Hooray for finally posting my first blog as a current World Racer! It only took about two weeks…that’s not too bad right?! Yeah, yeah, I know. I promise to do better for the months ahead to keep everyone back home fully updated on what’s going on! Just getting into the swing of this new life has kept me rather distracted but hopefully from here on out, I’ll be more on top of this whole blogging thingJ
I guess one of the reasons it’s been hard to write a post is because I’m still in shock. I still feel like this is all a dream. Am I really on the World Race? Here in the Philippines? Am I really a “missionary”? But then I step back, look around me and jump for joy at the truth that lies behind all of these questions. That the Lord actually chose me to be here, on this adventure, to be a little stream of light in such darkness. How wonderful, how humbling. This is my life right now. Waking up everyday and remembering once again that this isn’t a dream. And my heart keeps getting refilled with overwhelming joy every time.
We have been here in Manila, Philippines working with Kids International Ministries for the past two weeks with Mr. Jeff Long and what a wonderful time it’s been. KIM focuses on the children in their community and provides several admirable outreaches where Jesus is the core and foundation. They have a school where children who normally wouldn’t be given the blessing of education not only get to learn but also get to hear about the love of their Father. Along with the school, KIM has a children’s home where babies to teenagers get to live in community with one another and have a family of their own. Mr. Long’s daughter Josie also started an outreach of her own called “Josie’s Angels.” These angels are girls from the community who attend Bible studies and might come from families where abuse and neglect are common. These girls get to have “sisters” in Christ with each other as they grow together in the Lord. Along with the community angels is the “JAZ Home” where several girls who unfortunately have faced trafficking or abuse have been removed from their homes to live in the safety of this home. They live as one loving family where Josie takes the role of big sister. What a blessing for these sweet girls!
Because of all of these community opportunities, my team has really been able to get our feet wet in a lot of ministries, which has been such a blessing! From doing hours of construction to tutoring at the school to teaching the community girls how to swim to just playing with street kids, it’s been incredible to see what an influence KIM has in this community.
Besides spending quality time with the sweet community girls, my favorite outreach has been the local feedings that KIM does twice a day in nearby communities. They prepare leftover food to deliver to the poorer areas of the town and my team was lucky enough to help at an afternoon feeding. As soon as the kids saw us coming with tubs of warm food, they immediately ran to their homes and came running back with empty bowls and smiles across their faces. They were eager for food, eager for their stomachs to be filled as most children stopped right there to finish their meal. Their gratefulness and genuine joy for this act of service was unlike anything I had ever seen and made an imprint on my heart.
The Filippino people are truly some of the sweetest people and it has been wonderful to be apart of their world for a few weeks. To constantly be greeted with “Hello” from strangers and be attacked by running kids as they see you walking down the street, the reflection of Christ’s love is constantly being shown by their sweet hospitality. It’s truly been a blessing to be apart of. I continue to wake up every morning filled with joy that I get to be here, that this year is a chapter in my book. That I get to be apart of these people’s stories and hopefully reflect Christ in the short time I’m here. What an honor, what a blessing. This is my life. I’m a World Racer.
Financial Update: I am $2,772 from being FULLY funded!! What a praise! Thank you to all who have given and have made this trip possible. Thank you for wanting to share this journey with me! If you have not given and would like to, you can click on the “please support me!” link on the left hand side of my blog. Thank you all for your support, both financially and spiritually! It’s so humbling to know that I’m doing this journey with an army behind me.
LOVE YOU ALL!
