My family
Just to backtrack a little before I blog about this one:
Early this year, the Lord laid it on my heart to go back to my home-country, the Philippines. I’ve been serving as a missionary in other Asian countries and now in Africa for the last five years.
During the Tsunami relief trip last January, I was blessed with sponsorship to visit my family in Manila for one week. It seemed that as the years had passed me by, so had the cute little faces of my brothers and the sister I used to know. Oh, they were still cute, but now they’d all grown up—all of five years since I’d last seen some of them!
There were plenty of stories to tell—some happy, and some a bit less. They’d been through a very rough period in life, but my parents’ strong faith in the Lord had seen them through countless situations, and they’d come out of this time alive and kicking, too. But I felt like I’d missed so many years—years which were lived away from home, as I had learned so much on foreign mission fields. But in praying about it, the Lord showed me that He would bring me back in His good time, whenever that was.
He showed me the need to go back and be a help and support to my parents and the 12 brothers and sisters after me. It seemed ironic, as He had asked me to forsake them years ago. But I know now that in His love, He plans the times and seasons for everything, and when He takes our loved ones away for awhile, He always gives them back in one way or another somewhere down the line. Years ago I was involved with caring for terminally ill children, and I taught at a kindergarten in the slums. I hope that when I go back, I can continue on this volunteer work, as serving the Lord is an endless task anywhere in the world.
Since I’d been sponsored by various individuals to come to Africa, I had to pray desperately that the Lord would provide a way for me back Home. I’d given the funds raised through my art exhibition to various charity projects and an orphanage in Congo. All I had left in my possession was $500 US. So I put that aside to begin saving up for my airfare, and I kept praying. I also sent out a newsletter to various friends around the world, telling them of my plans. The gifts came in here and there, but last month I still counted less than I need for the ticket. But today another little miracle happened, and that is what I’m writing about. One of the doctors who helped to sponsor paint for the children’s pediatric ward that I am painting has also offered to help towards my air fare. She sent her gift today, and as I went to pick it up from the bank and tuck it away safely, I knew that the $100 US was another gift of the Lord’s Love to me. This week has been particularly rough spiritually, emotionally, and physically, as I’ve been bedridden with a weird illness, but the Lord, in His mercy, never fails to do little things like that top boost our spirits and hopes in Him.
My due date to fly is October. I don’t have all the cash needed yet, but hopefully by then, it’ll all come together. What’s that verse? “Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.” And, “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will added to you.”
Yeah…I’m claiming those, definitely!
P.S. Here’s half of my adorable family.
