First Month In The Philippines

Thank you to everyone that supported me in getting to the philippines and providing for me so that I can serve in this ministry. I have now been in the Philippines just over a month: already this month has been filled with many ministry opportunities outside of class time. Each of the CBI colleges go through the entire bible through the one year course and during my time as a student in California that was the main focus. Here in the Philippines we go through the bible just the same as the other CBI’s but here the main focus is towards evangelistic ministry. Here in the Philippines I work as sort of the dean of the college although we don't do titles but that is the best way I could explain my role. I oversee the student body and the classes, run the tech work for the classes including sound and video, our website and our youtube channel. That is mostly my work during my set hours 5:30-12:30. Our classes only go to 12 each day and that is where my scheduled work ends as well. Outside this time  work on maintenance around the school and the church as well as maintenance on our two church motorcycles and auto work for the church body. I am also the assistant to the pastor here just doing anything he needs; anything ranging from getting him water to preaching when he is gone. 

I arrived around 2am at the school where I'd be staying. I met two guys who stayed up to greet me. One I'd be living with for only the first week; he was just there for work. The other was also not a student but will be living with me for the year because he also works for the church. We started work right away but we started out slow and with our free time I've been taken around and showed a bit of the Philippines. The CBI campus is located overlooking the worlds smallest active volcano which recently erupted in 2022. It is really great here, the weather has been warm even here in the winter, everything is green and alive: very different than living in the desert in California. The people here are are very kind and welcoming wherever you go. This is definitely a place I hope to stay long term and serve at this church as long as God allows. There are some things that will take some getting used to: the shower is just a big bucket of water and a scoop and there is no hot water. The only way we can cook here is a portable propane burner, but the guy who cooks is very creative and makes amazing food. It also took some getting used to that what I'd always consider a dinner meal is just any meal here, we have rice with every meal and breakfast can be rice soup and liver. I do keep a stash of bread, penut butter and jam whenever I need something American. I've been trying to try all the foods that are offered here despite what it is. Although they know they have some foods Americans would never eat so they've been trying to take me to all those places and having me eat things like balut, grilled pork blood known and betamax, pig and chicken intestines, and many other things.

The main transportation we have here is a motorcycle and a tricycle, or we have the public transportation which are jeepneys. I've never got the chance to ride a motorcycle but I've always wanted one so now I get the chance. The two guys I live with as well as an American who is here as a student spent some time teaching me to ride. Even after leaning to ride it was harder to learn how to drive here. There are no road laws, any lane can be used however you want and you can go whatever speed you want.

Class for CBI was launched by Pastor Jerel Hagerman from California teaching the first week of class on pastoral ministry. Jerel Hagerman is the founder of the CBI organization which there is now over a dozen around the world. This first semester we have four students, two Americans and two Filipinos. It was great to see Jerel again, he was my pastor in California, a good friend and the reason I'm out here in the Philippines.

So far it's been an amazing time here. I love working here and living here. I can't thank everyone enough for the amount of support to get me here.