First Day on the Job

We've been here since about the middle of January, about three months. We've seen and done a lot of things since we moved. Most of what we've been posting here has been funny little stories or cultural situations that we have found ourselves in and somehow connected to our spiritual walk with God.
So at some point, some of the 40 or so people who read this blog (that's right, I know) may start to wonder just why are we here, and what are we doing, what are we supposed to be doing?*
Well, wonder no longer! The weather allowed me and my national partner, Rudy to make a trip out to Dinagat a couple of weeks ago, our first such work trip. We were supposed to meet at a mall at 5 am to get to the bus terminal to get to a city called Surigao City, about three and a half to four hours away. We were on a time crunch because the ONLY ferry that went to where we were going on Dinagat that day left at noon. Well, I missed my alarm and woke up to Hollie saying "Jeff, the sun's up", then speed walking to the mall to meet my very patient partner, we set of to the terminal and got on the cheap bus, without AC.
The buses are interesting, much like the city multicabs, they pick up whoever flags them and fills up the bus way more that it needs to be...
At one point, while most people on the bus were trying to take a nap, we were at another terminal getting yet more passengers when blaring rock music poured onto the bus and a semi blind man walked on singing and begging for money.
A few hours later this guy brought four or five roosters on the bus in woven bags to keep them calm.
Not much else to say about that.
We finally made it to Surigao and got a motorbike to carry us to the pier and made it onto the right ferry with a few minutes to settle in and get some water (we had missed breakfast and lunch by this point and had nothing to drink) before the ferry left for Tubajon.
We made it safely and walked to short walk to the church where we would be staying.
After some kape and pan (coffee and bread) we got to work meeting with the Pastor. We spent that afternoon and all next day seeing how we can help him and his church with the vision God has given them to do evangelism all over Dinagat.
We also spent some time taking about plans for the upcoming mission trip this summer and we were able to do some surveying of Tubajon for future work.
While we were there we got to participate in a cottage prayer meeting, where​ we learned that two new families started going to that church because of work that SRC was apart of, and so that's really cool to see that fruit.
We sang hymns in Cebuano and had a lami kaayo (very delicious) soup-like dessert made with sweet potato and banana. I got a chance to try my Cebuano out and overall it was an awesome experience with other believers.
That night we settled in for a brief rest because we had to be up at three to catch the ferry back to Surigao. This time we sat at the very back of the bus where we learned what "whip lash" really means while eight people sat in the space of four seats.
After arriving at the bus terminal cramped and somehow sunburned I had another multicab and a tryke to get me home. Then a good cold shower and spending time with my family. Aahhh
Overall it was a really good trip, where we learned some of the challenges that await us on Dinagat while getting a chance for fellowship and planning.
I can't wait to go back in May, when their Church anniversary is with all of the Rathbuns, that will really be an adventure.

*I would like to say that our main focus right now is language study. That is our job now, taking up 15+ hours a week, and if/when we don't treat is as such then we run the risk of not pushing ourselves and falling behind in class.

Holiness is messy

The process that God uses to bring us, His children, though sanctification is often a very messy one. Oftentimes it involves us being in difficult or painful situations that we may not even recognize as "sanctifying" but nonetheless are. God will use earthly, messy, dirty means by which to give us His grace and draw us into a closer relationship with Him, making us reflect His Son that much more. He gives us earthly reminders (Lord's Supper, baptism) as ways that we use along our path in which He continues to remind us that He makes us clean and holy.
The sacrificial system that God gave the Israelites were full of these types of references, these markers and reminders. Of course they were all shadows of the future Christ and His sacrifice that was the fulfillment of those laws (Heb. 8:13, 9:11-14). The Red Heifer, mentioned in Numbers 19 (and alluded to in Heb. 9:13), is a great example of one of those ways. The red heifer was burned and its ashes were used in a purification ceremony in which the ashes were mixed with water and sprinkled on anything that is unclean in order to purify it, to make it clean and undefiled before God.
Now, we know that this law was a sign, a symbol of Christ to come and to purify us and make us clean before God. The author of Hebrews knows this and recognizes that while the ashes of the heifer do indeed cleanse the flesh, Christ and the fulfilment of that law obtained eternal redemption (Heb. 9:13,14).
But look at both of these purifying means, both given by God. They are messy. The sacrificial system used blood, the hacking apart of animals, blood, ashes, and water. These elements were used for purification and a way to come into God's presence in His temple. Christ's sacrifice was no less messy, being one of the most horrendous death that ever took place in history. Blood was spilled, flesh torn, the earth quaked, the sun darkened. God's creation was affected by this Death. Our sanctification was wrought in blood, sweat and tears. By these means our eternal redemption was obtained. The daily process of sanctifying is (blessedly) less bloody, but it is difficult and God uses the creation around us to show us grace and draw us to Him.
As many of you know, we have had kids come every day to play with the girls. They are so social they feed off of kid interaction. Our neighbors are slightly older and have told us they think the kids are trying to take advantage of us, and they are shaming Filipinos by their actions. Since they are just kids we just tried to brush it off and tell them they were fine, acting as kids do (noisy, somewhat mildly destructive, etc.) but then about two weeks ago the husband came home for his lunch and straight up yelled at the kids, chasing them off. I went to talk to him about yelling at my guests and an argument ensued. Yelling took place, frustration was released, and Christ was not glorified. When Ate Mimi arrived at our house for class we told her all that had happened. She explained why he yelled at the kids, that Filipinos (at least this guy) sometimes keep their emotions in check too long and they kind of burst out like that. She also told us the obvious: that because we are Kristohanon (Christian) we need to seek reconciliation and if possible, a sharing of the gospel.
That's the rub, the hard uncomfortable part. Swallowing my pride, realizing where I was wrong and in humility asking for forgiveness, and even help in getting to understand Filipino culture better. The messy relationships that we have are, if used and viewed properly, a means of grace to us, an earthly means used by our Father's hands to mold and shape us into the image of His Son. He scrapes away the useless muck and gunk that we amass to reveal humility and holiness. It's not always pretty, its almost always messy, but it is sanctifying.
After waiting about one week, I tried to initiate conversation, to apologize. But I was actually ignored, making me frustrated all over again. About another week went by and I was able to try to apologize but all I got was more complaining and a little bit of a raised voice about how bad those kids are. He still really won't talk to me, and the kids haven't really been back like they used to, only two girls have come by twice to play with Sophia and Aaryn since that day.
So pray for him, I don't even know his name, but pray that God would soften his heart so that we could maybe share the gospel with him. Pray for us, that we would be intentional in how we form all of our relationships here, that we would be a good reflection of what God has done in our lives and a good witness to our King.