Taclaban, Philippines Dec 2013

Remembering Taclaban, Philippines, Dec 2013
A Cross hanging upside down

12 days of Xmas in Taclaban

a cross hanging upside down on a shattered steeple, a grey dawn heavy w rain, Silent Night heard in the distance,

bells peeling, loud clanging, unashamed, with courage, calling the huddled masses, young and old, scouring thru the debris, honoring the birth of their Savior, 

remembering His body, "for to them 'it is to live in Christ, and to die was their gain", honoring their love ones, thousands gone to glory to be with their Lord; Paul was speaking loudly from his Epistle Philippians to us in this modern day disaster Typhoon Ylonda. that hit the Philippines Nov 6, 2014 right where we NC Baptist Men and Women had come t offer help.

Our group led by another Paul, awaking on the church floor, slid out of our mosquito nets, sat and watched w amazement, the joy, the resilience, the praising, singing,

Merry Xmas they sang out as they passed; we 8,  had our own bewilderment, 10,000 miles from home, missing our loved ones, came to help w medicines, clean water,

hopefully to comfort-yet I  needed comfort; then "let each of you look not to your interest, but to the interest of others',: 'Christ Jesus, though in the form of God, humbled himself, taking the form of a servant'--I honestly struggled w my own discomfort and immaturity: I was not sure of my endurance;  Please Holy Spirit, comfort me--

staying in a church with roof third gone, plumbing gone, noisy generator, 'working out our own salvation with fear and trembling', buckets of well water for our bodies, seeking a peace that passeth understanding; and yet, I struggled---I needed Paul's 'learning to be content in whatever state I am in--I can do all things thru Christ that strengthens me--'

The days of clinics, hundreds with physical needs, many without homes, only make shift things, scraps, tarps, everything gone, big piles of belongings all along the roads, snaggled tooth grandmother w headaches, babies at distraught mothers' breasts, a 12 yo girl by the wonderful name of Mary Joy, and her joy actually beaming out, an angel proclaiming: 'I will bring you GR888 Joy'--they were looking for more than their physical hurts and needs, they wanted our prayers, affirmation that they had not been forgotten, and they said "Salamet", thank you for coming!!!

we all  needed Paul's admonition to press on, for them and us, 'forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward to the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus'--these people in their moment were the epitome of the message of Philippians, amazing that God inspired the name of this book as well for the Philippine people for now!!!

College students practicing Michael W Smith's Christmas songs over and over, for their cantata, like our own youth back home giving morning by morning, new mercies--just listen and see--(Amazing that Great is Thy Faithfulness was the first hymn sung at the first Sunday there in that church!)

Christmas Day was just like Phil 4: 8--you know it: 'Finally brethren, whatever is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, gracious, anything of excellence, worthy of praise, think about these things--do these and the God of peace will be with you--'

The students sang MWSmith's cantata just like that verse with joy and hope!!  With tears of relief and joy myself,  I heard the pastor preaching from John 16--I heard again in my heart for several years now:  'My peace I bring to you, you will have troubles, fear not, have courage, take heart, I have overcome the world--'

 Under a cross hanging upside down, under a shattered steeple, people standing strong, hope never ceasing, God supplies our every need, according to His riches in the glory of Christ Jesus--forever and forever,

Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas, and love,  Amen