The end of the matter is better than its beginning, and patience is better than pride.”
Ecclesiates 7:8
This verse gave me encouragement in my weakness. I began to get discouraged in the community at the end. I began to be tired of no sleep, the heat, and also things were just starting to wear on me. In this time the enemy was trying to get me, trying to discourage me with my weaknesses, but I know that the Lord was fighting for me as I clung to Him for that strength and guidance. This verse spoke to me in that the end is just as important as the beginning and with God I can finish strong.
As Stephanie (my teammate) and I began to talk and reflect on some things in the community, I was amazed how weak I was but the fact that God wanted to use me in my weakness humbled me. I remembered when Jesus chose the disciples he didn’t choose men of high standing. He chose ordinary men, fishermen, tax collectors, and farmers. He chose me, even in my weakness to bring the good news to the people of San Roque. It was a huge blessing, because I was able to experience true joy when a boy of 16 accepted Christ and 5 days later stood with tears in his eyes praising God for me! He began thanking the Lord that we walked miles to come share the good news, when he didn’t even know Jesus or what kind of man He was. He didn’t know he could be saved by a man named Jesus and that God would love me so much to sacrifice his own son. This 16 year old boy is now changed not b/c of me but b/c with obedience I followed God even in my weakest moment. I give all praise to God for Raymond Daigdigan’s life, the 16 year old boy.
My last week of ministry was the most fruitful week of the whole time in the village. We would walk everyday for about an hour, climbing hills, slipping in the mud, crossing rivers, and bearing the heat of the morning and afternoon sun. This health camp was out in purok 4, even though we had to endure some physical barriers this was my favorite week! When we arrived all the kids were sitting in the sitting shed waiting for us, there was about 28 students. As I saw the kids me heart began to break for them and as the week went on I felt the love for these people. When the camp started we asked “have you ever heard of a man named Jesus?” Their response was “No”. Right then I realized how thankful I was that the Lord directed us to this purok even though it was a hard to reach area we didn’t allow that to stop us, we wanted everyone to hear the good news, no matter the distance! After our first day we were burdened for the people yet filled with excitement to see how many people just wanted to sit and hear us teach. They told us our last day that everyone wanted to come and here the American girls talk and just stare at us. (We had a lot of moms join the camp, they were doing all the motions to the songs too!) The second day of camp was when we were able to share more in depth about the gospel and this is when God gave me that boost of strength, we had 1 salvation, who was Raymond the 16 year old and two days later 5 more salvations! During our camp we would meet with the children for about an hour and a half, then we would have a bible study with the young people. We had 4 young people and we gave them all bibles, and began telling them many stories and miracles Jesus performed. We taught them where the books of the bible where and they we so excited to receive their own bible b/c not many have one here. As we met with the young people we challenged them to read James, writing down questions or thoughts about reading James. However some didn’t respond but some did, and it was so encouraging to hear their questions and how God opened the door to go deeper with these young people and the moms. As the camp came to an end, we always had a closing ceremony with certificates and awards. (by the way it is a big deal here to get a certificate! You get one for everything!) So we showed up at the purok, the moms had decorated the sitting shed and this was the first time a purok had done this. So we had the closing ceremony and after the kids finished performing, I was able to share the gospel with all the people. I feel confident to say that the seed has been planted in that purok now we just need harvesters! Which leads me to my next exciting thing……..
Mine and Stephanie’s prayer was that when we leave San Rogue the bible study established while we where there would continue even after we leave. In one of our last bible studies there, a young woman named Angel spoke to us and said, “I feel the Lord calling me to continue on with the bible study” first I was so excited to hear this but then she went on saying, “not only our “we” (the believers) going to have the bible study but I want us to go house to house praying for the families. I don’t want us to argue about our beliefs but allow them to see why we are different and how we want to love them as Christ loves us!” Okay by this point I am almost in tears, see when we got there there was no bible study and I only knew of 4 believers and all were new Christians. Like I mentioned in my last blog San Roque is being held captive by the enemy with the Mocadian relgion. However my prayer for San Roque began to be Philippians 2:9-11, that one day every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord! That is why I was so encouraged to hear those words from Angel. Even as I write I am so exciting for the village b/c I know that even though the missionaries are gone Jesus Christ’s name is being glorified and the people are given the opportunity to learn more! Which leads me to the next amazing thing God is doing there………..
As we prayed for the community God challenged me to pray for harvesters to come to San Rogue and reap what He had already planted in our time there. Well in time we found out that an American team called Nehemiah teams (which are a group of college students that come in the summers for 2 months, and are also sponsored by IMB) will be going to San Roque!! See our water source in the village was not good (we were sick all the time ) so the American team will be installing 10 water filters in the community but also leading bible studies and doing evangelism work! They are the harvesters that we prayed for! It was awesome to see how God answered our prayers but also to know that the people of San Roque are going to have a chance to hear more of the man named Jesus and how God loves them unconditionally! Oh I get so excited just writing this, a part of me wishes I could be there to help them grow but I know I may never see the harvest but I just praise God he wanted to use me in the planting.
I have been so blessed to have this opportunity to serve here in the Philippians. God has taught me so much about myself and about what he desires of me. (blog coming soon on that…) but as I close my time here in the Philippians it is sad and I am going to miss so many, however the saying we have is “it’s not good bye, it’s see you later.” I can say that to all my believer friends but not to those who didn’t accept Christ. There is still much work to be done here and all over the World, as I reflect on God’s calling on my life I would like to challenge you with one thing, where does God have you in reaching the nations? In Rev 7:9 we see that from every nation, tribe, people and language will be standing before the throne, so how can you be apart of reaching those people. I encourage you to ask God how you can reach the nations if it’s through prayer, sending, going, mobilizing or welcoming. We are all called to reach the lost, it’s His calling on our lives! Please allow Him to guide you.
The last thing I want to say is I have really enjoyed writing this blog, it has allowed me to keep a record of God’s work but also just write out my thoughts and praises, along with struggles. Thank you for taking the time to read this and pray for me and the people here. Even though I couldn’t hear you prayers or hear your voice encouraging me, the Lord sent many things along my way to bring that encouragement and by you praying I am so thankful for that! I am glad you could experience and embrace this journey with me b/c you are just as much apart of the peoples lives touched here as I am. So thank you again for reaching these least of these and sending me to be Jesus’ hands and feet!
So let’s continue to EMBRACE THIS JOURNEY b/c a new journey has just begun!
Friday, May 14, 2010
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
“You must love the Lord your God with all your HEART, with all your SOUL, and with all your MIND.”
Matthew 22:37
This verse is being spread all through San Roque. We teach them this verse on the first day of camp and recite it every day with a closing song that has this verse in it. They love the song and I can hear them now singing it all day long
Camp 1- Purok 1a-1b:
Our first week of camp was well some what hectic but so much fun! The first day of camp we had over 88 kids, however as the week progressed the number went down because it was harvest week for the community. So a lot of the kids work in the fields to harvest the rice. The first day we started to teach them the theme verse which is Matthew 22:37 and we sing many songs one being the theme song with this verse in it. In the morning we have class with the younger kids up to ages 12, and in the afternoon we have bible study with the young people. With the younger kids every day we teach them a health lesson and incorporate a story from the bible. When I tell you each day you may wonder “how does this story go with it”, but hey we were trying and we only had 4 days to plan so…..it works ha ha. So the first day we teach on keeping your ears clean and share Jonah and the whale, the second day we talk about the importance of keeping your hands clean and tell Cain and Able. On this day we teach them how to wash their hands and we wash them for them, also we cut their finger nails. On the 3rd day we teach on the importance of eating the right kind of food to help you grow, using Zacchaeus. On the 4th day we teach Water is life and safe drinking water is so very important! With this lesson we share the gospel and also the story of the Samaritan Woman. The last day is closing ceremony, we make invitations for the parents to come and see their kids graduate from health camp. They love to get certifications here, it is a big deal. So it was so cute we were suppose to start closing ceremony at 2 but its Filipino time so it didn’t begin till around 3 b/c all the kids were taking baths and dressing in their best clothes! It was so cute and they were so excited to sing all the songs and recite the memory verses for their parents. At the closing ceremony we share the gospel with the parents, we feel like this is a very crucial time b/c this may be the only time the parents hear it. We encourage the children every day to share the story they learned each day with their parents, but we the Holy Spirit is in control, we are sharing and its up to Him from there I love the time with the young people! We had about 6 the first day and now we are doing bible study every day with 4. I become attached to one young girl her name is Angelica, she is one of our only 6 believers in the community. But she is such a strong girl, she really is searching for guidance and discipleship. She is 14 and is the 3rd girl out of 7 kids. Her mom pulled her out of school this coming year b/c they need to send the 2 oldest to college and don’t have the money to pay for her to go to high school. This really broke my heart, b/c she has a heart to travel and she is so smart! I believe she is a blessing form God b/c she has become our other translator, her English is Maayo! (good) Please pray for her and that God bring a way for her to finish school. So the other young people belong to Catholic faith or the Mocadian cult. Again please pray for the young people, they come to all the bible studies and answer the questions after the bible study, so they hear it, but don’t believe it in their heart. So we have been spending a lot of time with them and they travel with us to the different puroks to help with the camps. Also every day at 4 we have bible study on average we have about 6 or 7 but its growing!! Praise God now sometimes 10 or more, we are running out of chairs, so now we are looking for another place to meet right now its in the health clinic.
Camp 2- purok 2
Every morning we walked for about 20 min to this purok. Our first day, we saw all the kids sitting in the hut waiting for us! Oh this made us smile so big, we excited b/c they had remembered from 2 weeks ago! This week went very good as well, we had 21 kids and in that 4 young people. We didn’t become as close with this purok b/c we live in the first place we did camp however these kids were different from the first camp. They were so quiet and respectful! See hear the children just talk all the time when you talk, even in church or a host speaker, so when these kids didn’t, it was so great! This camp was laid out just like the 1st camp and we shared the gospel with the young people so now they attend our bible studies too! I am very excited to go back this week and continue these bible studies and help them see Jesus. Again they know about him, (well some) but they don’t believe him. There is a lot of cults here that have a man proclaiming to be like Jesus so to them he was just another man. Oh its so sad! The enemy has a strong hold on this village.
In purok 2 we entered a house that I had felt an oppression come over me and begin to pray, later finding out they practice chants, along with believing in spirits and ghosts. We have found out more about the Mocadian religion these past few weeks, again I ask that you pray against the enemy and that the Holy Spirit would fill San roque. The other night I went on the top of our mountain and begin to cry for the people, I could hear all the loud music and drinking from up there just wishing they could see the Lord, see what a compassionate and gracious God He is. I wish they could see that you don't have to get drunk all the time and I want them to realize they have a purpose! The verse that kept coming to my mind was that one day all the nations will procliam you are God! I know whatever happens in this village God has already won and that we as believers are called to follow him and trust Him. And that has been my prayer, that me and my team are following the Holy Spirit and our hearts and ears are open completely to Him.
God has really been teaching me these past few weeks to become a World Christian which is a christian with a global persepective. I can't wait to share more on that and what God is teaching me so that I can pass that to you and help challenge you!
This is are last weeks in the village so please keep me and my team and the people of San Roque in your prayres! Thank you and I look forward to sharing with you all God has shown me and hope to encourage you by becoming a World Christian! I love you all and please know I pray for you as well! God is strengthen me in that area too! :) Power of prayer is huge and I am so humbled to know I can go before a God who cares and listens!
In His Embrace
Matthew 22:37
This verse is being spread all through San Roque. We teach them this verse on the first day of camp and recite it every day with a closing song that has this verse in it. They love the song and I can hear them now singing it all day long
Camp 1- Purok 1a-1b:
Our first week of camp was well some what hectic but so much fun! The first day of camp we had over 88 kids, however as the week progressed the number went down because it was harvest week for the community. So a lot of the kids work in the fields to harvest the rice. The first day we started to teach them the theme verse which is Matthew 22:37 and we sing many songs one being the theme song with this verse in it. In the morning we have class with the younger kids up to ages 12, and in the afternoon we have bible study with the young people. With the younger kids every day we teach them a health lesson and incorporate a story from the bible. When I tell you each day you may wonder “how does this story go with it”, but hey we were trying and we only had 4 days to plan so…..it works ha ha. So the first day we teach on keeping your ears clean and share Jonah and the whale, the second day we talk about the importance of keeping your hands clean and tell Cain and Able. On this day we teach them how to wash their hands and we wash them for them, also we cut their finger nails. On the 3rd day we teach on the importance of eating the right kind of food to help you grow, using Zacchaeus. On the 4th day we teach Water is life and safe drinking water is so very important! With this lesson we share the gospel and also the story of the Samaritan Woman. The last day is closing ceremony, we make invitations for the parents to come and see their kids graduate from health camp. They love to get certifications here, it is a big deal. So it was so cute we were suppose to start closing ceremony at 2 but its Filipino time so it didn’t begin till around 3 b/c all the kids were taking baths and dressing in their best clothes! It was so cute and they were so excited to sing all the songs and recite the memory verses for their parents. At the closing ceremony we share the gospel with the parents, we feel like this is a very crucial time b/c this may be the only time the parents hear it. We encourage the children every day to share the story they learned each day with their parents, but we the Holy Spirit is in control, we are sharing and its up to Him from there I love the time with the young people! We had about 6 the first day and now we are doing bible study every day with 4. I become attached to one young girl her name is Angelica, she is one of our only 6 believers in the community. But she is such a strong girl, she really is searching for guidance and discipleship. She is 14 and is the 3rd girl out of 7 kids. Her mom pulled her out of school this coming year b/c they need to send the 2 oldest to college and don’t have the money to pay for her to go to high school. This really broke my heart, b/c she has a heart to travel and she is so smart! I believe she is a blessing form God b/c she has become our other translator, her English is Maayo! (good) Please pray for her and that God bring a way for her to finish school. So the other young people belong to Catholic faith or the Mocadian cult. Again please pray for the young people, they come to all the bible studies and answer the questions after the bible study, so they hear it, but don’t believe it in their heart. So we have been spending a lot of time with them and they travel with us to the different puroks to help with the camps. Also every day at 4 we have bible study on average we have about 6 or 7 but its growing!! Praise God now sometimes 10 or more, we are running out of chairs, so now we are looking for another place to meet right now its in the health clinic.
Camp 2- purok 2
Every morning we walked for about 20 min to this purok. Our first day, we saw all the kids sitting in the hut waiting for us! Oh this made us smile so big, we excited b/c they had remembered from 2 weeks ago! This week went very good as well, we had 21 kids and in that 4 young people. We didn’t become as close with this purok b/c we live in the first place we did camp however these kids were different from the first camp. They were so quiet and respectful! See hear the children just talk all the time when you talk, even in church or a host speaker, so when these kids didn’t, it was so great! This camp was laid out just like the 1st camp and we shared the gospel with the young people so now they attend our bible studies too! I am very excited to go back this week and continue these bible studies and help them see Jesus. Again they know about him, (well some) but they don’t believe him. There is a lot of cults here that have a man proclaiming to be like Jesus so to them he was just another man. Oh its so sad! The enemy has a strong hold on this village.
In purok 2 we entered a house that I had felt an oppression come over me and begin to pray, later finding out they practice chants, along with believing in spirits and ghosts. We have found out more about the Mocadian religion these past few weeks, again I ask that you pray against the enemy and that the Holy Spirit would fill San roque. The other night I went on the top of our mountain and begin to cry for the people, I could hear all the loud music and drinking from up there just wishing they could see the Lord, see what a compassionate and gracious God He is. I wish they could see that you don't have to get drunk all the time and I want them to realize they have a purpose! The verse that kept coming to my mind was that one day all the nations will procliam you are God! I know whatever happens in this village God has already won and that we as believers are called to follow him and trust Him. And that has been my prayer, that me and my team are following the Holy Spirit and our hearts and ears are open completely to Him.
God has really been teaching me these past few weeks to become a World Christian which is a christian with a global persepective. I can't wait to share more on that and what God is teaching me so that I can pass that to you and help challenge you!
This is are last weeks in the village so please keep me and my team and the people of San Roque in your prayres! Thank you and I look forward to sharing with you all God has shown me and hope to encourage you by becoming a World Christian! I love you all and please know I pray for you as well! God is strengthen me in that area too! :) Power of prayer is huge and I am so humbled to know I can go before a God who cares and listens!
In His Embrace
Monday, April 5, 2010
How beautiful are the feet of those who bring the good news!
“How are beautiful are the feet of those who bring the good news!”
Romans 10:15
This verse was literally going through my mind as me, Stephanie, and Faye Ann (our Filipina friend/partner) hiked 3 hours to a village to share with the parents and kids about whats going on in the next few weeks. We were covered in mud when we returned home that day, but we loved it! We decided to visit every house no matter the distance to ask and tell each parent about the Health Camp. So on Thursday and Friday we went to all the Puroks ( it’s like a neighborhood inside a town) to also get a count of every child in the Barangy (brgy) to know how much supplied to get. So why this verse kept coming to mind is even though my feet we covered in dirt, God still calls them beautiful!
On Wednesday 3/31, we moved to our village which is called brgy, San Roque. We there soaked because it rained the whole motorcycle ride which was over an hour up the mountains. After a long talk between the village officials they came to a conclusion of where we could stay b/c at this point we didn’t really have a place But God quickly provided us with a family. They are a very sweet family, Ate Linda, Uncle (we call him) and their daughter Ann Ann, who is 16. However we soon found out that they belong to a religion called Moncadian, it’s a mix of spiritism, Catholicism, and animism. I know and believe God has placed us here for a specific reason to share about Jesus but also allow them to see how we live out our daily lives. I pray that they will see something different about me and my team. They will see that the Holy Spirit lives within us and that we can show them how Jesus loves. We are blessed to stay in their house for they provided a room and allowed to become a part of the family. So I joke with Ate that she has become my Filipina mother, she just laughs and smiles We pray for this family continually and I one of my prayer requests is please pray for my host family.
These next 4 weeks of ministry are going to be very exciting and I am so blessed to be used by God! This past week we have spent much time in prayer and planning on what to do. So with knowing how many kids we are now having we were able to really get an idea about how the camp would flow. By the way the first week of camp we have over 130 kids and the next week around 30! The camp we are having is a health camp which we will talk about the prevention of infection and sicknesses, ex. washing hands, clean your ears, and cleaning your teeth but with each lesion we have added a song and a bible story. This camp is ages 5-9 and will do it in the mornings. In the afternoons we will have ages 10-16, so we decided to do sort of a VBS with added worship and bible studies, also can’t forget the fun games! Along with that we are going to be having bible studies with the adults throughout the week. We have already had two and the first time we only had 5 and the second time we had 9! So we are really excited about doing the bible studies and discipling the believers. In this village there are only 4 believers and there are no bible studies or discipleship other than Sunday morning. So our goal before we leave is to have a bible study started and being led by a Filipino. We have already built some relationships with them and I got to play a 2 on 2 game of volleyball on sat night! It was so much fun however they don’t play exactly the right way. So during the time I am there I hope to teach them the right way
So prayer requests for the next 2 weeks of ministry:
- Please pray for our host family
- The bible studies with the adults, that their hearts would be open to the truth and the other believers would be strengthened.
- The children would hear the gospel and they would retain the information given of the Health camp.
- The youth would be receptive and accept us.
- Just asking doesn’t mean we are not safe but the safety of our team. We do have a lot of drunks in our town so we are not able to go out at night.
- And that the Holy Spirit would give us guidance and direction.
- That God would fill the village and his message would be shared!
I know it has been a long time since I have written and the last time was before we went to Las Neives. That week was a hard week with many trials but again God gave us strength and courage to get through that week. The next week we were able to go to Davao to visit our supervisors and it was so nice! It was good to have a break and relax getting ready for the next 5 weeks of ministry! In Davao we were able to go to the beach with white sand!, do the longest zip line in Asia, and go souvenir shopping! Also the best part was to spend time with our supervisors and just be encouraged by them, along with having American meals! We miss those American meals ha ha rice is every meal here! So God allowed that visit at the right time and we left Davao so encouraged!
We are going out into the village for 2 weeks at a time so the next time we have internet access is at the end of April. So then I hope to tell everything that God has done in the camp, VBS, and bible studies.
Thank you for all your support and prayers! Again it means so much to be supported back at home, I know your prayers and comments have given me so much encouragement in the good times and those times I have struggled! I look forward to sharing all that God has done during this trip in person! Love you all and again thank you!
In His Embrace,
Whit
Romans 10:15
This verse was literally going through my mind as me, Stephanie, and Faye Ann (our Filipina friend/partner) hiked 3 hours to a village to share with the parents and kids about whats going on in the next few weeks. We were covered in mud when we returned home that day, but we loved it! We decided to visit every house no matter the distance to ask and tell each parent about the Health Camp. So on Thursday and Friday we went to all the Puroks ( it’s like a neighborhood inside a town) to also get a count of every child in the Barangy (brgy) to know how much supplied to get. So why this verse kept coming to mind is even though my feet we covered in dirt, God still calls them beautiful!
On Wednesday 3/31, we moved to our village which is called brgy, San Roque. We there soaked because it rained the whole motorcycle ride which was over an hour up the mountains. After a long talk between the village officials they came to a conclusion of where we could stay b/c at this point we didn’t really have a place But God quickly provided us with a family. They are a very sweet family, Ate Linda, Uncle (we call him) and their daughter Ann Ann, who is 16. However we soon found out that they belong to a religion called Moncadian, it’s a mix of spiritism, Catholicism, and animism. I know and believe God has placed us here for a specific reason to share about Jesus but also allow them to see how we live out our daily lives. I pray that they will see something different about me and my team. They will see that the Holy Spirit lives within us and that we can show them how Jesus loves. We are blessed to stay in their house for they provided a room and allowed to become a part of the family. So I joke with Ate that she has become my Filipina mother, she just laughs and smiles We pray for this family continually and I one of my prayer requests is please pray for my host family.
These next 4 weeks of ministry are going to be very exciting and I am so blessed to be used by God! This past week we have spent much time in prayer and planning on what to do. So with knowing how many kids we are now having we were able to really get an idea about how the camp would flow. By the way the first week of camp we have over 130 kids and the next week around 30! The camp we are having is a health camp which we will talk about the prevention of infection and sicknesses, ex. washing hands, clean your ears, and cleaning your teeth but with each lesion we have added a song and a bible story. This camp is ages 5-9 and will do it in the mornings. In the afternoons we will have ages 10-16, so we decided to do sort of a VBS with added worship and bible studies, also can’t forget the fun games! Along with that we are going to be having bible studies with the adults throughout the week. We have already had two and the first time we only had 5 and the second time we had 9! So we are really excited about doing the bible studies and discipling the believers. In this village there are only 4 believers and there are no bible studies or discipleship other than Sunday morning. So our goal before we leave is to have a bible study started and being led by a Filipino. We have already built some relationships with them and I got to play a 2 on 2 game of volleyball on sat night! It was so much fun however they don’t play exactly the right way. So during the time I am there I hope to teach them the right way
So prayer requests for the next 2 weeks of ministry:
- Please pray for our host family
- The bible studies with the adults, that their hearts would be open to the truth and the other believers would be strengthened.
- The children would hear the gospel and they would retain the information given of the Health camp.
- The youth would be receptive and accept us.
- Just asking doesn’t mean we are not safe but the safety of our team. We do have a lot of drunks in our town so we are not able to go out at night.
- And that the Holy Spirit would give us guidance and direction.
- That God would fill the village and his message would be shared!
I know it has been a long time since I have written and the last time was before we went to Las Neives. That week was a hard week with many trials but again God gave us strength and courage to get through that week. The next week we were able to go to Davao to visit our supervisors and it was so nice! It was good to have a break and relax getting ready for the next 5 weeks of ministry! In Davao we were able to go to the beach with white sand!, do the longest zip line in Asia, and go souvenir shopping! Also the best part was to spend time with our supervisors and just be encouraged by them, along with having American meals! We miss those American meals ha ha rice is every meal here! So God allowed that visit at the right time and we left Davao so encouraged!
We are going out into the village for 2 weeks at a time so the next time we have internet access is at the end of April. So then I hope to tell everything that God has done in the camp, VBS, and bible studies.
Thank you for all your support and prayers! Again it means so much to be supported back at home, I know your prayers and comments have given me so much encouragement in the good times and those times I have struggled! I look forward to sharing all that God has done during this trip in person! Love you all and again thank you!
In His Embrace,
Whit
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Maayo sa Dios!
Maayo sa Dios! – Good is Good!
Well I can’t believe the third week of March is already here. It has been very busy these past few weeks and it is going to continue as we leave for Las Neives this coming week. I have felt the Lord’s guidance and I can’t wait to share all about it but I first I would like to talk about the ministries we were able to be apart of.
The first week of March we were at the Provincial hospital in Butuan City,that was quite an experience. The first 2 days I was in the E.R., I watched and observed some of the time but then was able to take the patients vital signs and interview the patients getting thier personal info.I met 3 patients that I came to really care for! And the cool thing was the next 2 days I was in the Medicine Ward and ICU to take care of them! I was able to perform many minor procedures, that…. in the states would be so against the law! I was able to insert and removes IV’s, insert and remove catheters (wow this was intense!!), I removed a NG tube (the feeding tubes) also I fed someone in ICU with an NG tube, that was honestly very emotional for me. It brought back memories of when dad was in the hospital in June of 2008. The way she looked at me and the way it smelled brought back memories that I haven’t felt since that summer. But as I prayed the Lord soon brought enough strength to finish the task, because I was trying to fight away the tears. We were able to talk with many people as we did our daily rounds with the nurses. We again handed out tracts to our patients and talked with the families around them. I was also able to talk with and meet the nurses who were we still in contact with, thanks to Facebook I will be honest I found discouragement at times because by the end of the week no one had come to the Lord but we were able to plant seeds and share about Christ, so my prayer now is someone would come in and finish the harvest! So we are praying for a team to come!
The next week we moved all of our stuff to our new house at the BOOST. On Saturday we started our training learning about community development basing it off of Nehemiah 2. I really enjoyed learning about this b/c we will be doing this in April and will be facilitating the communities on how to better their community with the resources they have. On Monday we had 2 lectures the 1st was how to grow a F.A.I.T.H garden the words stand for Food Always In The Home. We will also teach this in the community and teach families ways to bring income into the family along with keeping them fed. We learned how to plant okra and also milk the goats! Ha ha that was fun! It made me want to have goats and plant a garden! But NO ROOSTERS!! Ha ha. The 2nd lecture was on the bio-sand filters, when installing the filters they read scripture from 2 Kings 2:19-22 sharing how God cleaned the water by salt which they call the filters S.A.L.T (Save A Life Technology) it is a very simple way to provide clean and fresh water to the communities that our using dirty and rustic water to use as drinking water. We were able to go with the water filter team on Tuesday through Friday and help install in different villages. Here in the Philippines it is required that before you enter into an area you must visit the Governor of that area and once being approved you need to visit the Mayor along with the Village Captains. After doing this Mayor took very good care of us housing us in an air-con hotel! It was so nice to sleep in the cold but however we are not used to it so of course I got a little sick . But each day we went out to install the sand filters in the Communities and we installed a total of 12 in two days. At each community we teach them about the importance of clean water and are able to share the gospel. The way this filter works is beyond what I can figure it out b/c it is so simple but I know that the Lord has a hand on this ministry and many lives are being changed b/c of this. People were dying at least 6 people a week due to sickness of unclean water but with this technology of the filter once it is bought for the community (which is just $45) they have been able to see a decrease in deaths and an increase in lives changed by joining His Kingdom!! I was so honored to be apart of that this past week. Also our last night there we made it a point to have a bible study with the head of health services b/c we had spent much time with her and she was not a believer. So that night we were able to share the Romans Road and she received Christ! Maayo sa Dios! (God is Good!).
“And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge- that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” Eph 2:17b-19
I love this verse b/c it is a reminder to me how deep the Father’s love really is. As I am still learning how to love better and figure out what Jesus’ love really looked like. I have really enjoyed studying and dissecting the books of the Gospel to see how Jesus lived and how he taught. Jesus healed so many and I keep looking at how it was the“least of these” that he loved and healed. That he sat at tables with prostitutes, tax collectors and healed those who in society didn’t deserve to be healed, yet he still saved and healed them. He spent more time with them and shared till God called Him home. As I am here I look into my heart and ask to love the least of these.
I wanted to ask for specific prayer requests for this next week:
1. That our hearts would be open to learning and growing more in the culture.
2. Also for the hearts of those who we will be working with and sharing the Gospel with.
3. For our teams health as we work with those who need medical attention
4. That the Holy Spirit would lead us and be every where we go!!
Thank you for your prayers and I hope to write more next week and tell you how it went! God has been so good and I have been so blessed to be His hands and feet here in the Philippines!
Love you all,
In His Embrace,
Whitney
Well I can’t believe the third week of March is already here. It has been very busy these past few weeks and it is going to continue as we leave for Las Neives this coming week. I have felt the Lord’s guidance and I can’t wait to share all about it but I first I would like to talk about the ministries we were able to be apart of.
The first week of March we were at the Provincial hospital in Butuan City,that was quite an experience. The first 2 days I was in the E.R., I watched and observed some of the time but then was able to take the patients vital signs and interview the patients getting thier personal info.I met 3 patients that I came to really care for! And the cool thing was the next 2 days I was in the Medicine Ward and ICU to take care of them! I was able to perform many minor procedures, that…. in the states would be so against the law! I was able to insert and removes IV’s, insert and remove catheters (wow this was intense!!), I removed a NG tube (the feeding tubes) also I fed someone in ICU with an NG tube, that was honestly very emotional for me. It brought back memories of when dad was in the hospital in June of 2008. The way she looked at me and the way it smelled brought back memories that I haven’t felt since that summer. But as I prayed the Lord soon brought enough strength to finish the task, because I was trying to fight away the tears. We were able to talk with many people as we did our daily rounds with the nurses. We again handed out tracts to our patients and talked with the families around them. I was also able to talk with and meet the nurses who were we still in contact with, thanks to Facebook I will be honest I found discouragement at times because by the end of the week no one had come to the Lord but we were able to plant seeds and share about Christ, so my prayer now is someone would come in and finish the harvest! So we are praying for a team to come!
The next week we moved all of our stuff to our new house at the BOOST. On Saturday we started our training learning about community development basing it off of Nehemiah 2. I really enjoyed learning about this b/c we will be doing this in April and will be facilitating the communities on how to better their community with the resources they have. On Monday we had 2 lectures the 1st was how to grow a F.A.I.T.H garden the words stand for Food Always In The Home. We will also teach this in the community and teach families ways to bring income into the family along with keeping them fed. We learned how to plant okra and also milk the goats! Ha ha that was fun! It made me want to have goats and plant a garden! But NO ROOSTERS!! Ha ha. The 2nd lecture was on the bio-sand filters, when installing the filters they read scripture from 2 Kings 2:19-22 sharing how God cleaned the water by salt which they call the filters S.A.L.T (Save A Life Technology) it is a very simple way to provide clean and fresh water to the communities that our using dirty and rustic water to use as drinking water. We were able to go with the water filter team on Tuesday through Friday and help install in different villages. Here in the Philippines it is required that before you enter into an area you must visit the Governor of that area and once being approved you need to visit the Mayor along with the Village Captains. After doing this Mayor took very good care of us housing us in an air-con hotel! It was so nice to sleep in the cold but however we are not used to it so of course I got a little sick . But each day we went out to install the sand filters in the Communities and we installed a total of 12 in two days. At each community we teach them about the importance of clean water and are able to share the gospel. The way this filter works is beyond what I can figure it out b/c it is so simple but I know that the Lord has a hand on this ministry and many lives are being changed b/c of this. People were dying at least 6 people a week due to sickness of unclean water but with this technology of the filter once it is bought for the community (which is just $45) they have been able to see a decrease in deaths and an increase in lives changed by joining His Kingdom!! I was so honored to be apart of that this past week. Also our last night there we made it a point to have a bible study with the head of health services b/c we had spent much time with her and she was not a believer. So that night we were able to share the Romans Road and she received Christ! Maayo sa Dios! (God is Good!).
“And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge- that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” Eph 2:17b-19
I love this verse b/c it is a reminder to me how deep the Father’s love really is. As I am still learning how to love better and figure out what Jesus’ love really looked like. I have really enjoyed studying and dissecting the books of the Gospel to see how Jesus lived and how he taught. Jesus healed so many and I keep looking at how it was the“least of these” that he loved and healed. That he sat at tables with prostitutes, tax collectors and healed those who in society didn’t deserve to be healed, yet he still saved and healed them. He spent more time with them and shared till God called Him home. As I am here I look into my heart and ask to love the least of these.
I wanted to ask for specific prayer requests for this next week:
1. That our hearts would be open to learning and growing more in the culture.
2. Also for the hearts of those who we will be working with and sharing the Gospel with.
3. For our teams health as we work with those who need medical attention
4. That the Holy Spirit would lead us and be every where we go!!
Thank you for your prayers and I hope to write more next week and tell you how it went! God has been so good and I have been so blessed to be His hands and feet here in the Philippines!
Love you all,
In His Embrace,
Whitney
Friday, February 26, 2010
We have completed language school! I am fluent in Cebuano......ha ha just kidding. I wish we could spend more time learning the language b/c there is a lot to it but only being here four months is not enough time to really grasp such a unique language. I have gotten down short sayings and also I can understand when they speak to me it just takes me awhile to respond back in a full cebuano sentence. I have loved my time getting to know my language teacher and her family. They truly love the Lord and to see thier hearts was such an encouragement to me. I now consider my teacher to always be my Filipino mother! After this sunday we will move from our school and our travels and ministries continue to new and unreached places.
God has really been showing me a lot this week, I realize when I slow down from that busy life style and truly listen for him I can hear his soft voice. He has been breaking my heart in one specific way, and I am asking myself "do I lose sleep at night for the lost? Does my heart break so much that I cry for those who don't have that Joy and Hope that God has so graciously given me?" I know those are hard questions to ask but I don't lose sleep and I don't cry, I also know that is a hard prayer to pray but I want to totally live my life for Christ. Even as I say this to you, I really wonder what if I did this, how would I be a different person. Its an easy thing to say here b/c I may not see these people here again (of course I hope to rejoice with them in heaven) but in my home town can I be the same wittness that I am here? I want to be held accountable to make a difference in Cleveland, Tn the bible belt. For me when I get home I want to give my all to Ocoee outreach to North Cleveland youth, to my community and to my family. With whatever ministry God has you in are you giving you your all? I am praying for you and if your not in some kind of ministry, that He would open the doors to your heart and show you how you can be used.
This past weekend we went back to M.J Santos to work in the Clinic. However we were not able to work on saturday and I was a little upset we couldn't but I needed to "leave room for that interruption!" So on the way there we met a woman who lived in Tungao, which is the next town from us, so we ended up catching a jeepney and wondered around that town talking with people sharing why we were here and hopeing to share how to have a personal relationship with Jesus. We ended up going to fellowship with the woman whose husband is a pastor and their family, we met with the youth of the church and just talked. We really enjoyed the day and to top it off at the end I was able to play "sand" volleyabll with the village people. It was so much fun! They love it, we were suppose to be playing 4 on 4 but they kept telling me to pass and that someone would set it and for me to spike it.....They loved seeing a white girl jump! But I will have you know I didn't go easy on those guys on the other side of the net, oh yeah I spiked it!! Haha It was a great time to fellowship and enjoy time with our new friends. On Sunday we worshiped with the church in M.J Santos which was nice b/c usually we are gone to churches in other villages helping with the services. This Sunday we will visit a church here in the City and stay with a host family in town. So that leads me to some prayer request, along with what is going on this week......
On Monday we start working at the Priventail hospital here in the City. This is a government run hosptial. I have been assign to the ER for the first 2 days, then the ICU for the next, and Friday to the Surgery unit. I am very excited. I would ask that you would pray that the Lord would give us many opportunities to share with the people and that we would have the discernment to feel the Holy Spirit guiding us. Also for protection of our health, and just that we would feel the Holy Spirit at all times! So that is what we are doing for the first week of march.
I wanted to add a more personal note and some prayer requests for my family. During the next few months there is some hard days coming up that will be the first time to spend without dad. So I ask that on Feb 27, March 12, March 24, Easter, and the begining of May you say a little extra pray for my family. For me here I have had those days were all I want to do is cry and the reality and pain of losing him hits me again. I know that he is at peace and not suffering any more and I am so glad but at times selffihsly I want him here with me. I miss him a lot and at times I wonder why I am here going through this by myself....but I know that I am not, that I have the best comfort from the Lord. I believe he is teaching me to trust Him more that instead of going to others for comfort to go directly to Him, and sometimes I don't. But I ask that you continue to pray for me and my family as we heal from this pain and that we would have the opportunity to share our story to bring God the Glory.
I want to say that during the next few months of this trip I am not sure how much I can get on the internet. We will be living in the Communities which doesn't usually have electricity. But Please know that I will update when I can and it has been a huge encouragement to know that you have been praying for me. Also, just to say I love writing these blogs! Again I hope that they can encourage you and I ask that you continue to still leave room for interruption and ask the Lord to put someone in your path today that you can share His Truth with!
Thank you again for your support and prayers! I hope to write after the hospital but if not know that I will update as soon as I can!
Love to you all,
In His Embrace,
Whitney
God has really been showing me a lot this week, I realize when I slow down from that busy life style and truly listen for him I can hear his soft voice. He has been breaking my heart in one specific way, and I am asking myself "do I lose sleep at night for the lost? Does my heart break so much that I cry for those who don't have that Joy and Hope that God has so graciously given me?" I know those are hard questions to ask but I don't lose sleep and I don't cry, I also know that is a hard prayer to pray but I want to totally live my life for Christ. Even as I say this to you, I really wonder what if I did this, how would I be a different person. Its an easy thing to say here b/c I may not see these people here again (of course I hope to rejoice with them in heaven) but in my home town can I be the same wittness that I am here? I want to be held accountable to make a difference in Cleveland, Tn the bible belt. For me when I get home I want to give my all to Ocoee outreach to North Cleveland youth, to my community and to my family. With whatever ministry God has you in are you giving you your all? I am praying for you and if your not in some kind of ministry, that He would open the doors to your heart and show you how you can be used.
This past weekend we went back to M.J Santos to work in the Clinic. However we were not able to work on saturday and I was a little upset we couldn't but I needed to "leave room for that interruption!" So on the way there we met a woman who lived in Tungao, which is the next town from us, so we ended up catching a jeepney and wondered around that town talking with people sharing why we were here and hopeing to share how to have a personal relationship with Jesus. We ended up going to fellowship with the woman whose husband is a pastor and their family, we met with the youth of the church and just talked. We really enjoyed the day and to top it off at the end I was able to play "sand" volleyabll with the village people. It was so much fun! They love it, we were suppose to be playing 4 on 4 but they kept telling me to pass and that someone would set it and for me to spike it.....They loved seeing a white girl jump! But I will have you know I didn't go easy on those guys on the other side of the net, oh yeah I spiked it!! Haha It was a great time to fellowship and enjoy time with our new friends. On Sunday we worshiped with the church in M.J Santos which was nice b/c usually we are gone to churches in other villages helping with the services. This Sunday we will visit a church here in the City and stay with a host family in town. So that leads me to some prayer request, along with what is going on this week......
On Monday we start working at the Priventail hospital here in the City. This is a government run hosptial. I have been assign to the ER for the first 2 days, then the ICU for the next, and Friday to the Surgery unit. I am very excited. I would ask that you would pray that the Lord would give us many opportunities to share with the people and that we would have the discernment to feel the Holy Spirit guiding us. Also for protection of our health, and just that we would feel the Holy Spirit at all times! So that is what we are doing for the first week of march.
I wanted to add a more personal note and some prayer requests for my family. During the next few months there is some hard days coming up that will be the first time to spend without dad. So I ask that on Feb 27, March 12, March 24, Easter, and the begining of May you say a little extra pray for my family. For me here I have had those days were all I want to do is cry and the reality and pain of losing him hits me again. I know that he is at peace and not suffering any more and I am so glad but at times selffihsly I want him here with me. I miss him a lot and at times I wonder why I am here going through this by myself....but I know that I am not, that I have the best comfort from the Lord. I believe he is teaching me to trust Him more that instead of going to others for comfort to go directly to Him, and sometimes I don't. But I ask that you continue to pray for me and my family as we heal from this pain and that we would have the opportunity to share our story to bring God the Glory.
I want to say that during the next few months of this trip I am not sure how much I can get on the internet. We will be living in the Communities which doesn't usually have electricity. But Please know that I will update when I can and it has been a huge encouragement to know that you have been praying for me. Also, just to say I love writing these blogs! Again I hope that they can encourage you and I ask that you continue to still leave room for interruption and ask the Lord to put someone in your path today that you can share His Truth with!
Thank you again for your support and prayers! I hope to write after the hospital but if not know that I will update as soon as I can!
Love to you all,
In His Embrace,
Whitney
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Hatagig lugar para sa mga kabilinggan!
Leave room for interruption:
So many times I am to busy to leave room for interruption. In Mark 1:35-39 Jesus has been so busy and first He needed time with God, he needed that solitary place to just pray. The disciples were looking for Him telling him where he needed to go when he said “Let us go somewhere else to the nearby villages so that I can preach there also. That is why I have come.” To me this is saying that the disciples were trying to take him to many places when Jesus told them I am going where the Lord is going to lead me. How many times have I been focused on going to one place and rushed through the interruptions God placed before me. I am challenged by that here, that I need to focus on every interruption and Embrace it.
In my quiet time I am going through the Gospels. I love it and I am taking each day to focus on God’s teaching and learning how I can apply those teachings in my life.
The Journey:
Well this was our last full week of language school, we have been here since Jan 22. I have learned many things I wish I could say I have gotten the language down but only spending a month in the language is not enough some spend over a year just in school. We have tried to learn as much as we could but I know we will learn more b/c when we go to the Bukid (moutnains) we will be forced to speak Cebuano. Since we have been at language school we have made many friends! Our teacher has become our Filipino mother and we have fallen in love with her family! We have learned to shop the Filipino way, I think I got good at the bargaining and also cooking! Some things we have learned to cook is Adobo which tastes a lot like seasme chicken, Pansit which is a noodles dish, also Lumpia this is a wrap with pork and veggies, and I will have to say my favorite is the grilled fresh veggies! Oh and every meal is rice, however we have stuck to every other day or once a day with rice. So cooking as been fun!
This weekend we are heading to the Bukid (moutains) to work in the clinic again! I really enjoy this and we are able to help physical needs which is very needed. The first week of March we will start working in a local hospital but we will only be there for a week. Please pray for us as we minister there. Also After that week we will train learning much about water filters, gardening and how to conduct health classes along with community development. This past weekend we went to a village called Florida, we led youth bible studies and 6 people came to the Lord. I ask that you keep those people in your prayers as the begin a new journey with the Lord. Also we traveled there by a tree boat! There is not much balance so I am so surprised by the fact we didn't fall in! ha ha that would have been a sight! It was the Aguson River.
I have been learning a Cebuano worship song! The guitar playing is coming along ha ha I love playing just don’t focus on it as much as I should ☺ But we are growing as a team and learning more ways to minister.
We have gotten to walk a lot and just explore talking with the people here! They always laugh at us when we speak to them in Cebuano but its b/c they are excited we are learning their language! This week has gone by fast and time is flying now. We have also gotten to know some Korean missionaries! God has brought many people in our lives to encourage us and keep us going on those days we struggle. I ask that you keep me and my team in prayer, as we travel back to the mountains! I hope to most more next week of our travels and time in the clinic.
Thank you for all your prayers and support once more. It means so much to know people are praying for me! I love you all and i hope your enjoying the snow! It is hot here! We have now hit the summer days! :) Also i would love feed back on my blogs. Things I could do better or things that God has shown you in your time with him. I hope I can bring encouragement as I blog b/c that is one of my reasons to do this. I hope I can!
In His Embrace,
Whitney
Leave room for interruption:
So many times I am to busy to leave room for interruption. In Mark 1:35-39 Jesus has been so busy and first He needed time with God, he needed that solitary place to just pray. The disciples were looking for Him telling him where he needed to go when he said “Let us go somewhere else to the nearby villages so that I can preach there also. That is why I have come.” To me this is saying that the disciples were trying to take him to many places when Jesus told them I am going where the Lord is going to lead me. How many times have I been focused on going to one place and rushed through the interruptions God placed before me. I am challenged by that here, that I need to focus on every interruption and Embrace it.
In my quiet time I am going through the Gospels. I love it and I am taking each day to focus on God’s teaching and learning how I can apply those teachings in my life.
The Journey:
Well this was our last full week of language school, we have been here since Jan 22. I have learned many things I wish I could say I have gotten the language down but only spending a month in the language is not enough some spend over a year just in school. We have tried to learn as much as we could but I know we will learn more b/c when we go to the Bukid (moutnains) we will be forced to speak Cebuano. Since we have been at language school we have made many friends! Our teacher has become our Filipino mother and we have fallen in love with her family! We have learned to shop the Filipino way, I think I got good at the bargaining and also cooking! Some things we have learned to cook is Adobo which tastes a lot like seasme chicken, Pansit which is a noodles dish, also Lumpia this is a wrap with pork and veggies, and I will have to say my favorite is the grilled fresh veggies! Oh and every meal is rice, however we have stuck to every other day or once a day with rice. So cooking as been fun!
This weekend we are heading to the Bukid (moutains) to work in the clinic again! I really enjoy this and we are able to help physical needs which is very needed. The first week of March we will start working in a local hospital but we will only be there for a week. Please pray for us as we minister there. Also After that week we will train learning much about water filters, gardening and how to conduct health classes along with community development. This past weekend we went to a village called Florida, we led youth bible studies and 6 people came to the Lord. I ask that you keep those people in your prayers as the begin a new journey with the Lord. Also we traveled there by a tree boat! There is not much balance so I am so surprised by the fact we didn't fall in! ha ha that would have been a sight! It was the Aguson River.
I have been learning a Cebuano worship song! The guitar playing is coming along ha ha I love playing just don’t focus on it as much as I should ☺ But we are growing as a team and learning more ways to minister.
We have gotten to walk a lot and just explore talking with the people here! They always laugh at us when we speak to them in Cebuano but its b/c they are excited we are learning their language! This week has gone by fast and time is flying now. We have also gotten to know some Korean missionaries! God has brought many people in our lives to encourage us and keep us going on those days we struggle. I ask that you keep me and my team in prayer, as we travel back to the mountains! I hope to most more next week of our travels and time in the clinic.
Thank you for all your prayers and support once more. It means so much to know people are praying for me! I love you all and i hope your enjoying the snow! It is hot here! We have now hit the summer days! :) Also i would love feed back on my blogs. Things I could do better or things that God has shown you in your time with him. I hope I can bring encouragement as I blog b/c that is one of my reasons to do this. I hope I can!
In His Embrace,
Whitney
Thursday, February 11, 2010
1 month into the Journey
However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me----the task of testifying to the Gospel of God’s grace.
Acts 20:24
This verse has been our memory verse for the week. I am worth nothing if I don’t complete the task God has put me on this earth for. But it is not focusing on the word “do” but to finish the task by testifying the Gospel with love and sacrifice. I know at times we get caught up in our everyday lives but the other day I was sitting in a coffee shop talking with a man about the Gospel and asking him questions about God and I thought why do I not do this at home. Well I ask myself, am afraid of what people would think about me and/or maybe I don’t want to offend someone. But if I memorize this verse that was given to me can I really do what it is asking of me? Can we as believers hold each other accountable for testifying and finishing the race?
I have been challenged with many things already in this first month of being away from comfort and everything I have ever known. Just to name a few: God has challenged me to Embrace this journey but also to really TRUST Him! At first I was a little disappointed that for the first month all I would be doing was language school. (But again very important!) I really believe that this first month has been given to me to truly devote more time to the Lord to learn more about His heart for me and for the nations. He has set my heart towards 1 Cor 13, that if I don’t love than I am nothing! Francis Chan challenges his readers in Crazy love to replace love with your name in verses 4-8. I know that I can never do all those things or always keep that attitude but it is def something to strive for! I want to love these people as Christ does, as he has loved me through all the mess ups in my life, through all the doubts that I have had. My prayer is that I would grow closer to Him than ever before that during this time He would become everything I need and desire and that my desires, my deepest passions, and my dreams would be in direct line of what He wants. If you have a chance read Wide Awake ☺
The Journey:
Well it has been a great first month. My team and I have come across some obstacles but God once again has been faithful. We are still in language school and each week I think I lose the country accent and pick up a Filipino one. Ha ha although I may never lose it because when I say my name is Whitney, there is just something about that name that sounds country like trying to say “ako si Whitney” However I can always make the Filipinos laugh when I am practicing my Cebuano. And I do wish I paid more attention in Spanish class in high school it would have really helped ☺ On the weekends we travel to the mountains, this past weekend we actually got to work in the clinics. It was great, at first the language barrier was tough because we are speaking to them in Cebuano but after the first couple of patients I got the hang of it. I was able to do a minor surgery which was very neat! However I was a bit timid at first but I was praying for strength and asking for my hands to be steady, for the patient’s sake. We are learning a lot about different diseases here so that when we go to the communities we can recognize the symptoms and help treat it as best we can. So along with language studies, we are doing a lot of research. While we are in the city, we like to go out in the afternoons to talk with the people and practice the language.
Cool story: The other morning I was asking the Lord to bring someone into my life that I can share the creation story with. So that day me and Stephanie went out and we ended up talking to a guy for around 2 hours. At first I was not confident with sharing….why because I didn’t know how to start it off but I could just here Jesus saying “Oh you of little faith” I begin praying while having small talk and that is when the conversation opened up and began to get deeper. He never fully committed to following Christ but I believe and trust that the seed was planted and now it is in the hands of the Holy Spirit. I give complete praise and honor to God!
We are finally starting to meet more Filipinos and make friends which is helping while in language school. At night for a pastime we play a game called 1,2,3, pass…it’s a lot like spoons but when you lose you get powder put all over your face! We played last night and I never got any….all the people were out to get me.
So the Filipino’s found that I like to sing so everywhere we go now I am asked to lead them in a worship song. They know a lot of English worship songs, some that are popular are Empty Me, Here I am to Worship, and Light of the World. So we were at church a couple of weekend ago and I started thinking if I could learn how to play here I could play along with the singing at anytime. So God provided the way and the money to buy one here. I got to work on my bargaining skills and got it for a great price! I want to leave it here when I leave so I have been in prayer about who I want to give it to. They love music here so I am hoping I can reach more by using this gift.
Some prayer requests:
-That God would continue to give us boldness as we go out and share.
- Also I have been having a hard time with the loss of my dad, being here without family has been tough but I am depending on Christ to be the ultimate comfort and strength. One thing that happen the other day is I was praying asking God to give me a sign of peace and I was sitting there looking into the sky and a white bird (looked like a dove) was flying in the sky. It reminded me of the funeral but it conformed he is at peace. Also I was talking to Ashley the other day about what God was showing me and a dragonfly sat with me the whole time! I am so thankful our God can show us He cares in so many ways!
-Language school and that we can focus on it.
-My family back at home as some hard days with birthdays and holidays are coming up to be without dad.
- For the Filipino’s we have already encountered and their hearts.
Thank you for all your support, the encouragement I have gotten has helped me in so many ways and I am very thankful for you! I pray that in some way this has encouraged you to love others and step out of your comfort zone. Ask the Lord to being someone in your path today! I love you all and sorry its so long, it could probably be longer ☺
In His Embrace,
Whit
Acts 20:24
This verse has been our memory verse for the week. I am worth nothing if I don’t complete the task God has put me on this earth for. But it is not focusing on the word “do” but to finish the task by testifying the Gospel with love and sacrifice. I know at times we get caught up in our everyday lives but the other day I was sitting in a coffee shop talking with a man about the Gospel and asking him questions about God and I thought why do I not do this at home. Well I ask myself, am afraid of what people would think about me and/or maybe I don’t want to offend someone. But if I memorize this verse that was given to me can I really do what it is asking of me? Can we as believers hold each other accountable for testifying and finishing the race?
I have been challenged with many things already in this first month of being away from comfort and everything I have ever known. Just to name a few: God has challenged me to Embrace this journey but also to really TRUST Him! At first I was a little disappointed that for the first month all I would be doing was language school. (But again very important!) I really believe that this first month has been given to me to truly devote more time to the Lord to learn more about His heart for me and for the nations. He has set my heart towards 1 Cor 13, that if I don’t love than I am nothing! Francis Chan challenges his readers in Crazy love to replace love with your name in verses 4-8. I know that I can never do all those things or always keep that attitude but it is def something to strive for! I want to love these people as Christ does, as he has loved me through all the mess ups in my life, through all the doubts that I have had. My prayer is that I would grow closer to Him than ever before that during this time He would become everything I need and desire and that my desires, my deepest passions, and my dreams would be in direct line of what He wants. If you have a chance read Wide Awake ☺
The Journey:
Well it has been a great first month. My team and I have come across some obstacles but God once again has been faithful. We are still in language school and each week I think I lose the country accent and pick up a Filipino one. Ha ha although I may never lose it because when I say my name is Whitney, there is just something about that name that sounds country like trying to say “ako si Whitney” However I can always make the Filipinos laugh when I am practicing my Cebuano. And I do wish I paid more attention in Spanish class in high school it would have really helped ☺ On the weekends we travel to the mountains, this past weekend we actually got to work in the clinics. It was great, at first the language barrier was tough because we are speaking to them in Cebuano but after the first couple of patients I got the hang of it. I was able to do a minor surgery which was very neat! However I was a bit timid at first but I was praying for strength and asking for my hands to be steady, for the patient’s sake. We are learning a lot about different diseases here so that when we go to the communities we can recognize the symptoms and help treat it as best we can. So along with language studies, we are doing a lot of research. While we are in the city, we like to go out in the afternoons to talk with the people and practice the language.
Cool story: The other morning I was asking the Lord to bring someone into my life that I can share the creation story with. So that day me and Stephanie went out and we ended up talking to a guy for around 2 hours. At first I was not confident with sharing….why because I didn’t know how to start it off but I could just here Jesus saying “Oh you of little faith” I begin praying while having small talk and that is when the conversation opened up and began to get deeper. He never fully committed to following Christ but I believe and trust that the seed was planted and now it is in the hands of the Holy Spirit. I give complete praise and honor to God!
We are finally starting to meet more Filipinos and make friends which is helping while in language school. At night for a pastime we play a game called 1,2,3, pass…it’s a lot like spoons but when you lose you get powder put all over your face! We played last night and I never got any….all the people were out to get me.
So the Filipino’s found that I like to sing so everywhere we go now I am asked to lead them in a worship song. They know a lot of English worship songs, some that are popular are Empty Me, Here I am to Worship, and Light of the World. So we were at church a couple of weekend ago and I started thinking if I could learn how to play here I could play along with the singing at anytime. So God provided the way and the money to buy one here. I got to work on my bargaining skills and got it for a great price! I want to leave it here when I leave so I have been in prayer about who I want to give it to. They love music here so I am hoping I can reach more by using this gift.
Some prayer requests:
-That God would continue to give us boldness as we go out and share.
- Also I have been having a hard time with the loss of my dad, being here without family has been tough but I am depending on Christ to be the ultimate comfort and strength. One thing that happen the other day is I was praying asking God to give me a sign of peace and I was sitting there looking into the sky and a white bird (looked like a dove) was flying in the sky. It reminded me of the funeral but it conformed he is at peace. Also I was talking to Ashley the other day about what God was showing me and a dragonfly sat with me the whole time! I am so thankful our God can show us He cares in so many ways!
-Language school and that we can focus on it.
-My family back at home as some hard days with birthdays and holidays are coming up to be without dad.
- For the Filipino’s we have already encountered and their hearts.
Thank you for all your support, the encouragement I have gotten has helped me in so many ways and I am very thankful for you! I pray that in some way this has encouraged you to love others and step out of your comfort zone. Ask the Lord to being someone in your path today! I love you all and sorry its so long, it could probably be longer ☺
In His Embrace,
Whit
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