The words that describe my experience thus far in the Philippines are “I am in my glory”! I can’t explain the fullness of what I am feeling, but only to say that I am more connected to God here than I have been since the race.
As I reflect upon this I think several factors are contributing to it. The first two days were spent pretty much in a team house. I hadn’t really seen much of the country or got a feel for the people and the spiritual aspect of them. But inside the house there was a lot going on. Team debriefing held emotions, reflections, prayer, and delegating. A lot of energy spent, emotional and physical but a lot of good God stuff was occurring.
It also helped that we’re welcomed every morning, afternoon, and evening with amazing food. It felt like home with, spaghetti, casseroles, pancakes, eggs, oatmeal, and all the comfort foods you could think of, we had. It was def. some down home cookin…in the Philippines! And what beat all were the homemade cookies, cakes, and sweets that accompanied every meal. It simply made things very pleasant.
But the real connecting came as I entered outside to the community of the Philippines. The scenery spoke intensely to my soul. I was awed and amazed by the beauty of it all! Everywhere there was luscious greenery, hills, and mountains. At one point on my running expedition up a very large exhausting hill,J I saw the most amazing skyline of Manila. The city looked as if it was floating in the sky with the sun setting around it. It literally took my breath away. I looked around and saw houses raised up on hillsides, and fields of trees and roadsides winding around me. I was in such amazement and worship of the nature that God created. I immediately entered into a huge connection with my Lord, of praise and exclamation.
Then day by day and moment by moment my connection with God was being met in every aspect. There was amazing worship with our team, along with corporate prayer. I get so inspired and fed by entering into melody and song for the Lord. It reminds me of His truths, promises, and love all wrapped into one. On Sunday we again had great worship and biblical teaching from a mega church in Manila that met over a shopping plaza and has over 25,000 people who gather there! I loved fellowshipping with God’s people. This inspired me, filled me, convicted me and reminded me of God’s truths and ways. I left that day being filled and yet simply missing all of these aspects of connecting with God.
I realized what made me feel as if I was in my glory and ultimate high was that I was connecting with God in the areas that I see and feel most connected with Him on. I had been going though a period where I was really feeling lost and lonely and in return didn’t consciously ignore God in the areas of nature, worship, and corporate gathering. I was only spending time with Him in the word. Now mind you I WAS growing while I was seeking Him in prayer and meditating on His scriptures but my top three ways of connecting with Him were not being tapped into.
One last picture. I am on a big old boat, not a cruise ship, but defiantly bigger than a ferry, heading from the big city of Manila to our smaller ministry islands. It contained sleeping cabins, a cafeteria and some walking space. And there I am sitting on the outer part of the boat, wind in my hair, watching the ocean and islands and feeling so satisfied. The whole thirty hours of being on the ship about 20 of them I spent soaking it all in. I read, snacked and sat. I was defiantly in my element.
I don’t know what the Philippines have to do with it, but I do know there is an element here that is inspiring all of us. I don’t know if it is because they speak English, or there are more American familiarities here, or because there is a sense of spiritual awareness and hunger verses oppression and darkness. It may be that God knew I was ready, and He needed me to be hungry and hopeless to receive the fulfilling that I needed. I guess I don’t have to figure it out I just need to embrace it.
