Service: Updates

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:9

We left the Philippines at the beginning of November in 2020. The state of some of our service projects when we left:

Balcony Signs

What one of our signs looked like.

Journie and I faithfully and steadily made and replaced our balcony messages whenever the wind and/or rain ripped them apart. Apart from the “Jesus Loves You” one, we made signs that said, “Obey God” and “Love Jesus.” Our latest one, “Trust God” was taken down and put up in our apartment as I was told putting things on the balcony railings is a violation of building policy (yes, by the grumpy guard.)

Treats for Others

We still gave out gratitude cookies to the people in our building semi-regularly, and upgraded to giving boxes of pancit every week because we received so much from our tricycle driver friend E. Everyone seemed to know Journie’s name, and always had a smile and/or wave for her. Even the grumpy security guard was nicer to me. But more amazing than that, recently a staff member commented on Facebook that they missed Journie!

Prayer Chain

The prayer chain is growing quite nicely. Another benefit of making and maintaining one is that it helps us keep people in mind that we might not remember so often.

Words of Kindness to Plants

Little Plantie at the start of our experiment (left) and what she looked like when we left.

I am pleased to report that all of the original plants in our place were still alive when we left. Not only that, but many of them were growing and sending out shoots. Little Plantie was doing well and had at least 5 new leaves.

Sharing is Caring: Ordering Food

With our friend E and his family. They threw us a despidida (going-away party) before we left. Everybody cried (except the kids, of course.😄)

We ordered food from E, the tricycle driver turned friend, until we left. We introduced him to our pastor friends, who also began ordering food from him. They in turn introduced him to their friends, who also began ordering from him. When we left, he and his family were making food for people almost every day of the week. He said all the business he was doing now was enough to meet his family’s needs (!). He and his son started attending church and he decided to give his life to God.

God is good, all the time.