I am coming home. Those are some hard words to say however, they are so true. In just a short couple weeks I will be once again packing my bags and traveling back to America. This trip may take upwards of 55 hours to complete while traveling by bus, shuttle van, planes, subways, train, and car while passing through 4 different airports and 2 train stations and 2 bus terminals.

It was not an easy choice to make to book my flights to come home. It took some prayer. At this time it is the best thing to do, it is what I feel like is wanting me to do.

By the time I leave I would have spent over 5 months in the Philippines. The memories that I have made can not be replaced. I ave seen so much while I was here from good to the bad. I have lived in the major city where I walked through sewage, down narrow allies into squatter areas. I have lived in the mountains away from all the hustle of the city and served at camps and spent time with orphans. I have spent time with some old friends and made countless new ones.

It would be very hard to count the number of lives impacted by my time here. That number would easily be in the hundreds if not exceed one thousand. I was always running into new people of all ages. While on my daily walks to and around the park, at the church I was attending, through ministry, or the camps I where a part of people where impacted. I know God used me to make a difference in each of those lives.

It will be sad to leave everything behind. It will be sad to get on that plane to come home. But, I have faith in my God that He knows what He is doing in my life. I will always have a heart for the Philippines and this country will be in my prayers daily. I do not know what awaits me when I return home, all I can do is trust God.

In the past week I had the chance to join a ministry in Malaybalay. I knew of them when I was here in November 2011 as part of the world race program. I stopped by after a friends graduation from college and found out they have a need of more workers. After some prayer I knew the right thing to do was to pack my bags leave Cebu and move south to Malaybalay.

It is so wonderful here. We are located about 6 kilometers from the city surrounded by mountains. The weather is indeed cooler and I am safe to roam around after 7 pm. The orphanage here is great. Many of the kids here still remember me from over three years ago. That was a shock. Several of the staff remember me as well and some of them decided to great me with a hug. I have ran into several friends while here in the area and it is great to be able to catch up with them and what God has been doing in their lives.

I am here to assist the camp with all their programs. They have several camps coming in to use the facility. We just recently had a table tennis tournament and a soccer camp. There are several groups going to be using the buildings in the next couple weeks and I will be here to help serve food. The first week of May will bring on a camp that we are sponsoring. It will last several days and we are expecting many youth to be here. All the staff will be helping with being camp leaders, helping run different areas. My tasks will be to document the camp with photos or videos and to keep track of time. They asked me to keep track of time because I am American and will try to keep to our schedule as much as possible. I might be getting some kind of horn or bell so I can wake people up at 5:30 am.

Other areas I will be helping out with is around the orphanage as needed. Helping with building projects as needed, going to outreaches where we have just delivered several benches for people to sit on. And provide Bible lessons. Other areas will open up as God directs.

I do need your help in being able to continue to serve here. My monthly budget is now almost $1,700 a month. ( I know the Give page doesn't show this yet and it will be updated once I find a WIFI hotspot and not using my phone to update this website.) Most of the budget goes to lodging, food and transportation for the ministry. Also included is support for the feeding program that feeds over 200 people weekly, it helps pay the salary of the kitchen staff here and it helps feed and take care of the orphans here on location. Please prayerfully consider supporting this ministry. Thank you.