Thoughts from Pastor’s Jacob and Alissa

Jacob

Leaving to go anywhere unknown brings up natural thoughts of mystery. What will the travel be like, where are we going, what are we doing? How tired will I be will be and will this trip really make a difference?

Thoughts and questions were rolling through my head as I sat in airports, planes and cars for a little over 24 hours.   It helped add a little excitement to the trip when we left for the airport and getting your my kids to school was a mess and Alissa showed up with a bloody knee. But the true is, I would not have it any other way.

After laying in bed with just a few hours of sleep thinking about the days to come. I am with a team of people I don’t know and that natural flesh takes over and tells you that maybe I’m not as ready as I thought I would be.   At first it seems like I would have to start figuring out all the details. I mean really I was up for over 24

hours and when I do have a chance to sleep, I can’t. Am I good enough to do what I am here to do What am I even here to do.

Luke 7: 28 “…yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”

No matter how good we think we have it figured out it will always come back to just turning it over to God. It has never been about me. This morning I felt the Lord give me a little math equation: Faith = Spirit + God’s wisdom. Trusting in the Lord is how I need to start my day and every day. Lord it’s your day I trust in you and not in my own understanding.

My prayer for me it to invite the Spirit of God to activity work in me and though me. That I operate in the wisdom of God and not in my own understanding. So no matter how out of my element or how much a think I lack the right skills. I have faith, trust in God and be as real as possible.

Alissa

We got into Manila late last night, got a few hours of sleep and we were ready to go this morning at 7am. Today we visited the first Trash Mountain Project site, Tanza. We got to see a little bit of how Trash Mountain Project partners with a local church in Tanza by teaching literacy and the Bible to kids 3-6 as well as feeding them lunch. Often, this is the only nutritious meal they receive in a day. The women who teach and make the food are volunteers and it is powerful to see how much this church cares about the community they are in.

I think they were easy on us today because we’re all still a little tired from our long flights. We spent the rest of the afternoon trying new foods, hanging out around the area that we’re staying at, and at a nearby market. Jacob has already eaten some super gross things! We are going to the two remaining trash dump communities tomorrow and hopefully we will be a little more rested a ready to go!