An Introduction to the Philippines

We've been in the Philippines for over a week now. Each day we toil beneath a beaming sun that seeks to alert the roosters to crow at three in the morning without fail, as well as make it a competition to see how much sweat can pour down our faces before we seek relief beneath the shade of the leafy banana trees. We trek house to house, seeking anyone who will give us the time of day, to speak about salvation found in Christ alone. 

Many greet us warmly because we are Americans, but many more politely wave us off once they see the Bibles in our hands. Our intrigue as foreigners fails to outweigh the hardened hearts of the numerous Catholics we meet. 

 

      From house to house,  we find miniature altars placed on the walls.Within them sit statues, many depicting our Lord Jesus, who is often accompanied by other statues of saints, the Virgin Mary, and rosaries wrapped around their little limbs. They peer down at us as we lead our Bible studies with apathy. 

As I look up to match their stare, I give thanks to my Lord that I don't feel a need to pray to idols in order to atone for my sins. I give thanks that I don't believe I must pray a rosary in order to find favor in the eyes of God. I give thanks that I know the living Jesus, not a little statue that never speaks to me.

Many of the Catholics we meet are warm and inviting. They take us into their homes and listen attentively as we talk. Many answer our questions with great conviction and seemingly strong belief in the Lord. They speak of their faith in God, how they depend on Him and pray often to Him, and offer forth answers that many would take as true belief upon first glance. 

Yet, when we ask them if they have certainty in where they will spend eternity, many respond that "it depends on how much good I do” and "if the Lord is merciful that day." When we present the Gospel, many say they have never heard it, yet they go to Mass and learn from their priests as often as they can. 

There is a great need for true laborers of Jesus here, for the chains of empty religion have put many into bondage, having them work in vain to attain a salvation that is freely given through faith alone. When we try to explain this free gift and the freedom it brings, many will continue to claim we serve the same God, not realizing that the God they serve is distant and demanding, constantly judging and condemning.

In all our work, it is as rewarding as it is challenging. Yet, we press forward to serve our God faithfully. As team leader and the creative media intern, I'm tasked with finding the delicate balance between stepping to the forefront to direct and stepping behind my camera as I capture my teammates at work. The joy of this balance is that, as much as I learn from engaging directly, there is much I learn from stepping back.

I’ve learned from stepping back to rely more on my Lord. In Isaiah 41:10, it says, “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.” 

By no power are we able to do anything here without the Lord's help. I've seen this practically in His blessing of giving us multiple faithful national partners to help us in our labor. I've seen it spiritually in the Holy Spirit going out before us to soften hearts, leading us to houses that are ready to hear the Gospel. Each day, no matter how weak my faith might be, I challenge myself to believe in my God and His astounding power to change stony hearts into flesh, for He alone is capable. He will help us and be with us as we work, so we can continue on in perseverance.

My faith continues to grow in other ways, but it returns to faith in the Lord and trusting in His ways, provision, and love. Part of one of my favorite verses, Proverbs 3:5-6, guides me on the harder days. In all things, we must trust in the Lord with all our hearts and not depend on our own understanding, seeking His will in all we do, knowing He will show us which paths to take.

Please pray for the Catholics of the Philippines, that their hearts would be made soft and ready to receive the gospel. Pray that the Lord would continue to show them that works alone do not save, but faith alone does. Pray that God would convince them of His great and all-fulfilling love done by His work on the cross and that a person can rest in the Lord, knowing their soul will go to be with Him once they pass.

— MaKenna, Creative Media Intern Philippines 

A Few Weeks Without my Phone

The last time I can remember not having a phone glued to my side, I was 11 years old (10 years ago). Many parts of my life have become completely dependent on my cell phone— paying bills, checking my bank account, communicating with friends and family, and even things with simple solutions like checking the time, shining a light, and doing math. Admittedly, I've become dependent on my phone. 

Before orientation, I would spend hours on my phone scrolling, watching TV, and going down rabbit holes. If I didn't have anything of importance to fill my time with, that time would be filled with Instagram, Facebook, or a streaming platform. Even though the Nehemiah Teams leadership had advised us to spend less time on devices, it seems as though I spent more time "devoted" to them. 

I knew orientation would be a shift, but I didn't expect the shift to last this long. I expected to get my devices back and to "slow down" when I deemed appropriate. Sure, I could give up my social media most of the week or only watch a couple of episodes a night instead of multiple throughout the whole day. That's still a sacrifice, right? Besides, I'm on a media team, I'm supposed to "stay up to date."

In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus says, "So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple." (14:33) In verse 27, He says, "Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple." The verses leading to this point are the Parable of the Wedding Feast and the Parable of the Great Banquet. A parable calling for humility over honor and a parable illustrating the radical cost of discipleship. These serve as reminders for me.

How have I not been meek?
How am I not depending on God?
What am I choosing over Christ? 
How am I unready?

Though I've been invited to the Banquet, am I prepared? Or have I left something here on earth unfinished? Have I made a golden calf?

Currently, my phone is traveling around the Asia Pacific Rim after accidentally being sent with a different team. It'll be hand-delivered to my supervisors this week and then it will make it's way to me.

Until then, I will continue to rely on my teammates for help. And when it gets here, I'll help them, but they'll continue to help me to "hang up and hang out." 

Our phones are a tool, but they are not to be a hindrance to the ministry to which we were called. 

Pray for the ministry that phones and social media allow, but also pray that we would not allow it to become the lord of our lives. 
Pray that only Jesus would sit on the thrones of our hearts, that our lives would be fully dependent on Him. 

-Coralynn
Creative Media Intern, Thailand

Finding Peace in the Business

Since arriving in Thailand, our team has been experiencing the Thai culture and learning our projects for the rest of the summer at what seems like a nonstop speed. Because this is my first time being overseas specifically for a mission trip, I started to get very overwhelmed very quickly when faced with the plans for our work.  

It was a quiet, cooler Wednesday morning when I decided to check out the roof of the building where we were staying. On the roof, I was met with this wonderful view of the neighborhood, city, and nearby mountains. The way the clouds and fog slowly moved over the distant trees and the stillness with only the birds in the background allowed me to feel peace for the first time since our arrival. It was such a sweet moment the Lord gave me in the midst of the chaos of technology not working, learning a completely new language, and working out a schedule for projects. I was able to sit and listen to my Christian playlist and simply enjoy the peacefulness of being in the presence of God. I will definitely be returning to my rooftop throughout the summer. The Lord is so good in giving us the things we need in the moment we need them!

 

Please pray for unity and peace within our team this summer as we brave the new culture and the creative jobs we will be doing! 

Pray we are able to find little moments where we can spend time with God and feel the peace He offers! 

 

-Gabby

Creative Media Intern, Thailand 

 

They Create Because He Is The Creator

Genesis 1:27 "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them."

This past week, I had the chance to visit a Buddhist temple for the first time. As an art major, I was honestly blown away. The detail in everything—the carvings, the paintings, the statues—was incredible. You could tell that so much time, effort, and talent went into every part of the buildings. It was beautiful in a way that made you stop and stare. Every inch of the temple seemed to be touched by intention. 

As an artist, I felt a deep admiration. But as a believer, I felt an ache.

The temple was a reflection of human creativity—something that always points me back to the truth that we are made in the image of God. Genesis tells us that God created us in His likeness, and I believe part of that likeness is the impulse to create beauty, to express wonder, and to reflect meaning through art. We create because He created us. 

But the beauty of the temple also reminded me of how that gift can be misdirected. It was built to honor gods who cannot save, idols shaped by human hands rather than hearts shaped by the living God. I was amazed by the art, but also deeply sad because of the purpose behind it.

Please pray for the Buddhists in Thailand. Pray that the gospel will reach their ears and hearts so that they can know they are made in the image of the one true God and are loved by Him.

- Emma Epps 

Creative Media Team TL

Cultivating Relationships

One of the most important parts of serving here is meeting new people. We love to meet people & then build relationships with them. Once we have cultivated these relationships, we can share the Good News. 

Please pray we will continue to meet new people & that they would be receptive to the Good News.

Please pray for:

• Unity among our team

• SE Asian people groups and the vast lostness

• Boldness to share the good news

• Health for our team

• Salvations and follow up discipleship

• House church we will be helping with

• College campus we are serving on

-Graham

Tropical Traveler Team, Southeast Asia

A Visit to the Wat

 

This week we prayer-walked around a Wat (temple) in the city, where we saw some of the most beautiful and lost parts of Thai culture. So much time, effort, and artistry was spent building this Wat that cannot bring peace. I'm reminded that everything we build here on earth is but a copy and a shadow of heaven.

Even so, Hebrews 8 promises this from the Lord: "I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people.11 No longer will they teach their neighbor, or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’ because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest.

Our God, who walked with the Israelites through countless falls also desires to walk with the people here in Thailand.

We also learned that many of the monks here were refugees from Myanmar. These young boys often leave their refugee families to become monks not out of religious devotion, but destitution. Forced into a religion of hundreds of rules, I'm reminded that we do not serve a legalistic God.   

Please pray that these monks would come to know the God who has seen the course of their life, and known them for who they are, not what they do.

Peoples of Southeast Asia

Southeast Asia is home to many different people groups, languages, nations, and tribes. There are vast cultures with many similarities and differences.

In our first few days here, we have visited a few religious sites. While this region is predominately Muslim, there are many different religions. These have really opened our eyes to the lostness here. We have visited a Buddhist temple and seen/heard many Mosques.

So far, we have been able to share with two individuals. Please pray that the Lord would soften the hearts of those we have come in contact with so that they will find salvation in His name.

-Graham

Tropical Traveler Team, Southeast Asia