Mama,
I’m here in the Philippines! I feel great and I love my team! For most weeks, Tuesday through Friday are “ag” days, working on the mountain where we are staying and it is SO much fun getting to work and getting to know the Kuyas.
The weekends are reserved for bible studies and Mondays are our off days. Bible study days are where we usually split into two groups and go to two to three bible studies at peoples houses and we share our testimonies and either we will share the gospel or share a story from the bible. We also had a week of door to door ministry where we walked through neighborhoods and shared our testimony and creation to Christ. Something surprisingly unexpected is how well the team has connected with our national partners. They are definitely my favorite Filipinos. Although the heat has been challenging for me. It took me a week to get adjusted!
The people have really changed since we first met. The kiddos at BTBS (Bicol Tribal Bible School), were first too shy to talk to us but as the summer has gone on there’s been so many sweet moments with them, especially at the youth event!
Oh and the youth event! At the youth event that we had, the kids were extremely engaged and you could tell the Holy Spirit was stirring in their hearts. We wrote down things we wanted to give away to the Lord and burned the papers as a symbolization of turning from ways that do not reflect who He is. We then all got in a circle and prayed for those next to us and there were many tears and the kids were definitely impacted.
Momma, I prayed that God would move. In the hearts of those we meet and in our own hearts and He definitely has!! He’s continued to give me intentional personal time with Him, and also intentional time with others one and one and in Bible Studies. God has been teaching me how His love covers all things; it’s the reason we’re here and it’s what allows us to carry on even as we struggle. It’s what heals us and restores our joy.
I’ve truly enjoyed sharing C2C in the different villages and Bible studies. Sharing the Gospel and telling people that God wants them and that He wants their relationship to be restored is so powerful.
Mom, I remember staring into this older woman’s eyes as I said, “God wants you. He wants you and His family to follow Him, to be redeemed and restored to Him. But, it’s your choice. You must choose for yourself to follow the Lord to be restored with Him.” As I shared with her, I could see it in her eyes. I watched as the scales fell from her eyes, she was truly understanding! After talking to her some more she proclaimed the name of Christ and wanted to follow Him! She placed her belief in Him!
A lot of our ministry doesn’t look like this. It doesn’t look like flood gates of salvation being opened. A lot of our ministry looks like faithfully sharing the Word and discipling others. Each day of ministry is so sweet but when we get to partake in watching chains break through the blood of Jesus, it is a true blessing and precious moments to remember forever!
God has also been teaching me how to truly lean deeper into the Holy Spirit in every circumstance. He’s been teaching me how to fully rely on Him in choosing to react with fruits of the Spirit rather than emotions that may rise up in different situations. He’s been teaching me to hear His voice and the small nudge to be bold and share something or talk to someone when I wouldn’t have before.
One day while doing door-to-door evangelism, my team came across a massive Catholic shrine—about the size of a small state park. It had life-sized figurines showing Jesus’ arrest, crucifixion, burial, and resurrection, but the final scene wasn’t the risen Christ. Instead, it ended with Mary holding a dead Jesus, surrounded by the most candle residue of all—people praying to her. It broke my heart. The truth was right there, but their eyes were fixed on the wrong thing. It reminded me of John 14:6, where Jesus says, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” Seeing this only deepened my passion to share the Good News with every tribe, tongue, and nation.
Momma, please pray for health, strength, discernment, and wisdom in what God has for me going forward. And pray for those we are serving. Pray for unity, vulnerable hearts, endurance for our national partners and supervisors, and more laborers for our supervisors. The harvest is abundant, but the workers are few. Tell the church and the riders to pray as well.
Something unexpected that I’ve been struggling with is Jeffery. Who is Jeffery you ask? It is my parasite friend that has decided to join me on this journey. Also, I’m having to really rely on God when I feel alone and miss the family and friends back home. I also am learning to rely on God when it comes to sacrificing things in my life. He hears me and he listens, I just have to let him work.
Also, I’ve earned a new nickname on this trip…you may now call me your big mosquito. No context….I’ll tell you that later…
Muma, I gotta say this country is beautiful. I grew up hearing your stories about living here, and now I’m experiencing it for myself. The mangoes are amazing! I eat them like apples!
It’s been super fun taking pictures and writing things for the Nehemiah Teams blog. I can’t wait to show you all of the pictures, I think I’ve taken at least a thousand!!
Your support has meant so much to me! All your prayers, encouraging texts, and phone calls remind me I’m not alone—that I’m supported and cared for, even from across the world.
Thank you for staying up until 2 a.m. to help me pack- I’m not sure I would've remembered my toothbrush or had trail mix to last all summer without you. Thank you for picking up all of my amazon packages and taking care of everything while I’m not home.
I miss you and everyone lots (give Bandit a good tushy scratch for me!) and say hi to everyone!
With Love,
Your girl
