sweetness is evidence of God “putting eternity into our hearts” and its good and right that we feel like this.The sweetness was in rejoicing in all that God accomplished through us and in us. By God’s grace we were able to make more progress on the building then we ever thought or imagined. On this final day we completed the first floor electrical work and poured two more beams and laid a few more layers of bricks. The team also did the final installation of the new backboard and rim on the community basketball court. It was hard for the team to so goodbye to the Filipino workers. God has given us sweet fellowship with these brothers and sisters over the past two weeks.
By God’s grace we also were able to fulfill our teaching responsibilities and help equip pastors for preaching and teaching God’s word with clarity and passion. On this last day the pastors received teaching on “The Purpose of Communicating God’s Word” and a closing service. We trust that we were able to come alongside of what PTC has already been teaching and add another layer to encourage and strengthen what they have already learned. We trust also that God was able to use us to express His gratitude and encouragement for their faithful work and that God used this to strengthen their faith in Him for their calling. The Conference was closed with certificates of completion given to the participants and to the CrossWay Construction Team for their sacrificial service.
By God’s grace we also have a greater understanding of God, a greater love for God’s church from every tongue, tribe, and nation, and a greater sense of God’s calling our on lives. We have learned from our brothers and sisters in Christ what joy, and faithfulness, and gratefulness to God looks like without the material possessions, and comforts, and luxuries that distract and tempt us. We have learned what hard work, and humility, and love for God looks like.
The bitterness is in leaving behind brothers and sisters in Christ with whom God has given us great affections. Many intimate relationships have been built, we have experienced the love of Christ through one-another, and we have been a mutually source of encouragement to run hard after Jesus Christ. There is also bitterness in leaving a building behind that is not yet complete. W
e all look forward to the day when we will see the building completed.We ended tonight with a time of fellowship with the PTC Leadership Team. We worshipped God together, heard testimonies of God’s amazing grace over the past two weeks, encouraged one-another, and closed our time together by praying for the PTC and CrossWay Community Church.
This will be the last blog entry until our return. Tomorrow will be consumed with a time of rest, packing, and commencing our travel. We depart the Philippines at 10:00 p.m. Friday, arrive in L.A. 5:00 p.m. Friday, depart L.A. at 11:00 p.m. Friday, and arrive in Chicago at 5:00 a.m. S
aturday.Please pray …
1. …for safety in our travels home and continued health for the team.
2. …for the Filipino workers and volunteers who will complete the construction of the building.
3. …for joyful, effective, and God-centered one-another ministry as we travel back to the United States.
4. …for the Filipino pastor’s who are preaching and teaching God’s word, doing the work of an evangelist, and leading and caring for their churches.
5. …for fellowship with the team as we share testimonies of God’s grace in our lives while in the Philippines.
6. …for our encouragement and strengthening of the PTC Leadership Team as we prepare to depart the Philippines.
7. …for our families back home, their safety and health, joy and gratefulness in their calling, vision for how they are serving the gospel in the Philippines, and fellowship with one-another.
