Planning and Praying about PI 08

We are going to the Philippines again. For many years in a row, a mission team from our general area has journeyed to the Philippines to minister in various capacities. In some years we’ve brought a dance team that has ministered in churches and local schools. Since about 2004 we started taking medical supplies and nurses to minister along with an arts team.

This year, the team added one new dimension - a basketball team. This changed the ministry methods, especially in our evenings.  But this all came together throughout the year as the early leadership team prayed and planned.

Back in the September 2007, the team gathered for prayer and sharing what they sensed was the Lord’s direction for the 2008 mission. The team was composed of (not sure if I got everybody) Renee, Mark Palazzolo, Jun and Lisa, Justin, Lawrence, and a few others. There was a strong sense that a return to the Iligan City region, a couple hours from Cagayan de Oro, was where the team should focus their ministry efforts. Lisa and others felt a strong sense of God’s timing and presence when they were there for one day earlier that summer. It was as if God was calling the team back to trust in him to do more.  There were concerns expressed regarding safety as this region was a battle ground not that many years earlier - the latest crackdowns by government forces ended about eight years earlier.  But the team was at peace about their purpose and presence there next year. God would make a way if God was calling the team.

We prayed together and trusted the Lord again for the resources and logistics. God always provides when you commit your ways to him. The team was reminded of God’s provision last year - at the airport - as the team was preparing to go through security, the money came through to conduct the ministry. What an amazing God.

I wondered about my involvement and felt strongly that I needed to be a part of the team this year. I had been absent for two years having taken time off due to seminary training. Those summers were fruitful times for school, family and ministry. But God was calling me to go this year and be a part of this team that is growing in maturity. For Mark, Rona and Justin, this would be a return trip for them being absent for a year. And this year the Dizon’s were free to travel - something p.Nelson had been wanting to do for some time. We were all coming together in partnership. Living Hope was sending a team this year.

There is a lot more to cover; the funds and processes of Pure Works, the incorporation of a competitive basketball team, the planning process, riding 200 miles to raise funds, trusting God for provision and preparing the team. God got us through it all again.

The Most Wonderful Time

It can be the most wonderful time of the year if you are securely anchored in the middle of God's arms. I think I used two metaphors there... 

God moved into our neighborhood the day Jesus was born. You can mess with that story with your philosophy and revisionist history and skeptical religiosity, but the fact remains that God came to earth on a rescue mission. 

From that day forward he's been rescuing people and hanging out with those who believe. The world is still going to hell and yes, there won't be any bail out clause in the end. It isn't a message of hate but one of compassionate mercy and love that God would care so much to show up at your door. He just wants to hang out and be with you and allow his life to transform you.

Yah, I'm rambling again. But I know this God. He's in my house. He's with me daily and he has access to the deeper rooms of my house. From time to time I screw up because I try to live without him. Try that out with your spouse. You'll see what happens. You both get miserable. But I'm on the road. I'm journeying with God throughout the rest of my days on this planet. And that makes this the most wonderful time...

For Starters

Not necessarily in a blogging mood, but think I should start something. And if it is possible to post from anywhere without the massive overhead of an iWeb upload, this will be great. One more thing to test is the google calendar feature. Maybe google will be our hub vs .mac. Not sure.

Glad to try this out.

Today is my first official "day off" and I've been downloading chinese language podcasts via iTunes. Free of course. What is the likelihood of learning Mandarin? And is it the gateway to justifying an ipod video. Still waiting for that elusive video ipod that us old types can actually see! What's the point of a 2 1/2 screen to watch tv on...maybe an iphone will be worth the price of admission just to see video in a 3 1/2 inch format. I still long for the virtual screen that sort of rises from the ipod in 3d array. I saw it on Bones - why not from Apple??? ;-)

And today, as a day off/time out day, should also be a time to catch God's word for Living Hope for this Sunday. Praying, sort of. But I do want to hear from God each week and what better way to hear than by listening, with brain uncluttered - cluttered today though! Chinese? Mission Peak? Stuff at work... and listening to Anberlin: Dance, Dance, Christa Paffgen! What's that supposed to mean?