That is how I have been starting my days off this week. I cannot even begin to tell you all of the amazing things God has done this week so I will walk you through my day to give you a glimpse.
Today started at 5 am. Rebekah and I packed skirts, one water bottle, our power bill and just enough money to pay the bill in a small backpack. We jogged, -Rebekah jogged, I mostly walked- to the Cathedral in town for 5:45 mass. Once we arrived and sat down I said a little prayer, "God, I'm really hungry, could you provide me with some food?"
Mass finished and I went to the sacristy to ask the priest if he could hear my confession. On my way I ran into one of our friends Thelma. Susanna and I had met her a month ago. When we first met her she told us about this sickness she has. She poured out her struggles for the last few years with her sickness. It has caused her to loose one of her eyes. When Sue and I met her, we prayed with her. This morning when I saw her she seemed a little sad. We started talking and she said she was receiving results from a MRI and she was terrified. We prayed right then. As I prayed, "Come Holy Spirit." I felt something come over me and the words I was saying weren't mine. They were God's. I felt God say, "Ask me for a miracle of healing. I can do it!" We prayed for a miracle and as we prayed Thelma shook with tears. Once we were done, she had a peace about her. I know that God is going to provide that miracle so I'll update you when I hear the news.
So once I made my way to the sacristy, Father was baptizing three kids. I got to witness that as well. Three sacraments in one day and it was only merely 6:45. Wow! After Father Gill heard my confession, we started talking about missions. He ask,"Will you and your friend -Rebekah- join me for breakfast?" God heard my prayer before mass about being hungry and answered it. When I told Rebekah about it, she was a little worried about time because we had to pay our power bill, but decided we should just go with it.
We had great conversation over breakfast, and after Father Gill said, "Can I give you a ride home?" We said sure. We mentioned we needed to pay our power bill and he said he would take us there first. Normally it takes about a half hour to pay the bill because of the wait in line and that is normally at 7:30 when the place opens. We arrived at 8 and it took us maybe 15 minutes in line. God is so good. Father Gill then drove us home.
When we got home, I was really sleepy and God rearranged the schedule so I could take a nap. I had planned my day last night. I had planned on going on home visits this morning after morning prayer, leaving the house at 10. Those plans got moved to the afternoon. Rebekah and I packed three sacks of food, a bible, an umbrella, and a basket of eggs from Father Gill (I forgot to mention that at breakfast he gave a basket of fresh eggs and a watermelon to take home.) We had planned on visiting a young woman named Jane first. We started our walk to Isla Bonita (where we do most of our home visits) and said a prayer, "Come Holy Spirit. Lead us to who YOU want us to visit." We arrived at Isla Bonita and I B-lined to the house I thought was Jane's. It turned out to be the house of our friend Pem Pem. We visited with her parents and found out that her dad drives a motorella (the Filipino taxi). We prayed with them, read a passage from the bible, and left them a few eggs.
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| Filipino Taxi |
We visited a few other people and then headed to Guisano (it's like Wal-mart, but three stories!) to buy a blinder a some ingredients for a chicken soup. When it was time to go, we walked to the place to catch a motorella and guess who was there! Phem Phem's Edgar father who we had "accidentally" visited earlier. We hopped into his motorella and he gave us a ride home. When we arrived I reached into my pocket for the twenty pesos to pay him. He wouldn't accept it. He said, "Maybe next time." Really? Two free rides in one day! Again, wow!
The icing on the cake was tonight for our bible study. Years and years ago I used to attend a bible study on Thursday night. I could feel the Lord so close and have desired it ever since then. Our bible study here is on Thursday nights and tonight felt just like it did back then. Tonight Rebekah lead us. We studied the Acts of the Apostles chapter 2 verses 1-4. "When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them."
The Holy Spirit did come like a rushing wind tonight in the living room of our friend Tita Lolit. As a group we prayed together, cried together, praised together. One of our friends, Brix, was so moved that he asked Tommy (a friend of ours visiting for the states) for his guitar. He started praying and led us in the most heartfelt prayer. He told us to close our eyes and imagine Jesus in front of us. He told us to give Jesus everything; our thoughts, our burdens, our fears, our love. We all did.
We I first got to the Philippines, I asked God the question I asked Him last year when I was in Mexico, "Why am I here Lord?" He answered that for me tonight. He told me, "Sarah, you are here in the Philippines to find your heart." My heart is whole, content, so full of love, so full of joy, and free.
I am complete, because I have Jesus. I have ALL the desires of my heart.
"You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." Jeremiah 29:13
I want to say a special thank you for everyone who has made this year possible. You really are feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, healing the sick, and bringing the Gospel to the ends of the earth!
