Aurora Province Outreach
May 25-30, 2015

Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails. (Proverbs 19:21) Months ago, we were planning to go to Aurora for the second run of PAMC boot camp this year, but then again the Lord had other plans. The boot camp was cancelled and we'll be going for a missions outreach instead. Although we were already set for the boot camp, I never felt any disappointment in my heart because I know the Lord will do something greater. I came early at Five Star bus terminal in jovial mood as my heart was filled with excitement, knowing that the next 5-6 days will be a life changing and inspiring experience for all of us - the mission team and the people we will be ministering to in Nueva Ecija and Aurora. For the past years, the Lord has always been in the business of surprising us. Indeed, we were again amazed by the things he has done during the trip. What an awesome, great and glorious God He is!

Visions: What we saw and what He made us see.

At last we have arrived in Labi, Bongabon, NuevaEcija after hours of travel. But it was worth it. Experiencing again the fresh air brought by trees surrounding the whole town and seeing the Sierra Madre mountain ranges, not to mention the sumptuous merienda Kuya Mulong and Ate Baby prepared for us - all the physical tiredness were replaced with joy and awe. After the much deserved rest and team orientation, we started the ministry through film showing led by Ptr. Joel as he used the Jesus' Film material. Despite invitation efforts from the host church (Jesus the Restorer Church) led by Ptr. Jose, only few people came. We saw empty chairs. We saw a bit disappointed leaders and workers. We saw and heard ourselves asking, why? But beyond all these, the Lord made us see things in a wider and deeper perspective. The Lord made us see the problem to prepare us for the ministry in the succeeding days. In fact, even before our trip, Ptr Joel dreamt of a landslide, wiping out a whole town and burying people except for a lady who was above the crashing land. While already ministering with the Aetas in Labi, Ptr. Dion in a vision saw the same tragedy and again a woman rising above the turmoil. Only the Lord knows if the landslide Ptr. Joel and Ptr. Dion saw were literal landslides that will happen or if it speaks of a problem the church and the people in that town were experiencing or about to experience. But one thing is sure, above the confusion and destruction brought about by the tragedy, the Lord would use His people, the church - His bride, to rise above the difficulties and represent His message of love and salvation. The Lord confirmed this again the following night, as I end my preaching and we were wrapping up the Youth Explosion service, Ptr. Dante and Ptr. Dion saw two big hands coming inside the church and securing everyone inside - a picture of safety, protection and assurance of love from the Lord Himself. Though the land was spiritually dry at the moment, He will break it and will use His church in Labi to bring about the message of life, truth and salvation to all.

Divine Appointments and Restoration

 We went to the Aeta community as scheduled. We experienced extreme heat followed by furious raining - but it didn't stop us. We shared the gospel to the kids and elderly alike, taught them songs and prayed for them. Although, the raining resumed, we praised the Lord because He still gave us the opportunity to minister to them. He gave us time to listen to their stories, sit and laugh with them, make them feel loved, prayed for their sickness and needs and most of all tell them that Jesus cares and He loves them. I won't forget how the kids and youth enjoyed the games the team prepared - remarkable and priceless laughter and smiles. Most of these children were already working for their families and though some were able to go to school, they were only limited up to elementary level. As I talked to these young people, I was praying for a way to reach them and bring them to school- perhaps, a high school near them and teachers willing to serve in their community. One child who caught my attention was Dino. At first glance, you will think that Dino is a girl because he was dressed like a girl. I asked her grandmother why was he dressed like that, and she told me that Dino have outgrown his clothes and they can't afford to buy him new ones. Not only was Dino deprived of clothing needs, but also of parental care as the one taking care of him was his grandmother because his parents were away in the city. As I held him in my arms, I was declaring the love of Jesus to cover the things he is lacking in his life. Though the raining never really stopped, we continued bonding with the children and ended the day in feeding them "sopas", perfect for the rainy and cold weather.

Ministry in Demani, Villa, Maria Aurora

It was my first time to ride a forward truck going to Demani. It's quite challenging, yet exciting. because we were delayed on the scheduled time due to transportation issue. The children in Demani were already waiting for us outside the church as they were already informed that we were coming. It was always overwhelming to minister to children. We taught them action songs that reveal God's love for them and God's greatness. Also a story was patiently shared to them by Ate Agot, and then the team distributed balloons and biscuits. They were all delighted by what the Lord has done that afternoon. After the children's ministry, a worship night was held in the church. Ptr. Dion led the worship while Mark preached the word. It was an incredible night for all of us. For us who have been in this place many times, we noticed familiar faces that were missing. Little did we know that aside from the program we prepared for Demani, the Lord has other agenda in mind as we set our feet in that place. After the wll-spent rest and recreation time in Ditumabo Mother Falls and Baler, we were back to business as usual. As we asked for the people whom we missed during the worship service the other night, the Lord gave us the desire to visit them. It was just usual for us to rest after the trip when suddenly the girls' group thought of going to the barbecue vendor where we usually have our grilled midnight snacks. So as sleepy and tired as we were, we followed the urge to go there. Then we were suddenly called by one of the church workers there to the house of one of the Ates we missed. We were delighted to see her but also saddened because we saw how sad her eyes were. We were told that she was not attending church anymore for several weeks already. The group tried to lighten the conversation by cracking jokes and telling humorous stories through Ate Agot until she spoke her heart and revealed her situation to us. The team encouraged her, hugged her and prayed for her. Tears flowed in her eyes as well as mine while I was praying for this Ate. The Lord missed her so much. We saw that at least she was released and told us that she'll go back to church. The barbecue party turned out to be God's way for us to encourage a sister in the Lord whose faith was being weakened by circumstances and people around her. The following day before going back to our base in Labi, we also visited another sister in the Lord who also stopped attending the church for months already due to her sad experience abroad. We had the chance to encourage this sister and also prayed for her. She is one of the key leaders of the church and we always remember her hospitality whenever the mission team is in their place. She's the first whom we will see whenever we arrived at Demani and the last person to hug us and cry whenever we leave the place. The Lord appointed this time not only for us to minister to the unbelievers but also to edify our brothers and sisters there.

Aeta Community Follow-up/Overwhelmed by what the Lord has done

 We thought we were going home already on the fifth day as scheduled - but again the Lord intervened because He still has work for us to do. In the afternoon of May 29, we walked again to the Aeta community and did follow up visitation. We were specifically looking for Ate Imelda, who asked one of us if we could pray for her sick husband. So we searched for her house among the neighbour hood but she and her family weren't there. A bit disappointed because we were not able to find the person we were looking for, we proceeded on our plan to go again to the river and swim as the weather was so hot already. Again, I believe the Lord directed our paths to go to the river because we will see there the person we were looking for. And yes, Pastor Dion saw her near the river. She shared with us how she came to know the Lord before and how her faith weakened because of her first husband's death up to the point that she already stopped attending church. They were staying in the riverbank, with a tent. At first her husband was reluctant to show himself to us (as most of them have strong inferiority complex). But as we shared the word of God and encouraged ate Imelda, he was also overhearing us until he voluntarily came out of the tent and greeted us. Then we prayed for their family. Pastor Dion shared to us that as he prayed for this woman, the Lord gave a word that He will use Ate Imelda for the salvation of the Aeta community in their area. Our prayer is for the Lord to raise-up leaders amongst their tribe as it would be easier for them to reach out to one another. Our hearts melted as we observe their condition, but we were glad because we know that they have recommitted their lives to Jesus - and it is more than enough, more valuable than any riches in this world.

Realizations: What He has done in us

We concluded our last night in an evaluation meeting led by Ate Joy. Everyone shared his/her own struggles and difficulties before joining the mission: hurt, discouraged, financially broke, disappointed, tired - no, we didn't come in the mission as "Super Christians". We just came with our "five loaves and two fishes", not sure if what we have was enough but still we offered it to Christ to be "broken" by Him and be distributed to the people who needed to be "fed". Not only have we been instruments of God to help restore people people’s faith in Him, but we ourselves were restored; that the broken pieces of our lives when given to the Lord can be used by Him to fill and satisfy the "hunger" of others. Like the multitude of more than 5,000  who were with Jesus, we ministered to people who were hungry for love and attention, hungry for education, hungry for family and sense of belongingness, hungry for acceptance and understanding, hungry physically because of sickness and starvation and hungry for God. Sometimes when we are surrounded by these people, we tend to ignore them because just like the disciples, we were hungry ourselves. But Jesus told them, "Give them something to eat…how many loaves do you have?" Five loaves and two fishes weren't enough to feed thousands of men, women and children but not with Jesus. Perhaps what we have, our skills, talents, gifts, resources, etc are not enough to "feed" the people around us, but still Jesus is asking us to give whatever we have. Yes, He will break us but He will also cause us to multiply for His glory to be shown in our churches, in our communities, in the Philippines and to the ends of the earth.

By: Ptra. Arra Joyce Alejandro