Finding Jesus in Dumaguete

Earlier this year a small group from Christ Presbyterian Church in Huntington Beach, California embarked on a mission trip to Dumaguete. I did not personally know the members of this group, but often viewed their online updates, curious to know how God was using them to bless the people of Dumaguete. More often than not, though, the people of Dumaguete were the ones doing the blessing.

When I was in the Philippines I witnessed a dependence upon the Lord that is largely absent here in America. Many of us who claim to follow Christ simply play the Sunday morning routine, but have little idea who He really is in our daily lives. Bank accounts, job titles and retirement destinations seem to take precedence over any need or desire to live within His will. Therefore, I was truly blessed by my time in Dumaguete because I witnessed a genuine hunger for Christ's love. Perhaps Marilyn has been the greatest example of this, as she has faced incredible hardships with an unwavering belief that His love would sustain her—and it did.

Heavenly Father,

Break us, and mold us. Remove all of our dependence on worldly things, that we may cast our cares upon you and trust in your sustaining mercy. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Tags: dumaguete, philippines, mission trip, jesus christ