Month Three Update | Ministry in the Philippines

So sometimes you write a nifty blog post, and despite all your best efforts to get it uploaded at the internet cafe, which is a 45 minute Jeepney ride into town, your hard drive fails, things go awry, and God says, “Not today, sweet one.” 

I wish I could share a more specific story with you, but that blog will have to come a little later it seems. God is good, all the time. And all the time God is good. So for today, I’m thankful for the few moments I have on the internet, and this chance to let you know that my team made it here safely to the Philippines and feel blessed out of our minds to be here. 

This month my team is living and serving alongside another team of six Racers from our Squad at a ministry called Grow International in the breathtaking mountains of San Mateo, about 3 hours away from the capital of Manila. 

The focus of the ministry is sharing the love of Jesus with kids living on the street. Their emphasis is on ministering specifically to the street boys, building relationships with them, teaching them life skills, building their character, and above all else, sharing the Gospel in hopes that these kids can know they have a Father in Heaven who loves them, and that these boys can grow into men of God who can impact the Philippines for the Kingdom.

As relationships are built with the boys, weekend camps are held on the property we’re living on, called Camp New Beginnings. Nine boys ages 7-17 came to one of these camps last weekend, the details of which I wrote all about in that blog I mentioned, so hopefully later on I’ll be able to post the story and share with you how God spoke to my heart through the weekend we spent with the boys. Overall, they touched my heart. This Friday our team is traveling into the city streets to spend time with them, and step into their world for the day. 

The camp is also working to be more self-sustainable, and thus has a micro-farm. We have helped harvesting bamboo, mending fences, building chicken pens, and digging a massive catfish pond, which will provide an immense amount of food. Who would have thought by the end of the month I would have the knowledge to build something out of bamboo!

On Wednesdays, our contact Natalie who is a midwife, runs a free health clinic. A few of the women help her inside the clinic, and watch all of the children. Yesterday me and a few other girls did manicures and pedicures with the women while they waited to be seen. 

My most cherished thing about the month is this: after school dance class.

Several times a week we visit the small community and go to the public school and covered basketball court. Around 3:30 in the afternoon the streets are swarming with kids getting out from school. A group of us usually starts a basketball game with the kids, and spend time building relationships with the community members. This is really important to our ministry contacts as they are praying to start a church this January; being known amongst the community helps spread the word and extend the reach of their ministry. I’ve been spending my time after school on the auditorium stage with a small group of 11-year-old girls, and anyone else who wants to dance. We play worship music and stretch out together; learn simple technique, like ballet positions and toe pointing exercises; and we even began choreographing a routine to the song “Morning Song,” by Steffany Gretzinger. We clap for each other at the end of class, and wrap up our time in prayer.

God has been speaking to me specifically in this time as I reawaken my love for dancing, not for the sake of competing like in my dance team days, but for the sake of glorifying His name. Through this time God is speaking to me about letting go of this idea of performance, and seeking to rest in Christ’s steadfast, radiant approval of me. 

Dance class is for everyone, but there are two little girls who got it started, who come every time, and whom I’m paying special, prayerful attention to. Their names are Liza Pearl and Shyna Mae. Please join me in praying for them that our time together would be sweet and that God would show me how to love these two girls in a way that communicates the love Jesus has for them. 

I think that’s all I have time for now, but I will do my best to make another update, God-willing, the next time I get into town. Pray in advance for good internet, and maybe I’ll even be able to post some photos 😉

Your prayers and support are making this possible, and I thank God for each of you and the role you play in my life. I love you dearly, and am praying for you. Contact me (via email at [email protected]) if I can pray for you about anything specific, and I would love to do so. 

Joyfully,

K