For this week:
Tuesday (yesterday), Wednesday (today), and Thursday/Friday (tomorrow/next day) = Davao City Orientation
Saturday – Sunday = Zamboanga Orientation
A lot of days are going to be spent learning the ways of MUPT, why they do what they do, and how they are missionaries of God without having the traditional evangelical approach. Through these orientations, MUPT hopes to guide our ministry we’ll be setting up in Zamboanga (whatever it may be – computer, sports, or teaching English) to be approached/setup in unison as their programs. Also, it helps us as individuals imagine what long term missions would be like if we were to become long-term missionaries with MUPT *wink*.
For me, even though I’ve been through the orientation process already, I continue to learn more about the missions field and understand the need for innovative means of reaching out to people – even if it means putting asside the whole traditional evangelical approach (which is what MUPT does). I know it sounds like it’s not even missionary work from just reading these updates, but please know that there’s a deeper level to MUPT’s Vision and Mission; one that is God glorifying in the end. Although, it will take me a long time to explain through blog, keep coming back to read our updates and hopefully, you’ll see that God’s work is being fulfilled. Otherwise, I can talk with you personally when I get back to the States.
As for updates, here’s what we’ve done so far so:
-Tuesday – we had a day of rest, but since I knew my way around the city, I ended up taking Luke and Eugene to the familar places I’ve been to last year, such as: SM mall, GMall, and Ben and Cheryl’s House. We ate, we fellowshiped, and we ate some more =).
– Weds – had a meeting with Ate Kathy regarding our finances for this trip, took a more indepth city orientation with Cheryl, talked with Ben about some of MUPT’s community involvement under Sinalikway Outreach (SO) [homeless families, street youths at risk, and others] and then went to visit these actual communities during MUPT’s Bi-weekly street walk.
I will post some pictures of the team engaging in the homeless families who live in the park! But apparently, I forgot to bring a memory card reader, so the pictures are stuck on the camera for now.
~Greg