Tuesday, July 15, 2014

Philippines - Open Team - Day 4


What an amazing thing air conditioners are.  I slept like a rock.  It seems like others on the team did as well.  As I woke up (to Don bumping his head on my bed), I realized that Harrison was already out of his bed, so I started reading the Bible, and he came in shortly after and told me that Germany beat Argentina in the World Cup.  Apparently, Ashlyn woke up and went downstairs and watched it – it was played from 3-5 AM local time.  Then, when she returned to the room, she alerted everyone there to the fact that Germany won.
Anyway, we started the day with breakfast and then were getting ready for devotions when we were asked to join the AMG staff devotions.  So we headed upstairs and Pastor Ray shared with us from 1 Cor 12 and 13.  He challenged us that all we do needs to be done in love – because without love, everything we do is nothing.  At the end of his devotional, he asked if anyone else had anything to say, and Mrs Layda talked about how the people from the World Cup played their best for their country.  How badly they wanted to win the “gold” for the pride of their country.  Then she said, “I just want to have some gold to give to God”.  Both the devotional and her challenge were helpful and encouraging.
After devotions, Jing gave us an orientation to the ministry of AMG and what an encouragement that was.  The team enjoyed hearing about the purpose and programs of AMG.  They asked a lot of good questions, and I think they got a solid understanding of what to expect for the remainder of the week.
After lunch, we took some time to rest, do laundry, and then go on home visits.  We visited about 12 homes and encouraged and prayed with many of the people in the homes.  It was like walking through a maze as we made our way through the small winding passageways between the buildings.  The first home we went to held three families with about 10 people total in 3 rooms.  The floor creaked as Harrison walked across it, and the ladder to the upstairs (where the three rooms were) was dangerous and treacherous. 
The people at each home were hospitable and very welcoming.  They shared with us their stories and we asked questions about them, their families, their children, etc.  Tith and Ana walked with us and helped us communicate with those who had limited English ability.  Our group of 10 slowly grew as we moved from house to house – picking up stray children along the way. 
By the time we returned to the church/AMG corporate, we had about 30 or so kids following us and trying to play with us.  So we spent the next hour or so playing games, having fun, sharing the pictures on the wall (with the projector God provided from Easton Baptist Church) and just love the kids as Jesus would have if He were here in the flesh.  By 6:30, it was time to say goodbye to the kids and head inside for dinner.  Kendra said that one of the boys said, “please come back, pretty please...” and kept “begging” us to return.  Tith told us yesterday that never has a team come and played with the kids like this team has.  She thanked us a number of times for showing love to the kids by playing with them.  What an encouragement that was to me that what we were doing was being well received by the kids, the local people, and the church as well.  I reminded Tith that we are here for the purpose of showing Christ love to the kids, and that if Christ were here, He would probably spend time playing with the kids as well.
After dinner we sat and talked about the day – it was a great day.  However, we found out that our flight has been cancelled for tomorrow because of the incoming typhoon.  We are “stuck” here for another day.  That’s okay, because it is in God’s plan, and so we will be going to ESHTEC tomorrow to see the school (and child care center) where the kids go to get trained for business.  This should be an excellent visit.
Well, it’s almost 10:00, and I am fully exhausted. I am still trying to recuperate from the long days of travel, so hopefully a good night’s rest again tonight will help.  Maybe that is why God cancelled our early morning flight tomorrow – who knows??

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