Thursday, September 01, 2011
The Philippines
Kate and I have just returned from a mission trip to the Philippines. Here are just two of the many experiences we had, taken from my journal.Thursday
We went out with the Church to help with their feeding program for the local street children. All of these children are homeless or unable to live at home because of abuse from families. Some are as young as five years old. The Church goes out twice a week to three different locations across the city. They teach the children about Jesus and then hand out food. They are reaching over one hundred children through this ministry. We didn't really know what to expect.
Firstly we helped pack the food bags with the youth. All the youth basically run this ministry. Many of them once street children, now saved and in education or working.
We got into the van and drove for about five minutes. We pulled up outside a Mcdonalds. There were thirty to forty kids all just sitting there on the street.
The youth from the Church were singing songs with them and teaching them. It was just like our children's ministry in the UK. We had the opportunity to do some teaching. This was a very special night for both of us.
Saturday
Today we visited the jail in Ozamiz. This is a small jail with around a hundred and twenty inmates. One of the leaders of the Church called Johnny leads this ministry.
So we pull up in the van to a building that does not look anything like a prison other than the small amount of barbed wire sticking out over a little wall. We get out and there is a small table with three people sitting behind it. Not dressed in any uniform, apparently because it is the weekend! We sign in and then a small door opens. A slightly crazy guy with sunglasses and a big gun welcomes us!
Basically the prison has one long corridor with eight or nine cells off it. Each cell has around sixteen inmates in them. Quite dark, hot and definitely cramped. During the time together those inmates that are well behaved are allowed out of their cells and sit in the corridor on wooden benches. The others come to the bars of their cells and join in from there. So every inmate is involved as the meeting takes place right up and down the main corridor.
Very loud singing, praying and preaching. The atmosphere was amazing. I had the opportunity to preach. Over one hundred of these inmates have given their lives to Jesus, so God is really working there.
Please pray for Noralv and Tone Askeland as they continue in their ministry. This is only a very small glimpse of the work they are doing. They really are seeing nations transformed! See link below for more information.
Reference: www.ministrieswithoutbordersphil.com
by Jeremy at 12:48 PM |
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