I miss... all in His time

Stand in the Gap & Island Magic Teams

I miss these people more than words can describe. 

I miss Kassi doing my hair in the morning joking about the last time that we had a good hot shower. 

I miss sitting with Emma in the afternoons while she plans our next Bible study for Kuya Marc’s house while I try and read A History of the World in 6 Glasses for WHAP. I miss my “moms” yelling at me to actually read A History of the World in 6 Glasses for WHAP when I just wanted to take a nap. 😂 
I miss Amelia presenting me with a new verse that she found during her quiet time, using it as encouragement for me when when i’m going through a rough time. 
I miss yelling for Tucker to get his camera when a millipede the size of my hand is crawling across our house or yelling for him to come get the giant lizards off of our beds and mosquito nets. 😬
I miss checking the chore chart to see who’s turn it is to go fetch water this time. I miss complaining about the fact that it is my turn to go fetch the water lol. 
I miss joking with Jadon every time he burnt the rice and told him to “leave it to the women.”😉
I miss yelling for Phoebe and Golden every 10 seconds to help us translate something that a child was trying to tell us. 
I miss those stressful grocery shopping days when all Kassi &  want to do is just curl up in a ball on the ground bc there is so much going on (ok maybe I don’t miss that one too much haha). 

I miss the afternoon siesta that would always end up being interrupted by children wanting to play volleyball before our next Bible study. 
I miss those happy faces pictured, always joyful and excited to hear what topic we would be preaching on next. 
I miss these people so much right now and it is so hard to carry on with my “normal” life right now, knowing that these people are back in the Philippines eating chicken adobo as usual and going about their day, waiting for the moment when they can get on Facebook messenger to contact us again. 
I wish with all of my heart that I could be back with these people, but I know that right now, I need to be here. I need to be in Zachary, Louisiana attending Zachary High School so that I can be a light in someone’s life here in America. 

These Filipinos became my life and soul this summer and it was so hard to say goodbye, knowing that I may never see their beautiful, smiling faces again. I hope that one day I will be able to return to my new found friends and check up on them. and I hope that one day, I can see Kassi, Emma, and Amelia’s faces again. God only knows, and for that reason, I have peace. Because I don’t know what is around the corner for me. Only God does. God’s got some great stuff coming for me. I just need to learn to be patient and wait for when He is ready to reveal those things to me. All in His time...

“After this I looked, and there was a vast multitude from every nation, tribe, people, and language, which no one could number, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were clothed in white robes with palm branches in their hands.”

-Revelation 7:9

-Maddie

2019 Stand in the Gap, Philippines

Daghang Salamat!! (Thank you very much!)

We're so grateful for having y'all here. Thanks for sharing your life, talents and specially for sharing the good news of our Lord Jesus Christ in this Island.😊😃God be praised! 

Your labor is not in vain in the Lord. -1 Cor. 15:58

Island Magic team with Siquijor Island
friends on last Sunday

-Friends on Siquijor Island
Philippines

Island Magic team with their own lechon (roasted pig)

Finishing Strong

As the Island Magic team completes their first week of ministry in their mountain village, the team is already seeing fruit and has been able to establish numerous daily Bible studies across the barangay. In addition, they have been discipling current believers in their area.              Pray for energy and wisdom as the team continues to share the gospel with the remainder of the barangay over the next 2 weeks.

-Tucker

Island Magic Team

Philippines 

Saying Yes

Saying yes is simple

Til God says something hard

We say, “I'll be obedient!”

But still keep up our guard.

We often boast we know the thing

God’s asking us to do,

Yet when we’re shown His perfect plan

We cling to our way too.

“One day I’ll go!”

We tell ourselves, believing that we will,

But grumble when the one day comes,

“My wants it won't fulfill!”

Excuses come but deep inside

We know what we should choose,

God calls us to obedience

No matter what we lose.

Things we take for granted

God never promised we would see

Safety, love, and comfort

Are a blessing, not a need.

To hold our lives with open hands

To trust God’s promises are true

They're sweet and simple things to say,

Heart wrenching things to do.

But sweeter still than things on earth

Are treasures up above,

To lose the world’s a worthy trade

To gain souls by God’s love.

 - Allison

Island Magic Team

Philippines

Discipleship and Sharing

Meet Nanay L.  After almost daily Bible studies with Island Magic team members Allison, Lily, & Warry, she began her walk with the Lord.  She is know seeking out opportunities to share what she has learned.  Pray for Nanay L to be courageous and for opportunities to continue to spread the good news.

-Tucker

Philippine Media Team

Meet the Team: Island Magic

Allison attends Southeast Missouri State University, majoring in Special Education.  Her favorite food is fried venison and her verse for the trip has been Psalm 25:4

Josh graduated from Indiana Wesleyan with a major in Christian Ministries and plans to attend seminary. His favorite food is Mac and Cheese and his verse for the trip has been Mathew 13:34.

Lily attends University of Mississippi with a major in Communication Science and Disorders. Her favorite food is mint chocolate ice cream and her verse for the trip has been Numbers 6:24-26

Prayer Requests from Island Magic Team

So much has happened since we arrived in the Philippines and I don't have the time or space to give all the details here. If you want to know the little stories, please ask me when you see me at home! I will be happy to share!  I have tried balut, which is a delicacy here, I'm going to spare the details and let you Google it if you want to see it.

We definitely need your prayers! The people are not very receptive to the Word and are clinging to their animistic worship & Roman Catholic views that have been in their family forever. We have been refused access to the barangay (village) we were supposed to go to next week because they don't want us to tell them about Jesus & have been followed by "the witch doctor" while trying to share about our Father! So pray for the "Lost" barangay as I call them, that sometime they will be able to hear the gospel and God's truth.

Pray also for my team that we will band together and stay strong through the spiritual warfare bombarding us. It isn't the way we thought it would come like through witch doctors or curses, but through just simple arguments and dissention. This is the devils playhouse and evil is prevalent in everything and he is attacking.

We serve an amazing Savior and we ask that you pray that we will have opportunities to share this great love story. Pray that satan will be bound, that the curiosity of the people will be strong and hearts open and receptive. 

-Lilly

Island Magic Team, Philippines