We were blessed beyond measure to have the opportunity to visit my cousin Hilary and her husband David in the Philippines over our winter break from teaching. They have lived there for the past 10 years working in beautiful ways to serve the Lord! It was such a huge gift to be able to go and work along side them, worship and pray together and by the Lord working through them, grow in our walk with the God. I feel like I see Jesus more clearly now!
My new, precious friend that still has part of my heart there with him. He one of the little ones that Hilary and David are loving and serving. His favorite word is "wow" which we all find ourselves constantly saying and then smiling as we think of him!
Hilary opened a clinic to provide care for mothers who could not afford it otherwise but it is so much more than just that. The staff worships together, prays over the clinic and studies the word together daily. They also study and pray with the moms that deliver with them. It is a beautiful outreach and peoples lives are being changed - both those that come in for help, and those that work there!
The staff was just great! They loved on our kiddos and they welcomed us right in, kindly letting us work alongside them!
We were allowed to "assist" with some of the deliveries which was such an amazing blessing! I have been on the other side of this miracle before, but never on the side where I got to watch it all happen! How beautiful and amazing! Hannah got to catch the placenta upon delivery, Adyen got to cut the umbilical cord and we all got to pray over the babies in their first moments, asking God to bless their precious lives!
One of the Moms choose to give her child up for adoption, so we had the opportunity to love on this precious baby girl until it was time for her to go to the orphanage.
Hannah and Ayden made many new friends with the children playing in the street outside the clinic.
Jeepneys are the most popular means of public transportation in the Philippines. These vehicles were originally made from the U.S. military jeeps left over from World War II
Tricycles serve as a kind of taxi here!
The following pictures are from some of the other works that Hilary and David are involved in within the community there in Cebu.
The Dumpsite
Houses build on top of the trash in the dumpsite.
Adyen helped to lead games for the children in the dumpsite while Hilary and her staff talked to the Moms about family planning, did medical exams and made appointments for them to come into the clinic.
We were so blessed to be able to just love on these precious little ones!
The Red Light District
Weekly visits and check-ups for those living and working in the Red Light District in Cebu.
The Men's Prison & Woman's Jail
The Leprosy Colony
A couple of the sweet, precious women we met at the Leprosy Colony. Such loving people!
How do I even begin to sum these things up? Things that went beyond anything I have ever seen or experienced. At the prison we were able to go and just share what God put on our hearts and watch these men cry out to God as His Spirit moved among them and we prayed over them. In the jail I noticed that the woman there were no different than you or me - just broken people that need Jesus just as we do - and I was filled with love for them. At the Dumpsite, I saw people just trying to survive by finding food to eat and things to recycle for income. My kiddos were touched by the looks of joy that were still on their faces amongst such difficulty. In the Red Light District I felt much compassion for these people, realizing that many of them do what they do because they were either trafficked at a young age, or they grew up in this environment knowing nothing else. At the Leprosy Colony I was overcome with sorrow for their suffering so I cried with them and told them I was so very sorry. I was blessed as I watched my children step outside of their comfort zones and stand up and share what they felt God was putting on their hearts as they spoke to the Lepers. Then we handed out lots of hugs and reminded them that they are dearly loved.
At one point, I remember watching Hilary put some ointment on one of the little ones sores in the Red Light District and I thought to myself, what good is that going to do when she is surrounded by the filth that is her home. But then as quickly as that thought came, came another. It is not about the medicine inside that ointment, it is the love. They need the "ointment" of God's love and that is what Hilary and others are bringing to them - along with a smile and a hug - week after week. It is God's Kingdom breaking into this dark world bringing His light, and it is beautiful!
God keeps reminding me that it is not about getting all the words or actions right, it is about being faithful and just trusting God to speak and act through you when you show up. Trusting Him to multiply the "fishes" that we bring, believing that His strength is made perfect in our weakness.
One day this world will be whole as He created it to be - I just saw it get a little closer.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
.JPG)
