Lush green trees, bamboo trunks, and colorful flowers flash by as we roll across a bumpy road that reminds me more of Africa than the Philippines. But here we are in Malaybalay, Philippines. Our surroundings are reminiscent of Jurassic Park, complete with an arch way that looks like the gate, and a place called “Jurassic Farm” off of the main road. Houses that are made of wood and not clay, people walking around barefoot or in flip flops most of the time. This, is the Philippines.
And I love it.
One week into our time in Malaybalay, and it feels like we've been here for almost a month. In a very good way. Our ministry time here in Malaybalay has been busy and full of life. Our team and one other team have been living at Mount Moriah Camp, which is part of KIM, and houses New Faith Family Children's Home. AKA, twenty seven children live at this home and we get to love on them every day. They range from six months old all the way up to thirteen. We have also made friends and are building relationships with the amazing staff here. I have been so blessed by these people, and I find that my heart is full of joy and laughter here.
Our ministry here in Malaybalay is multifaceted. KIM has provided us with many opportunities to plug in and use the gifts and talents that God has given us to bring the Kingdom. Most days, that looks like helping move dirt to complete an outdoor, covered basketball court, or helping the staff in the nursery take care of the babies, or going to school with the kids and helping the teachers teach in the classroom there, or going to the jail and helping with a boys home, or reaching out to the local college students at an intervarsity gathering, or helping at AWANA on Saturday, or any other area we find to help out that is available, or we want to make happen basically.
The sky is the limit with our time here at KIM. This is a month where it truly is our Race, where we can make our Race. We have the choice to get plugged in, how deep we go with people. That is a humbling, but a blessed choice. We could choose to sit and do the easy thing, just slide by in the month with the minimum. But I want to choose life. I want to choose to bring the kingdom in the small moments and the big moments.
Whether that means changing a diaper so a staff person can have a moment to breath, or reading a book to one of the kids, or helping feed those that have little food, or going to a prayer meeting at the church…I want to choose life. I want to bring the kingdom to Malaybalay and be a part of this ministry.
One of the biggest areas that I feel called to so far this month is working with kids. And specifically, at the school with the kids and the teachers. We have only gone one day so far, due to a foundation celebration, so the kids don't have normal classes. But the day I was able to go, I was filled with such a passion for those kids. I was working with Grade 1 students, and was able to talk to the teacher about them and what she does with them. It is inspiring and moving, and I can't wait to be with these kids during the week.
I will be able to help teach songs, Bible stories, help them learn how to read, and help the teacher in any way that I can. I also found out that the group of children I am with LOVES art, so that was a nice little gift from God. I am excited to see the possibilities of teaching art, and somehow using that to help them learn and connect to their other lessons.
So there's a little taste of life in Malaybalay so far. Stay tuned for a blog on my encounter with street kids here, and how God wrecked my heart through that encounter. Many blessings to you all, and HAPPY THANKSGIVING to those loved ones at home in the States!
