S.E.N.T. - Lorrayne Castro

Day 9

1/29/2017

This Sunday the groups were split into two and my group went to a church in the mountains. It took a good hour to get there and it was a fairly small church! We testified and sang a few songs and then the pastor asked us to do Sunday school in the spare of the moment. We all looked at each other and just kind of winged it.

Lee Coffey taught the Sunday School, and then Brother Randall then preached the service. The people really responded at the altar call! I got the chance to pray with many and God really moved!

After the service they served us "meriendas" aka "snacks" and then we took off to go back into town to meet with the other group for lunch at the famous "Shakeys".

Day 8

1/28/2017

Today was a fun/touring day. The Petits took us to the local market. We were able to bargain "Filipino style" for a few souvenirs and look at the different fruits and vegetables. Sis. Petit also took us through the meat level of the market and it was interesting to see the different fishes they had. We also went to the mall and had authentic Filipino food for lunch!

Then in the evening, a family invited us for dinner and I got a few recipes! Haha.

Day 5

1/25/2017

Today Sis. Lisa and I and woke up a little bit earlier than normal because we both wanted to go to the morning prayers (5 AM). We then had breakfast with the Petits and attended a "Doing something for God in your single years" class that Sis. Petit taught the seniors.

I am honestly learning so much from this woman of God and she's really given me some amazing advice!

Kendra Powers and Tara Banister then taught chapel and the Lord really challenged the students to be something for God! God has really been moving in such marvelous ways this week and it's such an honor when the girls come up to me wanting someone to talk to and pray with! It's such a great thing to know that we serve a God who moves mountains!

I came to the Philippines to minister and who knew that every day I would be the one God would minister to.

Day 4

1/24/2017

Today, Hannah preached chapel and the Lord moved in such a sweet way. We were also asked to teach in some classes. I was asked to teach the Juniors and Freshmen on alter work. Sis. Petit said that it's a subject that is very lacking and many people don't know how to pray for people anymore. It was truly an honor to be able to teach students the same age as me and even older.

After lunch, we also had the opportunity to pair up with a Student of Faith Bible Institute to teach a bible story at the local public school. We had the opportunity to teach the fifth graders and they really grasped the concept of Creation. God also really helped them to remember the memory verse. I pray that they'll always be able to go back to what these Bible school students have been instilling in them!

God moves in such miraculous ways! Tonight after supper we all were sitting around talking and God just began to challenge and push me. I really felt under conviction and I know that He is trying to mold me on this trip! I pray that I won't go back home the same way I came, but that God would change and mold me to be more like Him!

Day 3

1/23/2017

The day today started out a little more mellow after the busy weekend. We had an amazing morning chapel at the Bible School and God really challenged the students. You would think that because it's the Philippines, bible school students would be so different, but as Brother Petit said, "you can change the skin tone, but people are people". The Lord has been moving in such mighty ways and breaking many chains!

The school then had a minister's conference in which Brother Charles Pahlman taught on how to minister to people dealing with grief. It was an excellent class!

Also, this evening we got the opportunity to play volleyball and basketball with the kids. But a few girls asked if I wanted to go into town with them and with Sis. Petit's permission we walked to get a Jeep.

The ride to town took thirty minutes and the girls insisted that I looked Philippine! Haha! The girls wanted to go get a snack off of a vendor so we tried fried Calamari (squid). They put this marinated vinegar with pepper on them and ketchup. It was actually quite yummy. I also bought some fresh mangos at the Market.

I must confess that I have a testimony, when we got back to the school, I was telling the girls what I ate and Sis. Petit said that I would probably get at the least food poisoning from the squid. Trust me, I felt really dumb for doing it because I honestly didn't know. But God kept me through the night and no sickness came my way! God is faithful even when we do not make the smartest of decisions!

Day 2

1/22/2017

Today we got the opportunity to attend two churches. It was such an honor to be able to testify and sing with people that just have a simple desire to serve God.

In the first church we had the opportunity to do the kids Sunday School, and I was so nervous to do the object lesson as well as the altar call, but God came by and I felt so privileged that an almighty God would choose to use a freshly, imperfect human being like me.

God truly is moving in the Philippine islands and I am so thankful to be a part of it all!

Day 1

1/21/2017

I keep having to tell myself that I am in the Philippines island and it blows my mind at how God has moved to get me here. He has opened doors that I didn't even know existed and told people to give towards this trip that I've never met. I am so thankful for all those who have given and for all the prayers that have been sent our way!

The 13+ hour plane ride and traveling was extremely taxing both emotionally and physically but God has been our strength and have brought us closer to Him in the times where we came up lacking.

Flying into Tokyo, Japan was such an exciting new adventure and one that I will never forget! But there is so much more to this trip then just an adventure. God has been giving me opportunities to tell people about the gospel and has been helping me grow in Him in so many new ways. He has shown me that some people will reject Him because they want to continue to live in their wicked ways but that my job is not to save them, because I have no power in myself, but it is to plant a seed and let Him convict and deal with their hearts. I ask that you continue to pray for this trip and that God would come down and use the SENT team in mighty ways!