Last week my team left most of our squad at KIM’s (Kids International Ministries) headquarters in Manila and flew to a small island, settling in on the outskirts of Malaybalay City. We are here with one other team serving at FFCH (Faith Family Childrens Home), run by KIM. The home is located on Mt. Moriah campground and the two organizations work side by side toreach the youth of Mindanao Island.
This week we have been lending a hand to the Mt. Moriah staff as they put on their first week-long sports camp. They lit a torch and everything lol. The days have been a whirlwind of basketball, soccer, and volleyball, with breakout sessions to share the gospel and meet in small groups. The mix of kids has ranged from church youth to local gang members anywhere from 15-25 years of age. Most of my time has been spent keeping score for basketball (Filipino’s are obsessed with this sport), stepping in when they need a hand in soccer, and helping out in the canteen with meal preparation. The weather here is significantly cooler than Manila, and pours every afternoon like clockwork. Fortunately we’re in the mountains, so flooding isn’t as big of a concern as in many other areas in the Philippines.
Its super fun because the older kids from the home come down to the courts to hang out, helping us keep our ministry focus balanced. We also take shifts up in the nursery with the little ones to make sure they’re getting some lovin’ too! There are 25 kids ages one to fifteen here at FFCH, and I’ve already lost it over this little six year old boy named James. He helps keep b-ball score and likes to fist pump with me as we whoop and holler at teams from the sidelines.
There you have it, the big picture. On top of all that, there are feeding programs, church services, stay-in camps, and other outreach activities that go on. What I want most for both FFCH and Mt. Moriah is more exposure. They are doing such great things, but I am convinced not enough people know about it. Both Manila and Mindanao are great campuses to host volunteer teams if churches are looking for mission opportunities, and there are tons of different ways individuals and churches could get behind this place financially.
I decided this morning that my dream job would be visiting sites like this with a team of people that can capture the heart of what’s going on and broadcast that back to first world countries. With a little more presence I think many ministries could really flourish. There are people over here devoting their time – their entire lives actually – but need a little financial backing. On the flip side many of us back home are just itching to be a part of something great, but are pretty tied up with our time. Connecting the two groups creates a global network of people that allows for big things to happen for the Kingdom. Do jobs like that exist? Lol. If so have your people contact my people...we’ll talk :)
No internet out here at camp, so be patient on the updates! I should get to town again by next Friday(ish).
My blogsite won't let me upload pics so check them out HERE
Here I am! Month eleven, and traveling through the Philippines. My squad and I landed safely in Manila, Philippines on Wednesday of this week, and have been becoming acquainted with the organization we are working with this month: KIM (Kids International Ministries). KIM has its hands in everything, from orphanages to street ministry to feedings to discipleship to womens' homes to churches to schools to sports evangelism to salons to...I don't even know what else! If they don't run it, they know someone who does that they can connect you with. It's insane.
Another team and mine are now flying to KIM's second location in Malaybalay City, on the island of Mindanao.We're actually en route as I write this. Watch this short video clip explaining just briefly some of the things KIM is involved in at their Manila location. Hopefully this will curb your curiosity until I can give you FIRST HAND info about Mindanao upon my arrival.
It’s funny to me sometimes, looking back and remembering how things start. What sparks the flame? About this time last year I pretty spontaneously decided to go on the World Race, and from that choice stemmed a multitude of growth and experience in my life and in others. I’m not sure I could pinpoint exactly what I expected coming on this adventure, but I have no regrets.
The women are absolutely enthralled with dancing, and have three favorite go-to beats. These dance parties don’t quite look like any jam session I’ve ever been a part of, but we have a good time with it. There is a lot of swishing your arms around and slowly stepping in a circle. I’ve tried to introduce a few new moves but, for better or worse, nothing seems to stick. The only person that seems to dig my style is my little buddy Somnang. Haha.
My team has now just arrived to our tenth ministry site, a women’s home put on by Teen Challenge. The site has been open just five months right outside the capital city of Phnom Penh and currently has ten women, three children, and a baby (named Rebecca!) housed here. I use the term women loosely because the individuals here are just teenagers with stories dark enough to age them considerably.
We’ve only just begun to hear bits and pieces of their backgrounds...
So we’re eating good food, making friends…oh yeah and we’re working too I promise! Revival Church has several services throughout the week that we sing and speak at. We also visit church members at their homes to encourage and pray for them. The other day our team got to share at a house church that ended in a birthday party for one of the members. Couches and birthday cake…a great service if you ask me!
After a 48-hour train ride through the beautiful Thai countryside, my team and I arrived relatively seamlessly to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. I will say that at one point I think I slept with a mouse. This was confirmed in the morning when I jumped down from my train-bed and the little sucker SHOT OUT at a surprisingly high speed and did this flying leap off the top bunk onto the cabin floor and darted off. I knew I heard squeaking the night before..... The train conductors just laughed at my reaction (I was doing a bit of a freak-out dance). Guess it's all part of the experience...! =]
We are working this month with a family of reverends. The couple, Grace and Sam, have both been in the ministry for forty+ years and therefore have a lot to share. We are staying at their church office, and our ministry this month will look like hospital visits, singing and speaking at church, and whatever else they have up their sleeves!
Internet is not as accessible as last month, but enough to keep you in the loop. Pastor Sam has already expressed his wish for Americans to know more about Malaysia and what it's like here, so I will do my part to share all that I learn with you.
Today marked the final day at Step Ahead and therefore full of many “last times”. The last time we taught English, last drop-in at the Quinley’s, last stir fry from my favorite street vendor….you get the idea...
As a spin-off from the Malaria I had last month, my lungs became extremely congested and it was painful to breathe in deeply. While I’ve never felt anything like it, I assume it is like what most people with Asthma feel like. How confining! Every time I tried to exercise, walk up the stairs, or exert myself in any way I struggled to breath. This finally brought me to tears on a failed attempt at jogging last Wednesday. I’m not really sure why I thought that was a good idea but needed to get some fresh air! I just wanted to badly to breathe normally and get on with my life.
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