“My mouth will speak the praise of the Lord,
and let all flesh bless his holy name forever and ever.” Psalm 145:21
And so I said goodbye, till we meet again in this life or the eternal life to come. This week, while being our last at our outreach church, was by far the best. Full of the spirit and overflowing with reflections & emotions of what God has done to get me here. To be in the place where I am discipling 6 young men, and seeing their faith take off. All glory be to our awesome God, and all praise be lifted to him.
Over the span of this week, two things have been extremely impactful on my spiritual state. The first is simply abiding in God. As I mentioned shortly in my last post, this week was my assigned week as team leader. As I began my term, I felt filled with a mixture of excitement and renewed spirit of motivation to throw myself into serving others the best I could. However, I quickly fell short. I relied on my own strengths and confidence and lasted me a quick 30 minutes. As I continued on this week, I had to continually seek God and ask him if I was fully laying down everything before him. In seeking God, this week’s topic went extremely well with my spiritual needs. This week was on God’s word, and we learned several new methods of looking at the bible and learning from it. Through God’s word, God filled me up and lead me out this weekend with a heart ready to serve him. When I was tired, or frustrated, or unmotivated, I sought him, and he answered. He gave me the power to speak his word in our corporate worship gatherings and through sermon #6 in the Philippines. I sought the lord and he filled me, he led me, and he is continuing to shape me for his glory. The second thing that impacted me was just a heart of awe and conviction for what God had to do to get me here. I didn’t know this was going to be my life, I didn’t know God wanted this from me, but he does, and he has worked so that I might be here and be closer than ever before to him. I want to ask you a question I would have had a hard time answering a few months ago. Are you willing to give up your life right now, your college, your career, your relationships, your job, your money, your time, only to be closer to God? If this question is wrestling with your heart I challenge you to take it to him. God has called us to go, a command, and he wants us to abide in him. Amidst this life you will struggle to deal with loneliness, culture shock, frustrations, and temptations, but on the mission field in hard places, it forces you to make the choice to abide in him. And when we truly abide, that is when we truly feel a closeness to Christ. He was the man of sorrows. He gave everything for you. Are you willing to give everything to him. He will mess up your life, but in the end of the sacrifice it will be his, and we will use you. He doesn’t need you, but oh how desperately he wants you. Pick up your cross and follow him, he deserves your praise.
On the more mundane, yet still enjoyable things of life, this week we played games, watched movies, listened to testimonies, and had a bonfire! What a moment sitting beneath the stars, listening to the fire and waves mix with the praise of the young adults to their father in heaven. As worship was lifted up, and marshmallows devoured, I continued to thank God for putting me here. Only he could have planned this for me. The night after was amazing as well, but also filled with tears as we were given gifts, took pictures, and gave hug after hug to the flocks of kids in the community. Oh how desperately I pray they endure the test of time and remain faithful, and that God continues to grow their faith even though we are gone. God is with us. he is our shepherd. he will lead and provide for us. trust him the good shepherd.
Some other highlights were:
-being a team leader
-visiting the Filipino zoo
-buying a sword
-games with the team
-swimming in the ocean
-boat ride and steering it (picture from Moana)
-bible studies
-bonfire, worship, testimonies, and marshmallows
-final sermon and singing my song
-dinner with the pastor, overlooking the whole city lights + live music and amazing food
-welcoming a new NT leader
Some things y’all could be praying for are;
- The church and young adults to remain faithful
- More humility and fulfilment in God
- For the Lord to move hearts of American students to missions, and towards obedience to his call
God is with us, he has a plan for you. He wants you, but you must give him every place in your life, not just first. Examine your hearts and pray for the lost, those that have never the transforming word of God, ever. They need God’s love, but how will they hear if we do not go. Seek God, let him fill you, and draw you ever closer to him. He is worthy. But is he worthy to you? let him be your everything, until the whole world hears!
