The Journey... To the Philippines!

Sonshine Center Summer Camp 2017! On the first day of camp, the children started lining up before it was time, and no one had told them to line up! I guess they were just too excited to get camp started! The skit is always a huge hit! This year's theme was Kingdom Quest. It's about a young prince who's father was the Bad King, and how he discovered that it's better to be kind, and help others, instead of bullying and stealing. We had amazing times of prayer and worship with the children as the learned about Identity, Forgiveness, and choosing to be part of God's Kingdom. The memory verse they learned is Ephesians 5:8 "For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of the light." The small group times were times for the children to discuss how each lesson applied to them, and how they could walk it out in their every day life.

 This moment was beautiful.  After our lesson time during Saturday Kid's Club, the young man leading the lesson had a time for prayer. As I watched, the young people began to disperse among the children, laying hands on them and praying. Then this young lady walked up to one of the older children, put her arms around her, and quietly prayed as the girl wept. The time was powerful, touching not only the children but also our leaders. While there are always more ways to grow, I was so proud that day to see our young people following the Spirit's leading, allowing God to love the children through them, and also listening as God spoke into their own hearts. While the team from Camp Sonshine Maryland was here, we had a Sonshine Center staff retreat. During the retreat, one of our newest staff members was baptized! She accepted Jesus only a few years ago, was discipled by one of our young people, is now a staff member, and will soon become a Kindergarten teacher at the Sons...

 The short term team helped prepare the food for feeding program one day. Their biggest adventure was learning how to get the soup and rice into little plastic baggies.  Two of them were able to share a Bible study with the mothers after helping cook. The Jr. LITs did a fantastic job running Kid's club even without the Sr. LITs! We were able to have a banquet for the young people as a reward for their hard work over the past year! Preparing the food for an outreach to several new neighborhoods! Our Christmas events were a huge success! We had a Christmas Caroling contest, along with Christmas parties for adults and children! The kids loved the cotton candy machine!

 Enjoying some free time by playing Dutch Blitz! Coffee is always a good way to relax and enjoy some conversation. We enjoyed having our Regional Director there to encourage and challenge us. Fellowshipping with some of our GTN missionaries from different areas in the Philippines. This was our group in the Sports workshop, along with their "coach" Allan The Arts workshop was the largest, led by Glydel Music was led by our LIT worship leader Zac, and the Jrs he has taught  to play and sing. We were so blessed by God's presence and love during the worship night!  Although it may be early for Americans, here in the Philippines they begin decorating for Christmas in September! So my roommate and I finally decorated at the end of October. Christmas decorating must be followed with a good old classic Christmas movie! White Christmas is a favorite.

        This month we did a program for the children in After School Program to lift them up in their identities. We had the girls and boys, ages 8-14, split up and had special classes for them! The boys learned about how to be godly men, gentlemen in their homes, in public, and when they are alone. The girls learned about women in the Bible who stood boldly for truth even in the face of adversity. We taught them about valuing themselves as daughters of God, and about how to view men, as brothers and fathers in Christ. On a more practical side, we also taught them about how to take care of their nails and hair.        Our little ones learned this month about how to use their bodies to God’s glory. They learned about how to use their hands to help people, and to worship God, and about how to use their mouths to speak life and truth to people around them as well as to worship God and pray. Teaching the girls about caring for their hair, a...

I greatly enjoyed the time I was able to spend with my family during my trip to the States! Herbert leading worship for the youth group. He was able to share part of his journey as a worship leader, and then I spoke for a few minutes about our identity as God's children. This was our third week of having two Kid's Clubs on Saturday! God is moving in the lives of our kids and growing the ministry more than we could have hoped for. We appreciate your prayers as we steward what God has brought to us and show these kids who they are in Him.