A team of 6 from Ireland and the UK travelled to the Philippines, a country BTBAB has been numerous times before, but we were no less excited or eager to see all that God would do through us for this beautiful race of people.
The first portion of our trip was based in Mercy Link Ministry with Pastor Rupert and his wife Angel. Our team leader Sue and I (Andy) had the privilege of being part of a BTBAB team to the Philippines in 2015 and it was inspiring to see that neither of them had lost the passion for the Lord or the lost. Our time of ministry here was so diverse. Whether we were building homes, visiting schools, youth and children work or ministering to tribal communities, the presence of God was there also.
We had the amazing opportunity of leading Sunday service for the churches 5 year anniversary. Through worship, testimonies, gospel messages and drama we shared a wonderful day of celebrating what God had done in that community, multiplying the number of believers and people hungry for God, all for His glory!
Our team project was given the title “K.I.T.E.” – Kids Identities Transformed by Education. The woman who was the recipient was part of a local tribal community who had a passion for God and a passion for helping her people to be educated in sanitation and hygiene, social integration, sexual health and other areas that her people lacked. We donated a total of £2,220 to this project. It was a truly humbling experience when God so clearly guided us to a person carrying such a powerful vision of hope.
As we departed from Mercy Link, we headed to a truly eye opening time in Brand New Day, a ministry with a heart for street children. Only with God could one see such love and compassion in the midst of so much brokenness. Before heading to their base, we ministered to children at a drop in centre they had just started. Children living on the street came to play games, take warm showers, get fresh clothes and a hot meal, all with the message of the love God has for each and every one of them.
After visiting the boy and girl home’s that the ministry has, we had a wonderful afternoon of games with the children supported by Brand New Day. Fun and laughter, amazing to behold despite the desperate situations these kids had gone through. Christ truly heals all things.
Church services, youth and kids work and ministering to the Brand New Day staff were just some of the things we took part in during our short time here but a powerful time nonetheless. The ministry leader Erin is an awesome woman of God and is being used powerfully in helping transform the lives of so many children and their families.
We serve an awesome God who did abundantly more than we could have expected. His protection for the team from any sickness and in all of our travelling, our team provisions and in all of our ministries, is why mission builds the faith of a believer so much. Thank God for the honour and privilege of sharing His message with the nations!
