'Going Camping'

I started something new this year called 'Going Camping.'  I love backpacking, hiking and campfires; I thoroughly enjoy fresh fish tacos and blue lakes in the mountains.  I even enjoy a 50 pound pack strapped to my back and the work that comes with it.  The cool breeze, sleeping under the stars, life can't be much better.  This summer I hope to tackle the Eastern Sierras and venture high elevations on long, arduous walks to simply bask in the freedom of the outdoors.  

As a Christ follower, I too love to spend time daily with my Master, hanging out, meditating, talking and listening to His tender quiet voice.  The Word instructs us to not allow His Word to depart from us and that we should meditate on it day and night so we may have a fruitful life (Joshua 1:8).  Well, in light of this, I'm trying something a bit different this year for what I call 'alone time.'  Namely, I've been 'Going Camping.'  Well, not in the conventional way; rather, I've been 'Going Camping... Spiritually.'  In other words, I've been picking one section of scripture a week to camp out with.  My thought: there are 52 weeks a year and if I can pick one camp site a week, I will have hidden 52 nuggets of truth in my heart for 2013.  

Thus far, I've camped at and learned:

Week one: Philippians 1:9-11 – I'm to abound more in love 

Week two: Romans 11:36 – life is about, for and because of Him

Week three: Colossians 1:28 – Randy, point people to Jesus

This week, my destination is 1 Peter 4:11.  This is a great passage to walk with, a great verse to sit with, reflect upon and apply.  You see, Peter is instructing believer’s who have been forced out of Jerusalem due to persecution to speak as if they are speaking on behalf of God.  And, when they serve, they are to serve only with the power that He provides.  Talk about a trail that is a challenge; talk about a route that is convicting.  Further, Peter sums up his heart when he writes, “… that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ…”  

To be honest with you, this is a tough road to walk for me.  I many a time forget to listen before I speak; I all too often do before I think about a consequence.  And, I truly have a narcissistic way about me – many a day is about Randy and not about my Lord.  Ok, enough self deprecating, that’s not productive.  Rather, the encampment called 1 Peter 4:11 invites me, with His strength, to be His spokesman and His servant to a world that desperately needs His love.  In so speaking and doing, the end result is that my journey brings Him glory and honor.  And further, my satisfaction and purpose in life is totally linked and dependent upon bringing Him praise. 

Well, my encouragement - go camping and sit with God.  Psalm 46:10 says, "Be still and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!"  Seriously, there isn't a greater privilege in life than to be in relationship with our Creator.  Blessings to you and as the new phrase goes, 'Peace Out!' 

Life Lessons

I just returned from a village called Barangay Handumanan.  My dear friends, Joe and Billy, have been loving and serving 'at risk' children for over twenty five years in this district of Negros Occidental, Philippines.  Their family is over 180 children; and yes, I use the word family with intention.  You see, every child, every teenager is treated, considered and cared for as blood; in fact, the warm welcome our team received was one of the most tender moments I've experienced in my 52 years of existence.  Seriously, words are insufficient to articulate the love my heart feels for my family in the Philippines.

This trip was yet another amazing time, full of lessons and convictions.   As a missionary, my intent is to travel to the 'ends of the earth' to share my love for God, a calling I take with great sincerity and passion.  I always intend to be a blessing, however, I must confess, in my over 25 trips overseas, from East Africa to the South Pacific, from the Middle East to Southeast Asia, I always come home the one blessed, the one changed and the one challenged.  This trip was no different; actually, if I'm brave enough to be vulnerable, I must admit this experience has shaken my spirit in crazy good, life changing ways.  For example, here's a few highlights that exposed my some of my foibles:

·         Pure joy - my family at the Rosmarino home work, serve and play with a joy that only comes from within.  It's a joy that truly puts the other first, it's a joy that says you're more important and it's a joy that humbles my heart.  From the 5am grass cutting outings that feed the cows, to the saw dust afternoon excursions that help eliminate the stench that comes with farming.  From the 1 hour manual dish washing team that works feverishly three times a day in the kitchen to the manual laundry room team that cleans soiled clothing daily, not once did I hear a complaint, a sarcastic comment or a negative remark.  All I heard were smiles (yes, smiles speak load and clear), words of encouragement and even touches of love.  These precious brothers and sisters of mine struck a chord in my humanity that truly confronts the motives and the attitudes of my heart when it comes to my daily journey...

·         Compassionate lifestyle - Aida is my friend.  We're pretty close in age, though I'm sure I have a few years on her.  Aida's main role in life: to love and care for a young man with Cerebral Palsy named Moses.  Whether it is 2am or 2pm, she is available to serve this precious young teenager whenever he needs assistance.  Oh, Aida does so much more: she cooks, she cleans, she teaches; she loves, she worships and she embodies what Christianity is intended to be.  After 15 hour days, Aida's 'I love Jesus' smile is the most precious attribute anyone could ever possess.  Aida, once again, taught me that life isn't about her - life is about the investment of one's resources to make the other comfortable, welcomed and loved.  Thanks Aida for the reminder...

·         Abundant life - this young girl touched my heart deeply, so deep that tears come easily when I think of her.  Eloisa is 15 or so, and she too has a debilitating condition.  Her speech, her motor skills and her communication is hindered by her disease.  However - are you ready?  Every time she strolls by you, she belts out a worship song.  And, she sings with diction, perfect pronunciation and a beauty that is truly music to one's ears.  Last week, I was eating my dinner and she walked by me with her caregiver.  She looked me and she began to sing, "You have given life me!"  Tears ran down my face as she sang of her gratitude and thankfulness to God; when she finished, she could not contain herself.  She jumped up and down repeatedly, clapped her hands and yelled out, "YEA! YEA! YEA!"  Oh, I wish I could play the video I took of her - it was one of those moments that I will take into eternity with me.  Eloisa, I love you sister - you are a such a blessing to me...

·         Genuine faith - our excellent team leader, Brandie Bledsaw, had a vision last year of starting an outreach called 'Love In Action.'  This practical means of spreading God's love came to fruition at the public hospital where we passed out love bags full of goodies on two different occasions.  Last Saturday, after we gave out over 250 love bags to hurting patients, we were positioned to head back to our home when we discovered a hurting young boy laying on his mother's lap outside of the ER.  Billy, known as Nanay, immediately walked over to provide help.  She directed the team to buy medical supplies, began to assist the mother, deployed Khenna Marie (a former child and student at the home & now the head nurse) to provide her medical expertise.  What impressed me so much was their willingness to drop everything to help.  This boy, Ropurt, had an explosive go off and glass particles pelted his body and he suffered multiple burns.  Billy and Joe (Tatay) volunteered to bring this lady, her sister and the hurting boy to their home, at NO charge, to provide the medical help that would save his life.  Can you imagine? Burn victims take weeks, if not months, to heal and yet, the Rosmarino's were more than willing to offer their home as a place of refuge to display what I call authentic Christianity.  Thanks guys for displaying "... as you do for the least of these, you've done it unto Me!"

I could go on and on with story after story, lesson after lesson of my two weeks in Barangay Handumanan; an experience that overwhelms my thoughts and life.  I guess the transformational principle, if you will, is joy, compassion, abundance, and realness come from within.  One simply can't conjure up joy or compassion; one surely can't manufacture abundance or genuine faith.  Truly, these characteristics of the Rosmarino home come from above; and, I submit, these traits aren't something they do, rather, it is who they are.  And, I'm convinced, it's because of Whose they are!  Thanks for reading, I pray my experience was a blessing for you!

Family at it's best - we love you!