Christmas on a boat to the flood zone

I pray that everybody is having a Happy New Year! I know I’m definitely excited for what God has in store this year. I also pray that none of you will give much thought to the Mayan prophecy, since it isn’t Biblical. God is not a confusing God, and He said the end would not come until every nation and tongue has heard the Gospel. So if you’re eager to see that day, pray for more missionaries, because the laborers are few.

“And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.” Matt 24:14

We spent Christmas on a boat heading to Cagayan, where a flood had hit just a week before. It had taken many lives and destroyed so many homes that we couldn’t ignore the people there. After we spent time in prayer, nearly every person on the team was led to go to Cagayan, even though our trip was supposed to take us to a nice white sand beach. There was such an anointing on that trip that nobody cared that we played in the mud instead of the white sand.

Even before we got to our destination, God led me to talk with somebody on the boat. Before the night was over, she gave her life back to the Lord. God had strategically placed me away from my team because He valued her life.

We stayed at the Nehemiah House, an orphanage for girls who have been sexually abused. They were blessed, because their building was two stories, so no one there died during the night. So many others weren’t as fortunate. On the opposite side of the river, not a single house was left standing.

Each morning we got to pour into these young girls’ lives, and the theme of the week was how to hear the Shepherd’s voice. I was personally very blessed to get to teach my group about the Trinity. I know it may seem basic, but I believe it’s worth teaching more often, especially when it comes to the Holy Spirit. At night someone would share a personal testimony to inspire the girls before they went to bed.

There were many churches around us. In fact, two of them were on either side of the orphanage. On top of walking to the pump to get water for 50+ people, we also helped clean the churches and empowered them with prayers and donations. Our area had been one of the worst hit, and most of the deaths happened there. The flooding was awful, and the mud was literally everywhere, in every house, church, and business.

Our schedule was fairly flexible, because after lunch we could go out in pairs wherever we felt led. During this time I set out with a Filipino named Ian. We both had one goal: to evangelize. We both understand that so many people are broken and searching for some sort of hope.

God often led us to areas that had received little to no relief goods. Later, we were able to go back to those who were in need and supply them. In so many encounters, the two of us saw God completely refresh and restore people’s hope in Christ after we prayed over them. So many lives were touched just through our prayers. Even in my own life, I’ve recognized that God is moved by prayer.

The two of us were blessed to be able to witness to some Muslims and to give relief packages that included Bibles to many people in need. There are so many stories of how God saved them, and how those situations brought them closer to Christ.

Our trip in Cagayan lasted all of 5 days, but our time there wasn’t in vain. God’s Kingdom spread like wildfire as we spoke the words of the Gospel.

Now it’s my privilege to tell you that our team will be heading out all over the Visayas (the middle of the Philippines), leaving on Jan 9th and returning March 9th. We’ll spend these 9 weeks of outreach sowing the Word and bringing in the harvest. We will be partnering with local churches and their ministries to encourage and empower them. We will also be doing open-air and friendship evangelism. We will be teaching, preaching, and praying everywhere we go.

Join with me in receiving the blessing God has in store for us by donating and covering us in your prayers. If you have any special requests for your donations, please make a note of it.

God bless and Happy New Year!
Justin

Outreach Photos: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150480772588878.380957.527613877&type=1