Where Are the Hidden Cameras? (May Newsletter)

I’ve had several moments this month where I’ve looked around to see if I was on a hidden camera show.  For example, I was really sick at one point this month (I’ll spare you the details), but I was up all night, and while I was sitting on the bathroom floor exhausted, ants and bugs were crawling all over me, and a little gecko tried to make me his new friend.  Far different then being sick in the USA!  

Or how about driving over to a friend who is stuck on the side of the road, and while you help her with her vehicle, the car you came in gets a flat tire.  So there we all were, on the side of the road with a jack that wasn't the right size, trying to balance it on different sized rocks to get it to the right height.  There is far more to this story that I don’t have time to share in this letter, but eventually we got both cars back on the road (thanks to our teammate Tony Gingrich!). 

One morning I woke up to a text from my housemate letting me know the police were on the way because the outside kitchen was broken into and robbed…only to find the only thing they took of mine was mayonnaise.  (They eat mayo sandwiches here :-))  They also took a 1/2 bottle of Coke, bread, eggs and some of my housemates’ appliances.  If only they knew we would have gladly given them that and more!  When the police got there to “fingerprint,” they had to find a feather in the yard to do it…again I looked around for the hidden camera.    

I laugh at these things now, but this is the reality of what my “new normal” is.  I wake up every day not knowing what to expect because I live in a third world country.  Most of my neighbors don’t have power, 3 meals a day, or enough money to ride the ferry to Davao (a mere 25 cents in US dollars).  But I’m here, adjusting to my new normal, and thankful to be here. 

A BEAUTIFUL Sunset in my backyard

With all jokes aside, there is a lot going on here.  Most of my work here will eventually involve the HFAC House of Restoration (aftercare home for children who have been rescued from human trafficking). This is a developing aspect of HFAC, and I am thrilled to be a part of it.  Just last month, your financial support helped put the down payment on a rental home for what will be the HFAC House of Restoration!  It is in a great location, and we are very excited about it.  

Thank you for your love, prayer support, and financial partnership.  I’m thrilled to be serving in the Philippines with you all “by my side.” 

  

Your Missionary,

Bethany 


Please Pray for the Following:

• I still need a language tutor, please pray for the right one! 
• Funds for a Vehicle (roughly $10,000)
• My health 
• Grace with culture shock :)

If financial sponsorship is something on your heart, please see the right hand side of this page for tax-deductible giving information :) 

Transporting pig halves in a "western style" grocery store"

Tuko Lizards outside of my house :) 

April Newsletter: 1 Month Down!!

(This is a very Belated Post!  If you would like to be on my newsletter list via mail or email please contact me at BethanyRayLife@gmail.com) 


I have been in the Philippines one whole month!  Can you believe that?  Time has seemed to expedite itself, and I’m quickly learning that there are no “short days” on the mission field.  Each day is a new adventure, a new discovery, and a new form of joy mixed with exhaustion.  This is not a complaint - I’ve never been so happy.  But the reality is this:  Missionary life is both beautiful and challenging.   

A week after I arrived, we received Benjamin.

It’s beautiful because I get to see the smile of a child receiving what is possibly his or her only nutritious meal all week.  It’s beautiful because I can hold infants who would have been abandoned, but God decided to entrust them to HFAC.  It’s beautiful because I am surrounded by a team of believers that have proven character and have huge hearts for this nation.  It’s beautiful because I live in a breathtakingly gorgeous tropical atmosphere that I get to enjoy on the back of a stranger’s motorcycle. It’s beautiful because I get to see a young girl really feel accepted for the first time as she encounters the love of God. It’s simply beautiful.  

The challenges so far are these: bug bites upon bug bites, heat, the sweat, sketchy internet, the power going out, things taking 5xs longer than they should, the crazy public transportation, etc.  But it is all worth it.  Because everywhere I look I see God’s beauty, goodness, and delight.  

I have been adjusting well and have dived into the schedule of the HFAC team.  The team meets 4xs a week for various meetings dedicated to prayer, worship, administrative duties, meal prep for feeding programs, etc.  I have enjoyed these meetings as they have helped me reconnect with most of the team.

Guilon Elementary School Graduation

One of my favorite events this month was the Graduation Ceremony at Guilon Elementary School.  HFAC has been involved there with our “Feeding Hope” program, where we provide a meal, a short message, and prizes for children who memorize assigned scriptures.  The school was so pleased with HFAC that they invited us to be a part of their graduation ceremony.  Each graduating class received awards and acknowledgements and did a tribal dance!  It was a lot of fun, and I was blessed to be a part of it.   

We also had a “youth fun day” that was a great success with 35+ teens who came to the HFAC property for a time of worship, a powerful message, lunch and games.   The Lord really blessed the event as lives were changed, hearts were healed, tummies were filled and laughter was heard in abundance.  

Thank you all for your love and support - I cannot do this without your partnership.  Thank you for helping me see His beauty here in the Philippines, and in turn, helping others see it too. :-)  

Your Missionary,

Bethany 

Youth Fun Day 2014

Please Pray for the Following: 

• Favor with immigration as I extend my Visa
• The right language tutor and the gift to learn the language
• Protection & Health (specifically with my skin & sinuses) 
• Wisdom for the team & HFAC as it moves forward. 

If Financial Partnership is on your heart, please click the link on the right hand side that will take you to Fire Internationals webpage.   Thank you!