The Philippines! Though we only have about two weeks here, they are going to be two weeks full of what the pastor here calls “maximum.”
As we have arrived after two weeks worth of travel from literally across the world, we spent a day or two regrouping. After that, it was off to a nearby island off of Cebu- the island of Olango! There, we are working with a local church that has recently been blessed with some property to build a camp/ dormitory/ and playground for the kids that will be attending the school at the church.
Our role in the project is to dig holes for the poles of the security fence that will be surrounding the area. At first, we thought that this would be no big deal, but after a little bit more understanding of the project, we learned that Olango Island is an island composed the of raised coral reef. Yes, this meant it would be a challenge.
After day 3 of digging, chiseling and pounding away at the same hole, I knew that this would even more so be a challenge. Let’s just say, I learned a little bit of perseverance during this time and possibly patience as well. The time digging made for good conversation with other team-mates but it also was a good time to prepare our hearts for the evangelistic outreaches we were a part of each night. While in the Philippines, almost every night we would go to different locations on the islands and set up for our outreach. Usually at the neighborhood basketball court, we would play with the kids, sing songs, give a few testimonies, watch a movie with the members would preach about the gospel. Because we went out into the neighborhood and invited people beforehand, we would have a good turn out each night and each night there would be numerous people come to know Jesus Christ as their Savior, people healed and hearts encouraged in their life situations.
I think my favorite part about the work that we were a part of in the Philippines was the outreaches at night. Though I did get to give my testimony a few times and sing songs with the people, the most exciting part was praying for people after the gospel of Jesus Christ was explained. People came up for healing and were healed immediately, but people coming to know the Lord as their Savior was even more exciting. One of the many people that gave their life to the Lord was a young girl whose father had committed suicide a few months prior. She came to ask for prayer for herself and for her mom because her home situation was not good at all. I had the opportunity to share about Jesus with her. I shared with her about how Jesus was concerned with her and understood what she was going through during this hard time in her life. I explained to her that just as Jesus wept with Mary and Martha when Lazarus died, He grieves with her when she feels pain even though He knows the big picture plan. That little girl was so touched by the character of Jesus and what He come to earth to do that night, that she gave her life over to the Lord! She now knows that she has someone who can walk with her in the hard times that she is facing. I can't even begin to tell you how that girls demeanor changed from the time she first approached me and when she left me a sister in Christ. Incredible! I would have come all the way to Asia just for that girl! Incredible.
God is doing amazing things in the hearts and through the lives of our team. He is opening doors and putting us in situations that have allowed us to experience so much growth, but also experience people experience God around us. It is so cool to see.
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