The Sun Sets in Manila

        I remember how much I sought out the exotic during my
semester of study abroad in Singapore
in the spring of 2006. Wherever we went,
the group was always trying to find the prettiest beach, the biggest mountain
cliff, the tallest waterfall, or the most majestic sunset. In fact, one of the most amazing sunsets I’ve
ever seen was over a Filipino beach that semester. I’m sitting here at Friendly’s Hostel in Manila right now
(apparently they have a Facebook group, so look it up) looking over a gorgeous
sunset moments before dinner. A quick
shower an hour earlier has left the air a little cooler and the flowers
adorning our hostel balcony four stories above the street a little wet. 

            Today we
left the utopia of Kids International Ministry to head for our hostel on the
other side of Manila. Although we still claim the same city as we
did this past week, it was nearly a 2 hour ride to change locations through the
thick and chaotic traffic. Our ministry
the rest of the month will be in the dumps, as I’ve already told you. I’m sure the hostel will present its
challenges as well with 13 of us – including 10 girls – all sharing one room
with one bathroom. But for the most
part, tonight just feels completely peaceful. This place is pretty nice, in my opinion. And with time to relax, I feel like blogging
about the beauty of God’s sunsets across the world.   

            When I
returned to America
after my semester of study abroad, I remember fully appreciating everything so
much. It became so easy on the other
side of the world to appreciate God’s beautiful creation, perhaps because we
always knew that we may never be there again. It was a treasure to hold onto. Once home, I carried that daily appreciation for God’s work with me
wherever I went. In Thailand I chased those beautiful mountains; at
home, I essentially had them out the back door in western North Carolina. In Indonesia, we surfed on an exotic
beach. At home, I shared the beach with
my family and a hotel room with air conditioning and TV. In the Philippines, as in all places,
there was that sunset. At home, I
remember the sunsets taking my breath away all over again as they settled over
the greener grass and trees and I was able to enjoy them with the security of
being home.  (Don’t ever be jealous of another’s experiences or location.  Thank God for where you are and what you have and simply continuously ask Him what He wants from you and where He may be calling you).

            And now, I
feel as if it’s come full circle again. My heart is breaking for this world, and I as I viewed tonight’s sunset
I thought of all the people below in the streets and all the people we were
sent to reach out to this year. I looked
around at the tin roofs of lean-tos, all the squatters begging below, and even
the nicer buildings which still seem aged from time and pollution.   From the balcony, I saw the reckless driving
and the worn down vehicles, as well as all the city filth. And all of this was framed in one of those
memorable sunsets, piercing through the buildings. It just screamed in God’s voice, “No matter
where you go, no matter how much “less” any peoples may have than what you may
be used to, I love them. They have
me.” What else do they need?! With God, you have everything.

            Just go
look at a sunset.

~LOVE~