Young Life Work Week

Thoughts from a beautiful trip to Michigan Timber Wolf, Young Life camp. This past week I got the opportunity to take a young life group from the north side of Chicago; Lane Tech, Lincoln Park, and Lakeview high school students. We spent a week at Timber Wolf camp in Lake city Michigan. The day was split between cleaning the dining hall in order to prepare it for the summer camp, and the second half of the day was free time and activities.

I was in charge of all the boys and got to teach them how to clean. Their amazement over the small things in life was great. For instance on the ride there from Chicago they got all excited when they saw cows and all wanted to see the cows. Everything seemed like a new experience, which they tackled with excitement. The cleaning for the boys consisted of washing all the dishes after every meal. Which although it was work the boys had fun in the midst of it all. We had water fights with the hoses and spray bottles and danced to the music as we worked. Some of the other jobs we did was wiping all the chairs down, and using a lift to dust the upper windows in the dinning hall. We cleaned out all the grills as well. It was great to get to relive moments in my own life with the boys from teaching the boys how to sweep and mop, to cleaning toilets and washing dishes not to mention dusting. Everything was new to them and everything had to be taught which was great.

We got everyone to ride the go-karts they had at the camp as well as to climb the rock wall. We had a gym and game room available to the students during the day as well. From snowball fights to broomball we had a lot of fun getting to know each other. Every morning we spent a half an hour on a bible study and devotion time, which went very smoothly. I got to share on death and judgment which I taught on from Hebrews 9:27, while cross-referencing Psalm 50, and Romans 3:23, 6:23. How we, humans are all sinners. These passages teach that sin earns (wages) us death, but God knew that we could never achieve perfection, only he was capable of perfection and so he sent himself as Jesus his son who traded his perfection for our imperfection so that we could carry his title of perfection to be able to be with God as his perfect creations.

Overall it was a wonderful week. The majority of the students were new to Young Life and Christianity so it was wonderful to get to share something I’m very passionate about with them. Another awesome take away is that, Lincoln Park high school where I work as a Young Life rep has never had an official club yet. But we got eight of the students at the camp from the school and they all plan on coming weekly to club and want to do other activities as a group. Who knows where God will take this! Even if it doesn’t grow he is sovereign and I need to always remember that. 

Life back in the states

So it's now been a few weeks since I got back from the Philippines. I miss it alot, especially the warmth, although here in Chicago it got up to 80 today! Since I left I've been able to stay in contact with some of the the youth leaders from week two when we ran a VBS. My hardest part adjusting back to life has been just getting back into the swing of school.

I loved the trip their, such a wonderful experience. Even though I've gone once before on an oversees mission trip this time I witnessed how my growth in maturity through the relationships I was able to build with those we met there. When I left Zambia two years ago I left no lasting friendships except with the missionaries we stayed with. This time I was brought to tears by a student who was crying because we were leaving and life would just return to normal. It's hard just to think about those we got to know. Some of them who live in Dupax a squatter community in Manila are waiting to hear from the government whether there being relocated. Forced to move because the government wants to build a highway.

Update on life here in Chicago, About to leave for a week. taking student from Lincoln Park high school to a camp called Timber wolf in Michigan with Young Life. I'll be in charge of 15 high school students. So I'm excited for that. Although school is rough having to get 3 weeks of hw done by this friday to be able to leave. So lots of all nighters, right now I'm taking an hour break to recharge a bit. Weathers been nice, went to the beach today! Got to slack line play frisbee, jump in Lake Michigan as well as take natalie on a walk along the beach and then through Lincoln Park.

Well time to get back to hw, just thought it would be nice to get something on here, wish it could've been done like a week ago but ya know life happens. Till my next post I recommend you all enjoy life!! :)

-JR

Week 2 Bulacan

      Thought it might be easier to just make one post so I'm going to take my journals and attempt to shorten them, this will still be long but its a week worth of VBS. First day in Bulacan running VBS. It was an early morning we had an hour drive out to Bulacan and the first session we ran was at 8 am for around a hundred kids. We got there and had a few bumps, we didn't know we were going to be running a morning and afternoon program as well as a youth night every night. Amber our team leader decided it would be best that we run both vbs but youth night only do every other night. I was in charge of games for the week which was so much fun. We did lots of songs with motions which the kids loved! Biggest thought of the day, was the joy of knowing that I'd get to work with the same kids everyday! 

       We ran the VBS program out of a church, in Bulacan. The church had some cinderblocks and a tarp over it. Pastor Jon-Jon was very gracious and kind to us. Some of the elders would come everyday to cook for us as well as make sure everything was going well. They were such a blessing as well! The church is raising up youth leaders who are in high school and college. The youth leaders were so wonderful all week helping us, translating for us, teaching us there songs with motions and just hanging out with us. It was so hard to leave them all.

       Tuesday we ran two VBS programs and had youth night. Got to enjoy watching the sunrise during my daily devotion. After the first VBS session after we had walked the students home me and Pastor Jon-Jon played basketball on one of the town courts. After lunch I walked to the church to ask pastor a question about youth night and found over a hundred kids waiting for us. They were an hour early and I heard they had been there for awhile waiting. So I asked Macy one of the youth leaders if she would be up to running a VBS program with me for an hour. So we had the other youth leaders join us and we sang songs and had the kids do the motions. Had them all recap monday's lesson and memory verse. Then used the wordless bracelets to share the gospel with them. I taught them the meaning and Macy did a wonderful job translating even with how fast I speak, which was hard for the other translators yet they all did such a wonderful job. All the young adults came over that night for youth night and we sang praise and worship songs and Sarah taught a message. We had a wonderful time playing games and relaxing all together on the roof of the house we were staying in, in Bulacan.

         Wednesday day 3 we ran two VBS programs and things went well. We got to buy trumpas, spinning caps. And the students taught us how to play it! It was a really relaxing day. Day four I gave a message on resurrection. We also had youth night which was sad because it was are last night there. The girls on our team had the girl youth leaders sleep over with them. 

      Friday....wow was friday hard this was are last day and we left at 1 pm. The first session my friend jolly was crying before it started and i asked him why and it was because he was going to miss Ricky and me that broke me down. Then the students had a skit performed on Pastor's testimony and that got all of us crying. then all the kids gave us hugs and more hugs and gifts. It was so hard to say goodbye. especially knowing that these kids ahve to go back to rough lives where they don't have someone to pick them up and give them a hug. one of the young kids is named Ishmael and for some reason the town calls him F U he is insulted by all and his own family treats him like dirt. That broke are team, we all wish we could take home some these kids. The  other hard part was leaving the youth leaders. They were so wonderful all week. They are so great with the kids and are walking with the Lord. I hope to be able to keep in touch with all of them and be able to see them again.

Sunday Day 8

       It's been a great day! Today we got up early and went to a church in the red light district of Manila. I shared my testimony, didn't feel like i ddi a great job sharing. It was a challenge to share without a translator, so i tried to use simpler words. I'm pretty sure i stuttered and stumbled on my words so hopefully they still got fed spiritually. Erika, our team singer she's got a wonderful voice. She sang amazing grace wile Tim played Guitar. Tim then preached a wonderful message. Enjoyed my time at the church I believe it was an assembly of God church.
   Ate lunch at Jollibee it's bigger then McDonalds over here, tasted pretty good. I like American fries better though. After Erika went to visit her family and Tito June went to visit his so I tagged along in order to hit up the largest and most dangerous market in all of Asia. Its like a giant flea market the size of a city. It was crazy if anyone of you ever come i recommend going but take a local you trust. Lots of snatchers and easy to bargain if you have a local. For instance nice shoes are less then 10 dollars sandals maybe 5 dollars. Samurai swords 10 dollars butterfly knifes like 3. Jewelry is bought for like a dollar and they come in bulk so cheap. Had a lot of time I mainly bartered more for fun the prices were already so much cheaper. in the Philippines the stands anywhere near Manilla gets there products from Divisoria market. I bought a samurai sword, butterfly knife, foot long knife, sandals, crazy high top kicks, tons of necklaces and bracelets, arm bands, and a swimsuit. Lots of fun also tried out a pedicab thats a bike that has a side car for 2 passengers.
           Oggie an old friend from when my family lived on campus at Michigan State , when I was 18 months old, came to take me out to dinner. His niece Julla joined us as well. They picked me up from the guest house and took me out to the College Oggie teaches at, UP University of the Philippines. Its the best school in the Philippines, we got dinner and desert on campus. The campus was very large and looked great! Dinner was wonderful, as well as the conversations. Got to hear stories from when I was a toddler. Asked alot about their lifestyle and culture as well.
           Week one and our 2 day break is now over but so far m time here has been wonderful. I already miss PBJ with Mark. VBS program starts tomorrow wake up in 5 hours then head out to the province of Bulacan to run VBS for the week. Pray for strength for the team. As well as sleep! Some of the team has been really suffering from a lack of sleep. I most likely will not have internet out there we are going to roughing it not like I did in the community last thursday but we will be living very simply. I might go use an internet cafe once while I'm there manly more for fun :)

-JR

Day 7 saturday (Day of peace)

         Probably my hardest day... I'm not a big fan of laying and relaxing even if its for recharging energy. For me relaxing days are slower paced ministry days or visiting other ministries. That being said it was way to long of a drive. The nice part of the drive was that it got me to play out alot of my thoughts out and think about whats been going on. We went out to sarah's family, one of the girls on are team. Here family livid in the Province of Laguna in an area called lumbon. We ate with her family and then went to a local pool and then they brought us more food. Then went to another aunt's house and ate there.

While at the pool we could look out over some low range mountains, and rice fields. So Tim, Ricky, Kevin , Tito June, and our Driver Erwin headed out to the rice field because we wanted to walk through it. we got some local kids to take us through the fields. We then headed over to the local basketball court to meet alot of the community. We played a game of ball 5 v 5. It was good, we lost by 1 point and had a lot of fun meeting people. Ricky, Kevin and I taught frisbee with a bunch of the Local kids and gave out the wordless bracelets to them as well.  This was my favorite part of the day because we got to go out and do some ministry. Yet the day was a little to chill for me.

Tomorrow we are running 3 local churches in Manila. So pray for that

Dupax Day 6

Woke up in Renee's place I slept on the floor that night and never knew when it was morning cuase he leaves a light on and there was no light shining in. He cooked a wonderful breakfast I really enjoyed it! If I get the opportunity to come back to the Philippines I hope to be able to stay with Renee again.

    Me and Eric caught a jeepney down commonwealth and walked over to Marks house where we met the team and spent he morning praying and preparing for a big day. The last day with Mark, the Mcdowell family truly blessed us while we were staying in Manila. We enjoyed another wonderful lunch with them and then loaded up for a big Pbj day in Dupax. It was awesome to see O'Neal, woods and the other guys, they couldn't go the day before for PBJ because they were afraid they'd get shot because it was a rival community so there's alot of gang violence. We did the same thing as the day before except with different people. Had a wonderful time here. 

       We went out afterwards to youth night with the PBJ Youth. Mark AKA AWOL, a rapper was MC. Interesting environment. The break dancers from thursday  came out and O'Neal and his boys came out as well. Coolest part is knowing that these guys come from rival communities and would never step into each other's community yet they gathered together here in the Lords name together. Shared some great worship together, and A local pastor preached on calling. Afterwards they had open mic, opened up with music celebrity here in Manila. We actually heard her on the radio saturday(today) some of the guys from the worship band joined some other guys and played their music, a local Christian band. Ricky rapped with help from Ron who dropped a sick beat. Then Mark AWOL rapped with another guy to close up the night. Great end to a wonderful time with PBJ. Im gonna miss all of them!

Day 5 night sleeping in Delapaz Squatter community

 Originally I was going to stay with a man named Alan and his family yet he was drinking when we got there so I couldn't stay the night with his family. THis is very common here because when you say you do something its not specific to when here. We knew Alan fro mBible study he had gone once, Be praying for him and his family. I ended up staying with Renee, his daughter Hillary and his son Jon-Jon. Hillary played with eric's camera alot he had been living with them for  a few weeks before our team had arrived in Manilla. Eric and Hillary exchanged words in English and Tagalog using a language dictionary. 

Heres a picture of when we had visited there the first day and these were some shots of the place I stated at this was the first time when we were just visiting. 

The kitchen of Renee's place. In the morning he cooked us a wonderful breakfast! And we got to sit and talk for a while down there. Hillary got a call from her sponsor in Washington D.C. so she had to the agency. They were a wodnerful family being praying for the Renee is looking for a job right now to support his family. His daughter makes the bracelets we had out the wordless bible bracelets. I got contact info so I can get them back in the states so we can support these people. The bracelets are made by over 12 families in Delapaz and helps support them.