The grass is greener on the other side

There is so much I take for granted in the states on a day-to-day basis. My life is measured by how many things I have and how many people desire to be me. I'm done living that lifestyle. Being with the people who have nothing, God has completely showed me his heart of selflessness. This morning in my devotion time I was reading through 1 John and it tells of God's great and selfless love for us and how if we have anger and judgment against our brothers and sisters we do not know God and his love. My goal this entire trip so far has been to threw down my judgments, trample them, and kiss the cheek of those whom I look at differently. The Lord has blessed me with clarity.

Yesterday at the two churches was spectacular. The joy of the Lord was already in the first church. There was a great deal of children and mothers in the church, not many fathers. That broke my heart. Through the poverty, through the dirtyness, and pain of the church people they continued to worship the Lord in their own tongue and they were truly undignified. All they had to give was their praise and I believe the Lord heard their praises and their cries and their blessings. I wanted so desperately to take each precious child back to the states with me. I know God is working withj my compassionate heart.

From the first church we traveled quickly and directly to the Davao City Vineyard and there I instantly strapped on my electric guitar and opened with a word of prayer. There again, the joy of the Lord was filling the room and I decided to enter in. It's amazing the laughing and freedom that Jesus gives once we finally surrender to his reign. By the end of the 6 song set my striped button-up was drenched with downpours of sweat. The next advenutre was shopping time!

I do love to shop. We first ate lunch in the mall and then went on our adventures throughout the stores. What I loved about the stores is that I would go up to look at a pair of shoes and have 5 people rush to greet me. Once trying on a pair of cheap sneak's I would be pampered with one person lacing the shoes, another asking 9if they fit alright and three observing my reaction. With that hospitality I felt obligated to buy the sweet shoes. The rest of the day consisted of more tribal shopping in the flea markets and then some more fast-food dinner treats and preparation for monday night's street ministry. Tonight our group will partake in the urban ministry especially working with the children. We have songs and skits that we have humbly prepared. It will be a night of humor, excitement, and energy...lots of energy.

Today was unbelievable. At the clinic I got the amazing opportunity to help Doctor Lito with...well yes, circumcisions. My heart at schooling is to become an RN. Growing up I was very squemish and couldn't stand the sight of blood or riding on small rollercoasters, but as the years passed my tolerance grew over-abundantly. Nursing and treating others has become one of my passions. The first time helping out the doctor with the boy's lower region I suddenly got incredibly dizzy and nautious! I had to sit for a minute and drink water. I was embarrased, but then right after I saw Kona(who took my place for a minute) run in and puke. After regaining my composure and getting a little giggle out of it I rushed back outside and helped with 15 more circumcisions right ni a row! God totally helped me out in my courage. It was something that I would do 10 times over. I'm not going to spoil your lunch with too much detail, but all I can say is thast I was blessed with the opportunity to be a vessel and a helping hand. It's my heart and I know God wants to build it up more and more until it overflows. I love you all and am so thankful for your abundance of prayers. God really is leading thew way before us and is hearing our hearts and our prayers. In love,

Isaiah