Each month and ministry holds its own surprises and gems. I really loved my month in Cambodia. I enjoyed the different ministry aspects and the people I worked with. I also loved the city we were in. I was sad to leave, but when God closes one door another one opens. I look back during this month in the Philippines and realize that it only gets better. It will always get better if we allow it. Now there will be rough times, like with Job, but in the end he was more than doubly blessed when he made it through. I have really been blessed this month.
We are currently with The Legacy Home Orphanage in Legazpi, Philippines. I didn’t know what to expect this month but I didn’t expect this. On our front porch there is currently the only perfect cone volcano in the world erupting, I’ve beheaded chickens and on the very first day was welcomed by getting to watch a pig be slaughtered. This was a little different for me and an item on my bucket list I never knew of. But even with all these cool activities and events, the most shocking is the Home itself.
(Anna with Angelica, a young girl who never stops smiling or laughing)
Legacy Home Orphanage is run by Dusting and Dawn DeBouff and they have 20 children here including their own. Working here are two caretakers, Daniel and Mary Ann, and some regular staff for laundry and cooking, Beth, Catherine, Lanni. Recently a guard was hired and Lanni’s husband Alwen does a lot of work around the area. Its a small community with a huge heart for God. The kids age’s range from 1 years old to 16 and there are 10 boys and 10 girls. I’ve visited many orphanages this year and that’s what they were, orphanages. This is a HOME, a true Family! The kids call Dustin and Dawn their Mom and Dad, they have devotions every morning after breakfast and every evening after dinner. At night we all pray and wish each other goodnight, hugging everyone. We all eat together and help out with their home-school work, I don’t feel like I am at a ministry but in a very large family. Everyone here truly loves each other and it is so beautiful to watch!
(Ladies night!)
But that not the only gem of this place. At the Legacy Home, they have a small church and the older children often lead worship or conduct part of a service. Everyone is involved and helps out. Pastor Dustin is a great speaker and he often invites us to speak. The children are all learning instruments and are getting better. One of their older young gentlemen, Benjho, helps out a lot during service. He is about 15 years old and I am so proud of Him and His faith. Every morning he is up between 5 and 6 doing devotions. When he lead communion (HE LEAD COMMUNION) he was sincerely crying and while I don’t know what he said, I was so moved. He’s a part of the worship team and God is moving so powerfully. All the children here receive a Christian education and go to church.
(Here is Benjho with Amy)
Today’s service was something else. The Holy Spirit showed up. Now, I’ve experienced this with The world Race when we all meet up but never outside of it. We started out worshiping today but it was all off and wrong. Pastor Dustin called of the music and we prayed, we prayed that whatever is hindering us was torn down and taken away. That was the start. Worship started to get more exciting and faster and everything was in sync and it was good. Then Pastor Dustin comes up and ask whoever got a word from God to share it with the Church. My teammate Amy came up and she spoke a word about tearing down walls. The church got riled up and everyone was “Amen!”ing when Benjho starts shouting. I don’t know what he’s shouting except for some English words: Hallelujah, Jesus, Savior, My God, and more words. And then he was shouting incomprehensibly! I don’t even know if it was a language at all but he can’t stop. I pray and praise the Lord, laughing because I realize what’s happening. The spirit is showing up. I sing praises and laugh. Next time I look up the Pastor is down, people are crying, some are kneeling in the aisle ways, other are laughing, Benjho is on the ground writhing and still shouting in a Heavenly language… And the Band played on! Different people would speak or talk about God and every time Praises in English poured out of His mouth so loudly I almost couldn’t hear the speaker. Pastor Dustin eventually gets up and asks again who has a word to speak to the Chruch and his 7 year old son Dawson comes up scared, but determined to speak. He says one little phrase that brings tears to our eyes and is the Gospel, “Before I was bad. Now I have Jesus.” So powerful and truthful. We continue to worship even more. It was a crazy morning.
(Dawson on the left and Julio in the center playing pool)
I love this Home so much, it really is a family and I am now a part of it. God is really moving in this community and Home. They have such visions for the future and a grand call from God. Please pray for Legacy Home. Here is their website: http://www.the-legacy-home.org/
(Family Devotions)
