Fellowship & Conversations with Believers
Monday 8/26: Seattle airport after we landed, and we headed to our terminal for our flight to ICN Seoul, Korea. I was singing Praise by Brandon Lake and this guy named Zander who was walking next to us asked if we were Christians and what we were doing. We told him we were going on a missions trip to the Philippines, and he said he was also going on a missions trip to France with Cru! And he knew Josiah Rygh and went to Oregon Tech! So cool how random connections are made even across the world.
Wednesday 8/28: In Manila at the Khotel as we were about to head to the ferry to go to Calapan, I had a good conversation with Pastor Cesar just talking about each other’s testimonies, how we both came to know the Lord, and talking about the different ways that people come to know the Lord here in the Philippines especially when most people are coming from Catholic backgrounds. He shared about the struggles he faces, and the biggest problems he sees in the church. We were able to really encourage each other through that. Our team also had a good time on the ferry ride, met the UEC team who picked us up, checked in to OMF housing and met Kuya Manolo and Ate Leah, our hosts. And I think the jet lag caught up with us at the end of the day.
Thursday 8/29: First day at UEC and meeting the team was so cool! Super encouraging to hear about all the plans we had lined up for the coming week, and just knowing we were partnering with the local church here, and not doing all this on our own. Through having coffee at Sinag, Pastor Cesar singing songs, lunch at the church, grocery shopping for supplies for the prison ministry and Mangyan Tribe outreach, car rides to and fro, and dinner at the church which was sooo good, and later that evening for the discipleship session, just so many good interactions with the UEC and SWB teams. So fun.
Friday 8/30: Friday morning consisted of hanging out with the UEC team, going to different markets, eating halo halo, buying machetes haha, going to the jail, and then back for the 2nd discipleship session had some really good conversations throughout the day and the car rides. Couple conversations that I recall were about construction with Jesselle, and how I might be able to help her find a different job in the states through the connections I have in Civil Engineering and construction project management, and then taking to Crystal about her plans for overseas missions in Nepal and wanting to do Architecture there. So cool that even with my career knowledge I can relate with people all across the world six thousand miles away.
Saturday 8/31: On Saturday through the Youth group, I had a couple conversations with the kids about where they are at in their faith, and was cool to come alongside the youth leaders and help them in those discussion groups. Multiple people said how much my testimony encouraged them, which is so cool to see how God can use the brokenness in our lives to encourage others.
We went to Sinag for coffee again and later in the evening to the Japanese restaurant just hanging out with the UEC staff was so fun. I love these chill times that we have just hanging out with each other and talking. So powerful. Like Ethan said at the last meeting, it’s so cool how we have downtime just to chill and hangout and talk. So good.
Sunday 9/1: Being apart of church on Sunday, and helping out with the afternoon sessions was so great just to experience how a normal Sunday would be here in Calapan. I loved every part of it. The Sunday school, haha, even though we had no idea what we were getting ourselves into. And later in the evening at the Beach Resort Restaurant having dinner with the whole team and reflecting on how the singles session and marriage session was so good and just hearing how much God was working in the lives of the people. So excited to see how the seeds that were planted from all those discussions might grow.
Monday 9/2: Oh man, so many great times of fellowship throughout this day with the UEC team as we did the Mangyan Tribe outreach. From driving in the car and singing our heads off, and to talking with Pastor Danny from a neighboring church. One really cool conversation I had with one woman really impacted me just hearing her story, and all the health problems she was going through herself and her son, and trying to just make it day by day. I was able to pray over her as Elis translated. And then on the car ride back talking to Pastor Danny’s daughter, Danika, was really cool to just hear about her life in the village, and all the struggles that her and her family have been going through this past year and just how they were able to remain faithful through it all!
Additional Notes from Erin:
It’s been extra special to return to a place where I made so many connections previously. I always hoped to go back, but never knew if that would actually happen or not. This has been such a gift to reconnect with friends from 6+ years ago, meet their kids for the first time, hear life’s blessings and struggles. One evening, Matt and I were able to spend a few hours at a friend’s home talking about their ministry, discussing more from the seminars and encouraging one another. These are times I will treasure forever.
