**Disclaimer…I know there aren’t any pictures in this post, but it was taking FOREVER for them to download and we have specific time frames to stick to for internet usage…click on the “Check out my pics” link and you can see more. I’ll be downloading a lot more very soon!
Hey ya’ll! We arrived in the Philippines yesterday…I cannot believe we are already in our third country! We are debriefing for the first few days here which is a time to reflect, refresh and encourage each other for the months to come. I figured I should reflect a little bit to all of you on how I’m feeling about the first two months of ministry and service.
New Zealand and Australia are definitely the most western culture, 1st world countries we will be experiencing in these 11 months. It was actually kind of difficult for me to fully immerse myself into ministry because so many times I kept thinking I was still in the states around a lot of people with accents. Several times I had to remind myself that I was on the other side of the world doing God’s work. In some instances I didn’t feel like I was doing anything to further the kingdom of God…I felt like I was just on a working vacation and I didn’t really pour all of myself out because it wasn’t 3rd world conditions. My first and only other mission experience was in Kenya and I guess I didn’t grasp the concept of serving people who were in the same boat as me. I met so many incredible people in New Zealand and that poured over into Australia and now here we are in the Philippines where my mind is saying “finally, this is more like what I expected” …so much for leaving all your expectations at the door. I can’t lose sight of those lives I was able to be a part of in the first two countries because, even though they weren’t in extremely poor communities, there was still a need for Jesus everywhere we went. Sometimes I get so caught up in what I think should be happening or lost in day to day that I don’t take a step back and appreciate what God is allowing me to do and the people He is placing in my path along the way. People like Lance from Mareeba (Australia) who has such a sweet spirit and, after a bible study I led on God’s love, painted me the most beautiful picture that gives my heart such joy to look at.
Or the whole gang from Soul Survivor and New Wine that I continue to communicate with over facebook and get to still laugh with and share with. I’ve met people such as Carl and Gail and Sarah from Mareeba who have such a passion and deep longing to see growth in the indigenous people and pour out their lives to see even the smallest of changes in these people. Their stories are phenomenal and made me honestly think about what I am passionate for and if I’m willing to submit my full life to ministering to a lost culture. I know what it’s like to pour my life into people, I did it for over 10 years with being a strength coach. But what would it be like to give every ounce of yourself to people who may or may not respond and when you may never see any change or growth. I have so much respect for them and what they do and how, at 21, Sarah gives herself daily from morning til late in the evening to these kids and to the church. She is a rockstar!!!
At the end of our time in Australia we took a couple of days in Cairns to unwind our minds and get prepared for the Philippines. We got to go scuba diving and snorkeling on the Great Barrier Reef…which was actually my second time on the reef and it was just as amazing as the first time! I will have another post with lots of pictures from that because God showed me some pretty sweet things about Him while I was out there.
Now we’re here, in month 3 (technically still month 2, but you know what I mean) and I feel like the time is flying by. Yesterday we touched down in 4 countries within 24 hours (flights from Cairns to Darwin to Singapore to Kuala Lumpur to Manila)…talk about a long day! Our first day here in Manila we were able to play basketball with kids and just pour into a ton of smiling little faces who were so excited for us to be here and were FULL of energy…amazing!
