Aurora Province Outreach
May 29-June 2, 2013

Many are called but only few are chosen. A lot of Christians know God’s love, but only few had experienced his genuine love. A lot of Christians as well always proclaim God’s power, but only few had a real encounter of His true power. The problem with some Christians is the fact that they always conform to the pattern of the world and they tend to forget what really God’s purpose is in their lives. Like what the song Amazing Grace says in one of its lines, “I WAS ONCE LOST BUT NOW I’M FOUND WAS BLIND BUT NOW I SEE.”

God changes us from glory by glory through His grace. And in line with that, I wish to share a very humbling and life changing experienced that I had during a mission trip in Aurora Province last May 29 to June 02, 2013. In my 20 years of existence, I have seen how God had been faithful with me despite my short comings. I know in my mind that I am blessed. However, despite God’s blessing in my life, I still complain and I still long for more than what I have. For example, mobile phone, food, shoes and clothes.But after what I have seen and experienced during our mission, I know God is speaking in my heart. Beyond my mind set that I am blessed, He made me feel all His blessings in my life. I was really emotional and blessed when it was the time for the team to leave Aurora because of these reasons:

First, I was able to meet new friends and I was able to minister to them. Even though they are believers, I know God used me as an instrument for motivation to these young people to go deeper in their walk of faith with God. As I was fellowshipping with them I wasn’t just a blessing to them but they as well became a blessing to me. My heart got blessed when one of the young people there left me with one request, which he viewed as favor, before we left. He said “BRO, WAG MO KAMING KALIMUTAN AH, MAG TEXT KA SAMIN KAHIT ONCE A WEEK NG MGA GODLY MESSAGES MASAYA NA KAMI DUN.” This was really extraordinary for me because as a city person, I know how people respond to Godly messages. I can say that only 4 out of 10 persons would care to read it but the rest would just ignore and perhaps they would instantly delete it. But this young people was desperately longing for the word of God which is not usual for a city person like me.

Second, The value of blessings in my life. On our last night in Aurora we played this game called white elephant. The mechanics of the game is very simple. You have to put on the table something which you see valuable and there will be a mode of picking an odd number in a deck of cards and once you got an odd number you will have the priority to pick whatever you want to pick on the table. As we were playing I noticed something. The Aurora People, once they had a chance to grab something from the table they usually pick clothes, unlike us who picked books, perfumes and money. So I really wondered why clothes are more valuable than what we consider valuable. When I had the chance to talk to my friends there, they told me clothes are valuable to them and not all of them have sufficient number of clothes to wear. That’s why they considered it as very important. Then God spoke to me again making me realize how blessed am I to have overflowing sets of wardrobe. Yet I keep on buying new ones while others don’t even have enough clothes to wear.

Third, A very Christ Centered point of view about love sex and marriage. As I was ministering to the young people of Demani, we touched on their love life because as a Christian I know I must educate them about true love. But I was surprised to hear a point of view about relationship from one of the young people there. Arjun Mangulabnan, a 22 year old guy, really took my attention. His mobile phone was ringing at around 11pm and I was wondering why he was not answering it. So I asked him a question,
Moses: Bro bakit di mo sinasagot yung tawag? Chick mo ba yan?
Arjun: Di bro, Bata pa yan 17 years old lang yan at gusto niya akong papuntahin sa bahay nila dahil daw mag-isa lang siya doon.
Moses: Bro bakit di mo puntahan! Malay mo maka Score ka! (I was kidding trying to reverse him)
Arjun: Bro di niya makukuha ang gusto niya sakin, Hinde ako kaladkaring lalaki.With that answer, God made me realize another thing. Unlike with city people, I really know for a fact that if a guy is not a believer or he is just a Christian by name but not by faith, he would give in to the calling of his flesh but this guy has a very different point of view about committing this thing. It was first time for me to hear such lines in my entire life and I was really inspired, motivated and blessed to keep my walk of faith- cleaner, purer, holier and more pleasing to God’s eyes. His statement may be ironic and simple for some people who could hear and read this story, but I find it a very strong conviction!

God really overwhelmed me with so many thoughts and realizations about life. There’s so much more I want to express but one thing which I must say made my overall experience in this mission trip remarkable- God reminded me of HUMILITY about how I approach life and PASSION to advance His kingdom especially to those people who are desperate for His presence. To God be the glory for this wonderful experience.

John-Moses R. Collado

PAMC

STAFF

POSITIVELY DISMAYED

Far from home. Surrounded by strangers. Out of the comfort zone. Sleepless nights. Tiring day outs.

I am Kharece Joy Calanog from Silang, Cavite and these were my outlook about missions. One word: scary. I get fascinated with other’s testimonies, but get a little bit anxious about the hardships and life risking situations they experienced. It was stuck in my head.

I received the invitation about a 5-day mission trip at Aurora, around two weeks before the missions, and I was excited. So excited I quickly asked permission about it and I was granted. But I was somehow discouraged. Honestly I really expected the worst of the worst. Long dusty rocky roads, hot noon air, icy cold nights, no electricity, super exotic food, bugs everywhere, wooden houses, uncomfortable bathrooms, half naked people armed with spears and arrows, tattooed bodies, in short: the remote tribal lifestyle. This being my first time in a-far mission really got me paranoid then, but not discouraged.

We have two destinations in Aurora: Demani, where we will stay with the kapatirans and Buloy, the 7-hour walk across mountains. On our way, I was getting very disappointed already. My pessimistic thoughts about our mission trip were turned positive. Our stop over for lunch was already a sign of it. It was like a feast on our arrival there. Our meals were really heavy and yummy. The place was good, although remote and far, yet it was quiet and welcoming. The next days were more fulfilling. I had three highlights about this mission trip.

First, was the mountain climbing all the way to Buloy. I was really praying for a chance to experience mountain climbing and river crossing ever since. For less than 6 hours of that very tiring and strenuous walking, it was God’s grace that sustained us to reach our destination. I really had fun and a lot of wonderful realizations. I was really amazed about the place. It was rich and fresh and natural and really amazing. Our arrival there was even convivial and it was a blessing being able to minister with the kids and the whole community. At first, it was scary, because we really don’t know these people (we really are not related to any of them), but it changed that night of our worship service. God really moved that night. The day of our return to Demani, we were blessed to taste the rich nature of Aurora mountains and God was really amazing and kind for giving us strength and courage and protection to walk further. It was really those walks going up and coming down that amazed me.

Second, was the service we offered the kids and the senior citizens. It was very heart-warming to see those sweet thanking smiles after we serenaded the seniors, did some massages, BP checks and manicure and pedicure. What’s more moving was that, even though some had to walk for hours just to be there, those lolo’s and lola’s did an effort to attend.

Third, was the people who assisted us (and the food they served, naaa kidding :)). They were really hospitable and kind. On our first night at Demani, I saw their passion for God. I was humiliated when I met this one person who was blind, and yet he is very active in the church. He is even the all-around person in charge with the sound system and everything related. It was regardless of his loss of sight, he still made his life available for God’s work. Sometimes I take blessings for granted, but when I saw these people, I was inspired and more than encouraged. They were very resourceful and happy with what they have. They live simple and creative. Even though they don’t have SM’s, Robinsons, Mcdonalds and all the tall buildings and finest restos, they have the best of God’s creation, and they are happy about it. God really moved in me and opened my eyes.

Now my outlook about missions is that it’s not just for fun and extraordinary experiences, that’s hiking. Missions is about passion and compassion to reach out hungry souls and satisfy them with God’s love. I was positively dismayed because missions are not scary, they are cool and inspiring! I am very thankful and blessed for opportunity given by God through PAMC (Project Acts Mission Challenge). And I am hoping for another and more! God bless po

Kharece Joy Calanog
PAMC Staff

It was my first time to go for a mission. I’d say it was nice and so amazing because I was able to prove once again that God truly works. I experienced His Love, comfort, kindness, humility, and faithfulness.

He arranged my schedule so that I could join the mission. I was feeling great and in good health. This was my first time to be out of my comfort zone. I thought it would be easy but God proved me wrong. He reminded me of this lesson in Proverbs 3:5, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding…”

I was amazed by the work of His hand. He made the earth full of life. I had God’s peace and joy all over me in the entirety of the mission. I enjoyed everything in this mission because I learned a lot from our Mighty God. He gave me strength during the 6 hours of trek. I enjoyed the fellowship, the nature and the food. I believe that the strength, peace, joy and everything I had and still have is from Him. For me, the best part of the mission was the time I saw the smile in the people’s faces as they received our God as Lord and Savior. To see them walking in faith was really the desire of my heart.

I love God because He is the one who created me, and He created the Earth for me and for us. I believe He also created the Heaven for all of us. Just trust and follow Him. God said, ''For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it.'' (MARK 8:35)

I know it’s hard but it’s true and I can do it by His help. This is the verse that encourages me, "I can do all this through Him who gives me strength". (Philippians 4:13)

In summary, the Lord blessed me, the Project Acts team, and every people touched by His hand.
God's Mercy and Grace is with us Forever and Ever. Let us continue to be used by God. Let the Holy Spirit work in us and let the will of God be done.

Thank You Lord!