So I’m here in an internet cafe in the Philippines, and it is month seven on the Race. There is so much I want to tell all of you out there, because we are doing so much. Last month we didn’t have power or internet on a regular basis, so I wasn’t able to get anything out to you for a while. Internet availability last month can be counted on one hand, and the sluggish speed would surprise you. There is much to tell you about my last months in Africa, but I’ll be doing that some other time when there’s more time to dedicate to the discipline of writing.
But simply to bring you up to speed:
On March 1st we left the African continent, and, because of time travel, we landed in the Philippines on the 2nd, at about 11pm, after a taxi ride, a plane, another plane, and after we landed a bus took us to our ministry location. We arrived at our ministry station at about 2am on the Thursday the 3rd, and conked out. The 12 hour plane ride, the 6 hour layover time, and then the other 10 hour plane ride took their toll on all of us, but we landed in Manila safely.
Dubai airport catching some sleep where we can.
Now, we are in Bulacan, Bulakan, a town of 71,000 people about 3 hours north of Manila. This is our first taste of Asia, and it is quite different from Africa and Europe. The gross amount of popularity that is given to us is unreal. People here have never seen Americans before, and they are extremely happy to see all of us. In Africa there were children and adults who had never seen white people before, but here, in Bulacan, Bulakan, the reactions are altogether different. Instead of blank stares filled with curiosity, the Filipino’s react with intense excitement when they see us, and I’m not exaggerating when I say that it is comparable to the fame the Beatles received in their heyday.
Some of our ministry contacts took us to a local village, and before I even got off the motorcycle the women were screaming out of shear excitement. After speaking in a school the children simply began to rush us as we made our departure, hundreds of little Filipino high school kids begging for selfies. Culturally, we have a foot in the door as Americans, and once more, they are hungry for the gospel.
Group pictures at a village
Our ministry involves everything. Everyday, 38 Americans hit the streets to do evangelism, school sessions, and skits. It is rare if I don’t get the chance to tell someone about God, sin, Jesus, His death, Resurrection, and new life with Christ.
Speaking in schools happens daily, and we have full reign to come into classrooms to tell the kids about the Gospel, and sometimes, in the same day, we play basketball to build relationship and open more opportunities.
Basketball with Filipinos
Anywhere we go is a ministry opportunity, because being an American is all that it takes to attract crowds. We’ve been able to meet amazingly talented Filipino dancers, zumba instructors, and I really don’t think I’ve ever been given a better opportunity to share God’s love with so many people.
Thank You all for your prayers and support,
I hope to write again soon
-Stephen Zenner
