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When Doulos Hope entered her annual maintenance period, crewmembers Sophia (Philippines), Godfrey (East Asia), and Esther (Switzerland) went to Taysan, Philippines, to serve the local community. What began as a simple partnership evolved into a story of God’s provision – both for the community and the crew.
But the journey didn’t start with grand plans or perfect timing; it started with prayer.
Upon arriving in Taysan, the crew faced unexpected challenges. Despite their enthusiasm, connecting with the local community seemed difficult. “We walked around the mountain area and didn’t see any children because they were in school; didn’t see any people because they were either working or farther away,” Sophia shared.
Attempts to bond through sports also fell flat. “Godfrey saw a basketball court and wanted to bond with the teens, but again, schedules didn’t match up,” she said.
Feeling discouraged, the crew turned to prayer. “Lord, give us something to do because we don’t want to spend every day just wasting time,” Sophia recalled. They trusted that God would answer their prayers. And He did.
A group of college students urgently needed foreign interviewees for their English finals. Jayvee, a third-year English Language student, explained, “We were struggling to find interviewees because [the people asked] did not like the idea that it [would be] recorded. The whole class was struggling because we could not find anyone.”
Despite their nerves, the students approached the crew, who gladly agreed to help. “They told us that they had asked several foreigners who declined,” Esther explained. “[But] their finals depended on this interview. So it [was] perfect timing – it’s wonderful to see how God made it work!”
Crew were then invited to a youth event, which opened a floodgate of new opportunities. One notable visit was to Ibaan, another municipality in the Batangas province, where refugees of the Taal Volcano eruptions were relocated after their island was deemed a permanent danger zone.
“We got to see how they lived, how their lives were uprooted before and how it affected them. There were many kids, and we got to connect with them with our balloon crafts and illusion performances,” Sophia shared. “This was the first of many answered prayers – the Lord brought more things for us to do!”
Even leisure outings became opportunities. “Another time they took us to Anilao [a world-renowned scuba diving destination], supposedly just to enjoy,” Sophia said. “But Godfrey saw many kids and a ministry opportunity, so we all agreed to return… The next day, the young people from church came with us and they wanted to learn from us.” They taught cultural dances, bonded with youth over basketball and video games and formed deep friendships with an “English-speaking group” of young professionals.
The crew’s time in Taysan, Philippines, is a testament to the power of prayer and God's perfect timing. From feeling discouraged to becoming deeply connected to the community, the journey is a reminder that God often works in unexpected ways.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6.
If this story inspires you, consider how you might pray for God to use you wherever He has placed you. What is God leading you to do?
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