Broken.

I can't get over just how broken this world really is. My heart is heavy and therefore my thoughts might seems jumbled. 







Lets go back in time and see how GOOD and BEAUTIFUL things were before sin entered the world. 

In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light. God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. God called the light "day," and the darkness he called "night." ... And God said, "Let there be a vault between the water to separate water from water." ... God called the vault "sky"... And God said, "Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place, and let dry ground appear." And it was so ... And God saw that it was good. Then God said, "Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land ... "And it was so. And God saw that it was good. And God said, "Let there be lights in the vault of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark sacred times, and days and years, and let them be lights in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth ..." And God saw that it was good. And God said, "Let the water teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth ..." God blessed them and said, "Be fruitful and increase in number and fill the water in the seas, and let the birds increase on the earth."  And God saw that it was good. And God said, "Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds..." And God saw that it was good. Then God said, "Let us make mankind in our image, in out likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock, and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground." So God created mankind in his own image, in the images of God he created them; male and female he created them." God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.

See the theme? It was good. God created everything GOOD. Then he made humans. We were created in His image ... a GOOD image. 


Then what happened? Humans got greedy? Humans wanted the power? Humans wanted more? 

Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had make. He said to the woman, "Did God really say, "You must not eat from any tree in the garden'?" The woman said to the serpent, "We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, "You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die." " You will not die," the serpent said to the woman. "For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will bel ike God, knowing good and evil." When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked...

Humans were banished from the garden. Banished from everything good. There is extreme poverty, children are going hungry, people sleep on the polluted streets, crime has increased, there is much sadness. Things are difficult since leaving the garden. 


Back in our history God sent his Son to live with us, teach us and save us from this utter brokenness. Jesus Christ, is our hope. He was the LAST sacrifice so that we could have LIFE and life abundantly!   


Romans 8 talks about the end goal ... at a certain time when Jesus Christ comes back he is going to renew everything. NO more suffering, no more pain, no more  poverty. All that good stuff will come to life. Isn't that something to look forward to? Doesn't that give us a fire to do something for God ... for the one who gave it all? So, having all that hope how does that make us in the present?  How does that change our life today? How do we participate in the story of God? How do we change this broken world into something good?


Ronald and I are doing what we can in Cebu to aid in the coming of Christ. Failing many times but still striving to the Kingdom.
You don't need to live in a 3rd world country to do Kingdom work, to help renew this broken world ... look around -- there are broken people all over the United States, people longing for hope.


Think about how your actions effect others, think about living simply to help others, think about NOT living to your means. Love people.    



"in the world exists literal starvation and literal nakedness...and at the same time, i can't fit all my clothes in my drawers and have to run because i eat more than i need .... "-- Shanley Deignan. 

Caidy in the US of A

I am Stateside and enjoying every minute with family, friends and supporters!

If you would like to meet up with me while I'm visiting, here is my schedule of when I will be presenting and when I will be where(which is subject to change at any time):

February

            13-23   Nashville

                    Wednesday 15th --   Central church of christ -- presentation night 7pm

                    Sunday        19th --  visiting Central church of christ

                    Wednesday  22nd -- visiting Clarksville Hwy church of christ

            24- 27 Paducah, KY

                    Sunday        26th --  Lone Oak church of christ 

            27-29 Nashville

March

            2/29 – 3/5 Ohio

                    Wednesday  29th --  Meeting and presenting to a new church in Ohio

                     Sunday        4th  -- Amherst church of christ

            5-7 Nashville

            7-9 Atlanta, GA 

            10-30 Florida            

                    Sunday         11^th – Visit with South 14^th St church of christ

                    Wednesday  14^th – Visit with South 14^th St. church of christ

                    Saturday       17^th – RACE DAY! Run a half marathon in honor of the kids of 818 Ministry

                    Wednesday   21^st – Visit with South 14^th St. church of christ

                    Sunday         25^th – Visit with Bellivew church of christ 

                    

 April

            1-23 Rhode Island/PA

                    Sunday       1^st – Warwick church of christ  presentation

                                      10- 12th -- visit with new church in PA 

                                      13^th – West Bay Christian Academy chapel    

                                      23^rd – BACK TO CEBU 

email or facebook message me if you have questions. 

Love you all! 

-Peace.

The year in review

I can hardly believe that it has already been a year since God brought us here to Cebu!

Its been a hard, trying, awesome, wonderful year. 

It is only with God's grace and strength that we could have made it thorough this first year. We are thankful for how active God is in our life and are happy to be on this amazing journey with Him. 

We also could not have made it through without the love and support of you all! Thank you for your constant love, encouragement, mental and financial support! Each of you are our gifts from God and we thank you so very much for allowing God to use to be a light in the lives of people involved 818 Ministry ... CBC, the street children, Lilia's Place church, Ronald and me. 

Here are some highlights from the last year.

 

Ronald and his mom, Erlinda, reunite after 8 years! 

Caidy has had a lot of new experiences, like food shopping. 

We celebrated 2 years of marriage!

Ronald has taught 7 classes Cebu Bible College.

Caidy started working with the Lilia;s Place children.
Starting with their VBS in June 2011 

We met Jesan. We only knew him for 2 weeks before he passed away.
He had a big impact on 818 ministry and we will always remember him! 

Ronald and I have been blessed to know other ministers
in the Cebu area! 

818 Street kids ministry started in June 2011. We now have a
weekly bible study and meal with 20 kids. 

In October we partnered up with Lilia's Place and planted a church
specifically for the Lilia's Place families and other street families/kids. 

We celebrated our first thanksgiving in Cebu with some Filipino friends.
And our American/Filipino couple friends (Andrea and Gephar).

We celebrated our first Christmas in Cebu! 

A CBC Christmas

Ronald and I always have so much fun with the students at Cebu Bible College! The Christmas celebration was no exception. It was a fun filled afternoon of trivia, "secret-santa" gift exchange, gingerbread houses and dinner. We were so excited to share our tradition of gingerbread house making with these 20 young men. They had such a fun time putting their graham cracker walls up with homemade frosting and decorating with a dozen types of candy  ... even though tropical storm washi showed us her powerful rains and winds, the guys still maintained a positive attitude.

Here are some pictures from the fun afternoon:

The group. Waiting for the fun festivities to begin! 

All the secret santa presents. 

Ronald tells everyone an encouraging story

Silly faces. 

The CBC singers share some of their songs with us! They are a talented bunch. 

The construction begins! 

The supplies! 

Vincent's group is working really hard to get the walls to stay up. 

Me and Arlene. 

Paulo group was putting the finishing touches on their house before they begin eating it! 

Leo's group is finished! 

Complete with a snowman and "dust" instead of snow.

Christmas Party on the street

The tuesday before Christmas, Ronald and I along with 5 others went to the streets to visit with the kids. With the help of a very generous sponsor we were able to throw the kids a special Christmas party! We played 3 games -- pin the nose of Rudolph, an egg toss, and a filipino game similar to musical chairs. With each game there were winners and prizes! We had fun prizes --marbles, handheld tetris game, jacks and a piggy bank.

Reading the story of Jesus before the games begin

a Filipino game ... the kids listen to music and dance around the paper, when the music stops the partners have to get on the paper, with each stop the paper gets smaller and smaller ... last team standing wins. 

Chip and Ian had a really fun time! 

Pin the nose on Rudolph 

It was so much fun sharing in these activities with the kids!  I didn't get any pictures of the egg toss but it was by far the most fun I have ever seen these kids having ... the smiles on their faces and the laughter from their mouths brought so much joy to my heart! 

After all the fun games and festivities we gave the kids a delicious meal from Jollibee (that included 1 piece chicken, 2 rice and a coke) and brownies. Lilia's Place also brought yummy cookies to share! 

James Ryan is enjoying his food! He also loves posing for the camera! VERY guapo. 

Kevin also loves posing for the camera! 

Sisters, Jennifer (middle) and Azel with their friend, JunJun (left) showing off their delicious food! 

This was the first day we meet Joshua... He was happy to get in on the fun! He won the dancing game and really loves the food! 

The kids not only had fun games, prizes, a warm meal, and dessert...  we were also able to buy each child a new pair of flip-flops!!! And, because of Lilia's Place each child received a new shirt! The kids were ecstatic about their gifts and even tried on their new shirts and shoes immediately.   

Jack shows off his new blue flip flops. His old shoes were so worn with holes in the soles and torn to pieces. 

Arnold won one of the games and won this fun tetris prize! 

Mark takes a minute to show off his prize of marbles and his bag of goodies --a t-shirt and shoes

Marz sporting her new guitar shirt! 

Kevin loves his new shirt! 

In total we gave out 25 meals, 25 flips-flops, 25 shirts, 5 prizes and a lot of LOVE.

We could not have done this without our generous supporters. THANK YOU so much for loving these kids and sharing what you have to be able to support them in this way. 

if you notice their feet you will see they are all wearing their new shoes

showing off their new shirts! 

A Philippine Thanksgiving

As our family and friends celebrated Thanksgiving in the United States it was just another ordinary day here in Asia. However, we weren't going to let that stop us from celebrating thanks ... after all, we have much to be thankful for.

• We see a lot of poverty here in Cebu and most of the time (not all the time) it is because some ancestor made a poor decision and it sadly set his descendants up for a rough life ... We are incredibly thankful for great families who made good decisions to ensure that we would have great lives. Thank you.  
• Technology. 
• Food on the table and roof over our head. 
• Old friends. 
• New friends. 
• All of our supports that make it possible to be able to do work in this place. Not just our financial supporters, but all of our cheerleaders as well :) 
• Grace. Love. Patience. 
• I am thankful that my first Thanksgiving away from home was a success! 

We had a great time sharing our heritage with some Filipino friends! Andrea and Gepher Lopina opened their home for a wonderful Thanksgiving feast! It was a good time of food, laughs, and new traditions (such as pilgrim and indian hats). 

Love and Peace. 

-Caidy 

Saul

Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him.  He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”

  “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked.

   “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied.  “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”

 The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus.  For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.

 In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, “Ananias!”

   “Yes, Lord,” he answered.

 The Lord told him, “Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight.”

 “Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem.  And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.”

 But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”

  Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”  Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized,  and after taking some food, he regained his strength.

I would like to say that I am Ananias, who faithfully follows the Lord in all circumstances... But sometimes I am Saul, persecuting people around me. Thankfully we have an AMAZING God who uses all sorts of broken people to be His instruments!