Today is the day that the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it! It can be unanimously agreed upon, that today was completely spirit led. It is difficult to fully describe to you the joy, love, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness and self control that was completely embraced.
After our morning devotionals, Joseph Laureanti led the team in their daily message reviewing 1 John. Pastor Aguedo rode his bike in from town and joined us. The team then left to begin the first day of construction on Pastor Aguedo’s home. The recent typhoon had left his family without a roof over their heads, and with overall destruction of the property. Joseph had met with the pastor beforehand, and had written out new plans for the house. The pastor was very pleased.
With a sledge hammer, a iron rod and a couple of wheel barrels, the team of 9 began to demolish the original concrete foundation. Many of the local children found this amusing, and gathered around with their own tiny hammers and helped break up the debris. Matthew Hutchinson took on the task of chopping down a mango tree that was in the way of the pastor’s new house plans. With a machete knife, a worn axe and a God given drive, the tree was cut down in one afternoon, leaving room to extend the house.
For lunch the students were taken to Tundle Beach. A very nice gesture after a busy morning, the team enjoyed chicken adobo underneath a bamboo cabana, overlooking the white sandy beach front. God’s creation never ceases to amaze us, with His extraordinary beauty all around the island.
Next, everyone returned to the church to meet with the pastors from all over the island, and their wives. Joseph, Matt, Mike and Micah welcomed the pastors, and began discussing the arrangements for the festival of life. This meeting alone was proof that God wanted this festival to occur. Although each pastor has a heart to serve God, there has never been a community between churches. The plans for the date of the festival, who was to speak, the location, and the message, was all agreed and determined by the end of the evening.
Meanwhile, Cherre’, Janene, Brooke, Claudia, and Sherlynn invited the pastor’s wives into the sanctuary. Their, the team had arranged for the wives to see their gratitude for serving their husbands and the Lord, by washing their feet. Janene opened the meeting in prayer, followed by Cherre’ reading Proverbs 31, and gave exhortation and recognition of the daily sacrifices these women have made for the Lord over the years. Brooke read through John 13, remembering the act of love and humility that Jesus displayed, as He washed the feet of His disciples.
The wives were so touched, confessing to us that they had never once had anyone wash their feet, or had been given any sort of foot spa. However, the team continued to remind them, that the blessing was truly all theirs. Claudia, who had been sick all day, was given grace from God, and found the strength to give a message of the importance of a wife’s role. She went over the character of the women in the Bible, and how they must continue to intercede in prayer for their husbands, family, and friends.
The evening came to a close with a meal planned and prepared by Sherlynn and Claudia. The wives requested the teams correspondence addresses to stay in contact with each other, while the men gave Joseph their prayer requests.
It was truly a anointed night! Stars overhead, the Philippines Horizon School of Evangelism family worshiped the Lord at the beach waters, and gave thanks to such an incredible God and for another Holy day!
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