I am only two months and a few weeks away from returning to Iloilo City, Philippines, a place where God showed me what and who is in His heart. I was there for a ten week internship that was made possible through the partnership of Christ for Nations Institute and the mission agency, Go To Nations. Although my departure in January will be a bittersweet moment, it is with great anticipation that I wait for that day to arrive. I have so many memories and a lot of stories to share, but there is one I would like to share with you that shook me to the core of my being.
On this particular day, I found myself surrounded by heaps of reeking trash, but it was also the day that I looked into the eyes of God’s most precious jewels! I couldn’t explain why I had so many emotions flooding over me as my team and I walked from house to house inviting the children, who called the city dump their home, to go to a ministry event on the following weekend. As I spent time with God’s little treasures, I came to realize that God was allowing me to feel anger towards the plans the enemy had laid for these children. My emotions were also mixed with extreme sadness as I witness the terrible condition in which they lived in. I resolved to allow myself to feel these emotions, but most of all the joy that surpasses all understanding in knowing that Jesus is the hope of this world, and He has chosen me to tell them of the good news! I gave up my plans in order to go after God’s plans for my life. His plans for me are to heal the brokenhearted, bring hope to the poor, break the chains of prisoners and set the captive free, through Jesus, who is mighty to save. I found my purpose and destiny as I found God’s treasure hidden in the city’s dump!
