for the two and a half months leading up to our arrival in the philippines, i felt like i was stuck on repeat on a line from one of my favorite childhood television shows, full house. when we got here, i finally snapped out of it. the line, coined by the beloved michelle tanner (thank you mary-kate and ashley olson) goes like this: i’m coming, i’m coming, i’m coming, i’m coming, i’m coming…i’m HERE! it starts out sounding far away and gets louder and more clear as she gets closer.
when it was first mentioned that the philippines could be a potential stop on our itinerary this year, something sparked inside me. since the day it was confirmed as a stop, that spark has grown into a fire. a wild fire, you could say.
just setting foot on the airplane to manila i could feel my excitement building. so once we got here and met jeff and colleen, rachel and dj, the wonderful women at the guest house and the children at the children’s home, i understood that that was probably what god had in mind when he sparked something inside me.
but then we hopped on the ferry from manila to bacolod, and we were able to spend over 30 hours soaking up the beauty of the islands, the ocean, and downtime with each other, and i understood that that was probably what god had in mind when he sparked something inside me.
and then we arrived in bacolod, greeted way past our scheduled arrival time by a most gracious ICM staff and a full dinner and beds and showers and two sweet women who took us to the mall to get groceries, and i understood that that was probably what god had in mind when he sparked something inside me.
except then the bus we took from bacolod to dumaguete winded us through the most beautiful, lush, green landscape i had ever seen, including a jaw-dropping sunrise, before bringing us along the coast, and i understood that that was probably what god had in mind when he sparked something inside me.
but then lolo lloyd and lola sherry met us in dumaguete and took us back to their home so we could relax a bit before our ferry. they shared smiles and stories and pictures and told us more about the philippines, and i understood that that was probably what god had in mind when he sparked something inside me.
and then finally we arrived here in bohol, and i understood, once and for all, that this was definitely what god had in mind when he took all the little sparks and turned them into the consuming fire of love, passion, and compassion inside of me.
we are in the most beautiful place i’ve ever experienced, and i’m experiencing it with every sense. the landscape is incredible, but it pales in comparison to the beauty of the people, the depth of the faith and the richness of the ministry.
we have been honored, in our first ten days here to be connected to the most wonderful crew of 20- and 30-something ICM staffers that are totally sold out for jesus. not only that…we have gone on two medical outreaches in the baranguays (village towns), we were invited to a meeting for all the pastors on the island, and we have been able to visit with three of the newest pastors and their families.
i have shared smiles that weren’t just a visual expression of joy but were an exchange of love that transcends words.
i have held hands with infants, children, women, men, the elderly, pastors and the poor and felt the touch on my heart before my hand.
i have heard stories from pastors and pastoras who have sacrificed more than their lives because they know the call of the lord is what they live for.
i have found that my family is much larger than the loved ones i grew up with or the 25 beloveds i have been blessed to be with these past three months – i now know how deeply the simple words “sister” and “brother” bind me to those that god has placed not just on my heart but in it.
