Hey Guys, sorry its been a while since I last posted a blog to share with y’all what my life has looked like. I have posted a lot of pictures, but I realize, not all of you are on social media. If you would like to keep a closer up to date, please feel free to add me on Facebook or instagram(andrew_trausch) for much more routine stories about what my life looks like on the mission field. And don’t worry, I will continue to do my best to get a blog out every month with a more detailed story, experience, and or update.
Now that that is out of the way, welcome to month 8, the Philippines! For those of you who are unfamililar with geography, the Philippines are a large set of Islands in South East Asia, which wrapped up our time in South East Asia. While this month in the Philippines had plenty of its challenges and struggles, it was one of my favorite months on my trip thus far. The reason it was made extra special in a couple of ways. The first being, that leadership decided that it would be great for all the men of my squad to come back together again for the second time as a team and do ministry together. There is just something that is extra special and unique about a group of men coming together and serving the Lord together. What made that even more special and unique was that our ministry for this month was that were going to be living at Childrens Garden, a boys home for former street kids. And if you know me, that is right up my alley as I am passionate about the next generation. Ministry looked like eating meals with the boys, doing worship and testimony nights, playing basketball, doing construction projects, one-on-one discipleship, taking them out for adventures like to the moves or swimming for the day and really just being a positive male role model for them.
It truly was my favorite month of ministry and was the first ministry on this trip that I wished I got to spend longer at. And it also really gave me some good insight for the long term vision I believe God to be calling me to in the future, which I will share with you about in the next month or so, Lord willing I get some details worked out here soon. And no, its not moving overseas long term. haha.
I have a lot of great memories from my time in the Philippines, so I will only share a couple with you for right now. The first being our testimony and worship nights with the boys. A couple times a week after we were done cleaning up dinner, my team and all the boys usually gathered around the dinner table and sang praise songs to the Lord with the boys and then one of us shared our story with them. It was just a really beautiful thing to watch. Watching some of the boys just get in their own space with the Lord during that time of worshiping together was amazing. And then when one of us shared our testimony with them, they listened with so much intent and wanting to know more. It was really just a beautiful picture of men of of the church having that time of fellowship with each other and the Lord.
Another great memory was actually the time with one of the new staff there at Children’s Garden. He was a friend and mentee of the couple that ran the boys home, recently moved there from California to commit for at least a year of serving the Lord there as part of Children’s Garden. Us guys really got to spend a lot of time with him whether it be dong ministry with the boys, or going on adventures together, or just sitting down over coffee or ice cream or both and just having really good intentional conversations together. We got to share our struggles with each other and really pour into and bring encouragement to each others lives. I definitely know he was a major blessing to my life and truly grateful for his welcoming friendship.
I could share a lot of more stories about some really cool things and conversations, but for the sake of your time and my typing, i’ll save that for another day.
To end, I just want to say again how truly thankful I am for your support in all of this, especially your prayers. While this trip is incredible, it is also really tough at times, and by golly I know I couldn’t make it without prayers. So again, thank you!
Also, I am currently in Africa as I post this blog and will be posting another about my time here in Rwanda. You may also notice from pictures that the guys are still together. Leadership graciously allowed us to stay together as a team for all of Africa. So please be in prayer for us as men in that.
Blessings,
Andrew
