Day of rest and a lot of fun!

Today we left the hotel at 3 am to drive 3 hours south and beat the traffic. We were on our way to swim with the whale sharks. It was such a fun experience. The whale sharks are bigger than any animal I've ever been next to. 

Ethan and Kaden had the underwater cameras so I don't have pictures right now but I will have to update this later. 

After the swim, we hiked to the falls. Again this was the most amazing experience. Warm water cascading over the side of the mountain into a pool of beautiful blue water. You cannot but be in awe of God's creation when you experience things like this. We hung out for a couple hours then hiked back up the mountain (some road past us on bikes) and then found a beach down the way to eat lunch and talk about our time here so far and at the conference. The white sand and warm crystal blue water was awesome! Our driver went to pick up fresh fish and the people who lived in the home on that beach BBQ'd fish for us and made fish soup. We had a great time together. These people have become very dear to my heart. 

Breakfast after the swim!

There was a motorcycle holding this thing together. 

There they go up the mountain!

Conference at Grace Baptist

I forgot to mention something that happened Sunday morning... some of us grabbed breakfast quick before we left for Sunday service in the restaurant at the hotel. Everyone left to go get their stuff and Ethan and I were still there. One of the waiters who had seen us probably every day came over and ask Ethan if he knew what the word guapo meant? Ethan said yes and the waiter told him how handsome he was. We both laughed and the waiter asked what we were doing here and Ethan told him we were on a missions trip. He asked what religion that was and I told him Christian. He told us he was Roman Catholic (not a devout one) and asked what the difference was. 

I couldn't believe God had handed me on a silver platter an opportunity to share the gospel with this young man. 

I told him what the difference was and he seemed to understand what I was saying. And said his girlfriend thinks the same way. I told him it didn't sound like he was Catholic then. If he repented of his sins and believed in Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior and believes God raised Him from the dead then he was a Christian. He smiled and said I guess. That's the short version. ;)

The people here are so indoctrinated with the lies of the Catholic Church. They really don't know why they believe what they believe, they just do. I don't know what God will do with that conversation but I trust that He has a purpose. I left in awe of God and why He would hand me an opportunity to share the message of the gospel with someone so easily. I don't know why He would bless me in that way but I am just thankful. 

Monday morning the men left early for the start of the conference. The women's conference part did not start until after lunch so the 3 of us prepped some of our note pages and walked across the street to the mall to get copies made for Jeff. 

As we showed up to the conference we got there just in time to enjoy the beautiful roasted pig they had prepared for all of us. Grace Baptist spoiled our team with some of the best food. 

After lunch the women gathered in this little room behind the main room (sanctuary) to teach the equipping classes. I taught the day before so Christine and Sheila were up today. Christine did a great job teaching the women how to study the bible and Sheila  did a great job too teaching on the Titus 2 passage. After the teaching we gave away some books and we were also able to hand the single ladies study bibles because we hadn't thought about the fact that they won't have a spouse that will have gotten one. They were ecstatic! Here's something one of the girls posted on Facebook.

And one of the girls told Sheila whenever she wants to read a bible she has to borrow it from someone. Something we all take for granted.  

Towards the end of our time with them the rain stated pouring down outside. It was the first rain we have had since getting here. It's hot and the rain was a nice break from the heat.

We met the men back in the main room and Grace Baptist presented us with the sweetest gifts for being with them. We were all so excited about our new tshirts. I can confidently say we all were so blessed by being with them the past several days. They are the sweetest people and we all bonded with them quickly. 

Sunday worship at Grace Baptist and Grace Talisay

Today was Sunday worship with Grace Baptist Church for Jeff and I, Dojo and Christine, Greg and Seth. Robert and Sheila, Kaden and Ethan (aka Guapo) we're dropped off at Grace Talisay Fellowship to be with them for the morning. Robert and Sheila taught a parenting class and Ethan and Kaden taught the children's ministry. 

Dojo gave the Sunday message at Grace Baptist and did a wonderful job preaching on being a servant of Christ and what that looks like in the church. Seth came up right after Dojo and gave his testimony, we did some stretching and then Jeff was up teaching on the inerrancy of Scripture. The congregation was very blessed by them all. It was a great morning!

The worship was awesome... Filipinos know how to sing! It's a small church (maybe 50 people but it sounded like there was 150 people singing). The choir sang a song they are practicing for the Christmas service in December. I wish I could upload video to this (maybe I will put it on Facebook). They did such a good job!

After the messages we ate lunch with the church. The women brought food they made to share with us all. Christine and I sat with some women in the church and Pastor Romeo's wife Pinky. As we talked with Pinky it felt like we had already known her for awhile. We talked about the church, bible study, and discipleship and encouraged each other in our faith.  

After lunch, the men and women separated and I taught on the Proverbs 31 woman (not sure what the men were teaching on). It was a lot of fun... We were able to give each one little gifts and did a raffle to give away some books as well. 

Sunday nights at 6 pm they have another service. Before service started Ethan and I each gave our testimonies. 

Jeff taught on Christology and had to teach a lot of information in a short amount of time and he did a great job. 

It was a very, very long day but a very fruitful one. By the time we left Grace Baptist it was 8:30 pm. We were all tired and hungry so we stopped off at Jollybee (an equivalent to McDonalds) for a quick bite. Jeff and I were regretting that quick bite. We don't even eat McDonalds at home... But we had to make an exception. ;)

I am so thankful that God led me to come on this trip. I wasn't even coming until about 3 weeks (according to my limited knowledge). I have been so encouraged by the people here I would have missed out on God's blessings for me. What was I thinking?!!!! :)