The Road to Anabel

Near the end of our outreach Team B finally got to fulfill the mission of a weekend village visit. Because of all of the typhoons that hit the area in our 2 months in Bontoc, most of our village plans were cancelled due to landslides and road blockages.. no bueno for traveling with young children. As the weekend approached I was nervous. Nervous for sleeping on the floor in the middle of the jungle. Nervous for language barriers. Nervous that the love and message of Jesus Christ wouldn't be seen or displayed in me. Nervous that my daughter would freak out about being in different conditions.. the list goes on. The entire thing was walking into a world of unknowns for me.. and although I was excited to embrace and walk forth into something new.. anxiety set in. This was paired with it coming to the end of outreach.. complete exhaustion had fully set in after Bella's hospital stay and feelings of "I just want to get home" had set in amongst many of us.

Little did I know that God knew just what our team needed. It had rained the night before and I was sure that our trip was going to be a wet one.. and honestly, I began to dread it. The morning that we were set to leave we awoke to glorious sunshine. We got everything loaded into the jeepney, and thanks to the kindness of my team mates Bella stayed inside while this mama got to take in the scenery from on top of the jeep with three of my favorite people.

That ride marked the beginning of realization for me. Realization and confirmation that the whole process of Crossroads WAS indeed and DID in fact change me. Cemented my beliefs. Rocked my world. Built a fire for my passions to blaze upon. I realized that it's ok for me to be exhausted...kicked down.. heart-broken.. and weary because I have a God who is going to get me through it and in the process develop in me a whole new strength and perspective. A God who so gladly brings sunshine when only rain is expected simply to delight the heck out his children.. and these sights..these sights that leave us simply in awe struck wonder of His creation.

I realized that there will be plenty of roadblocks and wash-outs..times that leave you in absolute frustration and confusion and bring plenty of "why's" and in these circumstances.. wait patiently, and if necessary, just build whole new road and a whole new way to get on with the journey.

  And when you have succeeded at that.. He will bring you to a little place to show you just how strong you really are.. but more importantly, how strong HE is.

I think I took more pictures during our 2 days in Anabel than I did for the rest of the 2 months we were in the Philippines. As simple and as quick as this trip was, it will forever hold a place in my heart- and I know without a doubt that we will go back there someday... More about the rest of our Anabel trip to follow!