Eighteen students and staff from Forest Lake Academy embarked on an eleven-day mission trip to the village of Binalbagan, Philippines. (Photo: Maxwell Ditta)
by Grant Hagen
It was September 2015. Mrs. Fely Rugless, information technology director, was on stage in a chapel program announcing an opportunity to travel half-way around the world.
Destination — the Philippines, to a school we learned was partially built as a result of proceeds from a Forest Lake Academy Student Association gala five years ago.
My mind was transfixed by the possibility of going on the school’s mission trip to the Philippines. I heard the voice of the Holy Spirit tell me that I was to go on that trip. Through the generosity of many church and family members, along with multiple school-sponsored fund raisers, my fund-raising goal was met. Eleven other students and I were ready to leave for the Philippines on March 3, 2016.
When we arrived at the school in Binalbagan, we were greeted by many smiling faces. Students welcomed us with cultural dances and gave us flowers made of paper and colored cellophane. It was overwhelmingly appreciated.
That evening, as we organized the worship program, we felt a little discouraged thinking we were under prepared to be doing peer-to-peer ministry. It seemed as if the students there had so many more talents than we had to offer. Feeling moved to let Jesus shine and not ourselves, we still knew God would use our talents, and that would make the difference. Our theme song became, Shine Jesus Shine.
This point was made clear in an entry by Ariana Nickless, one of our mission team members. She kept a daily journal and, at the bottom of each entry, she would write a life lesson she learned that day. The lesson she wrote on the first day stood out to me: “Don’t focus on what you’re doing wrong. Focus on God, and [everything] will work out.”
On the second day, our team was divided between the four classes of the school, grades 7 through 10. We spent the week in these small groups of about 25 students. We led worship, played games, made crafts, shared stories, and talked about God.
In the afternoons, we visited the homes of the students to give their families a book of Bible promises and offer a prayer over the family and home. We returned to the school each evening and held an event for all the kids in the area. Each day, our medical team went out in the village sharing health talks, measuring blood pressures, and handing out vitamins, tooth brushes, and care kits.
One team member, Jonathan Batchelder, spoke of a student, Vanissa Enegrio. She compiled a notebook for the days we were there with a message for each of us. “She skipped meals for three days so she could afford to complete it,” said Jonathan. This shows the generosity of these students who clearly live with so little.
On the last day of our mission, four students, one from each class, gave a prepared speech about how thankful they were that we came. Everyone was in tears because of the love that was shared. It was very tough for all of us to say goodbye.
We learned two major things on this trip: to trust in God wholeheartedly and to give of our resources unrelentingly. Because of the students at Binalbagan school, we came away with a greater sense of God. We will never lose sight of this. Praise the Lord!
It was September 2015. Mrs. Fely Rugless, information technology director, was on stage in a chapel program announcing an opportunity to travel half-way around the world.
Destination — the Philippines, to a school we learned was partially built as a result of proceeds from a Forest Lake Academy Student Association gala five years ago.
My mind was transfixed by the possibility of going on the school’s mission trip to the Philippines. I heard the voice of the Holy Spirit tell me that I was to go on that trip. Through the generosity of many church and family members, along with multiple school-sponsored fund raisers, my fund-raising goal was met. Eleven other students and I were ready to leave for the Philippines on March 3, 2016.
When we arrived at the school in Binalbagan, we were greeted by many smiling faces. Students welcomed us with cultural dances and gave us flowers made of paper and colored cellophane. It was overwhelmingly appreciated.
That evening, as we organized the worship program, we felt a little discouraged thinking we were under prepared to be doing peer-to-peer ministry. It seemed as if the students there had so many more talents than we had to offer. Feeling moved to let Jesus shine and not ourselves, we still knew God would use our talents, and that would make the difference. Our theme song became, Shine Jesus Shine.
This point was made clear in an entry by Ariana Nickless, one of our mission team members. She kept a daily journal and, at the bottom of each entry, she would write a life lesson she learned that day. The lesson she wrote on the first day stood out to me: “Don’t focus on what you’re doing wrong. Focus on God, and [everything] will work out.”
On the second day, our team was divided between the four classes of the school, grades 7 through 10. We spent the week in these small groups of about 25 students. We led worship, played games, made crafts, shared stories, and talked about God.
In the afternoons, we visited the homes of the students to give their families a book of Bible promises and offer a prayer over the family and home. We returned to the school each evening and held an event for all the kids in the area. Each day, our medical team went out in the village sharing health talks, measuring blood pressures, and handing out vitamins, tooth brushes, and care kits.
One team member, Jonathan Batchelder, spoke of a student, Vanissa Enegrio. She compiled a notebook for the days we were there with a message for each of us. “She skipped meals for three days so she could afford to complete it,” said Jonathan. This shows the generosity of these students who clearly live with so little.
On the last day of our mission, four students, one from each class, gave a prepared speech about how thankful they were that we came. Everyone was in tears because of the love that was shared. It was very tough for all of us to say goodbye.
We learned two major things on this trip: to trust in God wholeheartedly and to give of our resources unrelentingly. Because of the students at Binalbagan school, we came away with a greater sense of God. We will never lose sight of this. Praise the Lord!
(left) Bailey DuBose and Daniel Gonzalez prayed with families during home visits. (Photo: Lucy Fincher) (right) Jonathan Batchelder checks a woman’s blood pressure during a home visit. (Photo: Pamela Hile)
Team Members were: Judel Ditta, Maxwell Ditta, Johanne Etienne, Lucy Fincher (Leader), Floyd Fincher, Pam Hile and Fely Rugless, FLA students: Michael Baranda, Jonathan Batchelder, Tyler Braithwaite, Dan Catangay, Bailey DuBose, Danyla Etienne, Daniel Gonzalez, Grant Hagen, Garren Miler, Jessica Nephew, Ariana Nickless, Christina Nickless.