Reflection – Our Last Day – Philippines

It’s our last day on the island of Bohol!

We toured the Bohol Deaf Academy this morning and are spending time some last time together as a team this afternoon. The last 8 days have been full of ministry at the Calunasan Sur Elementary school, games and fellowship with the Linkers (Barrio Youth Group), and worship with the Family Christian Fellowship.

I was blessed beyond measure to be asked to baptize 3 of the Arrowhead Bible College students. It’s been amazing to spend time with the 12 students from Arrowhead Bible College. They are a remarkable group of young people. They love the Lord and have been a great encouragement to me on this trip.

A few of our experiences:

• We spent the day on Saturday with the Linkers, a youth group of high school and early college age students. They gather together weekly for to encourage each other, fellowship, worship and grow spiritually. We had the privilege of spending time with them on Sunday when we arrived, and then also on Saturday and Sunday a week later.

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  Sunday (Yesterday at the time of writing) we worshiped together with the Family Christian Fellowship. Daniel and I led the Adult Sunday School class and Juline and Laura led the kids Sunday school class.

• Yesterday afternoon with visited the Ati Tribe.

The Ati live in the hills above the Loboc River. All of their homes are simple nipa and thatch huts. They make a living weaving baskets, purses and other handmade items from nipa. The most remarkable thing about the tribe we visited is that the tribe has committed their lives to Christ and started a church. We heard remarkable stories of God’s work among the tribe. Wilma told us story after story of how God has blessed their lives. She pointed at a young man with a scar starting at one ear and ascending over the top of his head. The young man was in a terrible accident and the Doctor’s told them he would die. Wilma’s son, one of the pastors, immediately prayed over him in the name of Jesus and he stabilized. They continued to pray for him for the seven days he was in a coma and not only did he live, he made a full recovery. She told us several other stories of God’s work in their lives.

I think the most amazing story was how the tribe came to Christ. She told us that prior to coming to Christ there was a lot of alcoholism, other addictions, and bad behavior. When they started coming to Christ, God did a radical change in their lives. Negative behaviors were replaced with a joy for the Lord.

They led us in a couple of worship songs. All of us felt the presence of the Holy Spirit. Their excitement was contagious. We left feeling like the blessing was all ours!

Reflection

The most dangerous thing about short-term trips is returning to life “as normal.” It’s easy to forget how blessed we are materially. It’s also easy to forget our own poverty. Most of us are wealthy by the world’s standards, yet wealth has its own poverty. Sometimes forget we need God just as much (maybe more) than the poverty stricken. Because we can provide for ourselves, we fail to depend on God for our daily needs. It’s easy to live prayerless, thankless (poverty stricken) lives!

Poverty isn’t universal in the Philippines, but it is more noticeable and prevalent than the United States. In some places, like Metro Manila, half of the 11 million people live in slums. We often forget what true material poverty looks like. We also often fail to see our own spiritual and emotional poverty. I am reminded of the times when I have complained about one thing or another. I have sinned by failing to be content with the blessings I do have. My sin is my poverty.

Let us not forget!