And then… the unexpected came again…humbling and gracious.

As church concluded in walked two young men carrying a small plastic table covered with a bright tablecloth, which had a plastic plate with four sandwiches. These sandwiches were made of 3 slices of white bread dapped sparingly with butter and a warm bottle of coke. They placed this table in front of us and then sat down with the rest of the congregation.

Psalm 36:8, “We feast on the abundant food you provide; you let us drink from the river of your goodness.” (GNT)

And then I understood…they were all looking at us and waiting for us to receive this offering of food and hospitality. So with hearts full of love for this community of believers we eat these precious sandwiches. It might not have been the roasted pig from the school graduation, but it was as important of a gift…so we at    

Psalm 22:22, “I will speak Your Name to my brothers and sisters
 when I praise You in the midst of the community.” (VOICE)
Several of the women and children stayed and visited with Libby and I. The young girls were very intrigued by Libby's height and golden hair. This sweet fellowship after the church service will always be treasured in my memories.

Seated in the middle of the benches, an elderly woman dressed in her best, with a stick as a cane in one hand and an umbrella in the other. She greeted me with a toothless grin and white-rimmed eyes scared with cataracts. And then this nervous face peeked out from beside her 90-year-old “Lola”, her grandmother, to see who these foreigners were. She caught my eye again…there behind the center hand hewn coconut palm pole was a young adult girl who had Down's syndrome. Her shy eyes met my smile. She peeked at us…very curious about who we were. So I got up walked over to her and sat on the bench across from her. She looked deep into my eyes but said nothing…although I saw a timid invitation in them.

One of the other young girls spoke up with a warm smile…”Her name is Digi”…I reached out and took Digi’s hand. Her petite stunted fingers gripped and caressed my hands…we sat silently for several moments. Then as she looked up at me, the sweetness of her face, her piercing eyes were rimmed with tears … and then came a smile that I will not even try to describe. We sat together holding hands and smiling…it was one of the sweetest fellowships with another believer I have ever had.

John 4:23-24, “It’s who you are and the way you live that count before God. Your worship must engage your spirit in the pursuit of truth. That’s the kind of people the Father is out looking for: those who are simply and honestly themselves before him in their worship. God is sheer being itself—Spirit. Those who worship him must do it out of their very being, their spirits, their true selves, in adoration.” (MSG)

The other children were eager to greet us…little girls sat around Libby as they chatted…you know the way young children do…no one really is a stranger…just friends, someone to enjoy as you spend time with one another.

We sang songs together as the little girls taught us one…we would exchange the gift with a song from us. I taught them “Rise and Shine”…the song about Noah’s Ark… I am sure they thought I was hilarious as I acted out the different animals especially the kangaroo! I could see Libby’s smile as she watched her goofy mom. But never a look of distain…she too was enamored by these children…we all laughed together as we sang. I looked back at Libby so very grateful for the time God had given us in the company of such good-hearted people!

So amazing was this church and such an example of how we should be as communities of believers gather together. They had a children’s ministry, worship band, pastor, elders/leadership team, college fund, greeters, hospitality, fellowship, building fund/plan… everyone using the gifts, talents, and the time they have to help their church grow. Nothing I have ever seen in America can compare to this small yet mighty group!

We should reconsider how we do church with the need to have buildings, programs and numbers.

 

Romans 12:1-2, “Brothers and sisters, in light of all I have shared with you about God’s mercies, I urge you to offer your bodies as a living and holy sacrifice to God, a sacred offering that brings Him pleasure; this is your reasonable, essential worship. Do not allow this world to mold you in its own image. Instead, be transformed from the inside out by renewing your mind. As a result, you will be able to discern what God wills and whatever God finds good, pleasing, and complete.” The Voice

We need to be the churches with out walls.

Psalm 95:1-6,

“Come, let us sing to the Lord! 
    

Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation.

Let us come to him with thanksgiving. 
    

Let us sing psalms of praise to him.

For the Lord is a great God, a great King above all gods.

He holds in his hands the depths of the earth and the mightiest mountains.

The sea belongs to him, for he made it. 
    

His hands formed the dry land, too.

Come, let us worship and bow down. 
    

Let us kneel before the Lord our maker,”(NLT)

Caprice <><

We walked down a small path and were greeted by two rows of hand-hewed benches, jammed full of children on either side of the path. They sat huddled closely together under tarps to avoid the direct heat of the sun, singing their Sunday school songs with grins that were bigger than the chorus we heard…if that could even be possible. As we waved and smiled, they greeted us so full of joy that they wiggled with excitement.

Isaiah 12:5, “Because of your wonderful deeds we will sing your praises everywhere on earth.” (CEV)

We continued for another 10 yards through a rather rough and rugged area…piles of gravel on one side, mounds of dirt and ditches on the other, ducking here and there to avoid ropes that were holding the tarps to giant eight foot high bamboo poles. The church was already gathered and singing praises together.

Psalm 66:4, “Everyone on earth worships you; they sing praises to you, they sing praises to your name.” (GNT)

The church had no walls, an uneven dirt floor, and a weather torn tarp that allowed sunlight to illuminate the smiling faces of those singing praises. We were met by a row of greeters who were very gracious and warm, hands were shaken and more smiles were exchanged. 

Psalm 84:10, “Better is a single day in your courtyards than a thousand days anywhere else! I would prefer to stand outside the entrance of my God’s house than live comfortably in the tents of the wicked!” (CEB)

The coco palm benches were full, so we were seated along side a half built cinderblock wall; their future church in the making. A young woman in her early twenties led worship, as we sang along to the words written on the back of recycled posters. A beloved chipped guitar strummed the music that filed the air as we joined together to sing.

Psalm 33:3, “Sing to him a new song; play skillfully, and shout for joy.” (NIV)

Testimonies of the love and care that God had shown this little church were given.

James 5:13, 
“Is anyone among you in trouble? 
Let them pray.
 Is anyone happy? 
Let them sing songs of praise.” (NIV)

The children came and sang more songs of gratitude for God sending us to help. 
What an amazing way to spend a Sunday in joyful song with this tiny church with out walls. 

John 4:24, “God is Spirit, and only by the power of his Spirit can people worship him as he really is.” (GNT    

One of our team members Jack, gave the message, he shared about the good seed; 
a story these rice farmers could relate to. Jack had us all go out to the road by the rice fields 
as the parable came to life in the eyes of those there.
 
The Parable of the Sower

Luke 8:4-8, “A large crowd came together. People came to Jesus from every town, and he told them this story:

“A farmer went out to sow seed. While he was scattering the seed, some of it fell beside the road. People walked on the seed, and the birds ate it all. Other seed fell on rock. It began to grow but then died because it had no water. Some other seed fell among thorny weeds. This seed grew, but later the weeds stopped the plants from growing. The rest of the seed fell on good ground. This seed grew and made 100 times more grain.” (ERV)

You see these rice and coconut farmers knew…they understood the parable because of experience...they have worked the different type of soils.

Jesus Explains the Story About Seed

Luke 8:11-15,  “This story is about some of those people. The seed is the Word of God. The seeds on the road are those who hear the Word, but no sooner do they hear it than the Devil snatches it from them so they won’t believe and be saved.

“The seeds in the gravel are those who hear with enthusiasm, but the enthusiasm doesn’t go very deep. It’s only another fad, and the moment there’s trouble it’s gone.

“And the seed that fell in the weeds—well, these are the ones who hear, but then the seed is crowded out and nothing comes of it as they go about their lives worrying about tomorrow, making money, and having fun.

“But the seed in the good earth—these are the good-hearts who seize the Word and hold on no matter what, sticking with it until there’s a harvest.” (MSG)

This community of believers have the good-hearts that believe 
God is who he says he is and 
will do what he says he will…

He will care for you…

He loves you…

He believes in you…why else would he have given us Jesus?

Won’t you believe in him?

Then with thankful hearts, back we went into the church and the offerings were taken. 
One was for the building project...one coin at a time for one brick at a time. They had the faith that God would finish their house of worship with a confidence that ran deep. The new walls and roof would come with sacrifice, time, labor and effort…who else but this community of believers who knew God provided what it would take to build out of the rumble.

1 Chronicles 16:29,”He is wonderful! Praise him and bring an offering
 into his temple. 
Worship the Lord, majestic and holy.” (CEV)

And then another offering was taken, on the outside this hand craved wooden offering box was rather old and worn, but on the inside it was hopeful and full of promise as the offering tinkled into the box. A young adult…her dream of attending college one day and to become a math teacher was being provided.

Psalm 138:1-3, “Thank you! Everything in me says “Thank you!” 
Angels listen as I sing my thanks. I kneel in worship facing your holy temple and say it again:

“Thank you!” Thank you for your love,

Thank you for your faithfulness;

Most holy is your name,

Most holy is your Word.

The moment I called out, you stepped in;

You made my life large with strength.” (MSG)


Is your life large with the strength of the Lord?

If not, why not bring the song back?

Take a quite moment and just ask…it doesn’t hurt to just ask.

Give God the question…

“God are you there? And do you really love me and care?

Please help me to trust and believe!”

I promise you will never regret it

Caprice <><

Sunday morning seemed to roll around rather quickly as our days all seemed sort of jumble due to the fact that we were 15 hours and one day ahead of time at home. The team was split into two groups in order to attend two different church services. Libby, Jack, Bill, Mike and I had the privilege of heading out into the inland rural areas of Leyte. What an amazing Sunday awaited us.

Psalm 24: 5-6, “God is at their side; with God’s help they make it. This, Jacob, is what happens to God-seekers, God-questers.” (MSG)

We drove for a little over an hour through the countryside still marred by the typhoon as we observed the two primary farming crops of this Island. The valley floor was blanketed with rice fields in a patch work of green; with different shades representing the cycles of the crop…some young tender shoots, others reaching towards the sun with new seed stems and others bent over heavy with heads of grain ready to harvest. The coco palms that weathered the storm are rather frazzled. Many are like wounded soldiers lying broken on the ground, snapped in two; although these will be put to use as they are gathered for lumber. Those still standing have half or more of their palm fronds missing or broken. Yet underneath the fronds are young green coconuts…the hope of a productive future.

Isaiah 43:1-28, “Israel, the Lord who created you says,
 “Do not be afraid—I will save you. I have called you by name—you are mine.
When you pass through deep waters, I will be with you; your troubles will not overwhelm you. When you pass through fire, you will not be burned; the hard trials that come will not hurt you.
For I am the Lord your God, the holy God of Israel, who saves you… Do not be afraid—I am with you!” (GNT)

We bumped along the unpredictable road and main artery of this area that brings people back and forth to the port of Leyte. Some times the road is rock, other places are muddy with puddles and then all of a sudden you come upon a section of concrete for 80 yards or so.

Psalm 132:7, “Let us journey to His dwelling place; let us worship at His footstool. “(VOICE)

Small groupings of homes by the roadside are still in the process of recovery. Worn out from the storms of this life…lack of work, rice harvests good and bad, typhoons and poverty…but the evidence of the love of life is everywhere; flowers planted with care, children playing, laundry drying in the sunny tropical breezes and whose heart would not be warmed by the smiles and waves that greet us as we drive by. Although these homes may have had dirt floors, some with only tarps for a roof, they were well loved…the centers of family and community.

Exodus 15:2, “The Lord is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise him, my father’s God, and I will exalt him.” (NIV)

Nothing could of prepared me for the privilege of sweet worship that was just a welcome away.

Psalm 107:32, “Honor the Lord when you and your leaders meet to worship.” (CEV)

As we got out of the car the voices of children singing warmed my heart.

Psalm 149:1, “Hallelujah! Sing to God a brand-new song,
    praise him in the company of all who love him. (MSG)

No Journey is too long…

That the wings of the Lord can’t carry you there.

No thing is so broken or disaster so horrific that God can’t fix

No heartache too deep

That the touch of God’s hand can’t reach.

Won’t you trust him to be there for you?

Take the first step to get closer

Allow the mending to start

Enjoy the touch of His Love!

Caprice <><

When Libby and I had finished our tour of the school grounds we went and sat on a bench in the back of the crowd. But then…unbeknown to us…we were escorted to the stage and were to become part of the honored guests. I cannot tell you how uncomfortable I felt. Here we sat in a place of honor for nothing we had done! Unprepared and not dressed properly. They gave us decorated medallions, sang songs to us and mentioned CSB-Dr and BGR in their speeches, thanking God for us.

Philippians 2:2, “I urge you, then, to make me completely happy by having the same thoughts, sharing the same love, and being one in soul and mind.” (GNT)

As the ceremonies began, music crackled on a loud speaker powered by a generator loaned to them by our team, the crowd stilled, the parents then walked together with their child in the commencement; I began to see something so different than the schools in California. Honor, respect, and a love of family and God; was everywhere to be seen. These public schools were centered in the Lord. They opened in prayer, closed in prayer, gave out awards for honesty, trustworthy behavior, and outstanding pupils in kindness to others and on and on it went. The parents stood by their children pinning on ribbons and placing medallions around their necks…because schooling is a family effort entrusted to them by God.

These children at the first school sat in the morning sun for 2 1/2 hours without complaint as sweat poured down their hot precious faces. The girls wore their best dresses and stockings with heels. The boys had long sleeve shirts and slacks with shoes too big so there was room for growth. They presented speeches of gratitude to God and family praising Him for getting them through the trying year and thanking him for his faithfulness. Songs were sung of pursuing through the storm of Typhoon Yolanda and how it had made them stronger. I was amazed at the standard of respect, honor and integrity that I had the privilege to experience.

Joshua 1:9, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” (NIV)

Libby and I were humbled beyond words that I cannot express due to the honors that were bestowed on us…but here is the reality we… did not do anything to complete these projects. We were there to represent those who had gone before us. The sweat, determination, skill and love they gave to the teachers and students of the two school graduations we attended.

James 2:24, ”You can now see that we please God by what we do and not only by what we believe.” (CEV)
Then came the most unexpected surprise…2 hours in they had us get up and we were then escorted to a classroom that was laid out with food. We sat down and visited with the teachers and then in walked two young men carrying a 4 foot long item that was dripping and wrapped in cardboard. They placed it on the center of the food table, unwrapped it and there before us…laid a whole roasted pig!! There was no way that we could leave or refuse this honor…we sat and as I choked back my tears of awe, I was struck by a scripture

1 Corinthians 9:25, “Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.” (NIV)

1 Peter 5:2-4, “Care for the flock that God has entrusted to you. Watch over it willingly, not grudgingly—not for what you will get out of it, but because you are eager to serve God. Don’t lord it over the people assigned to your care, but lead them by your own good example. And when the Great Shepherd appears, you will receive a crown of never-ending glory and honor.” (NLT)

But then another verse came to me, and I know the type of team members that served before me…they would have thrown back their crowns too… and I wanted to throw back the crowns that I was receiving at the feet of those who had gone before us…

Revelation 4:9-11, “The four living creatures sing songs of glory and honor and thanks to the one who sits on the throne, who lives forever and ever. When they do so, 10 the twenty-four elders fall down before the one who sits on the throne, and worship him who lives forever and ever. They throw their crowns down in front of the throne and say,

“Our Lord and God! You are worthy
 to receive glory, honor, and power. For you created all things, and by your will they were given existence and life.” (GNT)

"We Fall Down" by Chris Tomlin

We fall down

We lay our crowns

At the feet of Jesus

The greatness of

Mercy and love

At the feet of Jesus

And we cry holy, holy, holy

We cry holy, holy, holy

We cry holy, holy, holy

Is the lamb

When we do anything for those who are in need…no matter what part of the comfort or restoration we provide…we do it as one…all part of the mission serving as one body.

So thank you team’s 2&3 for the hearts of service; the Pork was great!