We are having debrief for the Philippines in Manila at the YMC which is the headquarters for KIDS Ministries. Our contact here, Jeff Long, has been gracious enough to open up the beautiful facilities to our squad. There is a swimming pool, washing machines, and hot water. It’s incredible.
This debrief went about the same as other debriefs except for one thing – the new squad leaders were announced and began practicing their new responsibilities. Our new squad leaders are Erin Beekhuis (my old team leader!), Travis Bonning, Tess Cervenka, and Nathan Swedberg. They were initiated in to squad leading by the alumni squad leaders, KK and Carly, washing their feet.
We are happy to welcome the new squad leaders and excited to see where they can help us to grow. I am definitely going to be sad when KK and Carly leave at the end of Thailand though.
This debrief was also filled with lots of free time and quiet time which was awesome. My team and I went to the mall and I even found a Dairy Queen that had blizzards.
Unfortunately, the largest blizzard they have in the Philippines is the one pictured above and they don’t put nearly enough candy in them…. #missionaryproblems
Now for the part you have all been reading for…
I went to the hospital with my teammate, Cathy, to accompany her to see a doctor. When we got out of the taxi that brought us to the hospital, we walked inside and began the process to get lab work done. As Cathy was checking in, I noticed that my iPhone was gone. Almost all the shorts and pants I brought on the race quick dry and slippery material. My phone falls out of my pockets all the time. Most of the time I notice it right away. This time I didn’t. However, I was at an extreme peace about it. I knew that I risked losing the phone and other expensive electronics by bringing them on the race.
Right then it hit me. I felt this strange compulsion to go outside. I told Cathy I would be right back. I walked outside, knowing that the taxi was already gone (they don’t wait around and there aren’t many Filipinos that don’t want an iPhone), and as I expected the taxi wasn’t anywhere to be seen. I turned around to walk back inside, but as I did, God told me to turn around. As I turned around, I heard a horn honk and the taxi driver was motioning me over. I couldn’t believe it. IT GETS BETTER! When I arrived at his window, he handed me my iPhone AND my wallet.
I had no idea my wallet was missing. I thanked him profusely and walked back inside. When I got to the check-in counter and showed Cathy both of these things, she and I were in awe. I opened my wallet and it was still full of cash, IDs, and credit cards. It was incredible. Praise the Lord!
