The Encounter...

September 16, 2012: Quezon City, Philippines

I spent the night all by myself for the first time this past Saturday and to be honest I was a bit nervous... not just because I was alone – but because I was alone in a still somewhat unfamiliar place, in a foreign country.  I didn’t feel unsafe – just unsure… and not really of “bad people getting me”, but more of the all too ominous creatures that I had yet to see but knew came out at night.  I knew that if one of them decided to show up now – that I would be left to defend myself and I wasn’t sure if I was brave enough for the task.  

The comfort of having another person with me was now gone.  It was just me and God… and I found myself in that familiar place – totally dependent on Him (He seems to put me there often).  So, I faced the challenge of the night and fell asleep (perhaps only because my body was entirely exhausted) with one headphone in my left ear listening to music and with my right ear empty and alert to any sounds outside or around me.  

Morning came quick and I was happy to find myself still in check.  I did a quick scan of the apartment from my top bunk view… my passing thought in a stream of consciousness “it would be my luck that there would be a spider in here the one day I am alone”; but as I did the floor to ceiling survey everything was clear.  So I jumped down from my bed, flipped on the light and half asleep walked into the bathroom.  

Then, what I now refer to as The Encounter happened… God had been gracious in protecting me for so long from seeing anything like what I was about to face – but in being obedient to a call that would inevitably lead me to places whose climates cultivate giant bugs, I knew it would only be a matter of time before I’d have to stand up to a life-long phobia…

Duct tape replica of the mutant intruder

As, I came back out of the bathroom and opened the door - I saw him.  Just next to our bathroom door, where I stood, was the door to the outside “kitchen” and on that door clung the biggest spider I had EVER seen!  Literally the size of my hand, his legs spanned across the width of the door knob as if he could turn it and walk outside as freely as he entered.  I thought out loud “you have got to be kidding me!  SERIOUSLY!?  This is happening right now!?”    I was terrified and debated locking myself in the bathroom until someone came home that night... but I saw the can of Bygon on the book shelf across the room and thought "YOU CAN DO THIS!”.  Well, actually my first thought was, “if you lock yourself in here and he comes in HERE then you are really trapped with no way out… and surely it isn’t big enough for the two of us in here!”

So, as I made up my mind that I would go for it, God gave me in that moment the agility of a ninja to leap from the bathroom door – over the corner of the table onto a chair - to a bench and onto the top bunk - in less than 3 seconds, all the while grabbing and spraying a solid stream of Bygon and saying "I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHO STRENGTHENS ME - MY GOD IS BIGGER THAN THIS SPIDER - MY GOD IS BIGGER THAN THIS FEAR!"

I emptied nearly the ENTIRE can on the spider before it stopped moving... and by that time was a (some may say hysterical) mess, as I crouched at the edge of my bed with a can of Bygon aimed in one hand and cell phone in the other - crying to my dad half way across the world about the mutant spider that was holding me hostage on the top bunk of our beds!!!  He of course said all those good dad things like “Lauren, he has probably been there the whole time and you just never saw him” and “Lauren, you are 10x bigger than him – he is more scared of you, than you are of him”.  Beyond that though he spoke wise words of courage in the Lord and prayed for me to conquer my fear.  

After hanging up I was a bit calmer, but still sat on guard for about 15 minutes - watching for the spider to somehow miraculously come back to life, because after watching it seemingly frolic through a shower of chemicals, I was sure he would eventually resurrect again.

My dad was right though… I knew this was just the enemies attempt to bind me in fear… to keep me from going to church that morning and from serving with the beautiful kids in BSM - and I would NOT let him stop me from doing those things.  I would not let him stop me from showing that our God is greater than any fear!!  

So, I slowly moved from the top bunk back down to the bench and bracing myself, peeked under the cupboard where the spider had sought cover.   There I saw his crumpled body.  I cringed and sprayed him one more time… just to be sure he was dead!  Then after a few more minutes of praying, “Ok God, I know you have my back and will give me the strength and courage I need right now…” I stepped onto the floor and started to (quickly) get ready for church.

The entire “event” lasted over an hour and I was now exhausted before the day had even begun; BUT I was victorious in overcoming a fear that I never imagined I would be able to... and even though at that point I was running late, I was still able to get to church in time and God’s name was magnified despite the enemy’s best attempts to stop it.

To many, I know a spider is a small thing in contrast to all that we face in this life, but the truth still remains that THIS is the beauty and power of serving a God who is far greater than anything we encounter here on earth… He truly is bigger than our greatest fears and He gives us the strength we need to face them no matter what they are (even if we sometimes cry like a baby as we do).  I never imagined I would be able to do what I did that morning, because before coming to the Philippines I could hardly LOOK at a picture of a spider like the one I saw that morning without running away or screaming; but having that reaction and that fear contradicted what I believed about the God that I serve.  

In Him we have no fear and because I know the reality of all He is and the weight of the Gospel that He’s given me to share, I knew I could never let any fear hold me back from serving Him.  That Sunday morning He showed me that through Him and His strength, THAT was true.  Nothing could stop me from claiming the strength, courage and truth that there is in Christ - from facing whatever is put in front of me as I seek my life to be a testimony of Gods greatness and faithfulness - and for the sake of the Gospel, overcoming all things and always moving forward.

“But thanks be to God, who always leads us in TRIUMPHAL procession and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Him!”  2 Corinthians 2:14

Where He has me... I will be.

August 2012: Across Luzon, Philippines... in Manila. Tarlac. La Union. Pangasinan. Bataan. AND Laguna.

I arrived back in the Philippines on August 3^rd… and on August 5^th the rain started.  The word “rain” doesn’t seem to give justice though to the seemingly solid sheets of water that poured from the sky for nearly a week.  At times it rained so hard we couldn’t hear each other talk and within just 24 hours the flood waters started to rise.  Thankfully, the Kennedy’s (OMS missionaries) home sits at one of the higher points in their neighborhood… but as we walked the mile and a half from there to the front gate we watched the water gradually grow deeper, until we stood thigh deep in the street that now looked more like a river.  This was nothing though in comparison to the chest high waters that flooded thousands among the Marikina River, throughout Manila… and in surrounding Provinces. 

Yet, as I listened to the rain each night – into the morning and throughout the day… as I walked through the waters and began to hear reports of the damage – God whispered, “This is why I brought you back now”.  The flooding made everything stop.  It gave me a week where I could do nothing but be still before Him, listen, and pray – then as the rain ended and the water receded, God showed me exactly how He planned to use us and this natural disaster to share His love with those who were greatly affected.

Just three years ago, the Philippines suffered another devastating flood… at that time OMS had collected relief funds, some of which were still available.  So, just one week after arriving back on the field I sat down with my friend Let (a national church planter) to assess the needs of the church communities.  By the end of the night we had 5 provinces and over 130 families who needed relief supplies.  Several needed boots, as the waters were still high in their area and now contaminated with disease - others needed seeds, as entire crop fields were washed away - and all needed basic food and hygiene supplies simply to provide for their families.

Over the next two weeks: myself, Let, 3 Filipina friends, and Pastor Mar (head of ECC in the Philippines) began what we would call “The Amazing Race – Flood Relief Style”; during which we would buy and transport 60 some pairs of rubber boots – buy, transport, and pack over 400 bags of supplies – and visit 5 provinces spread across Luzon to distribute and share the unfailing love of Christ with each family in need.  The families we met though were not the only ones who were blessed by this effort.  As a team, we were blessed to serve them… and I was blessed beyond anything I could have imagined.  On our final day in Laguna (on lower right), I stood in a tiny room packed with those devastated by the flood with tears running down my face, as I listened to it fill with their songs of praise to a God who is always faithful.  We serve an amazing God.

I’m left in awe and humbled as He uses me here in ways I never anticipated… and I am so thankful for the 4 incredible girls He paired me with in this effort, as well as, Pastor Mar and all the amazing ECC Pastors  here in the Philippines. Their initiative and leadership, love and commitment, compassion for others… their time, energy, and joy in serving the Lord has all been a gift to serve alongside.

It’s three of these girls that I am now also living with.  We had been praying together that God would provide a place for me to live and when we found out that I would be returning without a partner - we started praying then for the right friends to live with!  Let, Debbie, and Abby are three Filipinas who became good friends during my first two months here… and when I returned by myself, they met me to offer their support and encouragement.  It was obvious to me as I transitioned back that they were the friends God had been preparing for this season of being here alone. 

Within my first two months on the field I knew God wanted me to live in a place that would immerse me in the culture… now He has me exactly there.  The girls laughed as they asked me, “Are you sure you are ready to live like an ordinary Filipino?”  Smiling I said, “YES! That’s exactly where I what to be!”… and I absolutely love where He has me.  I hear Tagalog more than English, I eat rice and ulam daily, I enjoy cold baths with a “pail and dipper”, I navigate through the crowded streets on Trics and Jeepneys, and I am learning the beauty behind the enduring smile of the Filipino people… living simply and loving the sufficiency of Christ.

The three of them have been an awesome part of Gods plan for me here – in both my transition and ministry.  Debbie is tutoring me in language four days a week, Let is partnering with me to start a bible study among mothers in the squatter community of Villa Corazon as I continue to build relationships and work with the leadership team in developing the ministry of H61 there… and Abby is continually encouraging me in my spiritual growth in a foreign place, as she herself beautifully reflects Christ.  All three of them have become national partners in ministry and life-long friends.

Beyond the immediate needs of our relief efforts though, God continues to open doors for me to work with the very first ministry I ever served with here… Bagong Simula, an urban outreach ministry that serves in the squatter communities in and around Manila.  Many of their locations are directly impacted by human trafficking and right now I am teaching children within those communities what it means to love Jesus (their newest outreach location on right).  I continue to pray for the development of Gods ministry and hope to also become involved in the discipleship and livelihood projects they offer for the families most at risk to being exploited.

As I flip through my calendar the time passes quickly, but in that God is revealing to me more and more of His plan.  I continue to teach an Anti-Human Trafficking course at the Bible College and from September 17-22^nd I will travel to Taiwan to speak at Morrison Academy as God has graciously provided an opportunity for me to share about the ministry of H61 there.  I am overwhelmed by all the ways He is working and am so thankful for your partnership in it!

He is showing me His strength, sufficiency, and comfort in all circumstances and teaching me that His timing and plans are always good – even when we are not yet able to understand them.  When I returned to the field in the beginning of August, several meetings took place… I was now a young woman on the field by herself and that changed things.  Because of the current state of transition in the national denomination, change of field dynamics with the Kennedys retiring in October (leaving just me and one other missionary here), and the nature of my ministry – it was questioned whether or not it would be best for me to stay here alone. 

I know so many of you have been praying along with me for the right partner… and as it’s been clear that God has called me here, we waited expectantly for Him to provide. Now according to His will, He has answered that prayer perfectly – He’s answered it through a friendship that He had been sovereignly orchestrating long before Beka and I ever met… He was preparing the team He wanted.  Through Him, Beka and I share a ministry burden and God has developed in us a deep friendship that He continually uses to encourage and strengthen one another in our faith.  So, as Emily decided to no longer come with me, God confirmed His timing and plan in calling Beka to serve alongside me… and in January, I am so blessed that my best friend will also become my teammate here in the Philippines. 

The adjustment back without a partner was much more difficult than I anticipated and I experienced many days of great loneliness and frustration, but the prayers of friends, family, and supporters were felt… and they are still felt as He fills me with the strength I need each morning.  I am humbled by all the ways He continues to use us for the declaration of His Gospel – to God alone be the glory and may we always be obedient to whatever He asks of us for the furtherance of His Kingdom!

•  Please pray for the holistic ministry God is establishing in Villa Corazon and the Bible study we will be starting with the mothers in the squatter community there.

• Please pray for the ministry of BSM - that God would continue to expand their outreach to the urban poor throughout Manila and provide opportunities for the development of H61’s ministry in partnership with them.

• Please pray for Edna and my continued partnership with her as she has seen the need and seeks to minister to those in bondage there.

• Please pray for my language study – that I would be able to learn and retain each lesson and that my comprehension and usage would grow for God’s glory and the furtherance of His ministry here.

• Please pray for Beka as she transitions from her current position with OMS and into this new assignment – that God would make it smooth and provide the additional funding that both she and I need.

• Please pray for me and Beka as a team – that God would lead us in unity and reveal to us exactly where He wants us when we return in January and that through us He would establish and bless His ministry.