Oh how I want to fly on the wing of an airplane
To sit on the edge and look down
To hold out my arms and feel the air through my hands
To feel the rumble of the plane beneath
and the gentle breeze above
I'll wear my pilot cap and goggles
and maybe a jacket too
Oh how I want to fly on the wing of an airplane
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Settling in
Now that we've been back for a little over a week, I'm finally able to take it all in. I could talk for days and days about how amazing this trip to the Philippines was. Stories from every day in Kabankalan and in Manila and Payatas. Stories of every breath taking view, of every generous family and every experience and person that shaped the trip. Tonight, as I was reading excerpts from the book Hipster Christianity there was a brief section on missions. It talked about the appeal of different types of missions such as service based and evangelical based. The author gave a story of how when they would return from their trip he would go in front of his church during their Sunday service and give a report of their accomplishments. Through all the stories that had happened on their trip he would focus on the souls that came to Christ. Ironically enough this past Sunday representatives from our team went up and gave a report on our recent mission to the Philippines. And i wonder if that was me up there what would I report back?
Every time some one asks me of the trip in a passing conversation all I can say (as well as many others that went) is it was amazing. Genuinely, the best trip I have ever been a part of. But thats where it ends. I don't want to waste time with my monotonous stories. And depending on their faith (if any) I will tell different experiences in hopes to relate better with the listener only hinting on God here and there in fears of their judgement on my faith. But if they give the time, I like to tell my favorite story. Some have already heard several times, but every time I tell it, God's work in action blows me away. Let me start from the beginning:
It took 3 full days before we got to our first missional destination. Myself and some of the other students on the trip arrived one day early to visit family.1 day to Manila, 1 day in Manila (while visiting friend's family I never realized you could eat so much in one day. The food was incredible by the way), and one day to Kabankalan. Over the trip I tried to keep an active journal throughout the day to track different thoughts that would come up. During the 3 days on our way to Kabankalan I remember one entry that read:
"Is all this really worth it? How is one action, one conversation really going to change a life for Christ?"
After 3 days of travel you get anxious. Then Finally! we arrive late into the night. Everything is going great until our first night there my ankle is bitten by bug and infected. Sunday we attend a couple different services and are introduces to the places and people we will work with. At this time my ankle is only slightly swollen. I didn't think too much of it since it's the third that's happened to that ankle. I forgot about the medication and doctor visits from the first two. That night after returning back to the hotel after dinner, my ankle was in serious pain. Thankfully everyone jumped right in eager to help. Needless to say it was easy to sleep that night from all the medication. Monday was the first real day getting into the work. I couldn't feel any pain in the ankle from the continued pain medication. After giving my testimony to over 1,100 students at the first school we visited a second school and hosted a second service. Being on my feet all day probably wasn't the best idea.
By Monday night the infection had gotten a lot worse and was beginning to creep half way up my leg. So we end up in the hospital. 500 pesos, 2 prescriptions, and 1 ordered day of bed rest later we're back at the hotel. All day Tuesday I'm stuck in bed elevating my ankle to slow the infection. Missing out on serving in the morning and a beach in tropical rain in the afternoon. But the day wasn't spent in vain. After a day of silence and solitude, writing and thought, prayer and Word, I finally come to peace with the situation. I remember praying that night "God, whatever state i'm in, just use me where ever I am". At the end of the night when the team returns they put me in a room, anoint me with oil, and pray for my healing. This brought further peace of mind.
So the next morning I lie about my ankle feeling better in order to go and help serve. At the school, before the service is starting myself and a couple other team members are at the door of the Church greeting students as they walked in. Our Pastor walks by gives me one look and says I can't be standing on my ankle then walks away. Disappointed, I take a seat at the back of the Church to elevate the ankle. A few pews in front of me was a student by himself. So I walk up to him and start a conversation. Just like every conversation before it was dry and awkwardly ends as I walk away. When I return to my seat there's another student a few feet away from me. At first I was a little intimidated to talk to him but as I scoot my chair over the conversation opens up immediately.
Right away he begins asking of my testimony and why we came to their school and I was able to ask about his background and how he felt about the week so far. The conversation was cut short due the the service starting but as I was walking away a feeling came that he wasn't saved. That night in our small groups as we shared our prayer requests I asked if we could pray over this student. At the end of the next days service the students are presented with the opportunity to accept Christ. As everyone was leaving those who accepted Christ where called to come to the front of the Church. I look back to where I had the conversation yesterday in hopes to see my new friend to see him waving me down. He starts walking to the front of the Church and all I can think is "Wow, Really God? How? You are amazing." It blew me away seeing God work first hand to bring his life to Him, against my presumptions. After hearing more of his story I see the bracelet on my wrist that our church was selling to help fundraiser for the trip and get the desire to give him the bracelet. Though that day I never got the chance. The next day we played the school's college varsity basketball team. regardless of how bad they beat us in the game, since my friend was on the team it gave us another chance to talk and meet. Finally on our last day at the school, only a couple hours before we left for the airport I was able to have one last conversation with him. During which he gave me one of his bracelets as a gift. Which again blew me away and I was able to give him the bracelet I had hoped to give him. As we stay in touch, seeing the bracelet is a reminder of God's work and reminder to keep him and his continued faith in my prayers.
I am so blessed that God was able to use me in such a way on this trip. As always there are mistakes I've made that I wish i could go back and have a second chance. Times I wish I was more Christ focused rather than my desire for adventure. Either way God has used each experience to help shape me and I am so thankful for all of your prayers and support for the trip.
Every time some one asks me of the trip in a passing conversation all I can say (as well as many others that went) is it was amazing. Genuinely, the best trip I have ever been a part of. But thats where it ends. I don't want to waste time with my monotonous stories. And depending on their faith (if any) I will tell different experiences in hopes to relate better with the listener only hinting on God here and there in fears of their judgement on my faith. But if they give the time, I like to tell my favorite story. Some have already heard several times, but every time I tell it, God's work in action blows me away. Let me start from the beginning:
It took 3 full days before we got to our first missional destination. Myself and some of the other students on the trip arrived one day early to visit family.1 day to Manila, 1 day in Manila (while visiting friend's family I never realized you could eat so much in one day. The food was incredible by the way), and one day to Kabankalan. Over the trip I tried to keep an active journal throughout the day to track different thoughts that would come up. During the 3 days on our way to Kabankalan I remember one entry that read:
"Is all this really worth it? How is one action, one conversation really going to change a life for Christ?"
After 3 days of travel you get anxious. Then Finally! we arrive late into the night. Everything is going great until our first night there my ankle is bitten by bug and infected. Sunday we attend a couple different services and are introduces to the places and people we will work with. At this time my ankle is only slightly swollen. I didn't think too much of it since it's the third that's happened to that ankle. I forgot about the medication and doctor visits from the first two. That night after returning back to the hotel after dinner, my ankle was in serious pain. Thankfully everyone jumped right in eager to help. Needless to say it was easy to sleep that night from all the medication. Monday was the first real day getting into the work. I couldn't feel any pain in the ankle from the continued pain medication. After giving my testimony to over 1,100 students at the first school we visited a second school and hosted a second service. Being on my feet all day probably wasn't the best idea.
By Monday night the infection had gotten a lot worse and was beginning to creep half way up my leg. So we end up in the hospital. 500 pesos, 2 prescriptions, and 1 ordered day of bed rest later we're back at the hotel. All day Tuesday I'm stuck in bed elevating my ankle to slow the infection. Missing out on serving in the morning and a beach in tropical rain in the afternoon. But the day wasn't spent in vain. After a day of silence and solitude, writing and thought, prayer and Word, I finally come to peace with the situation. I remember praying that night "God, whatever state i'm in, just use me where ever I am". At the end of the night when the team returns they put me in a room, anoint me with oil, and pray for my healing. This brought further peace of mind.
So the next morning I lie about my ankle feeling better in order to go and help serve. At the school, before the service is starting myself and a couple other team members are at the door of the Church greeting students as they walked in. Our Pastor walks by gives me one look and says I can't be standing on my ankle then walks away. Disappointed, I take a seat at the back of the Church to elevate the ankle. A few pews in front of me was a student by himself. So I walk up to him and start a conversation. Just like every conversation before it was dry and awkwardly ends as I walk away. When I return to my seat there's another student a few feet away from me. At first I was a little intimidated to talk to him but as I scoot my chair over the conversation opens up immediately.
Right away he begins asking of my testimony and why we came to their school and I was able to ask about his background and how he felt about the week so far. The conversation was cut short due the the service starting but as I was walking away a feeling came that he wasn't saved. That night in our small groups as we shared our prayer requests I asked if we could pray over this student. At the end of the next days service the students are presented with the opportunity to accept Christ. As everyone was leaving those who accepted Christ where called to come to the front of the Church. I look back to where I had the conversation yesterday in hopes to see my new friend to see him waving me down. He starts walking to the front of the Church and all I can think is "Wow, Really God? How? You are amazing." It blew me away seeing God work first hand to bring his life to Him, against my presumptions. After hearing more of his story I see the bracelet on my wrist that our church was selling to help fundraiser for the trip and get the desire to give him the bracelet. Though that day I never got the chance. The next day we played the school's college varsity basketball team. regardless of how bad they beat us in the game, since my friend was on the team it gave us another chance to talk and meet. Finally on our last day at the school, only a couple hours before we left for the airport I was able to have one last conversation with him. During which he gave me one of his bracelets as a gift. Which again blew me away and I was able to give him the bracelet I had hoped to give him. As we stay in touch, seeing the bracelet is a reminder of God's work and reminder to keep him and his continued faith in my prayers.
I am so blessed that God was able to use me in such a way on this trip. As always there are mistakes I've made that I wish i could go back and have a second chance. Times I wish I was more Christ focused rather than my desire for adventure. Either way God has used each experience to help shape me and I am so thankful for all of your prayers and support for the trip.
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