God provides. There’s no other way around this fact. I’ve witnessed it thousands of times throughout my life, and unfortunately sometimes I take credit. But this past few days, God reminded me that He always provides.
Boracay, the place where I fell in love with God’s craftsmanship, God’s people, and saw God’s love. Boracay was the first mission trip outside the country that I went on. Saying it changed my life forever might be an understatement. I fell in love with the place, the people and the mission. I didn’t know it at the time 4 years ago, but God was calling me into something higher. He was calling me to work with people from different cultures; He was calling me to love unlike before, to love like He loves me.
Boracay is a small island in the middle of the Philippines. My uncle has gone over 15 times to serve in the Philippines, and I am one of the lucky ones who have been able to tag along. I had the privilege of flying down to Boracay to visit my uncle and aunt for the day, and also spend some time on the island that is the reason for me coming on the Race. And let me say, it was worth not sleeping for 3 days.
Rosie and I had a wonderful time with my uncle and aunt. I was able to see all the renovations at the Ati school (Philippines’ indigenous people) and see some of the students from previous years. I also was able to walk down to the school on Boracay, Jubilee, and see the guys I worked with in construction. Jubilee is the elementary school on the island, and unfortunately was caught in the huge fire that ran its course through some of Boracay on Christmas Eve. Getting a tour from Bong, the construction boss, God kept repeating, I provide. God provides for his children. God provided that the fire be stopped before completely demolishing the school, and moving on to other houses. Bong showed me several times where nothing could explain the fire’s reasons but God’s hand. God provides.
God also provides non-existent boats. Crazy sounding, I know, but hear me out. Rosie and I came down to the island, did all of the things (but get shakes at Jonah’s… I know) and were ready to head back to join our squad. We planned on leaving Saturday night, getting out of the way for a high school team was coming in to serve First Love Ministries. The team arrived, but left shortly to enjoy the beach. I receive a text saying there will be no boat tonight. Plans changed, nothing we can do about it. We are pros at plans changing! Looking back, I see God’s hand in all of it. He wanted us to stay the night, and he wanted us to meet this new team. Through conversations, the leaders of this group asked us if we would be willing to share what we are doing to the team. So after dinner, Rosie and I were given the opportunity to share a little glimpse into our lives to 25 high school students. The group was not a Christian group, and yet I knew they were going to experience something completely different. I felt God telling me, “Don’t hold back, tell it to them straight.”
I don’t know what their outcome of their trip will be, or what they will experience. But all I know is that God provides. If any of them ask about anything Rosie and I said, I know they are surrounded by people who love the Lord unconditionally who will be able to steer them in the right direction. God provided the opportunity, God provided the words, and God provided the people. And God is providing the experience.
