It has been 18 days since I first learned that I was in danger of being sent home from the World Race because of my lack of support funds. Since that time, about $2,000 has been given to keep me on the race, many from anonymous givers and from people I have never met. At this point, I am able to stay on the race through February, and am confident that the Lord will continue to provide the funds needed as longs as He desires for me to be here. Thank you!
Since that time, our ministry in Dumaguete has come to a close and after several events and Christmas parties, we said goodbye to our ICM partners and our wonderful hosts, Lolo and Sherry. We rejoined the other September teams in Manila and spent a few days working alongside Jeff Long’s ministries with Faith Academy, as well as using free time to reflect and process the past month. The June team arrived earl Sunday morning, and 24 hours later, both squads headed out to Puerto Galera, an island “resort” where we are spending Christmas as a new kind of family. We spent Christmas Eve resting (as most of us stayed up all night the previous night) and had a candlelight service on the beach with Christmas carols, S’mores, worship, and prayers. In the morning, the September squad exchanged Secret Santa gifts, and then later in the day both squads got together for Christmas carol sand sculptures, Christmas Jeopardy, and impromptu skits. We were also blessed with a very Filipino, but very scrumptious Christmas dinner.
I am still processing the past month. It has been the hardest month yet, and the things I blogged about previously in As We Stumble Along, remained true for the remainder of my time in Dumaguete and as well as in Manila. I feel that I lived in a very dark place this month, and spent the majority of my time living out of my flesh, instead of relying on the Holy Spirit.
I am still learning. I am still learning to trust God. I am still learning to trust my team and my prayer partners at home and my supporters and my family. I am still learning to trust myself and to believe that what God says to me is true. I am thankful for the process of learning, and though most of the time I’d prefer to be out of the crap I find myself in, in hindsight I see the grace and truth and face of God in the lessons He brings me through.
On Friday we will begin a time of debrief for both squads, and then Monday we will head back to Manila to spend New Years with the Faith Academy kids and pack up to head to Hong Kong. From there we will spend a month in a closed country, where we will have no access to the internet for blogging or emailing. (You can still send me sweet emails and comments to greet me at the end of the month!).
Please be praying for me and my team, as we begin the new year striving to live in the Lord’s favor, doing His will, and spreading His love! May all we do, in word, thought, and deed, come from a place of love.
My heart’s on fire, the flame grows higher
So I will weather the storm
What do I care how much it may storm?
I’ve got my love to keep me warm
