Mangoes.Bananas. Coconuts. Beach DebriefBeautiful People.Hammock Time.Mountains in the Mornings.Largest Ten Commandments in the world.Makeshift Christmas Decorations.Joint Team Dinners.Rocky roads.Sugar Coffee.Kids Camp.Catching Fire. Starbucks.Asian Malls. Jeepney Rides.Mosquitoes.Tattoo.Tropical Rainstorms.Basketball. Naked Children. Mangy Dogs.Christmas Movies.Palm and Pine trees.Hikes.Lethargy.
Giving Lift.
That’s what this World Race is about.It’s about giving lift to ministries, organizations, and churches that are bringing the Kingdom of Heaven to earth.Whatever that looks like.So far this month I have been blessed with the privilege of giving lift to some amazing women and men of God.
This month we have stayed at New Beginnings, an old church turned into a house and safe haven on the top of a mountain.It is less than a 5 minute hike up to the largest display of the 10 Commandments.It is also less than a 5 minute walk from a huge old landfill that was closed down a decade ago yet you can still see the remnants or trash and people digging through it.We are blessed again this month as are sleeping on bunk beds and walk out of our bedrooms each morning to look at the surrounding mountains.
We are working alongside our contacts with their ongoing ministries.Rhayan and Michelle are one of the contact families, and they live in the house we are staying at.We get the pleasure to work alongside them and enjoy moments with their precious children, Titus, Alisha, Gabriel, and Margo.Mike and Natalie are our other contact, an American missionary couple that have lived here for over a decade with their children.They are originally from Northwest Indiana and I am proud to say that they are Bears fans.
Every Wednesday they hold a free prenatal clinic for women in the surrounding community, which Natalie heads.They also hold overnight kids camps for children that come from the city and have grown up in hard circumstances.We have had the opportunity to help out with both of these.We’ve also been able to do some community outreach.Additionally we have doing mini-work projects around the house.This has included building bamboo fences, goat pens, chicken coops, and gardens in addition to painting, varnishing, and general maintenance.This month has been a well-rounded month in terms of ministries, and I have absolutely loved it.
We head to Malaysia on December 30th and have a short debrief for squad and team changes before starting Month 5, which blows my mind.So I will be spending Christmas in the Philippines and New Years in Malaysia, which is pretty awesome if you ask me.I wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!!!
Pray requests:
-wisdom and discernment for our squad leaders and coaches while they make changes
-against lethargy that I have been struggling with this month
-for my family at home while I am away during the holidays
-for financial provision and support to New Beginnings ministry and both of our contact families
-for health for our whole squad
Thank you all for your continued love and support!!!!
