First update from the Philippines!
For our second week of outreach, we'v begun our "regular" schedule of ministry. Here's a glimpse at a typical week:
Every day: Team meals, debrief, prayer/worship, and 'community ministry' (student- initiated interactions with people in our city)
Monday: Values teaching and prayer at the Moral Recovery Program with local government officials, Kids' Club in the park
Tuesday: Day off + evening worship, prayer, teaching with local young adult ministry
Thursday: Discipleship Training Course with the same young people as Tuesday
Friday: Health Clinic (test blood pressure and blood sugar and develop relationships with participants through conversation); Values Education course with seven 7th grade classrooms
Saturday-Sunday = visit village or local churches to support them by preaching, leading worship, praying, etc.
Weeks become packed fast! We take one day off a week (Tuesdays), and encourage our students to get involved, yet maintain a balance of rest. This time can be intense! Many of you know my heart, that I am continually learning this balance of work and rest, giving and receiving. It's good to be here, practicing those life lessons along with our students.
My role on outreach
Some have asked what exactly I'm doing during this portion of ministry. As a staff leader, I encourage adult students and their families to take risks, hear from God, and follow what He asks fo them during this time. I help with logistics, like making schedules for meal prep and keeping track of students' ministry time they turn in (part of this introductory university course--University of the Nations). I minister with them, getting to know our Filipino neighbors and praying and playing with them. My focus is supporting the team, but I'm honored to minster with them locally, in practical ways.
Health Clinic
I was blessed Friday by the older citizens of Bontoc that came to the Health Clinic. THey patiently told me their names and family members and occupations, and taught me a couple small words in Ilocano ( a local tribal language) and Bontoc dialect. Most of them speak at least 4 languages--these 2 plus Tagalog and English!
Urgent Prayers Needed!
Please pray for our team--a nasty stomach virus has moved through most of the team. I'm currently unscathed, please pray this continues! After prayer, we felt God wanted us to postpone this weekend's trips to villages. We know God hears our cries to be well and continue ministry and ask you to join with us as we trust for God's timing to minister in the villages we will miss this weekend. Please also pray for health and protection for Pastor R and wife B as they make the trip around a landslide to minister Saturday and Sunday to these villages. Pray for God to move among the people in Can-eo and beyond.
Carrying beans on my head....all the way home! :)
Student learning to test blood sugar
Typhoon coming??? For now, just a waterfall on the stairs
Kids' Club in the park - trust building activity
team returning on the rice terraces from ministry in the villages outside Malicong
28 in a jeepney--yes! 10 were soon on top--good times :)
View of Bontoc from barangay Samoki...I live in the house in the middle far left of the picture, with white roof and red water canister. The rest of the team stays at a hotel just to the left of the picture
playing with kids at the Am-Among festival
Am-Among festival - cultural dancers
Birthday!
Playing baseball in the harvested rice fields with a tennis ball and stick
Where I live...just kidding! :) Young women's sleeping quarters at the Bontoc museum
the larger city of Baguio, about 8 hours away by bus