I have been here in the Philippines now for half a month and it is nothing like I was expecting. I was invited out here at the start of September and being a dreamer, once I knew what I was going to be doing, I started to imagine what things would look like. I honestly thought it would be an easy transition into a role within the ministry. I was wrong. But, you know what? I am okay with being wrong. I am okay with it not being easy. I am okay with me expectations being shattered. It is all okay and I do not have a problem with it. 

Already I am playing worship music for several of our ministries throughout the week. Also we have started a new Bible study and a youth ministry in which I oversee. Playing the guitar is fun and I have learned a bit of new things and songs in the last couple of weeks. The other areas, well those are hard. I can not do this things by myself. I can not do this with my own power. This is where I need faith, this is where I need God to help me each and every day. 

It is only by God that I am able to do what I am doing each and everyday. He is the ultimate leader, He is the guide for my path, He is the one full of wisdom and knows what needs to be said. If I try to do things alone, on my own power, I will fall flat on my face. I will fail so miserably. But with God going before me and directing the path, it will work out. It will come together for His glory.

Each day is a faith growing experience. Each day I have to depend on God. I do not know what to do all the time. I am okay with admitting that. But, I know with my God on my side I will make it through all things. I know that He is here molding me into the person that I need to be in order to advance His kingdom on Earth. 

God has great plans for the Philippines. I am blessed to me right in the middle of it. I know that the lives of many will be changed in order to bring glory to God. I also know that my life will be changed as well as God continues to change me and make me a better person. Thank you God for bringing me to the Philippines and MultiGiver Missions.

What does it mean to walk by faith? It means doing what God has asked you and trusting that He will take care of everything. This past weekend I got to be a first hand witness of someone doing something by faith. We took a road trip to the other side of the state of Michigan because my friend was told by God to do so.

The entire month of October I had known about my friend taking a trip to Grand Rapids. I was asked to come along since I had knowledge of traveling to that area and to be emotional support. However, my friend doesn't have money just sitting around to be able to put gas in their car and drive across state. In fact they even do not have a lot of time in their week to be able to spend a whole day traveling and finding another person. So for all this to happen God needed to show up.

When I stand before God, there is one thing I want to be found Guilty of, that is Faith in God. Yes I am serious. Faith is everything. As stated in Hebrews 11:1, "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Another quote about faith that I have seen hanging on the wall of a friends house is, "Faith is not believing that God can, it is knowing that GOD will."

The title says it all. Our faith gets tested. That's how we grow. Last week was no exception for me, I took a beating. It was Wednesday of last week, I just finished up 3 days of fundraising. I took some time to relax a little. By that afternoon it was over, the van that I had been borrowing to go to these fundraisers was no longer with us. It was taken to the dealership along with another car from my family and traded in for 1 vehicle. This sent my world spinning. I no longer has the ability to go to the fundraisers I had planned for the rest of the summer. How in the world was I going to raise the $6,100 needed by September 1? I felt like I was falling and fast.

Thankfully I was able to text a couple friends. I was able text out my feelings and what I was going through with these wonderful people. It is nice to know that someone is there standing alongside of me. As I talked with them I began to calm down. They reminded me that God has everything in His hands and will take care of it all. 

I know this is true. I have experienced God taking care of my needs. When I was on the last mission trip I needed $4,500 to stay on the field, the day of the deadline God provided $7,500. I have seen God provide for me to go to the dentist when I was last in the the Philippines, or go to a doctor when injured my ankle in Ukraine. And not only that. When I was tired and needed strength God was with me. When I was sad God brought me joy and comfort. When God says that He will never leave us of forsake us, God means it. 

I can look back and see what God has done for me in the past and know He will stay true to His promises in the future. God will provide for me and will be there for me every second of every day. I know God has called me to be a missionary in the Philippines and God will provide the support needed for me to be there. 

In times of testing I am reminded of these verses:

"My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. (James 1:2-4 NKJV)"

"Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. (Romans 5:1-5 NKJV)"

We do not need to worry when things happen in life. For me I should rejoice when it happens, knowing that God is working on me to bring me more into the man He has called me to be. I thank God for what He has done in my life and will do in the future. I put my full faith and trust in God knowing He will take care of me. 

I have the You Version Bible app on my phone. It is great to be able to carry so many different versions of the Bible with me at once. Better yet is the ability to read Bible plans. Some help you go through the whole Bible, while others help you read a book, and still others help you read on a topic. Well I started the one on Faith and I am just amazed by what I have read so far. 

We all know the stories. Abraham left his home country to go after the promise of God. By Faith he had a son at an old age and was willing to give him up when asked to. The woman with a blood condition, it was by her Faith that by touching Jesus’ garment that she was healed. And let us not forget the roman centurion that asked Jesus to heal his servant from afar. There are so many more examples of people stepping out in Faith in the Bible. You see the high level of Faith that each of these men and women showed. Jesus said that with Faith the size of a mustard seed we can tell a mountain to move.

This has been very impactful on me. These last few weeks I have felt as if my Faith was weak. I have no idea why. However, reading these passages, and going through the Faith Bible study on my phone has stirred something inside. I see regular everyday people stepping out. People just like me. What is there to stop me from stepping out in increased Faith? Only myself. God is very Faithful and when His people step out in Faith He is there with them. 

A friend sent me a text this week, “your Faith should be stronger than most,” I need to walk in that Faith, the very Faith I had while I did the world race and saw what God could do. My God is with me wherever I go and will provide for my needs.