Saturday, July 27th, Metro Manila, Philippines

Saturday morning marks our 10th day here in the Philippines.  It has been a very busy time, with a steep learning curve as I (Todd) attend meetings with various leaders and just start to scrape the surface of what will be involved in this new position as Communications Coordinator for the Asia-Pacific Region.  It has been a time of adaptation, mostly with regard to climate, as we arrived during the rainy season and are learning to adapt to the heat and humidity.  We definitely don’t have to worry about dry skin – we are sweating most all of the time, day and night!  

There is adaptation to grocery shopping as well.   We are learning what things are available, what things are within our budget, and what things are not.  Connie and Courtney have spent a few hours in the grocery stores, cruising up and down the isles, finding the things they will need to make meals and set up our home.  In fact as I am in Metro Manila this morning, Connie and Courtney are with another missionary, being introduced to a new grocery store that is suppose to have a better selection.

There is also adaptation to the traffic.  No this is not a parking lot, this is traffic, all ebbing and flowing down a street.  Motorcycles are everywhere, and the one above is working his way across the flow of traffic.  I am amazed that in the driving we have done over the past 10 days, we have only seen one accident.  There is just a universal common understanding between the drivers of who goes, who stops, and it all takes place in the midst of beeps and honks, motorcycles, motor tricycles, pedestrians, and street vendors.   Better than any video game!

Monday night last week,  the World Missions Communications – Asia-Pacific team hosted a welcome dinner for Connie, Courtney and I.  It was held at Dr. Bill and Mill Kwon’s residence (Director of WMC-AP).  It was a great time of fellowship as we were able to become better acquainted with our team. 

Last Sunday we were blessed with the opportunity to worship with the congregation at the Taytay Church of the Nazarene, located about 1/2 mile from the Asia-Pacific Nazarene Theological Seminary.  They have an incredible ministry to their community.  Services in Tagalog and English, and then a Sunday evening service called “Generation Congregation” that reaches out to the youth and young adults.  It is impacting an entire culture that has been unreached.  In addition, the church has a weekly Saturday program where they reach out to around 250 children, providing a healthy meal as well as evangelistic outreach through bible teaching, games, and crafts.

And now…why on top of Manila?  I am writing this morning’s blog as we are broadcasting “Perfect Rhythm” from the top of one of the tallest buildings in Manila. 

The one hour, weekly broadcast, through Far East Broadcasting Company in conjunction with World Mission Broadcast, is hosted by Nazarene Youth Pastor and Philippine Radio Host, Jordan Escusa.  Jordan plays contemporary music that appeals to the youth culture, and then works in his message that is usually taken from what he preaches at Taytay Church of the Nazarene to Generation Congregation.  While broadcasting, social media is streaming.  Today’s message was on being a peace maker.  One of Jordan’s listener’s tweeted, “Tomorrow I will approach the person I have hurt, and will ask  for forgiveness.”  If we stopped right now, our mission would have been accomplished for the day.  While we are broadcasting in the Philippines, the reach is global, thanks to modern technology.  A listener tweeted in from Los Angeles, “I am always listening to Perfect Rhythm.”  (8-9pm Pacific time each Friday Evening.  How to listen online.

This is what it is all about.  Making Christlike disciples in the nations by all means possible.   Thank you for your incredible support and partnership with our family and with Global Missions as together with Christ, we make impacts for the Kingdom!

Posted from Todd while traveling.