We begin each day with a 7:00 breakfast at our hotel. This morning’s breakfast was typical. It involved one slice of toast and a slice of ham. We then have group worship and teaching, as well as any necessary administrative announcements, followed by personal quiet time, followed by ministry preparation time. After that we eat an early lunch. Our typical lunch is one fried chicken leg, rice, and fresh mango. After lunch we board jeepneys to head to our ministry areas (around noon).
Once we arrive in the communities there is no limit to the things we will do. We often go door to door, sharing the gospel, praying with and for people, and simply listening to their needs and lives. We also will often preach along the way. I have found myself preaching on two different street corners (I’m talking about dirt streets that are barely wide enough for a single car to go through, with homes made of scrap woods and metals lining the way). At each of those preaching times I have seen 30-40 people accept Jesus as their Lord and savior.
We also prepare group open air meetings. These may include dramas, medical care, singing, preaching, and sharing. Crowds gather quickly to see our kids and simply to see white people doing strange things.
Finally, we spend a lot of time playing with the children. I have spent hours picking up, airplaning, helicoptering, throwing, flipping, etc., 100s of Filipino children. It is good that Filipinos are very small people. I have had as many as four children hanging on one arm and three on the other. 🙂
This can go on for four hours in the warm, muggy Filipino afternoon. We drink tons of water and get filthy. It is great fun. To see the children’s eyes light up with joy when one of our children gives them a stuffed animal we brought from home is worth it. It is even worth more when then we can explain that just as we give them that animal, God gives life eternal if they will only accept it. Then, when their eyes light up with understanding that and they are adopted into the Kingdom of Heaven, there is no price we can put on it.
We often do not get home until 7 p.m. By that time the twelve hours, the sun, the dirt, and the small quantities of food have added up to exhaustion. Five showers later, and a fresh coating of insect repellant (our new cologne is DEET), we are prepared to fall into bed to begin a new day. We do this six days a week! God is amazingly good to keep us refreshed through His Spirit and His Word and the joy He provides through seeing so many lives touched.
Thank you for your continued prayers and love. We are sorry that we aren’t in touch very often, but it is hard from here. Please let as many people know as possible that they can read about what is happening here at the blogsite. We love you.