Up in the mountains, there were no computers, no electricity to charge our low-bat/dead cellular phones, no public transportation, we really had to use our feet, no stores to buy food we like, we just had to eat whatever is served to us by the villagers. One of the fun part is we stopped by a small waterfall to take a bath and cool ourselves up. Amazing!
In my thought, I can never really have and enjoy the best of both worlds at the same time. I can never be up in the mountains at the same time stay in the valley down below. I have to give up one to enjoy the other one. It is the same in with our spiritual life. We cannot just go on choosing the ways of the world and expect God to move in our lives. We have to give up our old ways, our old thinking. We have to pursue holiness to be able to see God face to face. And it is really worth it when we choose Him. He is the most exciting God ever. He knows the great adventures in life and He never runs out of new things to show us and reveal to us. He is so great and I could never exchange Him for another.
"Not Yet, Lord"
December last year, I just spent most of the days at home. All I did was the endless household chores, cleaning here and there, and taking care of my sick mother. One Sunday afternoon, my sisters had to bring her to the hospital, while I stayed with my nephews and nieces at home. She was very weak. The doctors said she has dementia and liver problems. I was caught off guard. I just cried to the Lord and I told Him, "Not yet, Lord, not yet". I can’t imagine my life without her. She is my home. I thought, whenever I come back from a mission’s trip, where can I go home to? I said, "Lord, not yet! I am not ready". Then, He reminded me what He told me before when I was praying for my mother that He will add years to her life. And I was relieved.
Four men got saved
The youth of 12 Street were always asking me to spend time with them. So, I brought 10 of them to a 1-hour-walk to the waterfalls called Bangka-bangkaan in Gordon Heights. It was so nice just to feel I am out for adventure again. We didn’t know the direction to get there but we just asked the people we met along the way and we found it. The water was so cool and so clean. The youth just jumped off the waterfalls and enjoyed the swim.
Ahh, finally away from the noisy and busy city life! I laid down on a big rock to rest. Then, my mind started to wander again. How many years am I going to live on earth. I remembered, how many times I told God that I will give my life to Him even at my last breath. A verse came to my head, "Teach me, Oh Lord, to number our days...." Then I thought,I should spend my time preaching the gospel. I looked up on a hill and there I saw a house. So, I went up there and found four old men sitting around a table. They seemed to be alcoholics and smokers. I just started sharing to them about Jesus. Surprisingly, they all listened. And they gave their lives to the Lord that day.
January 2011
It was a big decision for me if I am going to pursue my plan of taking the School of Biblical Studies or just stay at home and take care of my mother. Mind and heart wanted to stay, but I prayed and asked the Lord about it. He said, “Go”! Then, I felt peace. I am currently here in YWAM Davao base. We are three students and all girls. We are reading the Old Testament now. It is such a blessing to just feast on the richness of the Word of God. I hope and pray to be totally changed and challenged by the word and take the good news to the dark and fallen world.
Gay Ann at School of Biblical Studies for Frontier Missionaries class
