Sent...: February 2025

A man’s heart plans his way,

But the Lord directs his steps.

- Proverbs 16:9

If I've learned anything in life, it's that things don't always go as planned. This is especially true in the mission fields. And this is a good thing! Because, by nature, we humans are an arrogant bunch. We tend to boast, brag, and pat ourselves on the back when things go well. And we are quick to blame someone or something when they don't. And so, in His love and mercy for arrogant sinners like me, the Lord is constantly reminding me that He is on my side, He has great plans for me, that all things do work out for our good, His grace is sufficient, and that when I am weak, I find that it is then that I am strong in the Lord.

The last several trips and visits I have made have not gone as I planned. And yet, despite the hiccups, delays, and last-minute changes, the Lord has brought blessings, and His work has been accomplished for His glory and His kingdom.

This morning, as I read through Missionary Bruce Naumann's blog post titled Kazi, Kazi, Kazi, I was reminded of that same Swahili word I learned several years ago from Pastor Yumba in the DR Congo. Kazi means "work." Pastor Yumba used it in a different context in the phrase "Kazi ya Mungu." Which translates to "It's God's work." Pastor Yumba utters this phrase a lot when speaking of Kingdom work. It's a reminder that everything we do is God's work. If something goes well and according to plan... "Kazi ya Mungu"...God gets the glory. If our plan seemingly goes off the rails... "Kazi ya Mungu"...God has a better plan! "Kazi ya Mungu" does away with all boasting and helps to put grumbling away. This Swahili phrase comes to mind often as I am traveling and working for Him around the world, and things oftentimes (most of the time, it seems) don't go as I had planned...reminding me that His ways and thoughts are so much higher (and better) than mine.

Things did not go exactly as planned during this visit to the Philippines. Yet in His faithfulness, the Lord brought His blessings according to His plans as He directed our steps.

It all started on the day I arrived. Pastor Jordan was involved in a minor traffic accident. This happened as I was riding the bus from Manila to Baguio City (where Jordan and his family live and work). Fortunately, no one was injured. We had been exchanging texts and making our plans before the accident, and everything was on schedule. But the accident changed everything because the next day's plans had to be canceled so Jordan could spend most of the day getting his car to the repair shop. I got a rest day. Jordan was optimistic that the damage to his vehicle would be limited to the surface, so driving would be safe. That was not the case. There was damage to the frame that needed to be repaired before it could be used again. So, day one of our schedule was canceled, and Jordan scrambled to make alternate transportation plans. The next several days were spent traveling to the places we would visit via public transportation, which isn't the most efficient use of time, but it gets the job done. We traveled on public buses, jeepneys, tricycles, and taxis. It was frustratingly slow and not the most comfortable way of getting from place to place, but we got where we needed to go, and we were able to bring God's word to most of the places Jordan had planned.

To further complicate things, Jordan tripped and fell while we were walking the narrow footpaths to the first congregation we were to visit and severely sprained his ankle. But he soldiered through with a very swollen and painful ankle and foot for the next several days. He was still limping when we parted ways at the bus station. Hopefully, with me gone, he and his ankle will be able to get some much-needed rest and recovery! Keep him in your prayers!

We visited and stayed overnight at the Lutheran Autonomous Mission in the Philippines (LAMP) congregation in Delles in the Cordillera Mountain region in the northern part of Luzon island. The two established LAMP congregations are relatively close, but the roads that connect them take quite a while to navigate. The congregation members can walk via footpaths quicker than you can drive.

While in Delles, several members of the two congregations and a few visitors attended a seminar on the doctrine of Justification. On Sunday, we studied the proper distinction between God's Law and Gospel in Bible Study and worshipped with about 30 in attendance. It was a wonderful weekend of fellowship and growth in our understanding of God's word as we focused on His grace and mercy.

We also made two more trips up into the Cordillera foothills during this visit. The first visit was to the barangay or barrio (village) where Jordan's parents live (both in their 80s) to see the house where they live. This three-story house was built by and belongs to Jordan's sister, but the upper level of the building has been gifted to the LAMP for use as a Pastor/Missionary training classroom and worship sanctuary. The LAMP is also working to establish a preaching station that will become a LAMP congregation according to God's plans.

The upper level of the building is still unfinished, but they plan to begin working on it soon. Once it has been cleaned up and a few minor improvements have been made, they plan to schedule the first, hopefully of many, church leadership training seminars and worship services. The second story of the building has four bedrooms that will work well to lodge the students when they come for training.

Our fourth and final trip up and into the Cordilleras was spent visiting a barangay where the LAMP has a preaching station. We had hoped to conduct a seminar but, as mentioned before, plans changed. Instead, we took the opportunity to visit and bring the comfort of God's word to a woman and her family in the area. The woman is the wife of Jordan's second cousin, who is being treated for breast cancer. In addition to bringing comfort and hope to this family, it was a good opportunity for Jordan to touch base with and encourage this family. He is hoping and praying that this family can be instrumental in establishing a thriving ministry in this area.

While everything didn't go according to our plans, this allowed the Lord to bless Jordan and me with a little extra time to discuss the joys, challenges, and importance of the work our Savior has given us the privilege of doing. There seem to be many opportunities and open doors here for proclaiming the truths of God's saving word. It's easy to feel overwhelmed with just how much there is to do and how little time and resources there are to accomplish it all. Thankfully, by faith, we know that it is Kazi ya Mungu... the Lord's work and He will provide all that is necessary and will bless that work according to His always good and gracious will!

Today, I'm back in Manila... cleaning up the inbox, working on reports, and waiting for my flights home. I will fly from Manila to San Francisco to Saint Louis. This will complete a literal trip around the world. Because I cross over the international date line in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, I will actually arrive 3hrs and 35mins hours before I depart. My flight leaves at 9:55 AM, and I am scheduled to arrive in San Francisco at 6:20 AM on the same day. My mind can't quite figure that one out...but after three weeks in Bangladesh and a little over a week here in the Philippines, I'm ready to gain a day and be home before I leave! On a side note...when discussing this with Jordan and Amabel, Jordan said with a sly grin, "I guess the Philippines are way ahead of America!" :)

Your prayers for safe, uneventful, and on-time flights home are requested and much appreciated!

A brief walkthrough of the Delles L.A.M.P. Congregation

LAMP Hymnal in the Ilocono Language

LAMP Liturgy in Ilocono

Pastor Jordan Palangyos Teaching

Delles Congregation Pre-Serice Singing

Filipino Jeepney - the most common form of public transportation

Filipino Tricycle Ride through the Cordillera Foothills

Pastor Jordan buying meat for the seminar meals.

Future LAMP Classroom and Worship Space

Pastor Jordan and His Father in the Future LAMP Classroom and Worship Space

Future LAMP Classroom and Worship Space on the Top Floor

Bonus Blog for anyone who makes it all the way to the end...

With a whole day to kill in Manila before my early morning departure flight, I decided to do a little sightseeing. A quick Google search told me that Intramuras is the place to see if you only have one day in Manila. Intramuras literally means "inside the walls." This is an old and fortified portion of the city that was originally built by the Spaniards when they colonized the Philippines during the 1500s. The walls and buildings date back several hundred years. This area of Manila served as the seat of government for the Captaincy General of the Philippines of the Spanish West Indies. It has also been the seat of government for the Philippines since the Philippine Revolution in 1898. It was fascinating to visit Fort Santiago, which sits at the edge of Intramuros along the coast and a riverway that leads into the main city.

There is a lot of interesting history to take in, much more than I could absorb in one afternoon. Some of the history is rather sad. One monument within the fort is a single white cross that marks the spot of a mass grave for 600 Filipinos who were held captive, abandoned, and eventually died of starvation in a dungeon as the Imperial Japanese Army fled the islands after the Philippines were liberated by American forces toward the end of WWII in 1945. The corpses of the Filipinos were so decomposed that the individuals could not be identified. When Japan surrendered, this ended a brutal three-year occupation by the Japanese.

Within the fort is also a museum honoring the life and sacrifice of José Riza l, a national hero for his part in the revolution that led to the Philippines gaining its independence from Spain. He was held, tried, and executed on December 30, 1898 at the fort.

The Manila equivalent to the National Mall in Washington, DC, is named Rizal Park. It's just a few blocks away from Intramuros. The most prominent feature in the park is the Rizal Monument, which commemorates this man's life, death, and contributions to Philippine independence. The monument was designed and constructed in the early 1900s when the United States still controlled the Philippines. The U.S. officially recognized Philippine independence when President Truman signed Proclamation 2695 on July 4th, 1946. Having been liberated three different times. First from Spain, then Japan, and finally from the United States, Filipinos have a lot to celebrate on their 4th of July Republic Day.

It was a fun and interesting walk through so much history. Rizal Park has statues honoring the Philippines' past leaders and freedom fighters. There's a lot of history here. I'm kinda glad that I only had a few hours to walk around because now I am looking forward to visiting again!