Hey everyone, time for my first trip update! After about 40 hours of travel, my team and I made it to our ministry site in the Philippines! We have spent the past two weeks in a town in the mountains outside of Manila called Pintong Bukawe, San Mateo Rizal. We are partnered with an organization called Grow International, and our primary focus has been building relationships with children in need, some of whom are homeless. These kids have the sweetest hearts and have taught us so much about what pure joy and happiness looks like. Most of this ministry looks like us playing games, chasing the kids around (I have earned the nickname “Monster Cody”), throwing them in the air, shooting some hoops, taking them to the nearby river, or dancing. However, the most meaningful moments are when a kid runs down the street for a big hug, holds my hand and won’t let go, when they say “Mahal Kita” (I love you), when we fall asleep on the floor together while listening to a bedtime story, or when they read the Bible and pray with me. A lot of these kids have nothing but the dirty clothes they are wearing, yet they have shown us all what in means to be full of life.
We are living with the most amazing host family. Mama Jo and Roldan, and their two daughters Jen and Dawn. The house is at the bottom of a hill, and we walk to the top in the mornings to catch some amazing sunrises. Mama Jo has been cooking delicious traditional Philippino meals and really spoiling us when it comes to the food we’re eating. There was one night though, that she went to the local market and bought this food called balut. I will spare y’all the details, feel free to look it up if you’re feeling brave. That was a gnarly experience! We have also had the chance to visit a couple different churches in the area, and take part in a worship night! Not only was it extremely powerful to sing and dance with the joy of the Lord with all of these new people, but our team actually got on stage and sang an acapella worship song. What has really made this place great is the people. Our host family, the children, our friends and ministry partners Rudy and Rhayan, the local families, and really everyone we have come in contact with has greeted us with smiles and love and welcomed us with open arms. The Lord is doing really cool things in this town, and I am thankful that our team has had the chance to take part in it.
Our team is now heading to Mindoro Island. We will be serving and evangelizing with the Mangyan People, an indigineous tribe deep in the jungle of the island. I will hopefully be able to update you again soon! I will also be posting a lot of pictures hopefully sometime soon, Wifi and all that is not easy out here. Please be praying for my team and feel free to subscribe to my blog page for updates if you haven’t already! Love y’all!
Prayer requests: Team health. Travel safety. To continually be put in uncomfortable situations and challenged by the Lord. The town of Pintong Bukawe.
Names to pray for: Mama Jo, Pastor Roldan, Jen, Dawn, Rudy, Rhayan, Pastor Mike, Joshua, Dennis, April, Bernard, Christine Joy, Ronny, Tristan, Nicole, Jasmin, Daniel Lazarus, Justin, Daigon, Joshua, Jeremy, Mark, Andres, Denmar, Erwin, Hiromi, Hiroshi, Mayumi, Luz, Barry, Michelle, Gary, Thobby, Randall, Jeszel, Sophia, Sig, Emmanuel, Dane, Ingol, Trisha, Princess, Ian, Don, Buddy, Pops.
