and that’s not ok. I promise that it is
no way indicative of a lack of activity.
Actually the opposite is true. So
much has been going on that honestly, it has just been overwhelming at times. I wish I could just record everything in my
brain onto a DVD, spit it out of my mouth, and you could watch it. I kind of think that is really the only way I
could accurately convey a lot of what happens to me on a daily basis. But even that wouldn’t be enough, so I’ll try
my best with words.
So where have I been?
guest house at Wujal Wujal and went to stay with the
Ashworths, a family thathas a ministry in the Wujal community.
Our accommodations were two large tents under a tarp and a few old foam
mattresses – complete with bed bugs, giant spiders, a scorpion, and even a
bandicoot. Oh, it also rained every day
we were there, which caused the rivers to flood, making it impossible to cross
the three causeways between us and the rest of civilization…and the only road
out of town. We were all genuinely
concerned that we could really be stuck in Wujal Wujal for not just days, but
weeks. During the rainy season, it is not uncommon for the rivers to be uncrossable for up to six weeks at a time! Luckily the rain slowed enough
for us to cross the river (barely). We
made it back to Mareeba where we spent a few days helping out Carl, our ministry
contact for the month, with various odd jobs.
Kathryn and I sanded and painted the car we had been driving all month
while Mike, Lindsey and Kristi poured a concrete slab. It felt good to not only be able to give Carl
that gift of service, but really it felt good to just get our hands dirty and
do some good old fashioned manual labor.
We left Carl’s early Thursday morning and drove down to
Cairns for a day of rest before our flight Friday afternoon. Where did we decide to spend this day of
rest? Scuba diving the Great Barrier
Reef, of course. This was one of the
most amazing opportunities I have ever had and such a beautiful way to
experience the fullness of God’s creation. The water was so clear and everything was so vibrant and alive. There is life everywhere on the reef, from giant clams to the tiniest christmas tree worms, and fish of every shape, size and color. Then you swim over to the edge and the life just ceases – the reef drops off like a cliff down to cloudy depths of the sea that seem to extend forever. So much of what we are seeing in our travelling is opening our eyes in new
ways. For me, the intricacies and
details and order and overwhelming beauty of true wonders like the reef open up
my understanding of God in completely new ways.
“Praise the Lord from the earth, you great sea creatures
and all deeps, fire and hail, snow and mist, stormy wind fulfilling His word! Mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all
cedars! Beasts and all livestock,
creeping things and flying birds!” Psalm 148:7-10
Australia. The animals, the plants, the
rocks, the water; all are a living, visible, audible picture of what God has
done and continues to do every minute of every day. I am constantly reminded of how lucky I am to
see that, and to be chosen as a part of that.
It is such a source of confidence and empowerment to know that God, who
created all these things and looked at them and said they were good, created me
and you and looks at us and thinks that we are more amazing and more beautiful
and more worthwhile than the rest of his creation. Whether we choose to believe it or not, the
fact that he looks at us and gives us worth makes it true. Such an awesome feeling.
on Friday in Cairns, and traveled from Cairns to Darwin, Darwin to Singapore, Singapore toKuala Lumpur, and Kuala Lumpur to Manila – finally arriving in Manila around
9:30am. We got on a bus and drove from
the airport to where we are staying just outside of the city. 30 hours of travel later, we arrived at Kids
International Ministries around 1pm.
This is where we have been decompressing for the past few days for our
debrief sessions, and where we will be spending our month doing ministry. Yes, we will all be here, together, all month
– all 58 of us – plus 3 teams from the N squad.
Overwhelming at first, I have quickly come to see this as an amazing
opportunity to live in a kind of community that most people never get to
experience. We haven’t been given our
specific ministries for the month, but more updates are on their way. I
have a lot I want to write and a lot that God has been putting on my heart to
tell you all about, but that will come later.
For now, know that we are alive, safe, and in the Philippines excited
for another amazing month!
