Rice Fields

Yesterday, pastor Benji, a fellow believer named Cita, and myself set out to do visitation for the church we are looking to start. There was a gentleman and his family they knew who needed to hear about Christ. We ended up walking through a large rice field. Several times while falling into the water and mud I thought about the cost of the gospel. Sure I was only simply getting dirty and could easily wash it off, but how much more our Savior endured and sacrificed for us. He experienced death. This weighed heavy on me knowing the cost of the gospel and the responsibility we carry to share it with others.We eventually reached the straw nipa hut after trekking through what seemed like a puzzle maze. There we met the father Rudy, his brother J.R., and his daughter Dahlia. We carried on conversations getting to know each other and explained the reason of our visit. We were able to share the gospel with them. Each one of them wanted to accept Christ! It never gets old to experience the joy of sharing what Christ did for us. Rudy, had many questions about the gospel because previously he was part of a church that did not believe in Christ being the only way. He explained the concerns and differences of his previous religion to what he was hearing now. Before, the emphasis was how much money one could give and being able have the most beautiful church in order for them to go to heaven. Thankful that God does not require this for salvation but that it is a free gift, not of works! (Ephesians 2:8-9)

Cita leading the way through the rice field.

               Dahlia, Rudy, J.R., Benji

Lessons Learned

Today marks two weeks that I have been in the Philippines. This is my 11th trip back and I am thankful for the opportunity to be able to serve. I quickly noticed in this short amount of time that I was struggling with mixed emotions. So many of these thoughts and feelings were not based on truth. These lies were beginning to affect my outlook on being here. Questions began to arise, such as, "Am I capable of serving these people?" "Is God able to use me?" "Because my feelings don't match up with what I know is truth does that make it wrong for me to be here?" During this time I was also reading Andrew Murray's book, An Exciting New Life. It is filled with basic truths and doctrines of the Christian life. In the first chapter he wrote, "Be very much in dread of your own thoughts." How easy it is to focus on our circumstances rather than on Christ. He is the one who gives clarity, peace, self-worth, joy, love, confidence, and assurance. The book goes on to say, "Man's own distorted thoughts of the way to serve and to please God-namely, by what he does and is- are deeply rooted in him."

I had a break-through, just only two days ago, and believe it or not it wasn't while I was serving. Mondays are our "rest" days. Throughout the rest of the week we are visiting people, sharing the gospel, following up on discipleship, and whatever else God brings along our path. This past Monday I was just sitting outside. I had finished writing journal entries for my school work and it was there as I was doing nothing, I had a peace that surpassed all understanding. (Philippians 4:6-8) God loves me as I am, even just sitting. He doesn't love me anymore or any less, with the feelings I have or don't have, whether I'm in America or the Philippines, if I'm sharing the gospel, or simply just sitting. Trivial as that may seem, it was crucial for me.

                    The view from our backyard

Arrival

Friday, June 15, around midnight I arrived safely in Manila. Pastor Benji picked me up at the airport and the next morning we traveled another 11 hours to reach our destination, my second home, Pinamalayan. This morning we were able to visit one of the churches that I've attended while previously living here. It's been such a great time to see people we've been working with as well as meeting new believers. They have a discipleship program for young people within their church that they've asked us to speak at for the next couple of weeks. Pray for God's Word to be spoken clearly.

This morning they sang "Because He Lives". I heard this song right before I had left to come to the Philippines. No matter if I'm in America sitting in a pew with a/c or in the Philippines sitting on a wooden bench with sweat, nothing compares to having a life with Christ.

"Because He lives, I can face tomorrow
Because He lives, all fear is gone
Because I know He holds the future
And life is worth the living, just because He lives."




Traveling on the ferry from Batangas to Calapan.

Pressing On

Menchie

As most of you know, in 2010 I went to live in the Philippines after I graduated from college. God led me there to spend time working with the people not having a slight inclination as to what would happen, but God had a very specific plan. You can refer back to my original blog http://theradicalexperiment.blogspot.com, which talks about the work that He did. What brings me here tonight is a particular miracle that God allowed me to be apart of. Her name is Menchie. It was brought to my attention that there were a group of mothers that were part of a children's center called Agape Child Care Center. The director asked that pastor Benji and I would go around visiting the mothers and letting them know about Jesus. Little did we know how much of an adventure we were in for. Each mother has a unique and an incredible story. Here is the post from 2010 that I wrote about one of those mothers, Menchie.


Another mother was actually sleeping when we went to visit her. I felt terrible for waking her up, but she wanted us to talk with her. We were able to share with her and her mother. When I asked them if they wanted to ask Jesus into their heart they both started crying and said yes and right there prayed to receive Jesus. I followed up with them and shared with them verses about how Jesus will never leave them and He will always stay in your heart. The mother proceeded to tell me that her husband left her a year ago because he did not want to support them anymore. She has three small children and one of them the husband took. She is also very sick now and is not able to afford the medicine. My heart broke for them but God continued to remind me that He is now with them and no longer do they have to trust in this world or other people for support but they can trust in the One who is the ultimate provider!

This was on August 19, 2010 when I first met Menchie. During the five months I was there, the very next visit after that date was a drastic change. The Menchie from my first impression was uncharacteristic of Filipinos because she wasn't smiling and it felt that there was a huge burden weighing on her. The next visit and the weeks to come she greeted us with the biggest smile and never stopped smiling while leading her through Bible study and discipleship. 

In 2011, I had the joy of introducing my mom to the all of the mothers from Pili. It was exciting for me because as I am not a mom I felt that I missed that connection between me and the mothers. Mom had several notebooks donated that we could give to the mothers that year. We included all of the notebooks with paper and pens and explained how to have devotions during your own time. When we followed up with Menchie she not  only had a devotion that she had done on her own but was making scripture applicable to her. She explained that while reading the scriptures she had a hard time understanding but had remembered the verse that my mom shared with her that talks about praying to seek understanding for God's Word. She prayed and asked for understanding and what astounded me is what she explained about what she learned during her devotion. The verses talked about not being judgemental and Menchie went on to talk about how even though her husband left her and her three small children, she cannot be judgemental towards him. How could someone be so calm and have such wisdom on a situation that is at the same time so devastating. One thing, her relationship with Christ. 

Unfortunately with my move to Virginia this year in 2012 I was unable to go back to the Philippines to do follow up; however, my mom was able to report back. Menchie had been attending the weekly Bible study in Pili and I also was able to receive hand written letters from her. Two were in Tagalog and one in English which writes: 

Sister Christie in Christ, 
Same to you, how are you and I think of you sometimes to be combined with you and me in Christ and thank for your prayer for me to support my spiritual needs and I hope that someday I awake I'm one together on mission and I want to do my mission God gave me. And about my family we are doing well but we are need of spiritual guide of God and to learn more about from God. I want to see you again. And thank for the prayer to provide my family needs and comfort from our God. And thank to God that you and your mother sister Maureen gave for me and others needs to know love of God and learn more about God. Thank to God so much, sister Christie and sister Maureen in Christ, God gave for me. and I want to meet many missionaries someday. 
Thank Divine Master for everything, I love you God and to your love for one bind. 
-Menchie Maupay


I realized I had a different framed letter from her as well that has been sitting on my dresser since I've moved here to VA. Last week I received word that Menchie was not doing well and not expected to live. Tonight, September 30, 2012 I received an e-mail that Menchie went home to be with the Lord. While it is hard to understand, I praise and thank God that Menchie is with Him now. 


While there are so many more details and stories just like hers that I have had the privilege of seeing transformed lives come to Christ, it is all the more challenging to keep pressing on. There are so many more lives, just like Menchie, that are needing to hear the gospel. "How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed: and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not  heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? As it is written, how beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!" 

The first time meeting Menchie in 2010

Mom and I with Menchie in 2011

Some of our mothers from Agape Child Care Center

Originally posted: September 30, 2012