Holidays in the Phils...

Halloween (and November 1st is All Saints' Day in Manila) is quickly approaching.  Now, this is no lets-go-get-spooked-at-a-castle or dress-up and scare everyone type Halloween. In the Philippines, things are done very differently and are taken much more seriously. Candles are lit to light the way for the dead to return home, food is taken to graveyards to feed the dead and festivals/celebrations take place in the cemeteries.  So as you can imagine, with all of these beliefs and rituals, the spiritual atmosphere is very heavy. The festivities begin tomorrow and, even though I can already sense the heaviness, a first-hand account will be much better than just what I've been told.

On a lighter note, I've heard it many times that Christmas in Manila lasts longer than anywhere else in the world, but it wasn't until yesterday that I actually believed it.

I woke up to a mix of loud firecrackers (because Filipinos really know how to celebrate big) and Jingle Bells. The jeepneys have Christmas music blaring on our way to Safe and the girls have begun pulling out the Christmas decor when we arrive.  Later, the Christmas tree goes up, the Grinch and Christmas music is turned on, fighting over who will place the star on the tree ensues, and Safe becomes illuminated with Christmas lights.  Every person who walks into the door is greeted by the children with a very elated "Happy Christmas!" So as the heavy Halloween/All Saints' Day weekend is beginning, so is the amazing spirit and celebration of Christmas :)

Hello Manila!

So, I'm here, in Manila, after about 26 hours of travel. This is my 3rd day here and jet-lag still may very well be the death of me...but together with a little bit of coffee, Coke, and Tylenol and a lot of God I think I'll make it :)

I'm going to go back to Day 1 just to keep things organized...

After merely 4 hours of sleep, I woke up bright-eyed and bushy-tailed ready for the day! I met the amazing girls at Safe Refuge (from here on out referred to as "Safe") and after lunch we went to get groceries for Safe.  Grocery shopping in Manila is super fun, as well as super stressful for those indecisive people such as myself between the millions of different brands and flavors of every single item it's so easy to get overwhelmed but options are great! However, that's not the exciting part of the shopping trip....

We were standing at a kiosk outside the grocery store looking at DVDs to take back for movie night at Safe, when Naomi looks over my shoulder and points. Then she says "Oh, look a little rat just ran that way" in an adorable squishy face voice as if it were some cute little cuddly bunny rabbit or something. So after I sarcastically thank her for pointing it out, (as ignorance really is bliss in some instances) I began shifting from one foot to another in antsy anticipation until we left.  Fortunately, since I didn't actually SEE the furry little thing, I think I can continue to act like they don't really exist...we'll see how long that last! ;)

Surprise mini-reunions are great!!!!!

I love how God knows exactly what we need...He never ceases to amaze me...NEVER!


So here I am, in Atlanta waiting for my connecting flight to Seoul.  I won't bore you with details but lets just say the day has been quite stressful with overweight bags (which led to rearranging and removing items in the middle of the airport), saying goodbye to my loves, incorrect boarding passes, no more overhead space for carry-on, misguided flight attendants, shuttle troubles, etc. 


But nevertheless, I arrived at my gate for my flight to Seoul with a couple hours to spare.  I was sitting here trying to recuperate from the stresses of the day and prepare for the stresses to come when all of a sudden I look up and see a very familiar face saying "Well, look who it is!" Yep, it was Kirk Rising himself!  Nothing like randomly seeing a very dear person that you haven't seen in awhile and didn't expect to see for awhile when you're sitting stressed out in an airport all alone.  


ahh how He loves us...little things, yes I know.  But that just proves that if He cares about me enough to fix the little things...then surely He has the big things under control :) 


Next stop: Seoul...Next blog: Manila <3 

i'm just stupid, i guess...

Most common question I am asked: “Why in the world would you want to go there? Don’t you knowing they are dying to come here???”

Little do people know that they answer their own question by simply asking it.  Yes, precisely, “they are dying.” That’s why I’m going. Because if dying in itself isn’t bad enough, they are dying mentally, emotionally, and spiritually as well…they are dying without ever experiencing the amazing grace and unconditional love of God…they are dying without ever knowing what it is like to hope and dream…they are dying without living in joy and happiness…

Mother Teresa said once “I have not been called to the poor; I have been called to love and worship God. It just happens that I find Him among the poor.” I can relate. Because once you simplify life and get all of the crap out of the way that we let influence us, people become transparent.  And when we’re all real, we’re all sinners, we all suck and if it wasn’t for the grace of God we’d all be lost.  But I think all God wants us to be is to be real, real with Him, real with others, and real with ourselves.  Once you’re real, God is able to be real back….have you ever seen the real God? WOAH…that’s all I can say…

And if that isn’t enough reason, I love adventure and I have an amazing opportunity to spend time in a country that many people will never visit in their lifetime.  And have you looked at pictures of the Philippines?!?!?! Oh my goodness, its gorgeoussssss!!!!! And the people there….are hands-down the sweetest, most hospitable people that I have ever come into contact with and not to mention they are absolutely beautiful!

Did I, or do I ever, answer that question with any of these responses though? Ummm…no.  In fact, in this particular case, I responded with “I don’t know, I guess I’m just stupid.”  No I wasn’t trying to be mean or a smart mouth but in my experience, it doesn’t matter what my response is because the ones asking those questions have already arrived at the point in their minds that I am in fact, stupid and no reason or rationale would ever negate that.  I love God and I love people and I love life and I love adventure…isn’t that good enough????

Love is a fight...

Love is a fight...a fight full of struggles, tears, and sleepless nights...love is worth fighting for!  So...originally, I got this tattoo because I've learned along the way that I fight hard for the things that I love and if you get me started talking, it won't take you long to realize what I'm really passionate about.  And my sister gives the perfect description of this passion and love on her blog: http://crystalmeeks.blogspot.com   

But, on the flip side, I have also learned that LOVING is a fight. A fight against everything that we are made of, a fight against the flesh, a fight against yourself, and a fight against everyone around you.  The world has given us this definition of love that we're supposed to accept as true but real unconditional love that loves without fault is rarely shown.  And sometimes love isn't always easy even though that's the very thing that God has called us to do.  Sometimes the very human part of us that is so imperfect doesn't want to love.  Sometimes walking away in anger and pushing others away is easier than responding in love.  Sometimes some people just honestly aren't easy to love.  Sometimes the situations that we're in aren't easy to love and while we're in those situations, we become so caught up in our problems that we forget to love anything. Sometimes loving seems to be impossible no matter how hard we fight against everything around us.  

BUT...there is good news!!! 

God wouldn't call us to do anything that is impossible. It's impossible on our own, of course, because if we could do it on our own then why would we need Him and why would we give Him the glory for anything??? Yep, God's smart, smarter than we give Him credit for.  He calls us to do the impossible because it's only when we're desperate for Him that He can draw us closer to Himself.

So, God love through me even when I can't...love through me when I don't want to...love through me when I want to run away in anger...love through me because at the end of the day, You are the source of my love and apart from You I can't even know or experience love...

cutest punkin in the patch :)

little jellybean in the pumpkin patch!!!! <3

happy fall everyone!!!!!

(even in the 90 degree weather :))

"God's Will is His Bill"

Sorry Pastor Jason but I'm going to use one of your famous quotes for this blog :)


One of the most common questions that I have been asked since beginning this journey is: "So you are getting paid right?" NEWS ALERT: How many "missionaries" (I hate that term, but I'll blog on that later) do you know that are getting "paid"? I mean, who is supposed to "pay" us? Sorry to inform you, but all of the missionaries I know, are strictly volunteer. They operate off of the gracious sponsors who have decaided to join their fight for love.


But anyways...that first question usually leads into: "Well how are you going to live?" I mustdmit that I typically begin this response with a chuckle and then say "The same way I do here." God provides for us, no matter where we are.  If I were to remain in the US then God would provide for me by giving me a job. Since when did we stop serving a God who owns all of the resources in the world anyways? Ironically, most often the people in shock by my response, are the ones who have preached to me to have faith. Why can't we believe and exercise in our own lives what we preach to everyone else?


So my question is: "Where is your audacious faith?"


No, I don't know where money is going to come from...but I do know that I can say, without ANY doubt, that going to Manila is what He has asked me to do.  Deliberately stepping out of His will would be deliberately stepping away from the blessings that He has for me. Who in their right mind would dare to do that?!?! When I say that every step I have taken since He dropped this amazing opportunity in my lap, has been sheer steps of faith right down to every cent, I'm not kidding. But I know what God has promised to me and I'm trusting Him to provide. "His will is His bill!"


So can I challenge you? Can I challenge you to trust Him for me, so that when you start to doubt that I won't be provided for that you stop and exercise audacious faith? Can I challenge you to have audacious faith in your own life and in your own family?