Day 8

Day 8 started pretty early. Frontline has started a leadership development program appropriately called Frontline Training Program. It is for up and coming leaders in the various ministries. It is like our Leadership Residency program back home a little. They meet for devotions at 6am and I was asked, along with Debbie, to facilitate that. The thing that cracks me up about Frontline is how generously they give away ministry opportunities. I only wish they were as liberal with the specific instructions. I was told only that they were working through the book of John and today was John 3. That covers a lot of ground since it seems the format or content was pretty much open to my interpretation. Debbie and I decided to focus on John 3:16 since we have both been into Francis Chan lately. He talked about in his book or a message somewhere that if we really understood John 3:16 our lives would look a lot differently. So I led everyone through a prayerful meditation on that verse. I think I am finally starting to come into my element here because I really enjoyed it. God's Spirit was so powerful in the little tent we met in. It was super emotional and many of the FTP participants were crying as we went through it. I had a little charismatic moment as I prayed over each member of their team. It really started the day out right, especially since I discovered I left my soap and shampoo in the shower yesterday and they disappeared.

We were told as we went to bed last night that the boys would be going to help set up the tent for a crusade outreach event. David our trip coordinator told us we would be leaving at 7:30 Filipino time which meant sometime before noon. We left about 9ish. We drove to the site which was a cleared field in one of the nearby baranguays. It was Billy,Garrett,me and Bob Clinkert. Bobby had to stay back with the girls and "work" on the blog site. Let me just say that putting up a tent that can seat several hundred people is hard freaking work. Especially when it is raining. It started out dry but almost immediately it started to rain. About the time I thought I was soaked the rain shifted gears and really started raining and I discovered how soaked really feels. Rain here I have found, has many more speeds, directions, droplet size, and just general options than rain in the US. The tent was more or less in a raised position and everyone there, probable close to 20 of us, were moving the portable stage trailer into position when one of the supports arms swung loose and hit one of the Filipino's in the head. It was a pretty nasty hit so the driver and one of the Filipino's carry their wounded friend headed for the van. Well all of our stuff was in the van, so we ran after them. We jumped in the van and raced off to the hospital. Now this may not seem significant but bear in mind traffic here is like nothing you have ever experienced before. Let me just say it was a thrill ride to end all thrill rides. We got to the hospital and Bob and I jumped out to help carry Erwin our fallen comrade into the ER. The ER turned out to be a closet sized room off the lobby. The look on everyone's faces as two very wet and muddy Americano's carried in a bloody Filipino was pretty interesting. I got a little concerned they might think we had been the benefactors of the head wound but the suspicion faded. Erwin received a butterfly bandage, a couple of shots, a pain pill and slap on the back for about $15 US dollars. Bob took this as a vindication for non-socialized medicine. I personally was happy to walk to a store and get some soap and shampoo.

On the way home from our hospital adventure I was informed that while the students went to FTC to hang out with the kids and lead some devotional small groups that Bob, Vicky, Debbie and I would get to hang out with Jeff Pessina and his wife Winnie. I really enjoy being around Jeff - he is funny and incredible insightful. His stories about the "early" days of Frontline are always entertaining. He took us to an area of the Philippines that is a lake formed in the crater of an old volcano. It is incredible beautiful. We stopped and toured a couple of the resorts for the rich residents of the Philippines. It is incredible to see such wealth right next to such extreme poverty. Jeff says that the Philippines is a wealthy country masquerading as a third world country. I see why now. We enjoyed a meal with Jeff and Winnie and returned back to base camp.

As the students returned from FTC they are in extremely good spirits. The small groups with the kids were hugely successful. It is great to see all the students working together.

I found out that the crusade we helped with the tent on is starting tomorrow and either tomorrow night or Friday night I get to preach. This was one of my personal hopes for the trip that I would get to preach the gospel on an international stage. I am intimidated but super excited about the opportunity. Sadly most of my good jokes probable won't translate. No Ferris Wheel stories - that's for sure!

I was struck today by the beauty and resources of this country. The culture is so unique to me that you can have wealth and such extreme poverty so close together. In the US we make sure the bad neighborhoods are far removed from the good ones so we don't have to see it. Here they just ignore it I guess. I am not sure which is better. I guess I go back to how I started the day - if I really got John 3:16 than my life would probable look a lot different. I would feel differently about myself because God so loved me - He felt I was worth it even with all my mistakes and shortcomings. I would see the world differently because I would not want them to perish. Maybe that is what I will speak on at the crusade - I don't know yet, but I know I am seeing God in a fresh new way here and that makes all the struggles worth it.