-This month, I was put on a brand new team: Team Shiloh, it's a group of all girls–who are absolutely ALL fab. (+I got to stay with my 2 other Team Pursuit girls which is a total blessing!)
(Me, Amanda, Laura, Meg, Jackie, and Sarah)
-I'm living in a one-roomed squatter house in a village outside of Metro Manila where outside of the house, it's smoggy, loud, and extremely cramped with people.
-We don't have a/c or running water.
-We DO however have a large drum of water that gets filled up daily to use for our showers, doing dishes, or flushing the toilet.. and a single fan, but it's only up for use when the heat is unbearable or we go to bed.
-There hasn't been a single day where the temperature is under 85 degrees.
-We all got gym memberships at a gym down the street!
-We live with a beautiful family of 8, who have been nothing but a blessing to us.
-We have had several pets this month, all at different times! 2 baby kitties, and a baby chick dyed blue!
-Christmas time is definitely here! The Philippino people LOVE Christmas, buuuut even still, to my surprise, in this past week I've gotten pretty homesick. It started with my dad's birthday when I realized I couldn't be there to celebrate his 50th birthday on 12/12/12.
–BUT through venting/verbally processing, and praying through it I've gotten to an interesting point that I haven't fully stepped into since coming on the Race:
Or, as World Racers would say "Choosing Joy".
-Going along with learning this: Our ministry isn't extremely structured this month. For the first half of this month, we went along with a church leader to attend bible studies and youth group ministries within the squatter village, and this week our ministry is caroling door-to-door, store-to-store to collect money for a ministry outlet for the head church.
-I've struggled with my purpose of going to ministry this month, because I feel ineffective.
–to which I've come to the realization is a lie from the pit of hell. this month looks differently than all the other months, because we as a team are pouring into the leaders and encouraging them, so that they can keep being effective in their outreach ministry for the long-term.
-I realized that a city-slum is a discomfort zone for me, and I would much rather be in the same living conditions out in the open fields or on a mountain-side than in a major city.
–but yay for being broken of my wants! He's teaching me to cling to His joy in the midst of trusting Him with everything.
-I am really excited about these next 9 days left we have in the Philippines, and can't wait to share what God does here and teaches me! Thank you for all of your support and prayers these past four months!
