Back to School

The school calendar in the Philippines is a few months ahead of the States. We just finished up summer break and school is back in full swing. I wanted to post a few things about the schools here. Because the Lord has given us opportunities to be a part of a lot of children's lives, we want to ask you to pray for those children in specific ways.

 The schools here are basically homogenous. They all look very similar and seem to function in the same way. Most of them look like this from within. There are a few buildings, flowers and plants, and a courtyard.

The schools teach both the Filipino (Tagalog) and English languages. In Tagalog this says "Me and my family." (How exciting that we now speak enough Tagalog to keep up with the elementary kids :)

 You can count on adorable, smiling faces at any school you visit. And they LOVE pictures.

Filipinos also learn much about their culture while in school. Because of such a mixed culture in the US, we don't really have much to learn. I find posters like these really interesting. Jose Rizal who you see pictured is their 'national hero' and a barong is attire for a special occasion.

This is the part of school that I want to share most with you. These idol statues of Mother Mary are found all over the Philippines: in schools, homes, businesses, roadsides, etc. She is worshiped by many. Roman Catholicism in the Philippines is very different from what I've understood about Catholicism in the States. Many families here will offer money and food to these statues as well as those of other saints. It's a huge system of works that leads to emptiness. The part of this that burdens me most is the teachings that children receive in the schools. They are taught many catechisms and priests come to the schools weekly and encourage children to confess their sins. From my own observation and from stories I've heard from friends my age, the children are very confused and thus begin to follow the cycle of religion that many Filipinos are caught up in. In rural areas like Aurora, there isn't really another choice but to have your child indoctrinated at the public school.

While many Christian families have taken a stand to request that their child does not have to attend confession or learn how to worship the saints, other families do not know any difference because they were taught the same rituals during their school years. Good works and charity, proper worship and idolatry; it's all a way of life here.

But we are praying for something different in the lives of the kids we know and love. We know it's possible as we've seen transformed lives who were touched by the ministry of our partners Barry & Lilia. This is why we want to be a part of discipling them. We're praying this new cycle of following Jesus will continue and the old cycle of religion will be broken. We're praying these kids will even impact their parents and families. We pray they will follow Jesus with all that they are. We pray they will see with their own eyes the difference in the religion they've been taught and the Scriptures they read with us. We pray they will know and believe and understand who their faith is in.

Join us in praying on Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays as we spend intentional time with three different groups of kids. And of course for the normal life, unplanned times as well. Pray they will always see Jesus in us and that we would trust the Holy Spirit to draw them evermore to Himself.

Love you all!