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I flew into Davao City in the south of the Philippines after 30 hours of traveling. Denver, LAX, Seoul, Manila...whew! Needless to say, I felt kind of sleepy today in our lunch meeting with the Philippine Challenge team...until our visit to Outland Adventure this afternoon.
The Outland Adventure staff person asked me, "Do you want to sit in your harness or be Superman?" Gosh, when you put it that way, how can you just sit in your harness? Besides, if the cable breaks and I fall 200 feet into the murky, green river below, I might as well make the dive of my life!
Well, my heart is still pumping as I look at this picture. I flew 750 meters in about 29 seconds. I'm really enjoying my time in Davao and it makes me miss living cross-culturally. I am amazed at the incredible things God is doing in and through our OC team here. They have a big vision for the Philippines.
Greetings, friends. I am writing to you from the Philippines where I have been attending some meetings outside of Manila with OC leaders representing 12 different countries. This is my first time to Asia and I have really enjoyed my time here.
I have been amazed by the wonderful hospitality of the Filipino people. I have also been deeply impacted by the level of commitment to the Kingdom on the part of my colleagues in OC as we move forward with plans to internationalize the mission giving greater freedom for expansion.
I have made some new friends this week from places such as India, Canada, Singapore, and of course, the Philippines!
I have also really enjoyed the food, which is no surprise. One night our hosts took us out to seafood and we had our fill of shrimp (with the heads still on!) along with crab and mussels.
Today, the seafood of the day actually looked like it was still moving until I got a better look at it. I normally don't like squid but this was extra fresh! For those of you who have a weak stomach, you may not want to look at the last picture.
Please pray for the remaining Internationalization meetings and our time in Filipino churches tomorrow. I leave for home on Monday. Thanks for praying for me!
We love you!
I have never celebrated Easter in snow. Someone said, "Yeah, that's why they color the eggs, so the kids can find them!" The snow that literally covers everything outside right now, has prompted me to think how the act of love and forgiveness that Jesus accomplished on the cross blots out my sin and washes my dirty heart "white as snow".
U2 says it this way in their new song called White as Snow:
"Once I knew there was a love divine
Then came a time I thought it knew me not
Who can forgive forgiveness where forgiveness is not
Only the lamb as white as snow"
David meditates on this image in Psalm 51:1-10, which he wrote when the prophet Nathan came to him after he had committed adultery with Bathsheba.
Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you are proved right when you speak and justified when you judge. Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me. Surely you desire truth in the inner parts; you teach me wisdom in the inmost place. Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice. Hide your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquity. Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
This Easter I am thankful for the One who blots out my transgressions and washes me white as snow.
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