As I was (and still am!) cleaning out my desk, I came across some letters from Finish the Work's time in the Philippines. They reminded me of the friends that we had made and I'm so thankful that the Holy Spirit used us to be a blessing to them.
In the pile of notes, cards, and pictures from the Philippines, I found some letters that Mike had left in the Philippines that I had picked up. I shook my head thinking about what I would say to him when I'll give him the letters at our meeting on Sunday. I saw my note to Mike neatly folded and I wondered what I had written, but pushed it aside until I had placed the other notes in a special folder. After, I picked up the note and unfolded it. I smiled at the words I had written to him; I can almost remember writing the letter! As I came to the middle of the letter, I read a story I had written to him. I had forgotten about this story--this was a memory that stuck out the most from the time in the Philippines.
It was about the first quiz we had during our evening program at NDC Tagum City. Tina was the quiz master and she had us girls go out into the audience and watch and pick the students who raised their hands first. I remember her asking the first question and I think that this student was the first person to get the right answer. She handed him the Bible and his reaction was SO priceless--He was so excited to get a Bible, that he waved it up in the air and had the biggest smile. I remember that I looked to the rest of the team that was sitting on stage and I met Kurt's gaze and we both had the biggest smiles on our faces because of that guy's reaction. I had never seen anyone react so joyfully when receiving the Bible! I wrote to Mike regarding that experience saying, "That reaction was worth more than anything the world can give."
When we came back to the States, that memory still stuck in my head. I shared it in front of my church and just told them about how blessed I was to have experienced that. It had shown me that there were so many people that were just hungry for the Word, and just searching for the Savior.
It's only been about six months since that experience and if it weren't for cleaning up my room and finding that letter to Mike, that memory would have remained forgotten. I realize that it's because I've been so caught up in myself and my desires that I've forgotten that there are many in the world seeking for the Savior and hungry to study the Bible. I've forgotten that my purpose here on Earth is not to be what the world considers a "success" and seek for happiness in this world, but to give glory to God in all that I do and to share what He has done to all the world.
Let's keep each other accountable, friends: let's not forget our purpose. Just like the well-known song says, "People need the Lord."
"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen." Matthew 28:19-20
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