The day was set. There have been months of preparation for this moment. To see the fruits of your labor is always a blessing. To see the fruits of someone else’s labor is even greater, because you get to take part in rejoicing with them. We got to witness International Care Ministries reap fruits from their labors this past Monday.
Every year, they run at least 10 Preschools in low-income communities, where they teach the children normal preschool stuff, but also about the Lord, the most important subject. On Monday, we watched over 200 children graduate. Some of them were the normal preschool age, and others ranged between 6 years old up to teenage years. It was amazing.
Many of the schools are a far distance away, so many of the kids were bussed in to Dumaguete City; some having never been to the city before. Some had never even been in an air-conditioned vehicle before, so they were actually hyperventilating from it. A few were unable to make it due to dehydration and malnourishment; they were taken to the hospital. Many of the children came without their parents because one day without work means one day without food. They don’t take weekends off here.
All of us World Racers sat on the stage and got to shake the hand of each child as they walked across the stage and got their 
certificates. It was a beautiful day to see all the beautiful children and to see yet another success through International Care Ministries. God is using them in such huge ways! I smiled with tears of joy all day just knowing that we were witnessing a generation taking another step up in a society that is so financially down. I prayed over each child as they passed, that God would be their hope, their future and their refuge. I actually smiled so much that my face hurt for two days after. I could hardly fall asleep because my face hurt! Haha.. I told my team, “Well, I overdid it this time!” Still, I woke up the next day, just seeing the faces of these children makes me smile. I can’t stop! Hopefully by the end of the year, my smile muscles will be strong enough and it won’t hurt so much anymore. No pain no gain I guess right? Hehe..
Love you all!! Please be praying for the children in the Philippines! They have so little, but they still have joy! May they know the One Who saves and live their lives for Him so that their joy will bring the light of Christ to everyone they meet!
