OH NO!….. It was early morning when we got the news . . . an enormous typhoon will be hitting the islands! Ursula, winds up to 121 mph. Soon losing contact with our staff . . . all we could do was pray and try to get the latest updates from the Philippines. We had returned to the US to celebrate the birth of our grandson.
Finally, a message from the team . . . OH NO!
7 of our Masa Ati school classrooms were destroyed. None of the families that we knew were seriously injured in the storm; however, many of the Ati lost the roofs and walls of their simple homes.
We sat dazed by the news. Grateful lives were spared but numb and conflicted that we were not on the island to be a source of comfort to our people.
Days later . . . OH NO! A volcano erupts in the Philippines close to the homes of some of our staff.
Psalm 46: 8 says “Come and see the glorious works of the Lord!
“See how he brings destruction upon the world.”
Is destruction a part of God’s plan?
“God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. So we will not fear, even if earthquakes come and the mountains crumble into the sea. Let the oceans roar and foam. Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge.” Psalm 46:1-3
While on this earth we will never understand the nature of God. “For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:9
Life as we know it has many OH NO’S. In the last twelve months we’ve had a fire burning down many homes on the island, Typhoon Ursula destroying more homes and now the coronavirus that affects us all globally.
Some of you might feel you’re in the middle of a storm, maybe a hurricane of challenges are before you. In the busyness and uncertainty of this world God desires for us to ” BE STILL AND KNOW” that He is God, He desires our attention. It oftentimes takes destruction for our construction to take place.
Our dramatic God has the compassion and ability to awaken, renew and rebuild us. In a beautiful way God desires new growth to spring forth after enduring hardships.
During one of our teaching lessons, Christian from the Ati community illustrates how we grow as followers when we are connected to the Vine. God promises salvation, sustenance and security.
Our mission in the Philippines has been full of so many blessings, lives changed because of Jesus, new running water for an Ati community and an amazing staff who has stepped up to become great leaders to their own people.
Yet in this season of uncertainty, take time when you encounter an “OH NO!” to “BE STILL AND KNOW.“
Please pray for:
1. Funds to be raised to rebuild the classrooms at the MASA Ati School (the classrooms behind Susan, pictured with two of the teachers,
collapsed after the typhoon).
2. A deeper understanding as we continue to learn the Tagalog language.
3. Steve’s continued healing after surgery for a torn meniscus root.
“Rise Up” is a song of hope we recently wrote and recorded for the Ati tribe.
To listen, click on the link below from our website: https://steveandsusanfirstlove.com/song
Thank you so much for your heartfelt prayers and support.
Steve and Susan
steveandsusanfirstlove.com