Teacher With A Mission

Let me derive the title of this post from YWAM and let's call it TWAM. On Saturday, 5:30 am, I was at North Bus Terminal with a group of newly found friends and we were headed on a short island immersion. Weekends are workdays for me but this trip was totally worth the vacation leave so I went for it.

Camotes was going to be a two-hour boat ride from Cebu City. We were in the Tourist room and so we enjoyed the aircon and a pretty funny movie.

I was seated beside Beth, the amazing woman behind Project-Based Missions. It was great of her to tag me along this trip. We were both excited and the entire boat trip was just filled with interesting conversations, dreams, visions and revelations.

Why were we going to Panhay, Camotes? We will visit a village that was  badly affected by Typhoon Yolanda. They have gotten some help, some food donations maybe, but emotionally this people haven't gone through processing, debriefing and counseling especially the little children. 

The main goal was to join the thanksgiving ceremony of Thanks and Love, an organization that gave away six small boats for the community. Fishing is a main livelihood for the people in Panhay and the new boats will be a big help since not many of them have already recovered from the typhoon devastation.

Boats lined up and ready for a test-sail after the dedication ceremony.

When I'm with kids, my spirit flies.

So, what on earth was I there for? There were lots of kiddos around. They were the reason I said YES to this trip. I told myself I wanna go out there and bless these children and tell them about Jesus. That's what exactly happened. I was overjoyed to have come and while narrating the Gospel story (using some colorful fuzzy wires), I felt a crazy feeling in my heart that whispered I was in the perfect place and my King was watching.

I looked into the eyes of those little girls and boys and I saw sadness and fear and fright. They remembered Yolanda, they remembered the storm that wrecked havoc in their village but no one remembered them. 

Many kids told me it was the first time that people have come and brought treats for them and tell a  story.

 That was more than enough to break my heart! 

Will I return?

Yes, I will.

In the meantime, I will continue the mission God has for me here at the dump site.  

I immersed myself in this kind of experience so I will see how blessed I am to be serving my King today.

More than food, this world needs LOVE. 

These children need to hear that they are loved by an outrageous Jesus. They need to feel the touch of a brother and a sister that confesses themselves as Christ-followers. 

There is so much work to do. 

It was a life-changing weekend and I continue to affirm that 
there is no sweeter labor than laboring for my King.

My heart is glad, content and peaceful. 
I cannot ask for more but I shall dream bigger not for myself 
but for all the children in this nation and around the world. 
So, bless me God!