Olongapo, Philippines.
On Tuesday December 15th, 2009 the seven of us left Pasay, manila! We boarded a bus, circled the slum like 5 times and then headed on our 4 ½ hour journey to a city called Olongapo. It was cool to get outside of the city and see some of the God made countryside, we arrived to Olongapo under the care of Virgie and the local Youth With A mission base. Virgie is an amazing woman of God who has lain down her life to preach the Gospel to and disciple girls who have been involved in prostitution.
The city of Olongapo once was the home for an American Naval Base; though the base was shut down in 1991 there is a large influence of American culture here. There are also a lot of ex-Navy men living here in the city!
On Wednesday December 16th, 2009 the team was split in to two groups and sent out to preach the Gospel to “Bar Girl’s”. Bar Girl’s are mainly transported from smaller cities and brought up to this city and put to work for long hours! They are basically put on display, wearing next to nothing clothing, they are forced to pole dance for long hours as entertainment for those who come into the bars! In some bars the girls are nothing more than objects to be sold as prostitutes! It was a very shocking night for the crew! Very awakening! Only a few days in to this outreach the Lord has began to stretch our hearts in ways that none of us could have known!
Though the experience was rough, the Lord gave to us supernatural grace! One of the hardest truths of the night was seeing that it is mainly 40+ year old American men keeping these bars in business. There were so many middle aged American men groping little Filipino woman; it made us sick; so, the hardest part of the night for many of us was keeping our fist out of their faces! Nevertheless, our hearts were broken for these girls as we witnessed first hand what their lives look like on an hourly basis!
One praise report is that the following morning 2 of the girls came to the base; they rested and talked with Virgie and some of the others all day. In the morning our team shared testimonies (Bria and Destiny) to them and a handful of girls who have been rescued from that lifestyle and are being discipled here on the YWAm base. We than had an awesome time praying for the girls. It was a very powerful time! many of the girls could not understand what we were praying and proclaiming, but thank goodness the Lord is not challenged by any language barriers; all the girls wept as we ministered to them. The team is doing such an awesome Job stepping out with their voices.
Please continue to pray for us as we need 4,000.00 Kiwi/3,000.00 uSD to come in for our team to fulfill our ministry here in the nation of the Philippines. We are serving in an area of missions that few will give their time and money to-But we know that the Lord is faithful to care and provide for even the disregarded of the earth.
Here is how you can donate online: http://www.iwt.co.nz/donate-online. Please make any payments out to Campaigns DTS Philippines.
Team Philippines :)
Friday, December 18, 2009
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Team Philippines in Manila
Hello everyone,
We miss you all very much! We had an awesome 3 1/2 days in Manila :) We stayed in a slum on the out side of Manila called Pasay. The base we stayed at has been set up as a safe house for prostitutes to be ministered to. We spent most of our time here hanging out with prostitutes and preaching the Gospel of Christ to them. These girls sell their bodies to put bread on their table and so that they might have a shack or even worse to put over their heads so that they can sleep at night. They don't get paid very much money; this is not a profession of choice-it is a last resort to survive in a city in which simply cannot provide enough Jobs to meet the needs of the people; there is nothing glamorous about this.
The team hit the steets one night to go down to the bar district where we spent 2 hours sitting and chatting with some of the girls who were working as prostitutes for the bars! One of the most shocking parts of the night was getting to know one of these young ladies and then watching her leave to fulfill her Job title. She later came back and sat with us for another hour before we left. Though she put on a smile, her eyes gave away the shame and desperation that she was feeling. It was a very sad and an awakening night for the team.
The next night our host Virgie hosted a Christmas party for the prostitutes. We had an awesome night eating, sharing with them, playing games and preaching the Gospel to these girls.
Please stand with us in prayer! God sent His Son to save sinners! Jesus came to save the least, the last and the lost! He baffled the religious crowd of His day by hanging out and defending prostitutes till the point of the girls salvations. Please fast and pray as we are here in the physical with these girls.
We miss you all very much! We had an awesome 3 1/2 days in Manila :) We stayed in a slum on the out side of Manila called Pasay. The base we stayed at has been set up as a safe house for prostitutes to be ministered to. We spent most of our time here hanging out with prostitutes and preaching the Gospel of Christ to them. These girls sell their bodies to put bread on their table and so that they might have a shack or even worse to put over their heads so that they can sleep at night. They don't get paid very much money; this is not a profession of choice-it is a last resort to survive in a city in which simply cannot provide enough Jobs to meet the needs of the people; there is nothing glamorous about this.
The team hit the steets one night to go down to the bar district where we spent 2 hours sitting and chatting with some of the girls who were working as prostitutes for the bars! One of the most shocking parts of the night was getting to know one of these young ladies and then watching her leave to fulfill her Job title. She later came back and sat with us for another hour before we left. Though she put on a smile, her eyes gave away the shame and desperation that she was feeling. It was a very sad and an awakening night for the team.
The next night our host Virgie hosted a Christmas party for the prostitutes. We had an awesome night eating, sharing with them, playing games and preaching the Gospel to these girls.
Please stand with us in prayer! God sent His Son to save sinners! Jesus came to save the least, the last and the lost! He baffled the religious crowd of His day by hanging out and defending prostitutes till the point of the girls salvations. Please fast and pray as we are here in the physical with these girls.
Saturday, December 12, 2009
We Made It To Manila :)
Just a quick hello!!! After leaving Tauranga at 1:30am and flying out of Auckland Airport at 7am, we had a 3 hour lay over in Sydney, Au; we finally arrived to Manila, Philippines a little after 5pm on Saturday December 13th 2009........To be continued-we love and miss you all.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Wellington here we come!
Hey there! Let us recap you on our outreach to promote the Mercy Ministry Ship Tour calling all young Kiwis into missions. The DTS contribution during the ship tour is spreading word about missions and the gospel for a month, made up of 1 week starting in Wellington and ending in Bluff on November the 8th.
Did you know that in the 80’s, New Zealand was the highest missionary sending nation in the world? We believe that it’s God desire to bring that to reality again. We arrived in Wellington, New Zealand’s capital city on the 16th of October. Our team separated into 3 separate host families, who were very welcoming and spoiled us with their hospitality! Who says you have to suffer on an outreach? The week was full of ministry opportunities for the team and almost everyone shared their testimonies.
Our first stop was at a marketplace of Naenae doing street evangelism, and sharing our testimonies at a free sausage sizzle event complete with a live worship band. With our time there we performed a powerful skit through the song, “Everything” by Lifehouse. It was a successful day and God’s presence in the YWAM team changed the atmosphere of the poorest area of Wellington. A lady, who was with us both of the times we were there, said that she could see Jesus radiating in us and that we brought light to a dark place.
Pastor Jakob, from the Oasis church who was in charge of the sausage sizzle event invited us to the Sunday service to minister through our skit and testimony. One of the DTS students named Taylor had asked God to give him confirmation if his calling was to be a pastor the night before and following day after he was affirmed by the Lord speaking through Pastor Jakob. It’s amazing how God responds when we ask and seek earnestly.
At Abundant Life church, a couple of us testified and the DTS prayed over the congregation as a blessing to the church. We had the opportunity to be the security at an annual youth rally called, Power Jam, which is run by the Porirua Elim Church and God miraculously provided funds for this annual gathering geared toward children and teens to take them off the alternative weekend activities, such as drugs and partying. The mission is to minister to hundreds of youth through hiphop, dance, and interactive games.
Our team went up to a lookout point over the city of Mount Victoria singing worship songs and praying for redemption of the lost and for God’s calling of the youth to be manifested.
The rest of the week was full of amazing outlets encouraging the youth about missions to the youth groups of Elim Church and St. Christopher’s Anglican Church and challenging them to apply their passions into God’s calling. John Dawson, the president of YWAM preached about missions and challenging the youth to rise up the new generation of missionaries. I personally, found him very entertaining and driven to be part of what God’s will is for the nation of New Zealand.
Some of the students had the privilege to serve and minister to 103 catholic school children during their time at Camp Elsdon with performing the skit and personal testimonies.
The final event in Wellington was the Jump Rally, specifically calling youth to missions and how essential they were to the Lord’s plan in such a time as this to fulfill the great commission.
We shall keep you informed of what God is doing throughout our journey as a team representing the body of Christ. Our request is that through your prayer we may be a reflection of Christ’s love, have a provision of finances, as well as a divine protection over us during our travels and ministry, including group unity to continue to prevail and strengthen.
Please check back with us for more exciting details of where the Lord takes us next!
Here are some photos from the journey so far...
Did you know that in the 80’s, New Zealand was the highest missionary sending nation in the world? We believe that it’s God desire to bring that to reality again. We arrived in Wellington, New Zealand’s capital city on the 16th of October. Our team separated into 3 separate host families, who were very welcoming and spoiled us with their hospitality! Who says you have to suffer on an outreach? The week was full of ministry opportunities for the team and almost everyone shared their testimonies.
Our first stop was at a marketplace of Naenae doing street evangelism, and sharing our testimonies at a free sausage sizzle event complete with a live worship band. With our time there we performed a powerful skit through the song, “Everything” by Lifehouse. It was a successful day and God’s presence in the YWAM team changed the atmosphere of the poorest area of Wellington. A lady, who was with us both of the times we were there, said that she could see Jesus radiating in us and that we brought light to a dark place.
Pastor Jakob, from the Oasis church who was in charge of the sausage sizzle event invited us to the Sunday service to minister through our skit and testimony. One of the DTS students named Taylor had asked God to give him confirmation if his calling was to be a pastor the night before and following day after he was affirmed by the Lord speaking through Pastor Jakob. It’s amazing how God responds when we ask and seek earnestly.
At Abundant Life church, a couple of us testified and the DTS prayed over the congregation as a blessing to the church. We had the opportunity to be the security at an annual youth rally called, Power Jam, which is run by the Porirua Elim Church and God miraculously provided funds for this annual gathering geared toward children and teens to take them off the alternative weekend activities, such as drugs and partying. The mission is to minister to hundreds of youth through hiphop, dance, and interactive games.
Our team went up to a lookout point over the city of Mount Victoria singing worship songs and praying for redemption of the lost and for God’s calling of the youth to be manifested.
The rest of the week was full of amazing outlets encouraging the youth about missions to the youth groups of Elim Church and St. Christopher’s Anglican Church and challenging them to apply their passions into God’s calling. John Dawson, the president of YWAM preached about missions and challenging the youth to rise up the new generation of missionaries. I personally, found him very entertaining and driven to be part of what God’s will is for the nation of New Zealand.
Some of the students had the privilege to serve and minister to 103 catholic school children during their time at Camp Elsdon with performing the skit and personal testimonies.
The final event in Wellington was the Jump Rally, specifically calling youth to missions and how essential they were to the Lord’s plan in such a time as this to fulfill the great commission.
We shall keep you informed of what God is doing throughout our journey as a team representing the body of Christ. Our request is that through your prayer we may be a reflection of Christ’s love, have a provision of finances, as well as a divine protection over us during our travels and ministry, including group unity to continue to prevail and strengthen.
Please check back with us for more exciting details of where the Lord takes us next!
Here are some photos from the journey so far...
New Zealand Ship
Hello everyone! I just wanted to take a few moments to inform those of you who might be a little confused concerning the ‘why’ & ‘how’ Youth With A Mission (YWAM) Campaigns Discipleship Training School is involved with the New Zealand ‘Marine Reach’ Ship Tour.
The New Zealand ‘Marine Reach’ Ship Tour is a Christian ministry/missions to reach the least, the last and the lost! Marine Reach is a mission under the covering of YWAM who use ships to serve the poor and the needy of the earth with food, medical supplies and operations, etc. The Ship Tour is a project birthed from the heart of God through the Tauranga, Nz Marine Reach! The leaders have heard the call of God to donate their ship to the Aussie Marine Reach ministry! So, partly in a farewell, but mostly in an urgency to call Kiwi’s (NZ local) back into intimacy with Christ and the call to jump into missions they took this opportunity to travel around the nation and preach the gospel. The ship will port for several days in several different port cities around the nation of NZ! Before they depart each port city they will host events called ‘NZ Ship Tour Jump Rally’; the events will use several different stratagies to communicate the gospel, such as, live worship, video, presentations, preaching, etc…)
Port Cities: Gisborne, Wellington, Dunedin, Bluff, Timaru, Nelson, New Plymouth and Tauranga!
In 1983 a ship called ‘The Anastasis’ sailed around the nation of NZ-they helped serve a movement that put NZ on the map in the 1980’s for being one of the highest missions sending nations per capita in the earth; today, NZ is one of the least missions sending nations in the earth!
God is calling NZ to rise once again to the calling of intimacy with Christ and the call to take the gospel of Christ to the nations. 20 years ago it was practically a requirement for a missionary to be a theologian, preacher, evangelist, etc… God has opened the door for missions to change; now the only requirement for missions is to have breath in your lungs and a beating heart for Christ and for the nations of the earth. Being a missionary is not about going to Africa for 10 years. It is about having an intimate relationship with Christ and walking in obedience to His word-Yes Lord, I give you my heart and I am ready and will to go to the nations for Your glory.
With that said, Ywam Campaigns DTS has heard the call to walk alongside the Ship Tour as they sail around the nation. Our outreach is a 3 week outreach: 1 week in Wellington and 2 weeks in the Bluff/Invercargill area. We will serve the churches, schools, streets, and community with the gospel of Christ (Preaching, Testimonies, Drama/Skits, and serve as a staff team for each ‘Jump Rally’. It is our mandate as a team to serve each community as the Lord would lead.
We believe that the Lord is moving in the nation of NZ and that thousands will be raised up from this nation to go to the nations of the earth-At the ends of the earth at the end of the age-May Christ be exalted and may the King of glory come soon.
Check out the Nz Ship Tour Promo
The New Zealand ‘Marine Reach’ Ship Tour is a Christian ministry/missions to reach the least, the last and the lost! Marine Reach is a mission under the covering of YWAM who use ships to serve the poor and the needy of the earth with food, medical supplies and operations, etc. The Ship Tour is a project birthed from the heart of God through the Tauranga, Nz Marine Reach! The leaders have heard the call of God to donate their ship to the Aussie Marine Reach ministry! So, partly in a farewell, but mostly in an urgency to call Kiwi’s (NZ local) back into intimacy with Christ and the call to jump into missions they took this opportunity to travel around the nation and preach the gospel. The ship will port for several days in several different port cities around the nation of NZ! Before they depart each port city they will host events called ‘NZ Ship Tour Jump Rally’; the events will use several different stratagies to communicate the gospel, such as, live worship, video, presentations, preaching, etc…)
Port Cities: Gisborne, Wellington, Dunedin, Bluff, Timaru, Nelson, New Plymouth and Tauranga!
In 1983 a ship called ‘The Anastasis’ sailed around the nation of NZ-they helped serve a movement that put NZ on the map in the 1980’s for being one of the highest missions sending nations per capita in the earth; today, NZ is one of the least missions sending nations in the earth!
God is calling NZ to rise once again to the calling of intimacy with Christ and the call to take the gospel of Christ to the nations. 20 years ago it was practically a requirement for a missionary to be a theologian, preacher, evangelist, etc… God has opened the door for missions to change; now the only requirement for missions is to have breath in your lungs and a beating heart for Christ and for the nations of the earth. Being a missionary is not about going to Africa for 10 years. It is about having an intimate relationship with Christ and walking in obedience to His word-Yes Lord, I give you my heart and I am ready and will to go to the nations for Your glory.
With that said, Ywam Campaigns DTS has heard the call to walk alongside the Ship Tour as they sail around the nation. Our outreach is a 3 week outreach: 1 week in Wellington and 2 weeks in the Bluff/Invercargill area. We will serve the churches, schools, streets, and community with the gospel of Christ (Preaching, Testimonies, Drama/Skits, and serve as a staff team for each ‘Jump Rally’. It is our mandate as a team to serve each community as the Lord would lead.
We believe that the Lord is moving in the nation of NZ and that thousands will be raised up from this nation to go to the nations of the earth-At the ends of the earth at the end of the age-May Christ be exalted and may the King of glory come soon.
Check out the Nz Ship Tour Promo
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