“And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:9
And so begins the final week of our deployment here in this country. What a fast few weeks it has been yet not a day empty of witnessing to God’s work through the undertaking of missions. This week specifically I’ve really gotten to see a theme of harvest through the faithfulness of the missionaries working here.
As a missionary, harvest is not always guaranteed in our lifetime. Throughout this entire trip we’ve read countless missionary testimonies about men and women who were faithful to God, yet it took years after their death for their labor to produce fruit. God is and will work through our obedience, but after our work and prayers it’s up to him, only he can change hearts. All we can do is be faithful and obedient to him and trust in his plan. Because of this truth it was encouraging this week to see some of that fruit of faith produced through the missionaries endeavors here. The first of the two events we got to witness to was a Christmas play we produced and then acted out for about 100 kids and 20 or so adults. We all gathered underneath their elevated house, as body crammed against body to escape the scorching sun. While the play was fun, and the message our missions leader shared was definitely impactful, the true sight came as we handed out bread, water, and small presents to everyone in attendance. The look of pure joy, happiness, and gratitude melted by heart. It speaks in James about a warning of meeting the spiritual needs but not the physical ones and after seeing this it made clear sense. These people were experiencing the love of Christ on both fronts and the fruit that it was producing was written right there on their faces. God’s love displayed, faith produced, God glorified. The second witnessing to obedient fruit was the baptism of two girls from a more remote village. In the past month we had visited them once before for a bible study of encouragement and prayer for their family, but this fruit of new life in Christ came through the perseverant obedience of our mission leader. When asked about it on our drive back from the first bible study, he testified to the slow work done in that family. How they began with rejection, then indifference, then interest, and then surrender to Christ. Fruit takes time, it sometimes takes multiple try’s, it takes sacrifice, it takes obedience, it take faith. But, when God blessed us with these moments of being able to see the result of the hard work these faithful Christian’s put in it just sparked a fire of hope. Light in the darkness, life where there was death. This is the aim of the missionary, of the Christian, to bring the light of Jesus to those who have not heard and see the hand of God at work. Praise God for two new children of Christ, and praise him for the work he will continue to do here in this country.
On a larger reflection note of this 1-month deployment over all, God has really taught me much. When we first got here 4 weeks ago it felt like within a few days we were on the ground running. As I’ve spoken to in previous posts one of the immediate observations I made was to the affliction and refined faith of the believers here due to the expected religious allegiance based on culture. It has encouraged me to see their faith amidst this and encourage them with scripture when and where I can. Another thing that God has really worked on in me is the battling of spiritual warfare. Within in a few days of landing it felt like I was in a slump. Like I was burnt out and sin was so much harder to overcome. Temptations which had been non-existent before began to batter me daily. In this time God really reminded me of my need for him and the importance of seeking him daily to be renewed and equipped for that days work. I spent many mornings on our roof watching the sunrise as I cried out to God to come and fill me again. I cried out for the people, for my friends, for my team, for my family, and I cried out in praise and thanksgiving for what he had given me. God gave me patience when I lacked so much patience. God humbled my heart when I wanted control. God showed me his forgiveness and grace as I repented of sin and lead me back again to the foot of the cross. Every time the enemy knocked me down and began to scream lies at me about my faith and my weakness, I took a second to mourn my sin and recognize my lowness to God, and then I rejoiced in the assurance of forgiveness and love of God as I knew I needed him more and more. God has helped me to find him new and loving every morning, he has helped me to love my team better where I struggled before, he has humbled me greatly and he is continuing to do so as I head back to the Philippines this coming week. God is good and he has used what the enemy meant for evil for my good. Thank you Jesus.
Since I have already mentioned all the highlights of the past weeks in previous posts I won’t try and recap them all here again, but this week’s highlights ending out this deployment were:
-Prayer walking 2 school and teaching kids how to play frisbee (+showing off the skills just a bit)
-Visiting a small Christian school and doing a very short introduction and some songs with them
-Prayer walking a university
-Morning sunrises and sweet solitude with God
-Christmas play fun and seeing the joy of the people we served
-Baptisms and praising God for what he’s done
-Hanging out and playing games with the team and the missions kids
-Visa run to the capital and hearing our missions leaders testimony
As we enter our final week here in this country some prayer requests would be:
- For final bursts of strength as we enter our last few days of ministry
- For safe travels back to the Philippines
- For believers here to find comfort in God admist affliction
- For mission family to remain strong and faithful and for a continued harvest for the lord
As I look at my following weeks I feel as if my next two posts may be shorter due to the Christmas season but, as I have learned overseas, God can have very different plans then what I expect. So, we’ll see what happens next. But I hope everyone reading this is doing well. That God is getting you all through finals and all the Christmas plans, and that in this season as we thank God for family and friends that we would remember those that have given up everything to serve Jesus. And that we too would remain faithful to God’s call as we strive to show the love of Jesus to all peoples. Love y’all and I will continue to pray diligently for y’all as I hope you will replicate for me. May God bless and keep you, and fill you all with peace, until I write again, much love.
