I LOVE life in the Philippines, it has been so much fun and full of so many blessings already!
My team and 3 other teams are living on the Island of Leyte, right next to Tacloban in a little city called Palo. We are right on the beach, staying at “The Lighthouse”. So we can go for walks on the beach in the morning or have bonfires at night, or just have a nice view reading Gods word and drinking coffee on the porch in the mornings. The closest wifi is the mall about 20 minutes away so I’m only getting wifi once a week on Sunday’s, which has been really nice being away from technology and being truly present where I’m at. You never truly notice how much time you spend on technology and pointless things until you choose to live without it, so many blessings come with putting down your phone and actually living life, I fully encourage it. 🙂
Also, I have loved living with 3 other teams and getting to know more of my squad and also growing closer with my team of 6. The past 2 weeks in the Philippines have been full of joy!
In the place we are ministering in there was a huge typhoon that devastated the area and took thousands and thousands of lives. Many people came in to help with relief help, but now three years later not many are still here helping. So we have lots to do!
Every day we have two feedings, one team will help the people here prepare large portions of food, packed full of vitamins and minerals, put it in bins and then go to a school or village and children come running to get food and love to see us and hangout with us! At most schools during their lunch break we will play lots of games with them, teach them songs, and read them bible stories and many hugs and high fives all around. Those are some of favorite times, meeting all the beautiful children and being able to talk to them and they latch right on to you. Also, here at the lighthouse they have 2 classrooms with preschoolers, so we help out with those classes, those are some rambunctious children!! We also are building a church, planting trees, teaching at local schools, and helping around the lighthouse property. Everyday children from the community come to the light house and hangout for hours, we have movie night, worship night, AWANA, women’s bible study, and lots of play time!! So between 28 people we have lots to get done! It’s been such a blessing to get to know the children and people here, they are SO friendly! We have about 4 more weeks here and then we all go to debrief, and then go back to ministry after 7 days of debrief.
God has been changing me in so many ways through this journey. He has given me so much wisdom, and deeper insight into who He is and who I am in Him. Just yesterday I was reading through some things I wrote at the beginning of the race, and couldn’t believe that how I thought and that’s who I was. When reading that I can see how God has shaped me so much during these past 4 months, to mature in my faith, to grow in leadership, and knowing the Fathers heart more deeply. Also, I’ve been learning to hear the Lords voice, and giving him space to speak and move in my life, and he has been. I know have grown so much in patience, in love, in being slow to anger, slow to speak, and to be grateful and thankful for everything. God has used so many things to teach me and grow me. When I look at the fact that I have literally lived out of a backpack for 4 months already, and I haven’t missed all the extra junk, extra clothes, TV, and the daily distractions of everyday life. But being away from all that, I realize how much happier I am without it. God has used my team, my squad, the people, the children, his word, and just about anything and everything to push and grow me, I’m so thankful for the ways God has shaped my heart to look more like Him, and I pray he never stops.
Also, I AM FULLY FUNDED!!! Praise God for the ways he supplies for me!
Thank you all so much for your prayers, support, and encouragement! I couldn’t be more grateful to be on this trip, loving Gods children and diving deeper into the story and heart that God desires for me.
