Hey friends and family! It has taken me a little bit longer than I thought it would to process and write about my time in the Philippines. But here it is!
I also added a few photos but because of the ministry we were doing we could not take or post photos of the girls and people we worked with. But there are some fun ones that give a feel for our time there. 
Ministry:
The ministry we worked with was called Wipe Every Tear. They are based in Angeles city, in the Philippines. They are an organization that ministers to women who work or have been trafficked into the red light district. They offer hope to the women by offering real ways out of the sex trade and cultivating real relationships that reflect Jesus.
Coming into the Philippines, I knew the ministry we would be working with, and I thought I was ready. However, I had no idea how heavy it would really be, and how much I would be impacted by it.
I have heard a lot about sex trafficking. It’s something I have been aware of as a young woman and something I grew up being warned about and heard stories of. However, It is one thing to just hear stories about and a completely different experience seeing it first hand. working with the women and living in an area where you watch it play out right in front of you for a month was heart breaking. A weight our team was crushed by.
Our ministry during the day always looked different but consisted of a mix of meal prep and distribution for the girls, women’s fellowship, safe house visits, and on some days we partnered with a local church to do some rehab and jail ministry. We also had a night of bar ministry where we would go into bars/clubs and talk to the girls. On Thursday and Friday nights/mornings we would prayer walk the red light district and talk to the girls, inviting them to the wipe every tear breakfast that was 2-5am after they got off work. At the breakfasts we would serve and spend time with the girls. Chat about their families, dreams, and Jesus. The goal was to build relationships. If the girls built relationship with staff and came to more breakfasts they had more time to hear about their options and find a way out. A lot of the women who worked or volunteered for the ministry either worked in the bars prior or still do.
How the Lord worked in my Heart:
One of the biggest things the lord showed me through our time in the Philippines is what it really means and looks like to love like him, and what true faith looks like. I came into our ministry in the Philippines with a lot of pride and arrogance. Looking back I would never have thought to describe myself in either of those ways but God has really humbled me. I came into the Philippines thinking I was coming to do this great thing, that I knew how to love others and that I was going to do something for them. That it was about me. After our first day of ministry the lord shattered my spirit of arrogance and pride because I felt helpless. Walking through the streets of the red light and seeing all of the evil, the pain, and the brokenness, I knew there was nothing I could do about it. It wasn’t about me. It never was. It also made me realize how often we fall short. We can never truly love people the way he does on our own. It’s through him all things are possible. Not by our own doing. His love is so great he loves the men feeding into the trafficking industry. The men who would get angry at us for treating the women like human beings. He loves every single manager, bar owner, and worker. When we get angry and bitter towards others, He still loves. He offered up his life for every single one of us. So who am I to think I can walk around and say who he does or doesn’t love. He really showed me how to rely on him and his timing. And when I fall short to call on Him. The Lord gave me a new perspective of others and how to love them more like Him.
He also gave me a new perspective on faith by watching the women who work for Wipe Every Tear. They served the Lord with such strength. Despite the long days and lack of fruit, they never doubted that God would make a way. They would work months and have maybe a few girls come back with more questions or have one girl leave the bars. It was not about the numbers. They had a saying on all their shirts: “she’s worth it.” That’s why they were there. Even if it was just one girl. She’s worth it. And they continue to work, knowing God has a plan and a purpose for them even though they cannot see it. They truly walked in a way that displayed their faith in the Lord.
The Philippines was filled with so many emotions, experiences, and testimonies. If I had the space I could write pages about our time there. The amount of heartbreak and joy that filled our time is something I cannot put into words. The Lord really walked me through it all, and showed me it’s not my burden to carry. All I have to do is trust how he is moving within the ministry and he will water the seeds we planted. I left the Philippines feeling honored that God had invited me into his plan for these women and that I got to play even a small part in growing his kingdom.
Prayer request:
Something that has been on my heart is that the lord would keep my memories and testimonies from the Philippines fresh. We have spent almost a month in Thailand with our new ministry host and it has been incredible. But I don’t want my time in the Philippines to be forgotten while we are here. I want to be present with how God is moving here, but also be able to still reflect on what he did in the Philippines. And that I would take both back with me to share when I’m home as if they just happened.
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