I hate this time of year. Being a Christian, I should be longing for this time...Easter, happy celebration, Jesus is alive! yet, here in the Philippnes, it is a miserable time for me. .This week is HOLY week... Normally, that should make someone think of happiness and preparation for the wonderful Easter celebration. No, not here. There are millions of souls marching in the streets, carrying wooden crosses on their backs, walking to the giant church in Manoag, trying to suffer as much as they can..thinking that this will save their souls for their suffering. Some are even nailing themselves to crosses. I was completely grossed out tonight, and have images that have tormented my thoughts.
I was talking to my friend Joanna tonight, and as we saw the pilgrims walking to the Catholic church, thousands of them, she began to tell me her story. Every year, she had done the same thing. They would start walking early in the evening and would reach the church by around 5am in the morning. Walking overnight made the suffering more intense and more pleasing to God. They never went to church for any other reason, other than weddings and Christmas, yet the HOly Week journey was what she thought would help save her soul. Joanna gave her heart to the Lord back in 2004 and has been faithfully attending and working here since. I just really praise the Lord that He called me to be here. Do I get homesick? Yes! Do I want to give up and go home ..at least once a day! But Joanna's words just really put things into perspective for me tonight. I am so thankful that Joanna is no longer wrapped up in empty rituals, and Im so glad that I am here, hopefully to lead more people in the right way.
I was talking to my friend Joanna tonight, and as we saw the pilgrims walking to the Catholic church, thousands of them, she began to tell me her story. Every year, she had done the same thing. They would start walking early in the evening and would reach the church by around 5am in the morning. Walking overnight made the suffering more intense and more pleasing to God. They never went to church for any other reason, other than weddings and Christmas, yet the HOly Week journey was what she thought would help save her soul. Joanna gave her heart to the Lord back in 2004 and has been faithfully attending and working here since. I just really praise the Lord that He called me to be here. Do I get homesick? Yes! Do I want to give up and go home ..at least once a day! But Joanna's words just really put things into perspective for me tonight. I am so thankful that Joanna is no longer wrapped up in empty rituals, and Im so glad that I am here, hopefully to lead more people in the right way.
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