Archive for the ‘Missions Stories’ Category

Update of Last Couple Weeks…

Wednesday, June 27th, 2012

Hello all!

I am sorry I have not been as active as I had planned! Things are busier and when I have some free time I want to relax so this has not been my priority and I apologize for that!

Students have arrived now and the hustle and bustle of school and classes has begun.  Many new faces to get to know and many old friends to reconnect with! Everyone here is so caring and loving and wants to chat or laugh or whatever! It has been great! Everyone is teaching me words in Cebuano and always saying things to get me to respond in Cebuano.  Since I love learning languages, it has been a blast to be starting to speak in a new language!

School for me has been better. My teachers are understanding of my situation and I have been able to not worry too much about my homework and focus on relationships here and doing God’s work.

Wednesday, June 13, I did evangelism with some people at the school.  We went and visited a lady and her family that used to attend the church but had stopped so we were checking up on her.  She lives in a slum area so it was very interesting to see a different area and a different way of living.  We talked to her and discovered that she decided to go to the Mormon church instead.  I did not get everything she was saying since it was in a different language so I was relying on the others to translate some of what she said.  It was very heart pulling to just see the expressions on her face and see that there was real pain there.  I have been thinking about her often since then and all I can do now is to pray for her and her situation and that she comes to know the truth of Christ Jesus.  Her daughter, I think, was very sick with abdominal pains so we prayed for her and for healing of that pain; she was planning to go to the doctor the following day.

Sunday, June 17, I was a back-up singer for church.  I really enjoyed the people I was singing with and we had a interesting time learning a new song, haha.  It was more challenging than I would have expected but we got it and I think we lead it pretty well.  The two girls I sang with, Pie (alto singer) and Judylou (song leader) are amazing and beautiful women and I will always remember them and their hearts.  I will miss them a lot.

Me with the two ladies I sang with on Sunday

Monday, June 18, I went back up to the mountain but this time all the way to the top to Top Hill.  It was gorgeous and a great view of the whole city! It also is a great temperature up there and a nice change from the heat and humidity in the city.

One part of the view from Top Hill

Tuesday, June 19, the Pyle family arrived here in Cebu all safe and sound! It is great to have them back and I am enjoying many long and interesting talks with Loida.  It is always a pleasure to learn more about the culture here and about her life =)

Friday, June 22 was youth group in the evening.  I was the “in charge” person and prepared the lesson.  It was my first time doing that and it was fun and I think and hope everyone enjoyed themselves and learned a bit about praising God too.  It is so much fun to just have a time to learn together and play games and worship as youth and young people.

I also ended up deciding to get my hair “rebonded” here too.  After weeks of people telling me all about it and that I would love it, I finally gave in and got it done! It is a way of permanently straightening your hair and I do love it so far! (minus the three days of not being able to get my hair wet at all… it is hot so only washing part of your body everyday just wasn’t enough for me).  But my three days are over and it is wonderful to just let my hair dry and it is straight; very easy maintenance!

Sunday the 24th was the 13th City Church Anniversary! Great time of fellowship and worship! I was even asked to sing a special number. I introduced a new song to them, “You Are Love” by Laura Story.  I have fallen in love with that song and so it was a pleasure to be able to share it with the congregation.

Singing "You Are Love" by Laura Story

I also ended up getting my first minor “purple” eye. After church I was changing to go to the store and I had my belt hanging over the door and it got stuck a bit when I was pulling it down, then whipped me right below the eye… quite painful and it was a little purple the next day and now there is just a tiny brown bruise right where it hit.  So not too bad, but I can now add black eye to my list of injuries.

Today, we had chapel and the 2nd year students received their study Bibles that people from Minnesota had sent to them.  They are all so thankful for the Bibles and the support they are receiving!

This week has been a great week of shopping and seeing other shops.  I have also been able to get to know the students better and reconnect with students from last year! I have truly enjoyed it here and cannot believe I can count on one hand how many days I have left here in Cebu! I feel like I just got here last week.  But I have been blessed by the people here and my time here so far.  The people here have great hearts for God and are passionate about what they do.  I have learned a lot about myself and about missions while I have been here.  God has shown me a lot about who He is and who I am in Him. And there are still a few days left to keep learning =)

Coming up this week, there is a march tomorrow, Thurday, for saying “no” to drugs and CPBC is joining with some other college in the march.  I am excited about this because I have seen several marches here and now I have an opportunity to be in one! Then, on Friday I will have the opportunity to experience teaching in a classroom setting.  I will be teaching Algebra, my favorite (really it is!) to the 3rd year students! I needed some refreshers but I think I am ready to go and to practice teaching older students.  I sat in on the class today and the students are great and so it will be enjoyable =) Then also on Friday there was some discussion about open, spontaneous worship time for youth group. I love that type of worship and am excited to see if it happens and to see God work in that.

Please keep praying for me and for God’s work in me and through me as I am here in Cebu.  Also, pray for the upcoming events.  There are also students still arriving, the 4th years, as they are finishing up their internships this week. Please pray for safe travels for them.  Two people accepted the Lord this last Sunday at church, please pray for their growing walk with the Lord and that they continue to learn about him.  Also, I mentioned  at the beginning of this post about the lady who left the church, please pray for her and her family.  Lastly, please pray for my last couple days here that I continue to do God’s will and follow Him in these coming days.

Thank you everyone for your prayer support so far! I have really felt God’s presence here and have been thankful to everyone lifting me up in prayer!