My team and I spent last month in the Philippines. Our ministry started out slow and had its highs and lows most definitely. I was sick at one point and just the amount of garbage that was burning in the air seemed almost constant. We were living in our tents alongside our church, which was under construction all month so in the morning’s construction workers sawing, hammering, and puffing away on their cigarettes would wake us up. Our contacts though were some of the most generous and gracious hosts I have experienced on the race. They gave us the best they could offer us in any situation. They seemed to thoroughly enjoy taking care of us and just simply having us around. Myself and the other two girls on my team spent a lot of time just hanging out with April, one of our contacts and a young girl who had come to live at the church to get away from her family that ridiculed her for her faith and wouldn’t allow her to pursue her relationship with Christ. Other days we would go to different church members houses at their request and conduct bible studies where the girls and I would share testimonies and scripture. This became a weekly routine where we were allowed to develop friendships with the people and pray for them consistently week after week.
One family we would pray each week for was a women’s son who is in Kuwait trying to find a job to send money home. This boy was having difficulties obtaining a working visa there. We also prayed for this women’s husband who was supposed to have extensive surgery on his leg, as well as for his salvation as he was not a believer. On our last day our contact got a phone call from this woman and she shared with her that her husband went in for his pre-op appointment and the doctor said he no longer needed the surgery!!! The husband was so overwhelmed at the healing of his leg that he wept and gave his life to Christ!!! On top of all that great news her son in Kuwait received a working visa! The prayers that we had been praying for with this woman were ANSWERED!!!!
Our group also got the chance to get to know the amazing group of youth at our church. Two of my favorite days this past month were when we had our youth group conferences. After church we had all the youth gather and we played games, shared testimonies, prayed together, ate together and just hung out. This group of young people amazed me every time we were together. They are all extremely talented with music and worship and just loved the Lord. The church’s worship band is made up completely of the youth kids, and the older youth have taught some of the younger elementary students to play different instruments so this church has a junior worship band as well.
I got to know one of the girls Mae. She is 16 years old getting ready to graduate from high school. The first time we hung out there was just naturalness to our friendship. Even with a language barrier, even with a 10-year age gap, and even the fact that we come from very different cultures we instantly became friends. We just laughed a lot and goofed around. She talked to me about what she wanted to do in the future and I talked to her about following Christ.
When I left the Philippines I felt like I was really leaving friends.
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