three week count down...

Just last week I received a phone call from the IMB saying in short, "Get ready, you are going to the Philippines!"  This was an all of the sudden moment where my dreams and prayers had finally come true.  After applying for a mission trip to the Philippines back in February and not hearing back for a while, just the words "You are going" were very startling.  So now getting this news has been a reckless blessing.  I have been scrambling and trying to get immunizations which include japanese encephalitis, typhoid, and malaria.  I have been trying to purchase travelers insurance and a plane ticket and all of this I have been trying to get accomplished in a month!  It has been a challenge and I know it is driving my mom and dad crazy.  But all of this is truly blessed by God that everything is working out the way it is.  

I will be leaving for Camotes Island which is just east of Cebu, Philippines on June 5 and I will be there until July 30.  I will be sleeping in tents on the ground and eating dehydrated meals, yumm.  My team that I will be working with currently is made up of 3 girls, one guy other than me and one more member that I don't know about.  I am very excited about the weather in the Philippines where it is a toasty 88 degree average.  My team will be involved in general evangelism with the people of Camotes Island including children and adults.  On some days will be having backyard bible studies, playing with the kids, having bible studies with the adults, hopefully playing some Philippino basketball, maybe even planting some rice with the farmers of the region.  I will just say that I can't wait.  I know that God is going to take care of me just as He has taken care of me so far.  I can't wait to see what God has in store for my life this summer.  

I just want to make sure that this summer is all about Him, and not about me.  This summer will help me focus on Him and loving the people of the Philippines.  I won't have television, sports scores, internet, electricity, running water, warm showers, refrigerated food, juice, disc golf, or any of the things that I enjoy in my life.  But I will have no distractions.  I will also have kids to love on, adults to share the word of God with, teenagers to play sports with, farmers to help on the farm, and new friends and God to lean on.  In short, I cannot wait!

When I think about this summer I can only think about one song.  I have found myself mowing on a big John Deere mower during the middle of a hot summer day, while listening to this song on my ipod, and I have really started crying.  It is just my prayer for my life and for my summer and I pray that all of the words to the song are true of my life for Him this summer.

Hosanna in the Highest

I see the king of glory
Coming down the clouds with fire
The whole earth shakes, the whole earth shakes
I see his love and mercy
Washing over all our sin
The people sing, the people sing

Hosanna, hosanna
Hosanna in the highest

I see a generation
Rising up to take the place
With selfless faith, with selfless faith
I see a new revival
Staring as we pray and seek
We're on our knees, we're on our knees

Heal my heart and make it clean
Open up my eyes to the things unseen
Show me how to love like you have loved me
Break my heart for what is yours
Everything I am for your kingdom's cause
As I walk from earth into eternity

Hosanna

I pray that God breaks my heart for what breaks His, I want to give Him my life for His kingdom's cause.  I want God to open up my eyes to the things unseen.

I continue to see Him moving in my life even in Bowling Green.  I will continue to keep this blog posted as I can and let you all see God moving in my life.  I would ask for your support and prayer.  Pray that the people of Camotes Island would be accepting to the love and Gospel that we are presenting to them.  Pray that all of my accommodations will continue to work out and that God prepares my heart in the weeks to come.  I thank you for all of your support and all of your prayers.