Ready, Set, Go!

Two weeks down twenty-seven to go!!!


I was instructed to spend my first week “familiarizing” myself with campus. Well, Southern Baptist College, in it’s entirety, is smaller than most high schools in the U.S. and actually is comprised of grades K-Graduate school. They have approximately 900 students total. Oh and another fun fact: classes start at 7 a.m. I thought 8 o’clock classes we’re awful…

After my five hours of campus familiarization I was somewhat at a loss of how to occupy the rest of my time. However, between un-packing and settling in to my new home, several market runs to properly stock my kitchen, hanging my mosquito net, meeting some students, reading my supervisor-mandated reading list, writing some journals and blog entries, making friends and simply acclimating myself to my new home – the week was over.

I have two companions in Jackson Hall (the house I live in): Rhea Mae and Eunice Flores. The two sisters are affectionately known as Mik Mik and Nice. I am happy to have them around: one, because I am not found of being alone especially in a foreign place, but secondly, because they are such good godly women and such an encouragement to me.

Nice is 18 and in her first year of college as an English student. She has been a member of Filipino Nehemiah twice now, in 2007 and 2008. She was also a translator for American Nehemiah both of those years as well. Her dream is to be a missionary to Afghanistan. She is one brave little pistol. I don’t turn my back on this one! She told me stories about when she was with her former American Nehemiah teams and how she played tricks on the poor little unsuspecting white people (actually they probably deserved it). She would find ways to lock them in the CR (comfort room = bathroom) and then throw chickens over the wall into the CR to terrorize them further. She actually chased me, with a cockroach just the other night. O how I love her!

Mik Mik is 22 and currently in her second-to-last semester in college. She is student teaching this semester and usually quite stressed with her workload. Mik has joined both Filipino and American Nehemiah teams also. She was the helper to the missionaries I work for, for about three years. She is so funny, always joking and laughing and carrying on. Having these two happy girls around really brightens my day and lifts my spirits when I am at all feeling down.

I met another student in my second day at school. Her name is Cyrine. Cy and I became instantly close, because she is not afraid of talking to a foreigner and has such a sweet spirit. She began sharing with me about her life and I could quickly tell this story may be more personal than she cares to share with the whole canteen (their version of a cafeteria), so we relocated to my house for some tea and further chatting. She told me about the trials her and her family had been through. My heart really went out to her. She cried as she told me about how her mother had divorced her father and left them six years ago, when her baby brother was only seven weeks old. In fact, her little brother was raised by his aunt and recognizes his father as “uncle.” She wept harder when she looked at me with this pitiful heartfelt desire in her eyes, and said that she still waits and wants to see her mother again one day. Cy still has hope that her mother has not forgotten about her. Her father recently lost his job and money has been tight. Cy has been the caregiver of her other three siblings because she is the oldest, but she is still only 19-years-old. She said she has to be strong for her little brothers and sister, but many times she just feels like giving up. She told me that when she feels like quitting she likes to sing. Her favorite song to sing in these times is “The Heart of Worship.”

I was very convicted by her story. In the midst of all her trials she sings – she sings praises to God! She reminds me of Paul and Silas who sang hymns while they were in prison (Acts 16:25). How often do our “difficult” situations pale in comparison to Paul and Silas and even Cyrine’s? Yet do we sing?… Or do we curse?

My second week at SBC was quite busy. I was a visitor in K-6th grade; visiting one to two elementary classes each day. I was able to share my testimony with the little ones and let them ask some burning queries about America. I was also a guest lecturer in several college English and theology classes. In these classes I got to share my story of my past missions experiences and how I came to know God’s calling on my life to full-time foreign missions. In my theology class the topic I was instructed to lecture on was “self-acceptance.” I talked to them about how pride was one the biggest hindrances to ministry and how the “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart (Psalm 51:17).” I told them that the next time they looked in the mirror and didn’t like what they saw, that instead of thinking about the next hairstyle they will try they should read through the Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22&23) and see how they can develop more patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, etc., because a beautiful heart is more noticeable than any hair cut!

I also was the speaker at CMC (Campus Movers for Christ – evangelical campus ministry) for both weeks. The group meets for worship every Thursday at 4 p.m. I gave my testimony with a focus on my missions calling the first week and gave a talk on Romans 12:1 the next. I tried to impart to them that being effective Christians was not just keeping the commandments of God and seeing how few sins we can commit each day. Instead, we should wake up every morning with the mindset that God has granted us a new day and therefore it is to be used for His glory. I asked them how much different would you look, how much different would CMC look, and how much different would SBC look, if we would wake up every morning and say, “God how can I serve you today? God who would you have me share my faith with, which outcast do you want me to befriend, which less fortunate classmate would you have me buy lunch for today? God how can I best serve you today?” That is what it means to be a living sacrifice and that is the worship God desires, not our empty words, but our heartfelt actions.

Another exciting task of mine, will be to teach an all girls’ high school Bible study, with about fifteen girls around the ages of 15 and 16-years-old. We will meet twice a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 12 o’clock p.m. Please pray for guidance in my discipleship. So far they have only desired that I give them “love advice,” so I’m really hoping to instill in them a real hunger for God’s word.

These past two weekends I have visited two different Churches - both are Southern Baptist but both are quite different. The first was M’lang Baptist Church, which has been around for over 50 years and has roughly 500-700 in attendance every Sunday. The second was a small country Church in a more remote baranguay (smaller than town; similar to village). It was started about a year ago and has five members, a dozen or so regular children attendees and three volunteer workers. The Pastor is supported by other larger Churches in town and he has two students from SBC serving as worship leaders and children’s bible study leaders. One of these students is Nice, the younger Flores sister, who gave me the invitation to join. I however, was unaware that I would be the speaker that morning, but due to the distance we had to travel and my recent scripture study, I had in mind to give a similar talk on Romans 12:1 as I had at CMC. However, when I arrived and saw the crude structure they met in: with an open face, two 3x8ft block side walls, one 10ft wooden back wall, an aluminum roof, six 5ft rough benches and a pulpit – I was immediately humbled and realized I had no place to preach to these people about sacrifice. Instead I gave a message of exhortation and spoke on Matthew 5:3-12, for never have I seen a more clear picture of what it means to HUNGER and THIRST for righteousness.

Week three came early this morning, rising before even the sun, but I am eager to see the next round of opportunities God will bless me with as I continue to minister here at SBC.


Till * ALL * Have * Heard

Home Sweet Home

Here stands my not so humble abode. I was astonished when we arrived at what would be my home for the next 2 1/2 months on the Southern Baptist College campus. I am so excited about my time here...

I arrived in the Philippines less than one week ago. I spent the weekend with the Missionaries and their kids as well as one other volunteer who will be living in the Philippines for the next two years; working with our supervisors to develop and manage Nehemiah Teams. My supervisor, fellow volunteer and I met for a few hours at a coffee shop in Davao City, called Yellow Hauz. It was no City Dock Cafe, but it definitely hit the spot! We talked all about the next several months as we gear up for the national student teams in the spring and the American teams in the summer.

Casey, the other volunteer, will be going to Butuan City to begin language training, since he will be here for a more extended period of time. He will also be working with an agricultural project on his days off from classes as well as preparing for the water-filter team that will be coming to that area.

I on the other hand was sent from Davao to a smaller town to work at Southern Baptist College. This town used to be the missionary hub for the Philippines and the Southern Baptist community built the school I am working at. The above picture is what they call the missionary boarding house. The upper rooms are for boarding missionaries, teachers, and pastors who may be working at the school for a short amount of time. However, I think I am the one of few to stay for three months and stay by myself. My responsibilities while I'm here will be many and very involved. I will be guest lecturing in English, journalism and Bible classes for both the college and high school. I will be forming small group Bible studies for discipleship and encouragement purposes. I will also be assisting with a weeklong Christian ministry time, which is something like their revival week. I will be doing missions mobilization in Churches on the weekends; encouraging students to join Nehemiah Teams for their summer break and encouraging the rest of the congregation to support their students in this endeavor. Whew! Where to start, where to start...

More pictures of my new home!

Academic Building

The road from house to school My Kitchen! Living Room. My Room