BOOT CAMP MINDORO

October 27- October 30, 2014

I remember a word that I learned during my college days and it forever changed my life - that word is LEGACY. In this life we should strive to live for significance, that even though our lives will end, there will be something that will always remain; something that will forever be alive in the hearts and minds of those we will be leaving behind; something that will make the world we live in a better place and the people we met transformed and renewed. We, at Project Acts Mission challenge, aims to encourage, equip and empower this generation not only to pursue the mandate God has given us but to leave a legacy that will forever be remembered; a legacy that will direct people on the greatness, faithfulness and immeasurable love of God. Over the years of conducting trainings, mission exposures and boot camps we have seen countless lives not only being saved but lives that were touched by the transforming power of the Holy Spirit. This year at Mamburao, Occidental Mindoro we have gathered the following testimonies which encouraged us more to fulfill the vision and mission the Lord has given to this organization. Let's take a look on how the Lord ministered to these young people. (Note: We have asked permission and we're allowed to post the names, pictures and testimonies of these people in social media sites and even in the Project Acts website.)

This is May Ann Diaz, 17 years of age and a 4th year High School. She lives in Cabacao, Abra de Ilog, Occidental Mindoro. She was already attending church since she was young with her family at One in Christ, Cabacao. Though, she's a "church kid," all the things they do in the church seems nothing and pointless to her. She was even appointed as a children's ministry leader at the age of 9 but this seemed just like a routine and a responsibility to her. When she was 11 years old she was taught to play guitar and was allowed to play in the worship team. But this didn't change her heart instead she even became prideful being in the stage and admired by many. During her young age, she embraced a new identity that led her to a different lifestyle - away from the God she knew and served since childhood. She became a lesbian and held on to that identity for several years. She had 4 to 5 same-sex relationships that never filled the void in her heart. September of this year, she heard a sermon from their church pastor that paved a way to her change of heart. She also learned about the PAMC Boot camp and was given a chance to be sponsored to be able to join the camp. She enjoyed all the activities prepared for them, but most of all, it was during the camp that she truly encountered Jesus. During the altar call done on the last night of the camp, she surrendered everything to Jesus. She felt the presence of God which brought a great impact in her life and in her heart. She said that the Lord touched her heart and she realized that her same-sex relationship is wrong and is not love at all. Today, she left her old life, broke up with the girl she was in a relationship for a year now and no longer calls herself a lesbian - but a true woman after God's own heart. I asked her what is one thing that happened to her and she will always remember in this camp and she said, with tearful eyes: "Binago Niya ang puso ko" (He changed my heart). Indeed, there is no one in this world who can transform and change a person's heart but the one who created it. It may seem impossible but He can if we are willing to surrender everything to Him.

Some of the campers joined the boot camp not because they really wanted to but because of peer pressure. They were asked and compelled by their friends to join for fellowship and bonding. This is the story of Azzy Marie Cortuna, a 17 year old, 1st year IT student from West Mindoro Polytechnic School, Mamburao, Occidental Mindoro. She was persuaded by her two Christian friends to join but these friends ended up not being able to join the camp for certain reasons. But the Lord has greater plans for Azzy that’s why even though her two friends suddenly backed out, she was able to attend the boot camp. She described her life as miserable and though she sometimes attends church and other Christian gatherings, her heart was far away from it. She used to sing for God, lift her hands in worship but none of these seem true to her. During the camp, she learned to make new friends and enjoyed all the activities and fellowship but most of all, the Lord became more than a story or a routine to her – He revealed himself to Azzy. She experienced the power of God and convicted her of her sins, her disbelief and doubts on God. She recalled that before, all she was doing was fake worship and she even can’t say “Amen” to agree with speakers or the congregation because in her heart she was not sure if she really believes on what they are saying about God. But during the second night of the boot camp, Jesus became true to her and all her doubts vanished. He encountered the Lord in a very special way. I can still remember that even the ministry time ended already and a video about Project Acts was being played as the program transitioned, Azzy was still on her feet, raising her hands, crying to God and praising His Name. She was really overwhelmed by the presence of God which she has never experienced before. She told us that since then, she was never ashamed to express herself to God in worship. She was reminded of her atheist friend who almost persuaded her to become one – but now the word that the Lord put in her heart was – BELIEVE. And she believed in Jesus and this time considered herself as a true believer. Before, she even asks herself if Jesus was really true, now she is ready to prove her friends and the world that Jesus is indeed alive, true and can be experienced by those who will call upon His name. She called on the name of Jesus, believed on Him and she was never disappointed.

One of the challenges we encountered in this boot camp was to “break the ice” among the participants. These young people came from different orientation and even different culture though they’re all from Mindoro but some of them belong to the predominant tribal people in the province – the Mangyans. As Joan Tumbaga, one of a Mangyan participant recalls, their group was really shy to interact and have fellowship with all the other participants and they even requested not to join the groupings but form a group of their own. But the Lord has other plans, despite the challenge, they were able to blend in with all the others. Joan is a 14 year old Iraya from Sitio Culi Culi, Abra de Ilog, Occidental Mindoro. She is now in her 6th grade in Elementary education and was helped by sponsors of Atid foundation organized by Sis. Linda Ramos. She was very shy and inferior at first. I remember during our group devotion that everybody would encourage her to speak her mind but after several minutes we ended up getting nothing from her. But the silence from her was not too long. As she was able to fellowship with all the other young people she eventually smiles more frequently than before and chats with all the others. During the second night of the camp, the move of the Spirit was so great that “our” program was not really followed. In the worship time, the Lord spoke to Ptr. Keith Lindsey to prophesy and declare the Lord’s blessing to the young people – and Joan was the first one he laid his hands on and prayed for. The word of the Lord was overwhelming and it was said that Joan will be used by God to speak His words to her people group. Joan has such a heart for God. She told us that she joined the camp for one simple reason – she wanted to praise and worship the Lord and sing for Him. True enough, during the talents’ night, she approached me if she could sing for our group presentation and I, with a joyful heart said yes. She sang “Banal Mong Tahanan” and as she began to sing the song, the presence of God was really there. In our closing program, the last day of the camp, we again prayed for her and claimed the prophecy that she will be a prophet to her people group and that the Lord will use her mightily. She told me one thing that she realized during the camp, she learned to stand firm in her relationship with Jesus and she even said that never will she turn her back on Him but will always pursue to follow Him all the days of her life.

For countless times in Project Acts Mission Challenge, we came to places to minister but ended up more filled and blessed in the end. These lives that the Lord has touched is more than enough for us to continue on doing what we are doing now and even strive to do more because we know that as we invest our time, our lives and resources, we are reaping more for the Kingdom of God and that is one thing that can never be taken away from us. God is in the business of changing lives and He is serious with it. We are not perfect people, we came to the ministry with our own struggles and issues, but God used all of these and united our hearts to proclaim His goodness and love. These are just few but we know every delegate have their own testimony of how the Lord spoke to them during the camp. We are praying that the seed the Lord has planted in the lives of these young people and all the participants will grow and will become fruitful and that all of us will continue to STAND FIRM in JESUS! Praise the Lord for all the things He has done!  

By: Ptra. Arra Joyce Alejandro