4-18 Wednesday

Early morning waking up at 5:30 am to get ready for a devotional in one of the other rooms at the hotel at 6 am.  I am not sure what it is here they want to wake up early, they say that it is tradition, we didn't see the need to wake up so early but did so anyway and had a great time of fellowship.  I did my devotional on love and what it means or looks like to show Gods love, and got a decent response of understanding from my group. It was a little bit early so I wasn't expecting to get much of a response or reaction.  Later on in the day the group came and wanted to take a picture with me.  After devotionals was breakfast, I tried a bite of the sausage, but that was a mistake, I was done eating at that point and didn't each much after that for the rest of the day. My stomach felt off all day.  After breakfast there was a lecture that was given about witnessing.  Then "Seal Team 6" got to go through the salvation bracelets with the colors. We brought out a new bracelet that has arrows and pictures on it, designed to get people to ask "what is that for?"  Then the person will go into it, Jesus came down to Earth, died on the cross for our sins, was buried, rose again, and is coming back one day to take us home.  It is a very cool bracelet.  Then the youth went out to the park across the street to give it a try.  This trip is more about teaching and encouraging the youth here to live a life for God.  So we weren't the ones that are actually doing the evangelism.  We are here to encourage them and to give them tools and ways to witness to their friends and people in the community.  The desire is that a church will be established in Baguio city in the next year or two.  So we really won't know the fruits of being here until later on.  After all the great commission is 3 parts, so this trip was about training the youth.  Later we would go into Godly relationships and we would talk about love, courtship, and marriage.  What is appropriate and what they should look for in a Godly mate, things to consider when dating.  Red Dog Lyster and I took the 16-19 age group.  They are so shy and we didn't get very many questions during the class, so I wasn't sure if anything got through to them.  Once we dismissed the questions came, they are so shy that they didn't want to ask questions in front of others.  Sounds a lot like America.  So I got the opportunity to sit down and talk to a few of them and talk.  Most of the questions were "is it ok or biblical to date a non Christian".  So we talked about that and the dangers of it.  I got the opportunity to pray with a young man by the name of Eleazar who has some concerns about dating and the future, it truly was a blessing to sit and talk to this young man.  We had a little bit of a break or free time which was mostly spent just sitting and talking to the youth.  We ate dinner which was another meal that I didn't care for, didn't seem to be sitting well with my stomach...  I am certain that I will get back to the US a few pounds lighter.  Then there was services with singing and specials which meant getting to hear and sing along with, yes I said it some of us sang along with the specials.  They truly love to worship here. Team Leader Bravo brought a message on Why do you want to know God's will?  If you aren't willing to follow His will no matter what it is then why do you want to know.  Following His will is a command, not a choice, we don't get to pick and choose what parts of God's will we want to follow.  There was an alter call, more went to the altar as pastors helped them with their concerns.  After services there was a talent show in which different teams competed in different categories.  They kept us entertained as Commander, Red Dog Lyster and I served as the judges. We had a great busy day... God is good!! 

over & out

cole