Arriving in Manila

If you've never been to a certain place before, you can only imagine what it may look like. Pictures typically cannot do it justice. That would be the case here in Manila. We arrived Thursday morning Manila time. I can't begin to describe what it's like stepping out of a plane into a new country. Feeling like a foreigner doesn't begin to describe it. We met Mark and Sarah after a 16 hour flight and they piled us into two vans. That began this most incredible adventure.

We weaved in and out of traffic, no rules, no speed limits, just honk your horn and drive. The surrounding city didn't look like anything I had ever seen. After a harrowing drive, (I'll share about that in future blogs,) we went to visit the church where Mark and Sarah reach out to the Mabuhay kids. We walked the streets, we were quickly immursed into their life.

The most dramatic of movie sets could not begin to capture the poverty and dispair these children live in. I myself, cannot hardly grapple with the reality of it. (Did I mention that all of our team are seasoned missionaries, having gone on numerous trips, but this is the first one for me.) But their smiles and hearts for the Lord, have captured my heart and the hearts of our team.

So this is how they do it. Missionaries... They love people, they endure hardships, and peril. They give their lives for the cause of Christ. I can tell you, I will never be the same again.

In memory of Uncle Wayne

It's the last night before we leave for our trip. I'm just thinking about my Uncle Wayne, who just passed away this evening. We knew it was coming, he was about 90 years old. Still, it's hard to go. I'll miss the funeral, I'll miss the family getting together, talking about him. I feel sad that I can't send him off in a grand way. But when I think about where I'm going and what I'm doing, I realize that his life has influenced who I am and what I do. He was a preacher like no one I've ever seen. He was a cowboy too. I loved his big booming voice, and his laughter that filled the room. I still remember the smell of Old Spice and the shiny cowboy boots he always wore. He loved people in his small home missions church. He could have preached to thousands. Instead, he preached to the few who would faithfully come each Sunday morning. Many were children he had personally picked up and brought. Some were the misfits that no other church wanted. He preached like there was no tomorrow, but he gave everything he had today. I loved my Uncle Wayne. We shared a love for horses, people and God. I still remember the last sermon I heard him preach about Mary and Martha and Lazarus. Probably about 10 years ago.

He taught me how to stay on a bucking horse, and how to preach. We went to horse shows together and enjoyed our love of horses. He always made me sing a solo when I was a child. It went something like this: "A cowgirl, a christian cowgirl...." Can't remember the rest, but he always made me sing it. Somehow I think he would be proud of me for going to the Philippines. I dedicate this trip in memory of my Uncle Wayne. A preacher, a cowboy and a wonderful uncle.

I'm a missionary....

Yes, I'm packing for the Philippines. My husband, and five other people leave for the airport on Tuesday nite. We fly out on China Air at 12:00 midnight. We'll arrive first in Taiwan after about 14 hours. Then on to the Philippines. I have just one question, what was I thinking?

You see, I'm the kind of person that loves the Lord, will do anything that I'm able to do for Him. But as a teen ager, I specifically told Him that I was not missionary material. Not even close. So what am I doing, going to the urban area of Manila? That's a great question. One that I don't have a short answer for. Except that somehow, my husband got me to agree to go with him. He's been on many missions trips. And he is half Filipino. He is the one who organized the trip. We are planning to minister to the children by serving in a vacation Bible school with Missionaries Mark and Sarah Brown.

Sounds great right? Well, I have never been out of the country. I always thought my first trip abroad would be Paris. We're bypassing Paris by a longshot. So I found myself wandering the stores of the mall. What does one wear on a missions trip? I searched for mission trip clothes. I had no idea what I was looking for. The best I could do was put together some sort of ensemble that resembled a summer camping trip in a travel trailer. I hope it will do. After all, I'm a missionary....