Pamilya

In all honesty, I've wanted nothing more than to go home for weeks. That changed this week. I no longer want to count the days until I go home. I want to spend as much time with these people who don't have a relationship with Jesus. 

All of this changed because God used someone 10,000 miles away. I have a friend, Cory, who has been on the team I am serving on for the past two summers. This past week our team entered a village that Cory had spent several weeks in over the past two summers. My translators know Cory and they know that I go to school with him. When we arrived in village K, my translators were very quick to ask if I wanted to visit the good friend of Cory. We decided to go see if they were home. On the first trip no one was home. The second trip found only Ate Bebie home. Finally on the third trip, Kuya Ete was home. This family proved to be a great family of peace. 

I climbed coconut trees, killed chickens, and watched movies with them. They become family. They spoke so highly of Cory and missed him greatly. I was shown that if you are surrendered to the Lord and doing His will that people will be impacted. Our team spent time laughing with, hanging out with, and ministering to this family. We are even going back in a few weeks to stay the night at their house when we revisit their village. This family was used to show me that as much as I love my family that there are other families who do not yet know the gospel (although this one does). 

As great as Kuya and Ate were, my heart was broken for their son, Cyrus. He and I got along great. We couldn't always communicate great, but we got by. We goofed off, watched a movie together, did a little bit of chores together (by the end it was "no work, no eat"), and we even tried to read each other's Bibles despite them being in a different language. I fell in love with this family and want nothing more than for them to impact their village. Cory wrote John 14:10 on the wall of Kuya Ete's father's house... "Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you are not I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works."

-Zach

Pray that this family and others in the village would understand the truth in that verse and the truth of the gospel. 
Pray for Cyrus, Kuya Ete, and Ate Bebie that they would grow closer to Him.
Pray that our time remaining in the Philippines is spent doing the work that the Lord has sent us here to do. 
Pray that He will draw people close to Him.

Quotes from the Heart: The Unexpected

How did this past summer compare/contrast

to your expectations?

My expectations were completely different than what my team did this summer, but in a good way. I came in thinking that my team and I would spend the summer playing basketball all the time, but we also did construction and held Bible studies. I also didn't  realize that God was going to change me as much as he did. It can be frustrating when circumstances don't go according to our plans. This summer showed me that it is better not to let expectations get in the way of what God has planned. Instead, be ready for the unexpected.

Re-building/painting school buildings damaged by recent typhoon

 

2014 Quizzing Champs!

Winners of the 2014
debrief quizzing... way to go Filipino guys!

We never stand alone

8/4/2014
I have only been home for three days and I’ve had so much to reflect on lately. I had just returned from a two month long mission trip in the Philippines. Right now, I have been experiencing what some might call a “reverse-culture-shock.” After I had just become accustomed to living and loving a new culture that had seemed to feel like a second home, I soon found myself returning to what feels almost like another universe. Soon, I found that I had new eyes to see things about my own culture before I had seemed to be so oblivious to. 

When I was in the Philippines, I left my comfort zone to adjust to a culture whose social some in my own culture may consider strange or backwards. But the reality might be that my own culture is the one living backwards. 

In the Philippines I was living in a culture where everything is more event oriented rather than time oriented. You could walk up to any house and people would just invite you in or to come and eat with them if they were having dinner. When I would walk down the road with my new Filipino friends, they would often grab your arms or almost lean against me as we would walk and talk. People were always close to their friends, family, and even their neighbors. 

In Filipino culture, among your group, often times you will find that “what’s mine is yours and what’s yours is mine.” One friend told me that in another “warm-culture” country he himself visited, that it was rude to call someone and say you were coming over—you were just supposed to come over. Now, I was in the province area of the Philippines so I couldn’t tell you much about the city there, which almost seems like a different culture, but what I did experience in the city was not real pleasant. There, I saw so many in need, but they were more than often ignored. The province had its problems too. Many families I met had a parent or parents who worked in the cities and would only see their children in the province a few times a year. 

When I was making my return home to the U.S. was when I really started to see the monster of isolation that plagues our culture and is steadily moving into other parts of our world. On my flight home, I sat near a traveling American woman who was shying away a small booklet she was reading entitled “How to Make Friends.” At home now I am missing all the everyday community I had grown accustomed to. 

I recently attended a new church plant in my town that is eager to see true gospel community in our area. The pastor, at the end of our gathering, talk about something they like to do called “community group.” Community group is where believers share life together, pray together, share meals together, and simply fellowship together as Christ’s family. Some people in our area may find this strange, but it’s nothing new to the church. Such gatherings are seen in the early church in Acts chapter 2. Such community in the church reflects who God is. 

God is not some lonely being but is triune and has community in himself with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. To be the church in our culture who show the world who God is means being counter-cultural and being uncomfortable. It means not being isolated and putting the needs and interests of others above ourselves. This is not easy and we need grace for this. We need to be reminded that in the Gospel that God reconciled a people for himself to live in community with himself and one another. Sin and death still plague our world, but as Christians, we are messengers that hold is coming to an end and that the battle has already been won before it has even ended. 

Personally, I now know how a foreigner may feel coming from such a warm culture to one so isolated as ours. And that can open so many doors to show hospitality that they may miss or even to our own nationals who may have never experienced it. A community that does not simply have community to get something from someone else but community that gives selflessly for the needs and interests of others like Jesus Christ has done for undeserving people like me. The church has the privilege to be the light of Christ to the lost, lonely, dying and dark world around us—and we never stand alone.

-Caleb F.

It's More Fun in the Philippines

Hey friends! Here in Cebu City now and left all my friends and kiddos of Tudella. Sad to leave them. Made so many friends, literally everyone knows my name in the community. So much fun making friends and sharing the Gospel and it's sad leaving them all. Only a few days left before I'm back in the U.S. Hope that I can come back soon. Too many sad faces when we left the school of students of 6th-9th graders who want you to never forget them. I've posed for a thousand photos the students made us take with them for "remembrance." Lol "it's more fun in the Philippines." Definitely gonna miss these people.
-Caleb

 

We LOVE the coconut!

Drinking coconut water

Eating coconut meat from inside

Impact Cebu Personal Update

Only about 2 more weeks here in the Philippines left. Miss everyone but I'm definitely don't want to leave yet either. God has shown us many things here and given us many opportunities to share the gospel and encourage believers as well as encouraging us. Made many friends and praying for God to change their hearts as well the people in the community. Pray that God would keep building his church and making disciples that make disciples. Loving my time here in this beautiful country full of awesome people.

-Caleb F.

Saying "Hey" from Impact Cebu

Its crazy to think it is already July 7th here in Cebu! SO thankful for an incredible team with Luke Carter Jacob Cyler Hudson and Stephen Haynes! Our translators Jester Prado and Grobert are such a blessing to the team! As a team we are challenging each other daily, as iron sharpens iron! Thank you guys for praying! Can't wait to see y'all in August! Sorry for short update! Limitied time today!
-Cory 

What a week we have had! Leaving the place we have been for 4 weeks now but God has done so much in this place and going to continue to do! only a few more weeks here in Cebu but so excited to be here. The numbers are incredible here of what God has done. We have had 61 professions of faith, and 469 seeds planted just a few numbers here so far. Thanks for the prayers and continue them please as we wind down the summer.
-Luke

"I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given. The task of testifying to the Gospel of God's Grace."  Acts 20:24
 
Today is bitter sweet, we left the village we've been in for the last 27 days and had to say bye to all of the people we've been able to build relationships with in this short period of time. I'm definitely going to miss all the smiles and eyebrow raises we exchange riding on our motors through the mountain. But in my sadness there is rejoicing. I can rejoice in all the things God has done and what He will continue to do while we are gone. He has allowed us to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with MANY people! And a total of 61 people have indicated they put their faith in Jesus Christ too! Thank you for the prayers, they are being answered everyday. 

Also, please keep praying that house churches will be started, we all know how important it is to have a family of believers to share burdens with and to encourage us when we are struggling. I also pray that you are encouraged to share with the people you are interacting with everyday. Like Paul in Acts 22, we should proclaim the Gospel like it's the last time we will see them ever again. Keep praying kingdom prayers U.S.A! 

-Jacob

Personal notes from Impact Cebu

Hanging out in Cebu

Its now just past the halfway of my time here in Camotes, Cebu. I'm starting to feel more at home now after a while. Such a great time meeting the people and working with the students. So much fun. Keep praying for us as we continue our stay in the Philippines for another month.
-Caleb

God is doing amazing things in my life here in Cebu, Philippines. He has opened my eyes to so much and I'm excited to be part of his plan. Growing more and more in His word and as a follower of Christ. So great. Keep praying for my team and also the people we are sharing the word too. God is so great all the praise and glory to Him. He is our father and the great I AM. Seeds are being planted and the word is being shared. Halfway is point is now and happy to see what the second half is going to be like. Thanks everyone!

-Luke

It's been a great week. If the gospel is preached, hearts WILL be changed! Praise God, He has allowed us to share over 30 Bible stories and have had 2 house churches begin to take form. Now we are now talking to them about baptism, please pray that they will open their hearts to this outward profession of Faith and not be scared of persecution from their family or friends. God is good, keep praying kingdom sized prayers and that things will happen that only God can do.
 
Oh, and jungle snails and pig tongue aren't as bad as they sound. And!!!! My nephew believes Jesus Christ died on the cross for his sins, and that he wants him to live in him!! So, as you can tell, I'm super excited about that. Have a great week everyone, talk to ya next Monday.

-Jacob