trust in God. Josie has been so awesome in just obeying what the Lord is leading her to do.
Some things to pray for are that V Squad would be able to support the long-term missionaries here as we help them with their ministries and their pursuit of God’s will for the Philippines, that we would be a help and not a hindrance, and that my squad would continue to be diligent in our work here.
Also, there is a sickness going around the squad, probably due to 42 jet-lagged, semi-stressed people living in close quarters. I’ve fallen victim to these cold-like symptoms, but everyone seems to be getting better within a couple of days, so just pray that I also recover quickly and that no one else will get whatever it is.
Salamat po!!!!! (Thank you in Tagalog, the Philipino language)
