In the summer of 1995 I was blessed to have the opportunity to share a Philippines Mission Trip with Philip Weeks, Hugh Kaiser and Frank Myers, a member of my congregation. Having known Philip for many years and heard numerous wonderful experiences of his missionary adventures I was eager to go.
One of my observations regarding missionary ministry as I lived it for a month and watched it in the lives of African ministers visiting in the sates to share their needs raise funds is related the amount of time taken up in travel and waiting. It took a whole 24 hours just to get there. Then multiple short plane hops in country. Not to mention jeep and jeepny rides from place to place. It was a huge lesson in patience!
I’ve often joked that I am a talented guy with lots of intelligence but no humility. However, in truth such a mission trip is humbling. People in the third world who are below poor by American standards are often rich in faith, generosity, kindness, and passion for the Gospel.
It is also humbling to see how God could use my little faith combined with theirs to accomplish miracles both small and great. The trip certainly moved me, as the saying goes, out of my comfort zone and not just many time zones and an international dateline away! I like to travel, but prefer a guide! Flying to Manila from Charlotte to Manila, via Chicago and Osaca was a stretch for me.
Being bumper to bumper with what seemed like a million cars was also a bit unnerving. Then I was told 1/7th of the cars in Manila were not on the road on any given day depending on the last number of ones License Plate.
We might also talk about expanding my culinary experience to include dog!
Early on we held a healing service for two nights. The attendance on the first night was sparse. On the second larger. On the following morning as we waited for our transportation to the next stop there was a line out the door and down the sidewalk of people seeking prayer. Word had spread from testimonies of those who had experienced healing. One older woman came for prayers for her eyes. She spoke no English but had someone with her who made her request known. After a simple prayer with the laying on of hands she began speaking excitedly and smiling greatly. I never did find out exactly her problem.
However, there was no doubt that some significant improvement had come to her eyesight! On another day we shared what, as a clergyman, I like to call, Hatch, Match, And Dispatch. In the morning we attended a baptism. In the afternoon we witnessed a wedding in a mountain village. In the evening back in town we went to a wake.
The pastor with whom we were staying had a wide ranging and challenging ministry. At that place, and for most of the trip the four of us had split into two groups. Frank and I stayed with the pastor and his family. His daughter fave up her bedroom for us. There was one bed. What I would call a camp cot like I slept in at Boy Scout camp. The challenge was that Frank and I slept in it together, it’s a wonder it didn’t collapse! The family also generously and sacrificially let us use their only fan!
During the trip I was able to visit with a young woman whom my wife and I had sponsored through school. She later married an American and moved to the states. We keep in touch using Facebook.
We also visited an orphanage school. The children seemed quite pleased to meet us and wanted to hug and hang on. I suppose some were hoping to be adopted. Thus it was boy joyful and a bit sad.
In one area of our journey we were accompanied by body guards. I never saw any weapons but it was made clear that we were in a danger. As years following I have wondered how much danger from kidnapping or worse we might have risked? It gives me a greater appreciation for the call of those who are in jail around the world for sharing the faith.
Over all we were treated will great kindness and hospitality. For two nights we were even housed at a cottage by the ocean. Another day we visited with a local Bishop and enjoyed his flower garden with a cool breeze flowing in from the beach.
One other bonus of the trip came from Frank. He often shared his experience in KAIROS prison ministry. Thus when the opportunity came for me to get involved came in 2001 I did not hesitate. I have since served on many weekends and visit the local prison regularly. There are many mission fields in our ow time zones. My only regrets are that circumstances have not called me to make other trips abroad with Philip. Thank you Lord for people like Philip and Hugh!
Below is a link to one of Bishop Week’s books.