The Philippines.

Part of a Journal entry by one of our DTS outreach team members in the Philippines. WOW.

Nov.29th, 2008

"As I write this I'm sitting rooftop Manilla. Since arriving I have been overwhelmed with the sights and sounds of this 18 million + city. In less than 48 hours I've experienced more desperation and poverty than I've seen in a lifetime. Most of me wants to get on a plane and head back to Tauranga; where embracing "normality" and going about my daily life is both easy and delightful. But as I look over this city with a headful of images from yesterday, I know I can't turn away from the people in this nation. I can't pretend I didn't see the beggar sitting outside the metro line, eyes guaged out and hands extended pleading for help. I can't ignore the precious children without parents, beggin for money with beautiful smiles on their faces. What of the 2 young boys who let me take their pictures, grinning from ear to ear, only to be violently dragged off by policemen less than 1o minutes later. Where were they taken? Who is their defender? I can't wipe from memory the young mother sitting on dirty steps nursing a baby with open wounds covering the better portion of her legs. I can't possibly forget the look in her eyes as we laid hands on her and asked Jesus to heal and provide for her. I see children lying in the middle of the streets, crying with no one there to help them. I see a young child with an emaciated body and bulging eyes lying in her mother's arms as multitudes pass by without even a second glance. I see thousands lined up outside a massive church, waiting with the hope of being healed by the local "faith healer," a black magic practitioner. There are tables upon tables of ways to "purchase" salvation and wholeness. The endless icons, thick incense, and darkness in the eyes of the people selling these are overwhelming. All I can think of is Jesus and the time He overturned the tables in the temple; outraged that His people had turned His house into a marketplace. My heart wrenches inside of me when I see vials of solution that effectively destroy infants in the 1st and 2nd months of pregnancy. It's an abortion in a bottle. Even if I could smash every one I saw it wouldn't be enough. How can I ignore a nation that has been built upon the blocks of free-masonry; that millions are living underneath this kind of demonic bondage... everything I see makes me want to fall on my knees and groan in my prayers to Jesus. If my heart feels this way, how does He feel? I have no words that are adequate, and nothing to offer but myself and the true God who lives within me. I won't forget these. I won't choose the easy path. I'll pray and contend for the reality of LIVING HOPE, that will bring these precious ones into an inheritance that will never spoil or fade."

They have landed...now what?

We just got a call from our friend Curt in the Philippines. Everyone, including Rene (see the below story) has arrived in Manila. They have a few days of orrientation before digging in.

Josh and I had a good 10 hours of sleep before beginning to work on the administration side of the school. Now, just to prepare for the final week of the school and graduation. Once all that is done, we will turn our attentions back to preparing for IWT in this region of the world. Mark Anderson, the founder of IWT will be in the Philippines to connect with our students and Josh who will be there next Thursday.

There really is never a dull moment. Keep checking this space - it should be pretty intersting if yesterday was any indication.

And they are ALL off....well of course there is a story behind it.

The morning started early yesterday. At 1am I dragged myself out of bed and got ready for the day ahead. By 3am Josh and I had arrived at Faith Bible College and were loading all the students, staff, and luggage into the vans. By 3:30 we were headed toward Auckland. After a brief stop at storage and flash light lit search for misplaced travel insurance we were really on our way. By 7:30am all last minute instructions, hugs, and prayers were said. Seventeen staff and students where waiting in the Quantas check in line to depart.

With to go coffee in hand Josh, Raph, and myself headed back to vans to make our rental deadline back in Tauranga. Halfway down the Auckland motorway (highway for the Americans reading this) we recieved a call. Our student Rene was being denied access onto the plane. Apparently the airline officials were determined that he could not board without a particular visa our travel agents told us he did not need for a layover in Australia. As you can imagine drama unfolded from there. Raph contiued on to Tauranga to return the rented van while Josh and I quickly got on the phone.

Our travel agents (who are friends of ours) answered their emergency contact phone number and went to work. About an hour and dead cell phone later, Josh and I returned to the airport to pick up Rene. Our amazing travel agents managed to get him on a later flight, as long as we could get him the visa. Off we went to the Australian Immigration office. The sign on the window said "Transit Visa's processed in 10 working days" - we had two hours. We filled out forms, waited, and eventually saw the immigration officer. He said it could take 10 minutes, 2 hours, or 10 days. Take a seat and see if it comes through in time. It is out of my hands"

Good thing it was out of his hands, and it was in Gods. Twenty minutes later he called us back to the counter stamped Rene's passport and sent us out the door. AMAZING! The visa had been processed accross the Tasman almost immediatly. We rushed back to the airport and saw Rene through to customs. So....yeah after all of that they are ALL on their way to the Phillipines.

Preparing for Outreach

In 6 days, the DTS heads off to the Philippines. As you can imagine this week is full of preparations for the next couple of months. Dalton Lifsey has been speaking on the Cross and the Evangelism and we are ready to get out there. One thought that has really struck my heart this week is the following quote.

"What you believe about the cross determines your eternal destiny. When you think about the cross, do you believe it is foolish or wise?" - Dalton

How simple does that make salvation?

Bee's

For those of you who thought we might be deserting our blog...think again. Life has been a bit busy recently and thus the lack of posts. Not to worry, we have so much in our heads to write about the problem is now "where to start?"

Tonight, Josh and I were given something we really are not fond of..you guessed it Bee's. Living on a orchard having bee's around is just part of process. However, tonight after comming home from a wonderful dinner with the Walsh's and Dawson's we found several hives blocking our driveway. We are not too excited about having them around because Josh is really allergic to them, but so it is in the kiwi fruit pollination season. So here comes another adventure. It is probally good that Josh will be traveling soon. Less chance of a sting.

Signing off for the night! Sleep tight!

A Weekend to Honor

This weekend my Dad in Texas had a very special birthday. My Dad is awesome, and I don't know what I would do without him. So in honour of Dad - on cyberspace, I just wanted to say I love you and Happy Birthday! I can't wait to see you again.

YWAM NZ leadership gathering in TGA

We've had a fantastic week this week. About 70 ministry leaders including the National Leadership Team for YWAM New Zealand all converged on Faith Bible College to spend time together seeking the Lord and connecting as a family. It's so great to rub shoulders with so many who carry a similar heart and passion. I had forgotten how much I love the YWAM family, and appreciate so many around the world who have given everything in order to "Know God and to make him known" in this world in these days!

We had a guy named Kel Steiner speaking on the DTS this week who had been in YWAM for 38 years pioneering YWAM bases in some of the hardest places and situations. He is an incredible man of God with much wisdom. Everyone of his many stories he told us was filled with hope, miracles, anointing, inspiration and grace, we all finished the week wishing he could go on and on. There are few people who have truly given up everything to GO into the nations, who knows what sacrifice is and Kel is one of them.

The DTS only has 2 and 1/2 weeks to go until outreach to the Philippines. Time has flown by. We're so privileged to journey with such a quality group of young people. We've seen incredible change in their lives over the last 10 weeks. It's not always easy, but VERY rewarding.