Philippines Mission Trip

Hey there, thought that you guys might like to get an inside look at our recent trip to the Philippines. We had an amazing time, something that all of us are so glad we did! The team consisted of Mitch, Katelin, Heather and myself.

We arrived late Monday night and headed the hour and a half drive from Manila airport up to Bulacan and the school which we were staying at. Ate (a term of respect, like Aunty) Lolit, Pastor of Life Church Philippines and Alvin, youth pastor of same church met us. The drive from the airport was a culture shock in itself. Roads congested with traffic that mildly obeyed the rules, multi-towered hotels and offices blocks making way for shanty town like villages of tin and canvas within one block of each other. People everywhere, at food carts, karaoke bars, bus stops, outside homes. It made Australia feel very empty indeed!

Tuesday was upon us and with it, a day of ’sightseeing’. We visited the different schools and churches that have been set up by the team at Life Church Philippines. It is amazing to see just how committed people like Ate Lolit and Alvin are to what they do. It is their life. They live at the school, and every day is centered around the children and youth and teachers that they work with.

What a welcome!

At one of the churches we were greeted with signs saying ‘Welcome Australian friends’, and then all of our names. Now that was pretty cool. That afternoon, we were caught in a flood in an area just outside of Manila that is a town build on a garbage dump. We were visiting one of the schools, when it started to pour, and by the time we were leaving, the streets were awash with water up to our ankles, even knees in certain spots! Alvin kept reminding us that ‘Philippine weather is very unpredictable’. Of course such a flood washed out the road heading back to Bulacan, so a one hour trip turned into a six hour trip! All part of the fun while away on a missions trip.

One of the best things that happened while we were away was the youth camp that we attended. It was in a place called Zambales, at the northern tip of the Philippines. It was a long six hour trip on the back of a truck squeezed in with the Filipino youth, but was ‘worth the drive’. To see God move in the lives of the youth and young adults on this camp was really amazing. We saw eleven youth give their lives to God, including a ‘lady-boy’ who dressed as a girl at the camp, but was amazingly touched by God. Kate shared a great word, with an interpreter to boot! Mitch, Heather and Katelin all wowed the youth with their awesome worship, and I clapped along! To sit through a sermon in Tagalog (national language of the Philippines) not understanding a word and yet still feel the presence of God really blew Him out of the box I know I had Him in. Of course there were plenty of games, rice, morning exercises, rice, laughs, rice, singing, rice, and we also got to eat rice which was great.

Youth Camp 2008

While there we also went to Life Church Philippines, which was great! The passion for singing the Filipino people have comes across in their times of praise and worship. It was a challenge to preach with an interpreter, but helped me learn to rely more on God and not my own words. We saw four people give their lives to God that day!

Alvin and the Team on the beach at Boracay

Our trip ended in Boracay, which must be Tagalog for Paradise!! It’s a small island that you fly, then boat across to. Aqua water, white sand beaches, amazing sunsets, restaurants on the water, a stunning part of the world. We were able to take Alvin with us and give him a well earned holiday. He went snorkeling for the first time in his life, and boy he did well for a bloke that can’t swim! It was a really relaxing time.

All in all the trip was amazing. God is moving in the lives of the Filipino youth and it was such a previlige to be a part of that in some small way.