This week has been a week of rejoicing and encouragement! We started prayerwalking in the community around us and got to establish a few connections through that. The language barrier has been an issue but again God reminded me "they will know us by our love."
It would be extremely easy to fall into a routine here, but I am praying that routines don't lead to complacency. I work an eight hour shift everyday and due to night shifts I sometimes work 16 out of 24 hours. I have no complaints with my schedule since I do enjoy loving on the least of these (even if it is 7 hours of screaming babies) :)
One thing that really touched my heart this week is the children's prayer before bed. After thanking God for the day and all the people who love them they say "and God please help me to find a home of my own." The first time I heard that out of the mouth of an orphaned three year old I couldn't help but cry. Being here hands on with these little guys gives me a whole new perspective on life. I long to take every one of them home. One the kids, John Mark, will soon be adopted by a family in France. We are waiting on his visa, every night he looks at a photo album of his new family and kisses them good night. It is one of the most precious things I have ever seen. This week we found out one of the children is severely developmentally delayed. He is eleven months old but has only reached the 6 month old marker. He was taken to a neurologist and we are awaiting the official results. He has a 2 year old sister and the Philippines requires they are adopted together so this will make placement in a home tough. Despite the fact the children have no families they are so love here and are some of the toughest, most joyful children I have ever met.
Thanks to my family I am snacking on some yummy American snacks right now (Thank you Aunt Skip and Uncle Mike!!) and the package came just in time! This week our supervisor Andrea is here, along with our media girl Mallory. They are here to document our journey as well as check on us and encourage us. It has been so nice spending time with them and God has really used Andrea's wisdom to teach me. We will miss them when they leave but will see them again soon.
This coming week I am looking forward to more ministry opportunities within local churches as well as to the community around us. Please be in prayer for the following things:
-God to break through language barrier
-ministry and evangelism opportunities
-a Christian translator who can speak English and Tagalog well
-the caregivers at the orphanage and chances to witness to them
-breaking through the "surface" conversations with those around us
We have weekly memory verses and this week one in particular has stuck out to me
"In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith of greater worth than gold- which perishes even though refined by fire may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Chirst is revealed" 1 Peter 1:6-7
Friends stay strong in Christ and stay faithful to his work. God has commanded us all to be missionaries wherever he puts us. Beware of the trap of depending on God's promises without following his commands. "I thank God everytime I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this that He who began a good work in you will carry in on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:3-6
Thank you for your prayers and encouraging words!
Brittani Clark
Friday, June 25, 2010
Friday, June 18, 2010
They will know us by our love
God has been teaching me and my team many lessons this week! Isn't it funny how when we say we are going to serve God and minister to others we up getting served and ministered to ourselves?
This adventure has been like a roller coaster so far! We had a slow start and a big hill to climb at first but I feel we are reaching the top of the hill. Thankfully God is controlling the speed and He knows ow much I can handle!
All four of us went through a day of sickness (all on the same day..) Since we had little to no explanation for it we believed it to be either spiritual warfare or God teaching us a lesson. Well, it could have been both. I am ashamed to say we whined and complained all day and were ready to go home but through this God revealed to us what perseverance really is. Never before have I had to rely solely on God and in this sickness I did! So, I rejoice in my sufferings. God led me to the verses Romans 5:3-5 and James 1:2-4 during this time.
God is working in hearts other than our own here in Calapan City! Seeds have been planted and roots are being established so please pray for softened hearts and open eyes. It is so exciting to be a part of God's army on a new battlefield this summer. God has also used various encounters with people this week to remind me of two of his sweet truths. The first being that when we ask ask God for the strength to glorify Him each day, do not think that means that you are asking to "feel well enough" to glorify him. We see Paul many times suffering for Christ but getting right back up, even after being stoned and left for dead to go preach the gospel. The other lesson God has showed me through talking to people with such a vast language barrier is boldness. In Acts 5 the apostes are persecuted and imprisoned. God sets them free from chains and they go back to the same place where they were arrested to teach. Peter uses bold words to his prosecuters in saying "we must obey God rather than men!" Later in v. 41 we see the apostles rejoicing that they had the chance to suffer. May we all be more like Peter and Paul.
I have 12 little ones to love on everyday, 4 babies and the rest "big kids" (all under 7). I love them all and we jokingly call it Mommy bootcamp. I have a whole city to show God's love to and a lot of God's love to go around!
So, prayer partners, I ask that in the coming week you would pray for:
-open eyes and open hearts
-outpouring of God's love from all of us
-rain (cools everything off)
-health for a couple of newborns
-wisdom and discernment
-a spirit of perserverance and strength
-MINISTRY OPPORTUNITIES
-unity among the team members
Until next time my friends,
Brittani Clark
This adventure has been like a roller coaster so far! We had a slow start and a big hill to climb at first but I feel we are reaching the top of the hill. Thankfully God is controlling the speed and He knows ow much I can handle!
All four of us went through a day of sickness (all on the same day..) Since we had little to no explanation for it we believed it to be either spiritual warfare or God teaching us a lesson. Well, it could have been both. I am ashamed to say we whined and complained all day and were ready to go home but through this God revealed to us what perseverance really is. Never before have I had to rely solely on God and in this sickness I did! So, I rejoice in my sufferings. God led me to the verses Romans 5:3-5 and James 1:2-4 during this time.
God is working in hearts other than our own here in Calapan City! Seeds have been planted and roots are being established so please pray for softened hearts and open eyes. It is so exciting to be a part of God's army on a new battlefield this summer. God has also used various encounters with people this week to remind me of two of his sweet truths. The first being that when we ask ask God for the strength to glorify Him each day, do not think that means that you are asking to "feel well enough" to glorify him. We see Paul many times suffering for Christ but getting right back up, even after being stoned and left for dead to go preach the gospel. The other lesson God has showed me through talking to people with such a vast language barrier is boldness. In Acts 5 the apostes are persecuted and imprisoned. God sets them free from chains and they go back to the same place where they were arrested to teach. Peter uses bold words to his prosecuters in saying "we must obey God rather than men!" Later in v. 41 we see the apostles rejoicing that they had the chance to suffer. May we all be more like Peter and Paul.
I have 12 little ones to love on everyday, 4 babies and the rest "big kids" (all under 7). I love them all and we jokingly call it Mommy bootcamp. I have a whole city to show God's love to and a lot of God's love to go around!
So, prayer partners, I ask that in the coming week you would pray for:
-open eyes and open hearts
-outpouring of God's love from all of us
-rain (cools everything off)
-health for a couple of newborns
-wisdom and discernment
-a spirit of perserverance and strength
-MINISTRY OPPORTUNITIES
-unity among the team members
Until next time my friends,
Brittani Clark
Friday, June 11, 2010
Cock a doodle doo
Magandang Umaga, from the Philippines! Time is a strange thing here and seems to pass by slowly so far but that could be because we don't start work until tomorrow.
This will be a short post because my body is feeling weak today. I am a bit dehydrated but I am taking care of myself and have a great group of girls around me taking care of me as well.
I am very excited to report that on the airplane Meredith and I got to talk to Pavel, a man from Russia, about our faith and why we were going to the Philippines. It was very exciting to hear the Holy Spirit spitting words out of my mouth and giving me a confidence not of myself at all! Also, on the last night of orientation 21 people were baptized!! WOW God is awesome, that has never happened before for Nehemiah Teams so Praise the Lord for obedience and Holy Spirit's power.
A slogan I have adopted for the next couple months is "When the cross gets to heavy remember- WORTHY IS THE LAMB!" This has been especially helpful when I am not feeling well. God's word has been the best encouragement to me so far and I praise him for it!
I will write more next week hopefully, my body is weak today and I am trying not to over extend myself.
Prayer Needs:
- Focus
- Endurance
- Restoration
Thank you all,
Brittani Clark
p.s. I titled this cock a doodle doo because of the roosters who sing around the clock, I have a feeling after a few more days I will get used to them :)
This will be a short post because my body is feeling weak today. I am a bit dehydrated but I am taking care of myself and have a great group of girls around me taking care of me as well.
I am very excited to report that on the airplane Meredith and I got to talk to Pavel, a man from Russia, about our faith and why we were going to the Philippines. It was very exciting to hear the Holy Spirit spitting words out of my mouth and giving me a confidence not of myself at all! Also, on the last night of orientation 21 people were baptized!! WOW God is awesome, that has never happened before for Nehemiah Teams so Praise the Lord for obedience and Holy Spirit's power.
A slogan I have adopted for the next couple months is "When the cross gets to heavy remember- WORTHY IS THE LAMB!" This has been especially helpful when I am not feeling well. God's word has been the best encouragement to me so far and I praise him for it!
I will write more next week hopefully, my body is weak today and I am trying not to over extend myself.
Prayer Needs:
- Focus
- Endurance
- Restoration
Thank you all,
Brittani Clark
p.s. I titled this cock a doodle doo because of the roosters who sing around the clock, I have a feeling after a few more days I will get used to them :)
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Address in the Philippines
Hey all, I am leaving tomorrow bright and early for orientation and wanted to post my address before I left. Shipping takes about 14 days so keep that in mind if you choose to send anything.
Thanks for your prayers, and I cannot wait to tell about what God is doing in the Philippines!
Brittani Clark
c/o Ruel Foundation
Brgy. Masipit, Calapan City
5200 Oriental Mindoro
Philippines
In Christ,
Brittani Clark
Thanks for your prayers, and I cannot wait to tell about what God is doing in the Philippines!
Brittani Clark
c/o Ruel Foundation
Brgy. Masipit, Calapan City
5200 Oriental Mindoro
Philippines
In Christ,
Brittani Clark
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