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Plans (Us) and Steps (God)
Proverbs 16:9 We can make our plans but the LORD determines our steps. (NLT)
Our group of 25 arrived at YVR Thursday evening, with enthusiasm and excitement only exceeded by the amount of luggage! One piece went missing temporarily, but was soon located, just outside the main doors! It was the first time and wasn’t to be the last.
Darrin is our Renew Church team lead and Anita is acting as Hungry for Life representative, having recently completed the training. She decided to surprise Joven with her presence. We were firmly instructed to not include her in any photos that might get posted, so he wouldn’t find out and spoil the surprise.
Our flight from YVR to Manila, was around 15 hours and a bit bumpy at times. We arrived early morning in Manila to a lovely 22 degrees Celsius which buoyed our spirits in spite of the lack of sleep on the crowded plane and a late arrival.
The original “plan” had been to check our luggage all the way through to Cataclan however, due to customs regulations, the luggage – all 43 pieces of it had to be unloaded in Manila, before checking it onto the next flight. Needless to say, with such a large group, it took a while and one suitcase never appeared on the carousel. We had to catch the next flight, which involved a shuttle to another terminal.
How do you know you’re in the Philippines? The bus will honk its horn no less than five times in a five minute drive, careening around corners and seeming to drive straight into oncoming traffic, which parted like the Red Sea. Whew, we made the flight, but just barely.
Upon arrival in Cataclan, the luggage saga had multiplied. A mere one third of our suitcases had made it onto the flight. The rest, including vital ministry supplies, was still in Manila. We waited an extra hour and a half to determine the fate of the missing luggage. The human tendency to fall into worry and despair, especially for those families who were literally missing everything they packed, is to be expected. But we serve an amazing God who wants us to trust him, even when our plans fail.
Thankfully, multiple flights run between the two cities daily and amazingly, after much prayer and paperwork, all of the luggage, including the first missing suitcase was on the very next flight. One of our youngest team members who prayed, was delighted at the answer he had received. Praise the Lord, for his mercies and for hearing the prayers of children and adults alike.
The next leg of the journey involved a boat ride on choppy waters with a brisk wind. A few of our team members definitely felt the motion of the ocean and not in a good way.
After our extended day of travels and travails, we arrived at Oasis resort. Anita and Joven were joyfully reunited, even though the beans had already been spilled by the airport staff during the luggage fiasco, when they had spoken with Joven on the phone, inadvertently referring to his wife and her whereabouts!
After a quick lunch, we hit the ground literally running to get ready for the Amazing Race youth event, positioning ourselves at throughout Yapak. A number of these locations had to be changed at the last minutes as we couldn't use the Sports court as planned. Andy and I had the envious position of sitting on the beach and watching the waves roll in, while waiting for the kids to find us. As a few of the teenage teams discovered us and received their clue envelope, two much younger boys came up wanting an envelope too. We explained it was a game for the older kids, but they were welcome to attend VBS next week. Some of the others stationed at the local school were able to extend invitations to church and youth group, with random kids they met there.
After the chaos and confusion in the changes and corralling various teenagers, and extremely loud balloon popping, the evening ended with Pastor Angela leading a devotion on Gideon and how God can use anyone to carry out his plans. A Canadian Q and A from Nathan was followed by treats.
Unfortunately, the day ended with another little mishap not planned by any of us. One of our women tripped over a rock and gashed her foot. Please pray for quick healing, and that even if tomorrow ‘s plans go awry, God’s purposes would prevail and we would learn to trust the steps he orders, in whatever circumstance we find ourselves.
More prayer items: House building tomorrow-- safety on job site, tools would work, spirit of co-operation on teams. Exam prep for Philipino students-- wisdom and knowledge for tutoring those who need extra help.
