Our teams have finally made their first ventures in the
adoption of barangay life here in the heart of the Dolores River. Tasks such as
bucket bathing, purifying our water, and hand washing our clothes have become
integrated into our daily routines. Even amidst these stark shifts in culture,
our teams find security in the consistency of the Lord. He is the same God now
that He has always been, eternally unchanging. The same God that we worship
back home is here with us in the seemingly far removed jungles of the
Philippines. We can find our rest in Him for He alone is our refuge.
Now our two groups are bound in Spirit as we separate and
begin to make our ways up our respective rivers. I am reminded of Exodus
33:14-15 where the Lord commands Moses and the nation of Israel to move onward.
Moses makes a simple request. If the presence of the Lord does not go with
them, he does not wish to move. As we are now commanded to move from our place
of comfort we are assured that the Lord’s presence goes with us, and He will
give us rest. He alone will be our sustainer as we proclaim His gospel to the
Waray-Waray.
