Reflecting on June…

It’s hard to believe that June has already come to a close and we are now into July. Time seems to be flying by! As I sit down to write this update email, I am filled with gratitude for the opportunity to reflect on all that the Lord has done in the past month.

I hope you had an incredible 4th of July. Here in the Philippines, the 4th is just like any other day of course, but we did get together with some fellow Americans in our community. We enjoyed an expats 4th of July making tacos, playing games, and even though we didn’t have fireworks, Evelyn was thrilled to see some via FaceTime with family back home.

June was a great month. One Sunday, we visited a small church without knowing the doors it would open for us. We worshipped together, listened to the message, and were invited to join them for lunch. It was a wonderful experience as we cleared the chairs from the church, set up a table, and ate some homemade Filipino cuisine. During this time, the pastor asked if Danny could preach the following Sunday. It was an instant “yes” as Danny felt a strong leading from the Lord.

On the following Sunday, Danny delivered an incredible message on the Father’s Heart. After the service, we had a ministry time where we prayed for each member of the congregation individually as they approached us with various needs—financial, educational, healing, and more. It was an honor to encourage them, and we could sense the congregation leaving with renewed hope.

We felt deeply honored to be invited into the village where many of the church members live. This village is situated amidst a dump site, yet the people there exude joy despite their circumstances. During our visit, we went from house to house, singing songs, playing with the children, sharing the gospel, and offering prayers. We also organized a feeding program, providing meals for approximately 200 people. Witnessing the resilience and joy of these individuals inspired us, and we are committed to further pouring into this village. Unfortunately, due to the rainy season and washed-out roads, Evelyn and I were unable to join the recent visit. However, Danny walked through the mixture of mud and trash to reach the village, where he prayed and spent time with the people. Our hearts are filled with prayers for this village, that they may deeply know the Lord and feel seen by Him.

What initially began as a decision to visit a church has now unfolded into a significant ministry opportunity that we believe the Lord has led us to.

We have continued to invest our time in building relationships within our neighborhood. We have loved seeing our neighbors become friends, inviting us into their homes for lunch, having badminton matches on our street, playing basketball on weekends, and even hosting “pool” parties with the little girls around our neighborhood. Though the pool may be a tiny blow-up one, the laughter and joy it brings are immeasurable. We firmly believe in investing in the people right in front of us.