The month of Thanksgiving has come and gone but I’m excited to share with you what God has done during time. Firstly, I want to say that I am so thankful for everything that I have. I’m blessed with incredible family, friends, and church family. I am very thankful for each letter that gets sent to me, whether by mail or email. All of you are in my prayers and I know as I’m called over on this side of the globe that my God will take care of you while I’m gone.
I may have missed Thanksgiving with all of my family, but we at least got to celebrate the holiday by giving thanks to God and feasting. Had everything but pumpkin pie, which has always been my favorite. The turkey was also a roasted pig on a stick; always yummy.
We had Jesus Fiesta soon after, a celebration where we invited all the slum kids to come and feast with us. Of course they are only the kids that we had ministered to over the year as a way to bless them. I don’t recall the exact number but it was between 400-700 people who showed up to eat and get prizes. Also, 17 youth from Singapore volunteered that weekend to help us. Every family got to leave with bags of rice and food. Overall it has been a very eventful month.
This month God also blessed the online ministry in a wonderful way. The traffic just increased at an incredible rate of 230% in just one month. It went from reaching to 600 to 2300 suicidals searching for “how to die” and “I want to die”. Instead of getting the answers they are looking for, they get a testimony of how God saved me. To God be the glory!
The beginning of November our team of 12 went to the island over called Bohol. We arrived on Saturday so we’d be able to lead service the following day and youth service that night. So many youth had showed up and got ministered to. My role during this time was to drum on Saturday, then give my motorcycle testimony Sunday while somebody translated it. God moved their hearts as I spoke about His grace and compassion.
During the beginning of the week, we did evangelism out at one of the busy parks. As soon as I got there I was quickly lead to some rough looking guys about my age. It was at first kind of awkward as I’m not good with icebreakers of any kind, but we were able to connect. It wasn’t long in the conversation until we began sharing stories of “battle wounds”. That was my que to really share my testimony, and give them encouragement that God is a personal God. Before my translator and I left we were given permission from them to pray over the two drug dealers in front of the park. They didn’t give their life to Christ at that moment, but I know my labor wasn’t in vein and they will soon know God like I do.
My birthday was on Thursday and the moment I woke up the Filipinos started to serenade me with songs. I’m so blessed they allowed me to sleep cause normally they wake you up at 5am to do this. It was a great start to a great day, despite having to sleep on the concrete floor and pull weeds in the garden in the afternoon. Also, in the afternoon we began to cook food for the slum kids, then surprised them. The kids were filled with so much joy and of course energy during some of the games. Its always a blessing to be able to witness and encourage the kids. I pray that this week, you too will feel lead by compassion to help someone in need.
This week the speaker came from Manilla, who taught us about deliverance. Just as it sounds, we were taught how to cast out demons, whether a Christian with oppression or a nonbeliever who was possessed. Tuesday night I had a dream that I was at my home church speaking and giving deliverance to some of the people there. Then I told my dream to the teacher, and he said that God wants me to be trained in this. Well, I was of course willing to allow God to do that through me. Wednesday afternoon I got the chance to pray over my roommate while being instructed by the teacher. Most didn’t get this chance as it was a private thing. With bondages, comes things that need to be confessed to release the strongholds.
I began by praying for protection of family and friends; asking for Jesus to cover us by the Blood; and protect us with His angels, then finally establishing authority. Right at that point the Holy Spirit surrounded me and the prayer flowed out of my mouth. As I was praying for my Christian friend, he began to feel heavy to the point of not being able to lift up his head or arms. The spirit of laziness and lust had a hold of him. Soon after he was unable to speak and his neck was nearly on fire. It didn’t last but 20-30 minutes. Then one of the other guys asked my friend to rebuke it once his tongue was released. That moment, he took an outward breath, then peace and joy filled the room. A smile was on every face instantly! He was delivered! Glory to God!
