I know that some of you may be asking that question. I am finally back with an update. Forgive me for my absence. After lots of traveling, a closed country, computer viruses, and me just taking a break from writing, I am back. And hopefully renewed to write everything that is going on in my life (and some things from the past).
To start, here is a simple update. I am with all 25 June world racers in Manila, Philippines. We are all living in one house, which is wonderful. We have been here since the beginning of the year and we leave the first of February (time is flying!). We have hooked up with amazing missionaries, Jeff Long and family. Their main ministry is New Faith Family Children’s Home, home to 25 orphans. But it does not stop there. Their ministry flows into every part of this community and their true desire is to see Jesus transform this community. Jeff has plugged us into every ministry possible. He gave us options, so that we may invest in the ministries where our individual passions lie. So between the 25 of us, we are involved in prison ministry, prostitute ministry, community development projects. We spend time teaching at the school, playing with and pouring into the children, taking care of the babies, volunteering at the medical clinic, fixing up the home in which we stay. We organize bible studies for the women. We go house to house, visiting the families. We are helping another missionary couple get a Street Paper up and running. The philosophy behind a street paper is to bring awareness to poverty issues, while providing employment opportunities to people experiencing poverty and homelessness. We are also working on making it possible for the Philippines to send a team to the 2008 Homeless World Cup. We have a lot going on.
The Philippines is amazing, very hot, and full of friendly people. It bears some similarities to back home, yet is still very different. The Philippines in a Christian nation. They were colonized by Spain for over 400 years, thus they have a Catholic background. Please pray for us and our time here – that this community would truly be transformed. And that we also would know Jesus in a new way this month.
Love you all!
