Am-Among Festival
Bummer Turned Blessing
If you saw my post "8 weeks of outreach", you saw our team passed around two rounds of sickness. The first hit this weekend, and though we had to reschedule a visit to Can-eo, we had enough people well to do "team church" in the hall of the hotel. This time was a blessing for me, as one of our team members reminded us to "walk humbly" before each other. We started the practice of "Matthew 18", in other words, allowing God to show us if we needed to approach others for forgiveness, or to forgive them. I believe quieting ourselves each day together to do this was an important aspect of team unity.
Through our "team church", Exodus 23:20, and some others that the YWAM Salem base had written during intercession (a specific time of prayer for me and the team), God reminded me something He's been working on me for the past couple years: It's about the heart! We can have the best-laid human plans, but HE has prepared the way we should go, He is faithful to bring that plan to completion, and MY job is to present myself humbly before Him and respond to the grace He's given me.
For this two month season, that was to relax :) , seek Him daily, and support my team in their growth and struggles.
Blessings, thank you for your patience for this post, and next....Week 3!!
The Am-among Festival is a celebration unique to Bontoc. It celebrates the local tribes' heritages through dance and other celebrations. It takes place every September 16, celebrating rest after rice fields have been planted.
This was a great way to begin to experience local culture and appreciate their heritage. For the more traditional experience, there were parades and indigenous dances. On the more "modern" side was "Bontoc Got Talent" and a dog show!
For more local information about Am-among, you can visit:
Here we are, taking part in the festivities
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| by watching dances |
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| jumping rope (made of rubber bands!) |
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| or giving water away! |
Following our missionary hosts' idea, we took this time to share free water bottles, with labels that told the recipients this was a free gift, like God's free gift of salvation.
Love Feast and Birthdays
As a tradition, YWAM bases often gather once a month/quarter to celebrate God's blessings together in a "Love Feast". Our team was honored to be a part of YWAM Mountain Province's September Love Feast, where we watched, then participated in indigenous dances, enjoyed tasty food, and even celebrated our September birthdays. Thank you, YWAM Mountain Province, for your hospitality!
Bummer Turned Blessing
If you saw my post "8 weeks of outreach", you saw our team passed around two rounds of sickness. The first hit this weekend, and though we had to reschedule a visit to Can-eo, we had enough people well to do "team church" in the hall of the hotel. This time was a blessing for me, as one of our team members reminded us to "walk humbly" before each other. We started the practice of "Matthew 18", in other words, allowing God to show us if we needed to approach others for forgiveness, or to forgive them. I believe quieting ourselves each day together to do this was an important aspect of team unity.
It's about the heart
Exodus 23:20 - "Behold, I send an angel before you to guard you on the way and to bring you to the place that I have prepared."
Through our "team church", Exodus 23:20, and some others that the YWAM Salem base had written during intercession (a specific time of prayer for me and the team), God reminded me something He's been working on me for the past couple years: It's about the heart! We can have the best-laid human plans, but HE has prepared the way we should go, He is faithful to bring that plan to completion, and MY job is to present myself humbly before Him and respond to the grace He's given me.
For this two month season, that was to relax :) , seek Him daily, and support my team in their growth and struggles.
A blessed birthday
A new tradition for me in YWAM is spending my birthday overseas! As a part of Crossroads DTS at YWAM Salem, our outreach will always include that special day in the middle of September! This year it started with hugs and greetings from my team members at our team meal times, and included watching children, a prayer walk in the barangay of Samoki, and an important trip to my favorite pastry shop, Evelyn's, for a doughnut and coke. I don't know why, but those simple pastries were my favorites! And a huge thanks to Lisa, who introduced our team to "popcorn cakes" for my birthday. They were great!!
A new tradition for me in YWAM is spending my birthday overseas! As a part of Crossroads DTS at YWAM Salem, our outreach will always include that special day in the middle of September! This year it started with hugs and greetings from my team members at our team meal times, and included watching children, a prayer walk in the barangay of Samoki, and an important trip to my favorite pastry shop, Evelyn's, for a doughnut and coke. I don't know why, but those simple pastries were my favorites! And a huge thanks to Lisa, who introduced our team to "popcorn cakes" for my birthday. They were great!!
Decisions
Often when I get overwhelmed, I start to distance myself from everyone. I realized while journaling during this first week that I was doing this, and that my comments were all about myself. :( At this point, I decided I needed to make a conscious decision to praise God, and that I did. I needed to remind myself: He is worthy of praise, no matter our circumstances or feelings!
Often when I get overwhelmed, I start to distance myself from everyone. I realized while journaling during this first week that I was doing this, and that my comments were all about myself. :( At this point, I decided I needed to make a conscious decision to praise God, and that I did. I needed to remind myself: He is worthy of praise, no matter our circumstances or feelings!
Lastly, God spoke to me this week through I Corinthians 1:17:
For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.
He was reminding me at this moment that I didn't have to have all the right answers or know exactly what I was doing here. But my "mission" was to bring Truth to those I was with, and let GOD do HIS part.
Blessings, thank you for your patience for this post, and next....Week 3!!
