Halfway.

Bible studies on the front porch with the sweetest girls, 15 circumcisions (in very warm room with headlamps because if we opened the windows the whole town would watch), laughter, and riding a water buffalo.
Never a dull day here in the Philippines!

God is here.
God is moving.
Yesterday, church was so full that we had to bring in chairs.
Spending time with the team on our knees in prayer and God is leading our hearts to the same thing-- Isaiah 44:3 "For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground..." God is pouring His Spirit out and all I can say is amen, come Lord Jesus and church, keep on praying!
We are at the halfway point of the summer and we are realizing more than ever that although missionary life is h.a.r.d., there is so much joy in serving the Lord and obeying His command to go and tell the nations.
We talk often about how words cannot express what God is doing and what we are learning... but one thing we can share is that there is a NEED in the world and a deep hunger for hope and the ONLY one that can fill that is Jesus Christ. I would so much rather be uncomfortable for the rest of my life, feet dirty and dusty from going and telling than clean and comfortable and content in America. This is my heart and the wellspring of Life in you should motivate you also to want to go... because people need to know. But I won't get on my soapbox now because my internet time is limited... ;)
An excerpt from the story of the missionary Amy Carmichael:
"Dear, you are coming to a battlefield. You cannot spend too much time with him alone. You are soldiers and soldiers don't ask for ease or expect it. You are warriors and when did warriors ask for an easy time? Or no wound? Or no heart-breaks?"
As disciples of Christ, our lives are not our own. The road will be hard, but God has promised that His word does not return to Him empty and we are simply commanded to go and tell. I am getting the awesome privilege of seeing God move as I walk in obedience, in spite of the hard.
Keep praying for us and for the work God is doing here!
Thank you for all of your love and support. I couldn't be here without you.
God is faithful, and He is the Provider.
Much love!

Maibu... how beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring the good news

Home sweet home. For the summer at least! My team and I have now been in the Barangay (village) of Maibu for a full week. I love it here. We are up in the mountains and the family we are staying with are pretty much the sweetest ever. There is always a pile of flip flops at the door and a house full of laughing, running children any time we are home. It's joyful. My heart is so full with all God is doing. Thank you again for all your thoughts and prayers!
Words can't really describe the beauty here, and the beauty of the people. Smiles bright on brown skin and the deepest, most generous hearts beat within these strong people. Laughter and music abound, and we all sit for hours talking and learning from each other.
Each day we go into homes to offer healthcare and talk about life and Jesus. Some days people pull us off the street where we are buying barbequed sagine (bananas) to look at a deep machete wound and we pray and bind up the wound. Some days a bible study is what God uses to bind up heart wounds... in the people and in us. Some days we are simply walking down the street, followed by a crowd of children clinging to our clothes and hands (that's every day, actually- now we understand why Jesus got on a boat to teach), laughing and talking and living love. We have bible studies, share testimonies, play with children and hear about the grace of God in from the lips of believers in Cebuano.
Some days, ministry finds us.
Here is a bit from yesterday:
In the middle of siesta, 9 teenage girls showed up on our front porch. This is a normal occurrence, but not usually that early in the afternoon. They asked us to tell them stories about our lives, and so we did... pointing it all back to Jesus. After talking about the gospel and what it means to have a personal relationship with Jesus, Jordan (my teammate) asked if any would like to talk more about salvation. We now have two new sisters in Christ! So. much. joy.
God is moving here, especially among the young people. I am so blessed to be able to come alongside them and help make disciples. God is stirring in the hearts of these people. He is using this broken, unworthy vessel to carry the treasure of the gospel.
I am in love with these people, this country, and more than anything, my JESUS.
Thank you for praying!
Much love.

I have decided to follow Jesus

...No turning back.
 And this is where it gets real.
My time here in the Philippines has already been so full of joy and hard. I love it. When we arrived we were immediately immersed in the culture and although it was overwhelming at the time, it helped so much. This is my way of life now. I wake up at 5:30 am with the sun, wash my clothes from the day before in a bucket, cook rice and eggs for breakfast over a fire, have some quiet time with Jesus and then with my team (Grace, Lauren, and Jordan---they're the best, y'all) and then we spend the day telling people about Jesus. House to house, bringing the word of Life with us wherever we go, offering to take the blood pressure and do first aid, listening to the heartbeat of the people as we share our stories and listen to theirs. The heartbeat of this people group is one of welcome and friendship. It's beautiful. Around noon is siesta because it is literally too hot to move. haha... Dinner and lunch are both made over the fire (so thankful for the help of our translators! These white girls do not know how to cook like this!) Normally after a bucket bath we fall into bed around 8pm (the sun sets at 6pm)... sweet rest under mosquito nets, praying for a cool breeze.
This is so. different. from the comfortable American way of life. So why did I pay to come endure the heat and humidity and discomfort?? Because Jesus Christ is worth. it. all.

"I consider my life worth nothing to me if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me, the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace." Acts 20:24

Thank you thank you for your prayers! We seriously cannot do this without our brothers and sisters praying for us back home. I know I am weak but my God is strong in me. Pray for us to quickly overcome jet lag and culture shock. Pray for our bodies to adjust to the heat. Pray for the people we are meeting, that they will become friends and that we can share life with them and learn from them as well as share the love and hope of Jesus that we have.
Much love to you all!
p.s. For those of you who want more details- time is limited in the internet cafe, but as you know I am an avid journal-keeper, so every detail is being recorded! haha