Philippines '07
It's now July 17th... where did the time go?
Words fall so short of describing the beauty of God and His creation in the Philippines. I've expereienced so many new things and learned so much about how little I know. My life has been forever impacted once again from these past two weeks there.
Everytime I go back there it feels like I go through enormous growth periods. It's like my walk with Christ is a boat being steered down white rapids and everytime I hit the Philippines trip my boat encounters a massive waterfall. That waterfall changes me and molds me into such a completely new person. The majesty of His mountains, the beauty of His people, the passion of their worship... how can I not be formed into someone new when I get back? To do so, for me, would be nothing other than sin.
I wish that my mind could fully articulate every second of that trip into words so that I could share it with you. However it seems that all that materializes from that effort is tears. Tears that I'm not in the heart of a jungle completely immersed in His creation, tears that I'm not waking up and knowing that I'm going to make an impact on someone's life physically and spiritually with food and spiritual water, tears that I'm such a poor representative of His glory yet He chose to allow me to go and minister to people that are part of my ancestory.
Even though I cannot confine my experience into words, I'd like to share with you some of things that went on.. in the next month or so I'll try to post things every week with different stories and pictures of things I've seen and places I went to while over there. However, no words or pictures can capture the absolute marvel of this trip. I urge you to put in your passport application right now and prepare for next summers trip. God has called us to reach His people, and this is your opportunity... if you need more information let me know and I would LOVE to tell you more.
Before I go I'll share one little story with you about when I first arrived. We had gotten into the Philippines safely and we were leaving Manila and heading to the province on bus. While in the mountains we were watching a movie but I just had to look outside. The view of the valley's and the clouds resting in them was nothing short of glorious. It was one of the most beautiful things I had ever seen in my life, and in the midst of it all I spotted a tiny little elementary school. At the moment I spotted it a little girl, no older than 5, came around the corner of the building running, hands in the air with her head tilted back, completely immersing herself in the beauty that surrounded her. I thought to myself, I just got to witness that moment in her life. God orchestrated that very moment for me to pass by her school and see her uninhibited love of what He has done. That little girl set the tone for the trip (and the rest of my life) and made me realize that I need to do as she does and throw my arms up, tilt my head towards the heavens and marvel at God's creation. She has inspired me and continues to do so to sit and be still in my day and just thank God for His awesome creation. May she inspire you as well to worship Him for Who He Is.
I am so glad to be back with you my brothers and sisters. I love you all.
Words fall so short of describing the beauty of God and His creation in the Philippines. I've expereienced so many new things and learned so much about how little I know. My life has been forever impacted once again from these past two weeks there.
Everytime I go back there it feels like I go through enormous growth periods. It's like my walk with Christ is a boat being steered down white rapids and everytime I hit the Philippines trip my boat encounters a massive waterfall. That waterfall changes me and molds me into such a completely new person. The majesty of His mountains, the beauty of His people, the passion of their worship... how can I not be formed into someone new when I get back? To do so, for me, would be nothing other than sin.
I wish that my mind could fully articulate every second of that trip into words so that I could share it with you. However it seems that all that materializes from that effort is tears. Tears that I'm not in the heart of a jungle completely immersed in His creation, tears that I'm not waking up and knowing that I'm going to make an impact on someone's life physically and spiritually with food and spiritual water, tears that I'm such a poor representative of His glory yet He chose to allow me to go and minister to people that are part of my ancestory.
Even though I cannot confine my experience into words, I'd like to share with you some of things that went on.. in the next month or so I'll try to post things every week with different stories and pictures of things I've seen and places I went to while over there. However, no words or pictures can capture the absolute marvel of this trip. I urge you to put in your passport application right now and prepare for next summers trip. God has called us to reach His people, and this is your opportunity... if you need more information let me know and I would LOVE to tell you more.
Before I go I'll share one little story with you about when I first arrived. We had gotten into the Philippines safely and we were leaving Manila and heading to the province on bus. While in the mountains we were watching a movie but I just had to look outside. The view of the valley's and the clouds resting in them was nothing short of glorious. It was one of the most beautiful things I had ever seen in my life, and in the midst of it all I spotted a tiny little elementary school. At the moment I spotted it a little girl, no older than 5, came around the corner of the building running, hands in the air with her head tilted back, completely immersing herself in the beauty that surrounded her. I thought to myself, I just got to witness that moment in her life. God orchestrated that very moment for me to pass by her school and see her uninhibited love of what He has done. That little girl set the tone for the trip (and the rest of my life) and made me realize that I need to do as she does and throw my arms up, tilt my head towards the heavens and marvel at God's creation. She has inspired me and continues to do so to sit and be still in my day and just thank God for His awesome creation. May she inspire you as well to worship Him for Who He Is.
I am so glad to be back with you my brothers and sisters. I love you all.