Back to Africa...

Our time here in the Philippines has been a whirlwind.  From the second we landed back in Malaybalay, we felt like we were right where we were supposed to be, and now, two months later, we're headed back out.  Tara still tells people we were only down there for a month because that's literally what it felt like at most.  In a little over eight weeks, we hosted our four different summer camps, two week long basketball tournaments, and two church camps also rented out our facilities.  Needless to say, we did a ton of laundry and a ton of dish washing.  The good news is that hundreds of people were able to come and see our new facilities and hte projects that are yet to come.

Aside from the very public ministry that we have been doing with the camps, God has begun to place a vision on our hearts of what the future will look like.  Here, in the Philippines, there is a ton of need brought about by unemployment, poverty, a high birth rate, and a viscious cycle being past down from generation to generation.  I'll never fully grasp the weight of this culture because I have no idea what it would be like to be born and raised in the same house my great great grandfather was born and raised in and be doing the same thing he was doing decades ago.  People hand down this cycle through the generations because no other option is presented.

Now, it would be easy for me to say that other options exist, but is that actually a reality for the average Filipino in the provinces?  Probably not.  But when another Filipino from your village or tribe stands up and tells a testimony of his journey out of the cycle, then your hopes start to rise.  We believe this is what we need to be doing out here.  Giving Filipinos a jump start and then getting them to return to their home and passing the blessings on.  Here, Americans can easily draw a crowd because of the infatuation with our culture, but Filipinos listen to Filipinos. They need our crowds and we need their voice.

So what do you do with a vision on hold?  Later tonight, we'll head back to Mozambique, Africa to continue the work with another children's home for the month of June.  Our role there is dying down, but we still have to finish what we started and make sure they're still operating decades from now.  We're excited to return to our boys and check in on the status of the last few months, but it is still hard to leave our new home.  Over the next month, we'll be trekking up and down the southern coast of Africa with 30 hour bus rides to wrap up the work we've been doing out there.  It will be yet another big culture shock for us, but I think our emotions are starting to handle it by now.

Once we finish up in Africa, we'll be heading back to the States for the summer.  Please pray for us as we try to manage our ministry here from long distance, wrap up the work with our children's home in Mozambique, and head back for the reverse culture shock that is returning to the States.  We look forward to seeing everyone in a couple of months.  Let us know where you'll be!

Is It Worth It?

I remember a couple years ago, I saw this ad on tv about children starving in Africa. I remember thinking: these people aren't going to guilt trip me into giving money. Then I rationalized to myself, even if I do give money, half of it won't even go to the child. The truth is, I probably just spent that money on Starbucks or a cute dress. WAS IT WORTH IT? I just want to remind you all to think before you buy. As Americans, we often buy because we CAN or because we WANT to. I want to encourage you to say    NO to a bunch of the "little things" and do a big thing.  Save and give it away.  It is worth it. Each time I JUST SAY NO, I have been able to invest the money into a precious life. Whether it be feeding a sweet mother who is in downtown Phoenix, or helping a Filipino go to school...IT WAS WORTH IT! It's not that investing spiritually or emotionally into the lives of people isn't important, but it is harder for me to invest financially for a variety of excuses I have made. In truth, if you are paid more than 20,000 USD per year, you are in the top 90% of the world. You are blessed and you can bless others. "The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. As it is written,"He has distributed freely, he has given to the poor; his righteousness endures forever." He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way TO BE GENEROUS in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God." (2 Corinthians 9:6-11 ESV) The less you spend the more you can give away!!!  So next time you go to buy that fancy dinner on Saturday Night that you DESERVE or that shirt that was "on sale", please just think about it.  IS IT WORTH IT?