I feel like this has been a theme this week when relating with people in the community. Psalm 31 has led to some pretty meaningful conversations between yesterday and today, so here is it verbatim with my favorite parts highlighted... I will hopefully share soon how this psalm has been meaningful:
Psalm 31
1In you, O LORD, I have taken refuge;
let me never be put to shame;
deliver me in your righteousness.
2Turn your ear to me,
come quickly to my rescue;
be my rock of refuge,
a strong fortress to save me.
3Since you are my rock and my fortress,
for the sake of your name lead and guide me.
4Free me from the trap that is set for me,
for you are my refuge.
5Into your hands I commit my spirit;
redeem me, O LORD, the God of truth.
6I hate those who cling to worthless idols;
I trust in the LORD.
7I will be glad and rejoice in your love,
for you saw my affliction
and knew the anguish of my soul.
8You have not handed me over to the enemy
but have set my feet in a spacious place.
9Be merciful to me, O LORD, for I am in distress;
my eyes grow weak with sorrow,
my soul and my body with grief.
10My life is consumed by anguish
and my years by groaning;
my strength fails because of my affliction,
and my bones grow weak.
11Because of all my enemies,
I am the utter contempt of my neighbors;
I am a dread to my friends—
those who see me on the street flee from me.
12I am forgotten by them as though I were dead;
I have become like broken pottery.
13For I hear the slander of many;
there is terror on every side;
they conspire against me
and plot to take my life.
14But I trust in you, O LORD;
I say, "You are my God."
15My times are in your hands;
deliver me from my enemies
and from those who pursue me.
16Let your face shine on your servant;
save me in your unfailing love.
17Let me not be put to shame, O LORD,
for I have cried out to you;
but let the wicked be put to shame
and lie silent in the grave.
18Let their lying lips be silenced,
for with pride and contempt
they speak arrogantly against the righteous.
19How great is your goodness,
which you have stored up for those who fear you,
which you bestow in the sight of men
on those who take refuge in you.
20In the shelter of your presence you hide them
from the intrigues of men;
in your dwelling you keep them safe
from accusing tongues.
21Praise be to the LORD,
for he showed his wonderful love to me
when I was in a besieged city.
22In my alarm I said,
"I am cut off from your sight!"
Yet you heard my cry for mercy
when I called to you for help.
23Love the LORD, all his saints!
The LORD preserves the faithful,
but the proud he pays back in full.
24Be strong and take heart,
all you who hope in the LORD.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
One Week Notice
So, this update is coming a little bit later than I expected, but I feel like the week has flown by that there has been no time for the internet. But here we are, some quiet = some updates. By the by, I really wish I had pictures because there are a lot of things I want to describe and it is so much better to see it. Well, here goes....
Living in the Community
It has been four days (Monday we left for our host homes). And I have found a new appreciation for showers, flushing toilets, and mattresses. I know I said this before, but the culture shock going back to the US is going to be incredible. Here is a rough mesh of what my day looks like so far (and it will probably change).
Official Schedule
This is the last time I will type the days of the week:
I really want to share a lot more about all the experiences I have plus the back log of what I wanted to share the last time I posted and pictures are a must... hopefully this will happen soon. But I am going to be late for dinner and it would be good to be there relatively on time (7pm).
Please pray for my host family that they will find steady jobs and be healthy... being jobless or sick are the two biggest threats to anyone who is poor in the community. Their names are: Kuya (older brother) Rolley, Atte (older sister) Lina, Ronnel, Roschel, and Roldo - and they have an older daughter in the provinces, but I don't know her name. They have been exceedingly generous and are a beautiful family (where the parents really love their children, which sadly isn't the case for many families in metro manila)
Thanks!
Magandang Umaga Po (Good morning {respectfully}) for anyone in the states
Magandang Gabi Po (Good evening {respectfully}) for anyone in Asia
Living in the Community
It has been four days (Monday we left for our host homes). And I have found a new appreciation for showers, flushing toilets, and mattresses. I know I said this before, but the culture shock going back to the US is going to be incredible. Here is a rough mesh of what my day looks like so far (and it will probably change).
- 5AM - Get up thanks to the roosters
- 5:30 - Send the daughter (Roschel - age 9) to school - though school has been canceled because of a typhoon that has hit us.
- 6 - Do some exercise on the way back (jogging or basketball)
- 7:30 - breakfast
- 8 - Get ready to go to the mountains (on Tues, Wed, Thur) - I have a more productive day before when I sometimes wake up!
- 8:30 - Go to a mountain community to renovate a CR (bathroom) and plant some trees
- 12PM - Get back, have lunch - Roschel is coming back home
- 1 - Spend time with the baranguay (community) kids (referring to any age between 3-17) - they roam about in bunches
- 4 - Settled time - I can't call it quiet or alone time since neither has any chance of possibly happening... maybe reading
- 4:05 - The baranguay kids want to read with me so we read together
- 7 - Dinner
- 8 - House church at one of the communities (one each night, so that means 5 of the evenings).
- 9 - Watch Zorro and Totoy Bato (filipino soaps)
- 9:45 - fall asleep on a chair because I am exhausted
- 10:15 - Wake up, dip bath, really go to bed.
- 1 AM - A mosquite bit my toe - it's really itchy
- 4 AM - Roosters, CR
Official Schedule
This is the last time I will type the days of the week:
- Monday - 6am-5:30pm (getting to know the community), 6:30-7:30pm (high school bible study, reviewing the gospel)
- Tuesday - 8am-12pm (in the mountains), 1-9pm (getting to know the community)
- Wednesday - 8am-12pm (in the mountains), 1-7pm (getting to know the community), 8-9pm (my house church)
- Thursday - 8am-12pm (in the mountains), 1-7pm (getting to know the community), 8-9pm (Jon's house church)
- Friday - free day, 9pm (sleepover Kuya Willy's house)
- Saturday - 8:30-12pm (tutorial class at a Catholic church), 1pm-4pm (spending more time with the high school bible study), 8-9pm (Jason's house church)
- Sunday - Go to Catholic church in the morning, spend time with the community, 8-9pm (Dario's house church)
I really want to share a lot more about all the experiences I have plus the back log of what I wanted to share the last time I posted and pictures are a must... hopefully this will happen soon. But I am going to be late for dinner and it would be good to be there relatively on time (7pm).
Please pray for my host family that they will find steady jobs and be healthy... being jobless or sick are the two biggest threats to anyone who is poor in the community. Their names are: Kuya (older brother) Rolley, Atte (older sister) Lina, Ronnel, Roschel, and Roldo - and they have an older daughter in the provinces, but I don't know her name. They have been exceedingly generous and are a beautiful family (where the parents really love their children, which sadly isn't the case for many families in metro manila)
Thanks!
Magandang Umaga Po (Good morning {respectfully}) for anyone in the states
Magandang Gabi Po (Good evening {respectfully}) for anyone in Asia
Friday, June 19, 2009
Entering God's Rest
I was thinking a little about rest for a little bit this morning. I realize that home in the States has a lot of luxuries. Fully supported mattresses, high-speed internet, water you can drink from the tap, air-conditioning and heat whenever you want, accessibility of nutrition, a lot less insects, running water, fully functioning bathrooms etc, etc. Now in the filipino slums (and we're not even staying with the poorest of the poor) we have limited access to communication, rice is a main staple of our diet with very little else, dip baths and manual flush toilets, humidity you can't escape, etc, etc.
The question I was thinking about is: how is it possible to make this transition without feeling miserable (that is just beyond surviving the circumstances)?. Living a life of luxury and moving into a life of poverty... and it occurred to me. How in the world can I really be satisfied within a life of luxury... how I feel physically, emotionally, and spiritually cannot be simply adjusted by turning on the air conditioning, surfing on the internet, drinking cleaner water. In fact I can do these things and actually feel worse/become more lethargic.
All of this is grace. And rest transcends the boundaries of what we have. Rest is simply grace from God wherever we are, whatever the circumstances. He will provide me rest because I am His. In heat or coolness, padding or non, flushing toilets or dip baths, the beauty is not the quality of these things, but the quality of God's love. I can rest well here regardless of luxury, when Our father provides.
Today I woke up at 4AM, weird. But I do not have to worry because I am already resting with Jesus.
Psalm 139:2-3 (NIV)
You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways.
Hebrews 3:7-15 (NIV)
7So, as the Holy Spirit says: "Today, if you hear his voice, 8do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion, during the time of testing in the desert, 9where your fathers tested and tried me and for forty years saw what I did. 10That is why I was angry with that generation, and I said 'Their hearts are always going astray, and they have not known my ways.' 11So I declared on oath in my anger, 'They shall never enter my rest'". 12See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. 13But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness. 14We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly till the end the confidence we had at first. 15As has just been said: "Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion."
Isaiah 40:27-31 (NIV)
27Why do you say, O Jacob, and complain, O Israel, "My way is hidden from the LORD; my cause is disregarded by my God"? 28Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. 29He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. 30Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; 31but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
**N.B** I hope what I'm conveying is not about becoming apathetic to our condition. That is to become careless by how we live, in luxury or poverty. I think rest is simply another aspect of our relationship with God we can live out.
A Picture of Rest
The question I was thinking about is: how is it possible to make this transition without feeling miserable (that is just beyond surviving the circumstances)?. Living a life of luxury and moving into a life of poverty... and it occurred to me. How in the world can I really be satisfied within a life of luxury... how I feel physically, emotionally, and spiritually cannot be simply adjusted by turning on the air conditioning, surfing on the internet, drinking cleaner water. In fact I can do these things and actually feel worse/become more lethargic.
All of this is grace. And rest transcends the boundaries of what we have. Rest is simply grace from God wherever we are, whatever the circumstances. He will provide me rest because I am His. In heat or coolness, padding or non, flushing toilets or dip baths, the beauty is not the quality of these things, but the quality of God's love. I can rest well here regardless of luxury, when Our father provides.
Today I woke up at 4AM, weird. But I do not have to worry because I am already resting with Jesus.
Psalm 139:2-3 (NIV)
You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways.
Hebrews 3:7-15 (NIV)
7So, as the Holy Spirit says: "Today, if you hear his voice, 8do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion, during the time of testing in the desert, 9where your fathers tested and tried me and for forty years saw what I did. 10That is why I was angry with that generation, and I said 'Their hearts are always going astray, and they have not known my ways.' 11So I declared on oath in my anger, 'They shall never enter my rest'". 12See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. 13But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness. 14We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly till the end the confidence we had at first. 15As has just been said: "Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion."
Isaiah 40:27-31 (NIV)
27Why do you say, O Jacob, and complain, O Israel, "My way is hidden from the LORD; my cause is disregarded by my God"? 28Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. 29He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. 30Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; 31but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
**N.B** I hope what I'm conveying is not about becoming apathetic to our condition. That is to become careless by how we live, in luxury or poverty. I think rest is simply another aspect of our relationship with God we can live out.
A Picture of Rest
Jumping the Gun
==morning musings========
So the last post is slightly inaccurate. Apparently I have a few more days with daily internet access. It is no longer low-speed wireless, but high-speed dial up (I didn't even know this existed). I know it's dial-up for sure because every time the phone is picked up, I have to restart the router. Weird. Anyways, jet lag has finally caught up with me and I didn't know what to do with myself at 4:30 AM when everyone is sleeping. Naturally, the only light in the room that was on is this computer. So of course I have to send another update!
==musing over========
Tuesday - Working in the mountains during the day, spending time in the community at night.
Wednesday - Same as Tuesday
Thursday - Same as Tuesday
Friday - Team day off
Saturday - Morning tutorial session, afternoon sports session, evening at community director's house
Sunday - ???
==morning musings========
As a side note, I think the Navigators have recently had a paradigm shift toward ministering to the local communities. Being catholic or protestant (if you call yourself christian, you are considered protestant) has fueled a lot of cultural tension since Americans began sending missionaries over in the early 1900's. Rather than add to this tension, filipino christians (referring to my last trip in 2007) have begun realizing that following Jesus is not about the type of worship they are affiliated to, but exactly who we are following. This is pretty exciting that the message people are sharing is not about methods and philosophies, but that Jesus is the way to Life. Since I personally have made decisions based on rightness rather than following Christ, I am really interested in seeing how this happens on the trip.
==musing over========
Thanks again for reading and your continual prayers!
I look forward to update you more with more about our trip leaders (Kuya Willy and James Kang), our team, our living situation situation (which we visited yesterday), and more about what we will be doing in the next couple of days... after that, who knows!
So the last post is slightly inaccurate. Apparently I have a few more days with daily internet access. It is no longer low-speed wireless, but high-speed dial up (I didn't even know this existed). I know it's dial-up for sure because every time the phone is picked up, I have to restart the router. Weird. Anyways, jet lag has finally caught up with me and I didn't know what to do with myself at 4:30 AM when everyone is sleeping. Naturally, the only light in the room that was on is this computer. So of course I have to send another update!
==musing over========
- Monday morning = official moving into the slums and probably the cutoff of daily internet access (but meanwhile, I am going to milk this luxury).
- Here's a rough look at each week's schedule:
Tuesday - Working in the mountains during the day, spending time in the community at night.
Wednesday - Same as Tuesday
Thursday - Same as Tuesday
Friday - Team day off
Saturday - Morning tutorial session, afternoon sports session, evening at community director's house
Sunday - ???
- The Navigator ministry where we are staying takes an insider approach. Our community director, Kuya (older brother) Willy, has established a relationship with the local Catholics*. And his vision is that people who follow Jesus will share Christ's love with their local community, naturally attracting neighbors/friends to know God. This ministry is very young (5 communities: the oldest being 3 years old, the youngest being 2 weeks old) and that means that our trip is part of the greater picture of learning and growing - exciting!
==morning musings========
As a side note, I think the Navigators have recently had a paradigm shift toward ministering to the local communities. Being catholic or protestant (if you call yourself christian, you are considered protestant) has fueled a lot of cultural tension since Americans began sending missionaries over in the early 1900's. Rather than add to this tension, filipino christians (referring to my last trip in 2007) have begun realizing that following Jesus is not about the type of worship they are affiliated to, but exactly who we are following. This is pretty exciting that the message people are sharing is not about methods and philosophies, but that Jesus is the way to Life. Since I personally have made decisions based on rightness rather than following Christ, I am really interested in seeing how this happens on the trip.
==musing over========
Thanks again for reading and your continual prayers!
I look forward to update you more with more about our trip leaders (Kuya Willy and James Kang), our team, our living situation situation (which we visited yesterday), and more about what we will be doing in the next couple of days... after that, who knows!
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Wireless In the Philippines, Begone!
So this is my last post (or second to last post in case I post some thoughts tomorrow) while I have wireless internet access. Tomorrow, 4 of us: Jason McNeillie, Joel Lee, Jon Vickers, and Dario Torres (NJ) will be going to Antipolo (metro Manila). This means leaving the filipino navigator headquarters and going into a community. It has been a real blessing to be at the Navigator headquarters since we have been loved by the filipino navigators, and found an easy transition from western culture to asian culture (running water, internet, air conditioning)... but now it is time to move us on to where God had originially called us. THE CITY SLUMS!
It is pretty exciting because each one of us will be living individually in a (squatter?) home. This means a log of things.
It is pretty exciting because each one of us will be living individually in a (squatter?) home. This means a log of things.
- No more daily internet access - I probably will have to go to an internet cafe
- We have only known Dario for a couple days (and whatever implications that might hold).
- This is going to be pretty extreme culture shock since we will be with the filipino community 24/7 for five weeks... much more intense than the first trip.
- Rice for breakfast, lunch, and dinner - I am really happy about this, but that's because it is ideally and everyday staple for me... I don't know about the other three guys and how their diet will adjust.
- No more airconditioning - time for summer manila heat and humidity! whooo! (not a very enthusiastic one).
- The trip really begins tomorrow. It is going to be exciting, yet very new for each of us. I'm sure tensions will run high.
- Jason and I will be serving Willy (the Antipolo staff Navigator) opposed to James Kang (Chicago-based Navigator staff trainer).
- Everything will be reduced in quantity and size (the home we will be living in, utilities, facilities, etc.)
- It's going to be an experience where each one of us need to trust God in revealing Himself to us. There is no way we can sustain five weeks of living in the slums by ourselves. We might survive it, but seeing abundant life is a whole other thing.
Summer Reading
All twelve of us will be debriefing with this book on July 25. It is one of my favorites since it really applies the gospel to serving the poor. If by chance you get to read this book, I would love to talk about it with you in more detail. Thanks!
Companion to the Poor: Christ in the Urban Slums
by Viv Grigg
Paperback: 240 pages
Publisher: Authentic and World Visions: 2nd edition (September 1, 2004)
ISBN-10: 1932805133
ISBN-13: 978-193205130
http://www.amazon.com/Companion-Poor-Christ-Urban-Slums/dp/1932805133/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1245342475&sr=8-1
Companion to the Poor: Christ in the Urban Slums
by Viv Grigg
Paperback: 240 pages
Publisher: Authentic and World Visions: 2nd edition (September 1, 2004)
ISBN-10: 1932805133
ISBN-13: 978-193205130
http://www.amazon.com/Companion-Poor-Christ-Urban-Slums/dp/1932805133/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1245342475&sr=8-1
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Worthy of Praise
Yesterday during orientation, one the filipino navigator leaders (Kim Sison) led us through a session on God-centered prayer based out of 1 Chronicles 29. I felt challenged by this session because though I talk about how I trust God with my fears, at the heart level I still operate in a lot of these fears (I think an earlier post covers this). The session is based on the fact that our prayer must be first centered on Our Father before our needs... This connects pretty deeply with the presence of God (something I've thought about recently based on Practicing the Presence by Brother Lawrence) - I don't know how excatly yet, but definitely thinking about it. I just know that following God is not about a tug-of-war of doing right and wrong since Christ has already done this for us. And living like that is simply tiring (which seems contrary to the abundant life Jesus offers). The pull is more whether or not I trust that God provides for me as His son, or am I really left on my own to operate - this battle runs to the deepest part of my sinews.
Well, here's a pull toward reminiding that God is really good.
Listening to Sigur Ros
1 Chronicles 29:10-19 (NASB)
10So David blessed the Lord in the sight of all the assembly; and David said, "Blessed are You, O LORD God of Israel our father, forever and ever. 11Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, indeed everything that is in the heavens and the earth; Your is the dominion, O LORD, and You exalt Yourself as head over all {Jesus? Phil 2:9-11]. 12Both riches and honor come from You, and You rule over all, and in Your hand is power and might; and it lies in Your hand to make great and to strengthen everyone. 13Now therefore, our God, we thank You, and praise Your glorious name. 14But who am I and who are my people that we should be able to offer as generously as this? For all things come from You, and from Your hand we have given You. 15For we are sojourners before You, and tenants, as all our fathers were; our days on the earth are like a shadow, and there is no hope {But NOW we have hope... Heb 12:1-3}. 16O LORD our God, all this abundance that we have provided to builld You a house for Your holy name, it is from Your hand, and all is Yours. 17Since I know, O my God, that You try the heart and delight in uprightness, I , in the integrity of my heart, have willingly offered all these things; so now with joy I have seen Your people, who are present here, make their offerings willingly to you. 18O LORD, the God of Abraham, Issac and Israel, our fathers, preserve this forever in the intentions of the heart of Your people, and direct their heart to You; 19and give to my son Solomon a perfect heart to keep Your commandments, Your testimonies and Your statutes, and to do them all, and to build the temple, for which I have made provisions.
Bold = Sooo Good
{my commentary}
All is the Lord's
And we are heirs
God is good
"Classic Apollo" by Flurije
http://www.caedes.net/Zephir.cgi?lib=Caedes::Infopage&image=Flurije-1121387038.jpg
Well, here's a pull toward reminiding that God is really good.
Listening to Sigur Ros
1 Chronicles 29:10-19 (NASB)
10So David blessed the Lord in the sight of all the assembly; and David said, "Blessed are You, O LORD God of Israel our father, forever and ever. 11Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, indeed everything that is in the heavens and the earth; Your is the dominion, O LORD, and You exalt Yourself as head over all {Jesus? Phil 2:9-11]. 12Both riches and honor come from You, and You rule over all, and in Your hand is power and might; and it lies in Your hand to make great and to strengthen everyone. 13Now therefore, our God, we thank You, and praise Your glorious name. 14But who am I and who are my people that we should be able to offer as generously as this? For all things come from You, and from Your hand we have given You. 15For we are sojourners before You, and tenants, as all our fathers were; our days on the earth are like a shadow, and there is no hope {But NOW we have hope... Heb 12:1-3}. 16O LORD our God, all this abundance that we have provided to builld You a house for Your holy name, it is from Your hand, and all is Yours. 17Since I know, O my God, that You try the heart and delight in uprightness, I , in the integrity of my heart, have willingly offered all these things; so now with joy I have seen Your people, who are present here, make their offerings willingly to you. 18O LORD, the God of Abraham, Issac and Israel, our fathers, preserve this forever in the intentions of the heart of Your people, and direct their heart to You; 19and give to my son Solomon a perfect heart to keep Your commandments, Your testimonies and Your statutes, and to do them all, and to build the temple, for which I have made provisions.
Bold = Sooo Good
{my commentary}
All is the Lord's
And we are heirs
God is good
"Classic Apollo" by Flurijehttp://www.caedes.net/Zephir.cgi?lib=Caedes::Infopage&image=Flurije-1121387038.jpg
Pictures of the Travels.
Some pictures to commemorate the travelling exploits.
Left: Ronald McDonald is everywhere, and marketing a case of sold-out pokeballs
Center: Jon and I putting on our swine flu masks, making our peace signs since there was nothing else to show that we are in Asia.
Right: Jon and Sonia (from San Diego State) living out poetic irony. Asian signs with the American. American signs with the asians. Bah. I really tried though.
Discombobulated
Hello again! I am writing on a mattress in the Philippines. And you know what this means...
*drum roll*...... pttptptptptpt.....
We have arrived! On June 17 @ 1 AM (June 16, 1PM EST), our team of 11 arrived at the filipino navigator headquarters. And we were/are pooped. It has been ten hours since we woke up this morning, though jet lag seems to be pretty intense. shhh. This room that I'm typing in is full of sleeping men. In a few minutes I'll have to do a wake up call.
Our schedule for the week is orientation until friday, in which our team will be split three ways and go separate ways. One group will stay at the headquarters to serve local high school/college ministries, while the other two groups will go to the slums of greater manila (antipolo and los banos). The three UMass-ites will be part of these two groups.
Meanwhile, it is pretty exciting to know that there is wireless internet (thus mattress typing) and I will probably send a lot of updates in these couple of days and then who knows after that. Thanks again for your continual prayers!
*drum roll*...... pttptptptptpt.....
We have arrived! On June 17 @ 1 AM (June 16, 1PM EST), our team of 11 arrived at the filipino navigator headquarters. And we were/are pooped. It has been ten hours since we woke up this morning, though jet lag seems to be pretty intense. shhh. This room that I'm typing in is full of sleeping men. In a few minutes I'll have to do a wake up call.
Our schedule for the week is orientation until friday, in which our team will be split three ways and go separate ways. One group will stay at the headquarters to serve local high school/college ministries, while the other two groups will go to the slums of greater manila (antipolo and los banos). The three UMass-ites will be part of these two groups.
Meanwhile, it is pretty exciting to know that there is wireless internet (thus mattress typing) and I will probably send a lot of updates in these couple of days and then who knows after that. Thanks again for your continual prayers!
Monday, June 15, 2009
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Fasten Your Seatbelts, Turbulence Ahead
This past week has been far too hectic (and I feel like so many dashed expectations). I don't know what all of this is about. But here we are, on the eve of my flight to NYC then to Korea then to the Philippines.
7:35 AM is when 12 people from around the country will be flying to meet up in Incheon, Seoul, Korea.
That means leaving behind:
Hebrews 3:12-13
Take care, brethren, that there not be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart that falls away from the living God. But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called "Today," so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.
Today I Trust That God Provides.
I Believe That God Is Good.
7:35 AM is when 12 people from around the country will be flying to meet up in Incheon, Seoul, Korea.
That means leaving behind:
- What I think is unfinished work
- 6 weeks of bills and such
- Fund-raising for next year
- My younger siblings who are growing up fast
- The comforts of being an American (I've done this before, but 100 degree humid monsoon season weather makes you forget pretty quickly)
- A team that will meet for the first time
- 12 expectations from 12 broken people
- Leading though I feel inadequate
- Serving people that adore Americans
- Living out our culture shock
Hebrews 3:12-13
Take care, brethren, that there not be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart that falls away from the living God. But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called "Today," so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.
Today I Trust That God Provides.
I Believe That God Is Good.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
For There Is No Other Way
This morning I got to have the pleasure of having a sleepy quiet time that gave me a lot of comfort. I was reminded of two key ways I can worship God - that is to trust and obey Him. These two actions are the few times we get to say 'yes' to God in our day-to-day life. I can trust God because He is my good Father. I want to obey Him because it is one of the few chances in my day that I get to follow Him. Clinging onto these two things means that we do not have to worry. I know God is my Father and I really do want to follow Him because of this fact.
Hebrews 12:5 (NIV)
And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons: "My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,
Though the context doesn't sound too optimistic, but I am called the same name as Jesus. My son. Pretty awesome. If the Lord is with me, who can be against me? (*cough* Joel, why are you living life in fear... is that even living?)
God is good.
-----------
Lyrics to 'Trust and Obey' by John H. Sammis, Daniel B. Towner (1887)
Verse 1:
When we walk with the Lord in the light of his word,
what a glory he sheds on our way!
While we do his good will, he abides with us still,
and with all who will trust and obey.
Refrain:
Trust and obey, for there's no other way
to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.
Verse 2:
Not a burden we bear, not a sorrow we share,
but our toil he doth richly repay;
not a grief or a loss, not a frown or a cross,
but is blest if we trust and obey.
(Refrain)
Verse 3:
But we never can prove the delights of his love
until all on the altar we lay;
for the favor he shows, for the joy he bestows,
are for them who will trust and obey.
(Refrain)
Verse 4:
Then in fellowship sweet we will sit at his feet,
or we'll walk by his side in the way;
what he says we will do, where he sends we will go;
never fear, only trust and obey.
(Refrain)
Hebrews 12:5 (NIV)
And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons: "My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,
Though the context doesn't sound too optimistic, but I am called the same name as Jesus. My son. Pretty awesome. If the Lord is with me, who can be against me? (*cough* Joel, why are you living life in fear... is that even living?)
God is good.
-----------
Lyrics to 'Trust and Obey' by John H. Sammis, Daniel B. Towner (1887)
Verse 1:
When we walk with the Lord in the light of his word,
what a glory he sheds on our way!
While we do his good will, he abides with us still,
and with all who will trust and obey.
Refrain:
Trust and obey, for there's no other way
to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.
Verse 2:
Not a burden we bear, not a sorrow we share,
but our toil he doth richly repay;
not a grief or a loss, not a frown or a cross,
but is blest if we trust and obey.
(Refrain)
Verse 3:
But we never can prove the delights of his love
until all on the altar we lay;
for the favor he shows, for the joy he bestows,
are for them who will trust and obey.
(Refrain)
Verse 4:
Then in fellowship sweet we will sit at his feet,
or we'll walk by his side in the way;
what he says we will do, where he sends we will go;
never fear, only trust and obey.
(Refrain)
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
The UMass Squad #1
Here are some polaroids by Nate King, a friend and student at UMass.
(from left to right: Jason McNeillie, Jon Vickers, and Me)
Don't worry, there will be more pictures of us coming very soon.
(from left to right: Jason McNeillie, Jon Vickers, and Me)
Don't worry, there will be more pictures of us coming very soon.
Publishing My Thoughts
In reviewing my posts I have found that when I write thoughts, they can be quite verbose. Since the date of publication isn't that important, I have appended the thoughts to 2008. That way if you are interested you can read what is in my brain without taking up the whole front page of the blog. Hope you enjoy (if you dare! :)
Oh and I have copied some of my favorite passages/books which I will append to 2007. I know there is some copyright infringement issues I might be messing with, but I have two things to say about that.
Oh and I have copied some of my favorite passages/books which I will append to 2007. I know there is some copyright infringement issues I might be messing with, but I have two things to say about that.
- I hope what I post will encourage readers to buy a copy for themselves since I have grown to fall in love with the writing, which is why I have copied the books.
- If there is copyright infringement, I will gladly take down the posts from public viewing.
10 Days to Go!!!
Philippines is on June 15 and I am pretty excited. The upcoming Philippines trip is pretty exciting... perhaps a little bit too exciting. Thinking about the trip and thinking about fund-raising has definitely gotten me pretty anxious. I gave a talk sometime in February on hope and these are the things that I cling to, remembering what God has taught me. If you click the '2008' link on the right panel you can view this thought.
Anyways, tomorrow I will be heading to Boston to help my friend Jon Vickers do some callbacks for fund-raising. He is $2,400 short for the trip. Though I am sure he can fund-raise after he gets back from the Philippines, it would be good for him to be fully funded before the trip. Please pray for this process for him.
Well, now that I have some time, I will share some more details about the trip. Here is a list of people going on the trip and I have figured out where some of them are from based on their email addresses:
Who?
Trip Leaders: James Kang, Bobot, Wency, Maria and Bridgett
Trip Goers:
Joel Lee - UMass!
Jason McNeillie - UMass!
Jon Vickers - UMass!
Dario Torres - somewhere near the northeast
Drew Lukes - ???
Trenton Hannack - Minnesota
Matthew Rowe - Minnesota
Lindsey Powell - Nebraska
Alissa Goodding - ???
Chelsea McCown - Georgia
Maria Cabrera - ???
Sonia Balanay - California
What?
I'm hoping someone is from some southwest state solely because it would mean our team going overseas pretty much covers every region of the US. Whoa! Please pray that we will seek to make Christ center in all our interations and whatever we do over in the Philippines. Also, please pray that we will see that this trip is God's blessing for us; perhaps we will find God all the way over there!
Also, here is a list of things that we will be doing over in the Philippines:
Where?
And this is where we will go... Our team will be split in half with one group working in greater Manila, and another group working in Los Banos. I have highlighted the two regions, though I'm not sure how helpful this is.
Please pray for our safety as we do these things in the Philippines. The dates again are June 15 to August 1.
Thanks again for your continual partnership in my ministry! I look forward to updating you with more information!
Anyways, tomorrow I will be heading to Boston to help my friend Jon Vickers do some callbacks for fund-raising. He is $2,400 short for the trip. Though I am sure he can fund-raise after he gets back from the Philippines, it would be good for him to be fully funded before the trip. Please pray for this process for him.
Well, now that I have some time, I will share some more details about the trip. Here is a list of people going on the trip and I have figured out where some of them are from based on their email addresses:
Who?
Trip Leaders: James Kang, Bobot, Wency, Maria and Bridgett
Trip Goers:
Joel Lee - UMass!
Jason McNeillie - UMass!
Jon Vickers - UMass!
Dario Torres - somewhere near the northeast
Drew Lukes - ???
Trenton Hannack - Minnesota
Matthew Rowe - Minnesota
Lindsey Powell - Nebraska
Alissa Goodding - ???
Chelsea McCown - Georgia
Maria Cabrera - ???
Sonia Balanay - California
What?
I'm hoping someone is from some southwest state solely because it would mean our team going overseas pretty much covers every region of the US. Whoa! Please pray that we will seek to make Christ center in all our interations and whatever we do over in the Philippines. Also, please pray that we will see that this trip is God's blessing for us; perhaps we will find God all the way over there!
Also, here is a list of things that we will be doing over in the Philippines:
- Spending a lot of time developing relationships with the people in the poor community that you will be assigned to.
- Lead Bible Studies and meet with people one on one for discipleship and leadership training
- Some of the students will be assigned to help with possible building projects and maybe help develop a business among the poor.
- I think we will also have some opportunities to teach english.
- Jason and I will be team leaders for the trip. We will also be asked to visit the students assigned at different locations to pray with the students and to encourage them.
Where?
And this is where we will go... Our team will be split in half with one group working in greater Manila, and another group working in Los Banos. I have highlighted the two regions, though I'm not sure how helpful this is.Please pray for our safety as we do these things in the Philippines. The dates again are June 15 to August 1.
Thanks again for your continual partnership in my ministry! I look forward to updating you with more information!
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