Greetings to family and friends near and far!
My deepest apologies for not posting updates on outreach, we were super busy and it was hard to find time to sit and write out what was happening. Also my apologies for not getting to this blog sooner to update everyone!
I have been home for 3 weeks… 3 weeks…. I feel like I got home yesterday!
I was supposed to have a week or two off before returning to work, to process, and update all you lovelies who read my updates, how ever that didn’t happen at all. I sorta came home and hit the ground running so to speak. I’ve been thrown back into “normal” life, work, taking care of things at home, catching up with a few friends, church, etc. When I think of the fact that I have been home so long already, I feel weird. I have no clue where 3 weeks have gone!
To be honest, every weekend I wanted to sit down and write out this final blog about DTS. But I would get distracted with life, trying to cling to the few moments of rest I had before the start of another busy week. And part of me just didn’t want to write this out, I didn’t want to think about how it’s all over. I didn’t want to relive it just to think about how badly I may miss it. Sure, It was a huge challenge, and while in it, I had moments of not wanting to be in it and just couldn’t wait to be home. But There were also amazing beautiful moments filled with amazing beautiful people and lessons. It became a part of me, it was life. And now its over. And part of me feels like a huge chunk of my heart has been ripped out, and feels empty. And I dont want to process because I fear if i allow myself to think too much about it, I may just crumple into a little ball of meh… As I sit here thinking about what to write, I have no idea how to sum up everything that happened, everything I felt, everything God has taught me in those 2 and a half months. What do I say? How do I make you understand how I feel? How do I paint this picture to show you who I’ve become? I’m still trying to understand it all myself haha
I sit here writing and deleting and writing some more…. It just doesn’t sound right… But I will do my best.
First, I want to thank you all so so much! Thank you for your support, your prayers, love, and encouragement through this journey! It means so much to me! I titled these blogs “Finding My Identity”, I thought it would end for some silly reason or another, after I got home. But God still has so much to teach me and show me, but I can say my Identity is fully found in Him! I’m excited to keep growing in that truth. Thank you for stepping into this with me, and being a part of this! I will try to keep this as short as I can yet with as much content as I can haha But I want to say if you want to hear more stories or ask questions or learn any more, please feel free to get ahold of me! We can get coffee or something and chat, or if you don’t live close we can set up a skype time 🙂 Just let me know!
My mind is rushing through the events of those 2 and a half months now. What we did, what we saw, everything that happened seems like a blur yet still very fresh in my mind. Like not much at all yet way too much that I don’t know how to write it all down…. Such a mixture…. Anyhow, I’m going to share just some of my highlights though so I don’t go off on too many bunny trails or have it all scattered and making no sense 🙂
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Every Tuesday we went to the Valenzuela City Jail to share topics from lecture phase. We got to witness 30 men commit their lives to God and be baptized, it was so amazing! A few weeks before we left, one of the guys had told us that he would be transfering to prison for 8 years, he had a court date and would have been bailed out, but he chose to tell the judge the truth of what he had done because God spoke to him, and he told him he was going to use him in his time in the prison! He told us about his family, and how he had had major break through during the week that one of our guys spoke on repentance and forgiveness! It was amazing to see this man, willing to give up his family, his life, for another 8 years to be willing to be used by God! It was amazing to be a part of these lives and be able to spend time teaching them more about God, his love, and living a life for Him.
We got to visit a local hospital a few times, I was only able to visit once due to being sick the other times. We were able to pray for the patients, and had some wonderful stories of some of the other team members getting to hold newborns, praying for them, praying for the elderly, sick and hurting, praying for women who had just gone through surgeries or miscarriages. It was a heart wrenching time but I was so blessed to be a part of that and they continue to be part of my prayers.
We spent a lot of time doing evangelism in the city, we would go out two by two/small groups and ask God to lead us to people he wanted us to share with. We were able to talk to many and pray with those willing to be prayed with. It wasn’t particularly my favorite thing, I always felt weird just going up and interrupting peoples day haha nothing like a white stranger just walking up and starting a conversation… but God really worked through those times, and if He called me to that again I would go.. We also did things called Open Airs, which we would go out and sing a few worship songs and share testimonies or do a skit or bible story, that would draw people in to evangelize to, and we would go out and talk to them about what we were doing.
A few nights we also gave out free bibles and tracks, which I was amazed how quickly the Bibles were taken! Seeing the Hunger there really opened my eyes! We gave out 200 bibles in two nights, and we were out of bibles both nights within 15 minutes!
We also spent A LOT of time in an area called Malinta. It’s a former dump site where people live. A church was set up in the area, and we were able to work with them, frequently visiting and working with the children and doing door to door visits. This was by far my favorite part of Outreach. Getting to love on these children and teaching them about Jesus and how much they are loved and cherished! It was an incredible time! We had a day where we went and washed the childrens feet and explained what we were doing and what it symbolized.
We also did a VBS, taught bible stories, skits and games, as well as taught the children a dance to the song “River of Life”, which all led up to a big event close by in a basketball court! We had over 300 people show up for worship, dance, the gospel skit, and a gospel message, and several churches came together to help and participate. There was so much joy and getting to see the smiles on those children’s faces as they danced in front of their parents, ah! I will never forget them! 76 people gave their lives to Jesus that night, over 137 were prayed for, and over 300 heard the gospel!
We also held a final event called “Revive”, an event to bring together the churches and youth, to encourage them to go out and reach their city! It was amazing! God really challenged me that day in the area of evangelism, I was partnered with a shy young lady and I needed to show her how to be bold in speaking to people and sharing the gospel! For the most part in these times I didn’t speak much, I was usually partnered with outgoing talkative people, so they would do most of the talking and I would chime in now and then when I could or felt the Lord leading. So in this moment God really used this to push me forward and show myself that I could do it. We were able to go out and talk and pray for several people, it was a good time, and Lord willing encouraged the young lady with me to be Bold in her faith as well. Through that event we had 89 people give their lives to Christ! God is so amazing!
We did many other things during our time in Valenzuela, prayer walks, house visits, bible reading, intercession, corporate, etc. These are just a few of my personal highlights. There were many difficulties along the road, disunity, sickness, plenty of spiritual warfare, but through it all, God brought me out stronger and closer to Him. It was real, it was fun, it wasn’t always real fun. 😉 But God is so amazing and it was incredible to be a part of this DTS, and to watch Gods plans unfold before my eyes. On lecture phase and even throughout outreach phase, our team had sooo many words about uniting the youth and the churches and encouraging them to grow and continue even after we were gone, to want to go out and continue evangelism and to disciple others… And that is exactly what happened. We saw the churches come together, and we saw the youth catch on fire for God, and even now I get emails about them continuing what God started through us, going to malinta and going out on evangelism, etc. and now a new wave of YWAM students will be staying in the same area, and I look forward to hearing even more stories and seeing them grow even more!
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Outreach phase, like I said before, was nothing like I had expected… I expected missions to be wild, going into the crazy unknown lands, people who had never heard the name Jesus. I expected to be like those on the TV shows I had seen. Middle of no where, and teams who stuck closer then glue to each other, constantly helping and praying for each other. I expected unreached people groups, no one who spoke English, etc. I expected different. However, God really opened my eyes to the fact that missions is much more then just these things i thought it was… He showed me missions is far and near. Other countries, and right outside our front doors. He showed me people who have heard the name of Jesus, but still desperately needed Him, needed to know who He really was. He showed me He is our closest friend, no matter where we are. He showed me how to fully trust Him, even when it seemed like everything was falling apart… He showed me what Hunger looks like! He showed me what humility looks like! He showed me His heart for the people everywhere. People in the cities need Him as much as people in the unreached areas need Him. Our next door neighbor needs Him, just as much as the people of Manila need Him. He has opened my eyes in so many ways, and I can’t wait to see even more!
Now the big answer to the question everyone keeps asking aside from “How was your trip?”…. the big “So what’s next?” What’s next……. As of right now, God has me here at home. I’m working at paying back DTS fees, and praying about future possibilities. My little adventurer heart says “Hurry lets go!” But I am trusting God and waiting with a premeditated yes to whatever He may call me to next. Right now though, I’m blooming where I’m planted. And we shall see what happens 🙂 I will keep you all posted though.
That’s all I can think of to say for now friends. Thank you for your patience as I postponed writing things out. There is of course so much more I could write, but that would be a novel. Again feel free to contact me if you would like to catch up in person and hear more!
Prayer requests;
I am still raising funds to pay off DTS, please be praying with me for those funds to come in and quickly be payed off, if you’d like to donate you can contact me by email; thewanderinghobbit@yahoo.com Also please be praying for my family, there are many issues I won’t go into detail about at this time, but we are in need of prayer for healing of hearts, health, and finances, as well as prayers for a possible move in the near future. And please be praying for my sister Krystal, for complete healing and restoration, we are praying about taking her to Mayo clinic or possibly to a specialist in Florida. Prayers for guidance please! As well as her disability court date is May 5th, prayers that Gods hand be upon this and whatever happens that we will be at peace and God will give answers and guidance.
Thanks! And please feel free to send me you prayer requests! I’d love to pray with you!
I will leave you with more photos from my trip (not all in order). I hope they can share a bit more about life in the last few months 🙂
God bless, and thank you again! ❤ ❤ ❤
To Be Continued…….
Willing To Walk On Water 