Rich in Christ

Day 7 and 8

On Wednesday morning, we searched for the street children who sleep next to the road.  They were hard to find because the police had kicked them out early in the morning.  We eventually found them begging near McDonalds.  Gary shared with them that God is not a concept, but our father, as Marcelo and I went and bought some buns and drinks for them.  I shared with them also, about being rich in Christ and it was good to see the concern in their faces for the message that can save.  The kids enjoyed the food, and it is hard to support these children.  If you give them only money, they will spend it on solvent (to sniff).  If you give the kids nice clothes and gear, it gets stolen from them.  Marcelo even tries to look after street children at his Church, but many prefer the freedom of living on the street rather than being accommodated and educated.  However there is some hope for these children; Marcelo has a few success stories who are working for the church – these boys came from the street.

We then visited the prison to hand out more hygiene packs.  Gary was to share a testimony and I was to share a message after him.  I had previously talked with Gary about the message I would share and about how the soap and toothpaste cleans the outside, and the gospel cleans the inside.  After Gary shared his testimony to the women of the prison (100 women in a long bedroom size room), he continued to share my message that I had prepared!  “Sorry mate” he said to me as he continued on.  However the gospel message can be owned by no man, so I learnt more humility, and to depend on Him for a message.  I shared with the women about the Samaritan woman in John chapter 4.  The women were very receptive as we led them in prayer, and they sung us a song on request; “Give thanks with a broken heart”.  Gary and I both had tears in our eyes; never before had we seen such a response to the good news and to hear them plead for more bibles was so encouraging.  We also prayed for the prison guards, and I asked them all to read the book of John.

Thursday Marcelo agreed that we should have a day of rest!  So we only went to one campus to look around and talk to the classrooms in the morning about why we have come (“not for mangoes, not for a wife, but for Jesus sake”), and visited the PTS – Philippines theological seminary, meeting many from different countries there including Burma, Vietnam, Bangladesh – many of whom are being trained to share the gospel in their home country!

I want to encourage our friends and family and supporters back home with a poem.  This is how Gary and I are seeking to find our rest as we carry on with His work here.

The fount of everlasting rest,

Here must we drinketh everyday

The fount of Christ, it is the best,

For in it, we shall hear Him say: 

“Rest here in Me, my troubled child,

Forget thee not I am the One

In whom there is a spirit mild,

My arms have room for every son. 

Why should thou work so hard thyself?

Have thou forgot? Can thou not see?

Thy work which is thy soul’s true wealth:

To ever come and rest in me.” 

“How can I rest in thee” you ask,

“Look at my work done on the cross,

For whom can add to this great task:

To die for sin to save the lost.”

Please pray – that tomorrow’s ministry would bear fruit in an eternal perspective (we are going to 3 new campuses and sharing at PUPP again (Polytechnic University of the Philippines).

Pray for the children in the photo – the street kids that they would pray to the father and receive an inheritance in Heaven that can never be stolen or faded.

Give thanks – that so many are open to hearing the message here – the harvest is indeed plentiful

Give thanks - That we were able to share in a catholic school this morning about Jesus Christ our hope of glory