Farm Week Thoughts: Geoffrey

One of my favorite parts of farm week was hearing the training staff, who are all pastors, talking about their specialities in Community Development, Agriculture and goat herding. 

One was talking about renewing the land using the SALT (Sloping Agriculture Land Technology). The trainer naturally moved into talking about how God is the great agriculturalist, the great farmer. That trust in Him is really the most important thing. While the farm can feed the body, God is the only one who can feed the soul. 

It was so natural that at first I didn't even realize it was a Gospel presentation. It's just so cool how they just flow from talking about their work to sharing their faith.

-Geoffrey

Reflections: Andrew

I've recently been reflecting on & learning about the holiness of God. During my quiet time, I just finished going through Leviticus. Leviticus, in the grand scheme of things, is about God's holiness and our sinfulness and brokenness. 

All the laws God prescribed were there due to God's holiness & our sinfulness. A phrase that is repeated throughout the entire book is, "You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy." It's reflecting on this which makes me even more grateful for Christ's atoning work on the cross. For on my own, I would never be able to meet the holiness requirement to stand before the one Holy One.

-Andrew

Farm Week Thoughts: Adrielle

My favorite part of farm week was the last day when we learned about worms & using goat manure as fertilizer. It made me think back to being a kid & digging in the dirt for worms! But it also taught a neat analogy...

We are like the manure, dirty and useless by itself. But, when we accept Jesus into our life, it's like adding the worms to the manure. They help turn it into good soil which can be used for planting seeds that will eventually grow.

-Adrielle

Reflections: Camille

I have been reminded that the word of God is completely unified! From Genesis to Revelation, it tells the same story, pointing to one person-- Jesus Christ-- and it is complete.

God's word does not contradict itself and is not divided. God is trustworthy and the God of clairty, unity and perfection. He does not contradict Himself. Because of His love and grace for His children, He has given us His word which is inspired by Him and worthy to be trusted.

I can go through the rest of my life believing in and trusting God's word, knowing that it will never fail me. God will never fail me, and His Word is visible proof of that and a reminder I can see every day. God's word is my foundation and I can rest assured that it is trustworthy, unified and complete. I feel like God's word alone points to His character. It is a picture of who and what He is.

-Camille

Farm Week Thoughts: Cambree

My favorite part of farm week was the gardening. We learned how to weave baskets & plant vegetables in them. This will actually be very useful on the mission field. Now I can teach others what I have learned & help them with their gardens... helping them provide for their families.

-Cambree

Reflections: Lydia

The characteristic of God I have held close this past week has been His OMNIPRESENCE. The fact that God is omniscient & Satan is not.

God being omnipresent is such a gift to me. It is a comfort to know that in the waiting & the silence, God is still there, holding me with His righteous right hand (Isa. 41:106).

-Lydia

Lydia recently celebrated her 18th birthday!

Farm Week Thoughts: Grace

Recently, we had the opportunity to work a bit on the demonstration farm where we've been living during AOT. We we were able to milk, castrate & dehorn goats. My favorite part of this day was at the end when we were helping feed the goats and one of them began to give birth!

One of the newborn goats was struggling to survive. I was told to hold it as another team member bottle fed it. Through this experience I learned a very important lesson.  

Life is messy. 

After I set the goat down, I realized I was covered in every fluid that is a part of the miracle of life. In the same way, the miracle of a new life in Christ can be messy. When a new believer comes to Christ it can appear like a messy process. They have a lot of questions and they need a lot of guidance. During this time we can do one of two things. We can leave the baby Christian alone to take care of his own needs OR we can pick him up and teach him how to live the Christian life. As a missionary, it is important that I never leave a new believer on their own. I must equip them for their new life in Christ.

-Grace 

Reflections: Emma

God is so patient with me. This has been a constant reminder for me this week. I get tired, or I don't feel well, or I'm frustrated, and I immediately lose patience. However, no matter how insecure, doubtful and weak I am, the Lord is always patient with me.

In my quiet time I have been reading through Numbers and Acts. In Numbers, God is constantly PROVIDING for the Israelites. In Acts, god's Holy Spirit PREPARES the way for Paul to share the Gospel, and He PROTECTS Paul. 

God is so good to me! He is patient. He always provides. 

In my weekend ministry, the Holy Spirit has been PREPARING hearts to hear & receive the Gospel and God's comfort. And through it all, I can fear nothing. I can rest in the knowledge that God is my protector. I can have complete PEACE in Him.

-Emma

Prayer Requests: Cambree

I am grateful for your prayers for the following:

• Pray I will have boldness to share the Gospel no matter where I am or who is around.
• Pray the people we will be meeting in our upcoming deployments... pray for open hearts toward the Gospel.
• Pray for our team to continue to be unified & focused!

-Cambree

Prayer Requests: Zuriel

As we're nearing the end of AOT, i've been thinking about our Filipino churches. I catch myself feeling the burden of mobilizing the young people who are part of MVBYF (Mindanao Visayas Baptist Youth Fellowship).

I pray the Holy Spirit will sustain the fire in my heart, even after AOT. It's easy to be a "World Christian" when we talk & study about missions all the time, surrounded by many who aspire to be full time missionaries. 

Pray for our Southern Baptist churches here in the Philippines, especially the youth, to have the heart of the Lord revealed to them.

-Zuriel

Reflections: Grace

Last week at AOT we learned about the Holy Spirit. This is the part of God that actively lives in every believer. Because I have given God a place in my heart, I need to clean up my hearts because it is now His home.

-Jessica

Farm Week Thoughts: Andrew

My favorite part of "farm week" was working with the goats. We experienced so much from milking to more advanced skills such as dehorning & castration. We learned how these skills can be useful on the mission field. In partnership with small farmers, teaching them goat maintenance which meets a physical need and sharing the Gospel which meets their greatest need.

-Andrew

Prayer Requests: Adrielle

Please pray I will have more boldness to step out of my comfort zone. I know since I have been here, I have already been growing in that... but there is still lots more room to grow!

-Adrielle

Farm Week Thoughts: Daniel

The 'farm week' has been my favorite week so far. I've always dreamed of trying farming, so I really looked forward to this week. My favorite day was the final workday, when we helped with the vermi-composting process. We helped prepare a new trench. We also dug through an older one to separate the dirt, fertilizer & worms. Playing with the dirt was fun!

All the technologies we were exposed to will definitely be useful on the mission field. When working with farmers to grow better crops, I can show them the love of God. While working with them, I can also share the Gospel with them.

-Daniel

Reflections: Daniel

I am learning that God is faithful. He has promised to forgive us & to purify us if we confess our sins. He keeps this promise faithfully as I came to Him time & time again to confess my sins. Because of this, I have begun to confess & repent of my sins almost immediately.

-Daniel