SALVATION IS HERE!

This has been the most physically challenging, emotionally draining, spiritually intense week I have endured on the race. I shared my journal entry about the conviction God laid on my heart for our friends in Marikina. It was so hard not to give in to doubt, fear of man’s opinions, physical weakness, and Satan’s deceitfulness and distractions throughout my four day fast for these people. But each time I wanted to throw in the towel, God supernaturally provided the strength and sanity to be obedient. I have to give God all the glory for this past week. He was so faithful during some real emotional, physical, and spiritual trials. He continually showed me that I am nothing without him; I can do nothing without him. He is my strength, my satisfaction, my sustainer. I have learned a new, deeper level of intimacy with him this week. He truly is my portion and the strength of my heart. I seek to make him smile and no one else.

There are no words. I have no idea how to describe it. So I thought I would let the pictures do most of the talking. This is our outreach from Friday 03.19.2010 at the dump under the overpass in Marikina, Manila, the Philippines. The combined team of my team with Liz’s team is just awesome! I have had the chance to work along side some really amazing brothers and sisters. 

spending time loving on our dear, precious friends.

playing, aka cuddles and shoulder rides. 

“When they finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?’ He said to him, ‘Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.’ He said to him, ‘Feed my lambs.'” John 21:15-16.

The wonderful people from the CG have brought a meal each time we have come.

Bellies full! I have grown to absolutely cherish this family.
These are three of the 5 children of my friend Gloria, who is my age, 26.

Their names are Danika, Sofie and Daisey.

Before we started our skit, Gloria (my friend is on the right) and her sister Michelle wanted to sing for us.

 Their voices were so beautiful, it brought tears to my eyes! 

We performed the Lifehouse, Everything skit for them. 

When we were finished, there were tears in the eyes of the audience. 
I give my team props for pulling this off.
And Tyler extra props for stepping in to be an AWESOME Jesus! 

I was so nervous to speak. When I got up there, I whispered, “pssst, Lord, I still don’t know what you want me to say!”
Luckily He brought the words, all I had to do was open my mouth.
And even now, I don’t remember most of what I said, I know I spoke to them out of John chapters 6 and 10. 
I wasn’t preaching fire and brimstone, in spite of what my face looks like in this picture, the truth was I was trying not to cry.

These were the ones that came forward asking to receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, the salvation of Christ, the freedom from addictions that Christ offers, and who asked God to be their EVERYTHING. It was so cool how Pastor Buddy (the guy in front in black with his back to the camera) had joined us because he had never come to outreach with us before, but he visits these people often. This will be his flock when we leave, and so how cool is it that God brought him there this night! He challenged them personally after we prayed and then he had us pray over each person individually. It was sooo cool! 

this is the coolest story. MJ. So, there is a lot of gender confusion in the Philippines. So many confused men, trying to find identity and acceptance. MJ was huffing rugby (a solvent that gets you high and kills your hunger) pretty much since we had arrived that night. During the skit he was still huffing. But I noticed that as I was speaking he put his bottle down. He then got up and began walking up the trash pile away from me as if he were going to leave. But when he got to the top he stopped, turned around and sat down. When I invited people forward to receive the salvation of Christ and the Holy Spirit, he, with tear-stained face, was one of the first to come forward. After praying we handed out Bibles and made sure every family had a Bible. As we were getting in the van to leave later that evening, MJ came up to me, hugging his Bible close to him. All he could say was “thank you. thank you. thank you.” as he hugged his Bible, then drew it closer to him and kissed it. thank you. 

please continue to pray for MJ. 

Jesus is the bread of life. 
please continue to pray God’s covering and provision over our wonderful friends.