When I left Iowa for Guam in August of 2010, I was 23 years old. Now I'm 25 and I've been on Guam for over a year. Looking back, it's amazing to see everything that God has worked together. I've spent this last 3 months learning some hard lessons but also some very awesome ones. God indeed has his own plans for our good, and more importantly for his good. Through my Bible reading, classes, and experiences, I'm learning many things about his character and about mine.
Hafa adai, from Guam! As we say in the Philippines, mabuhay!
As I mentioned in my last update, I've been working with the Lutheran Church of Guam youth ministry. Since my last update, I've been to several of their meetings and gotten to know the youth boys a lot better.
This summer, we took the youth on a service trip to Manila, Philippines. Our goal was to provide relief and support to an orphanage and Christian school affiliated with the Lutheran mission there. We spent a few days working at the orphanage caring for the children and doing some house cleaning, providing a much needed break for the orphanage staff. The staff there works a gruelling 12 hours a day, 6 days a week on a meager, support-funded payroll, caring for the children that no one wanted. During our time there we heard heart-breaking stories of grace about these orphans. One little newborn was found in a dumpster with her own afterbirth. Another was found on the floor in the mall. Each of the orphans had their story, many revealing the wickedness of humans, but all revealing the great care of God.
The orphanage stands today to say boldly that every life is precious, even those considered trash by some. Probably the greatest practical gift we brought to the orphanage was a monetary donation equaling about a month's worth of expenses for the orphanage, answering the prayers of their leader who relies completely on God for month to month support. Please consider Concordia Children's Services in your prayers.
The trip impacted both those in the Philippines and our youth as they saw a large amount of poverty and developed a love for people less fortunate than them. After the trip, the Manila team headed back to Guam; everyone except me, that is. I had developed a friendship with a Filipino family on Guam who invited me to stay in the Philippines with their extended family for an extra week and a half. For the next 10 days, I lived in a house in the suburbs of Manila with all Filipinos, eating Filipino food and living Filipino style. I must say, some things about the Philippines were very hard for me to get used to, but I my hosts were incredibly generous in taking care of me.
As a group we travelled to the city of Baguio deep in the northern mountains. The trip was an amazing, trying, but maturing cultural experience.
Aside from working with LCG youth group and being a member of their worship team, I also attend a weekly Bible study with young adults from around the island. The young adults group sees a lot of people come and go. The last person to leave island was one of my best friends and former PIU English teacher Jen. Jen has had a deep spiritual impact on my life and will be missed.
I'm currently living in an apartment with the new PIU English teacher Joey. Joey has also been a blessing in my life and a great room mate.
My friends Nino and Glenda had their baby girl born in late August, the smallest baby Guam has ever seen (a mere 4.8 lbs!). Since they are in need of transportation and it's no longer practical for me to drive them places, I signed the Tercel over to them. I am since without transportation. My friends have been gracious in driving me around as I need, but I'm also walking and riding my bike a lot more. Oh speaking of that bike, I mentioned my situation in front of my pastor here, and he decided to give me his bike on the spot! It's great how God is providing for me through difficult situations.
I'm still attending weekly Japanese lessons with Naoko. My Japanese vocabulary and grammar is steadily growing.
I've learned some valuable lessons recently that I want to share briefly. The first has to do with possessions and generosity. Being a college student, I've never really been on top of my finances. Since coming here I have become the owner of so many things that were given freely to me in my need. One of the more recent gifts given to me was a bed by the PIU Student Life VP. I asked how much he wanted and he said, "$12." However, when I tried to give him $12, he smiled and said, "just pay it forward." Paying it forward... that's a concept that has new life for me. I've been thinking long and hard about all of the gifts given to me, especially by my home church and my parents, both who know full well I can't possibly pay them back anytime soon, at least monetarily. Everyone has had some kind of gift given to them, but since being here, I feel like I've been getting more than I ever dreamed to meet every need. Someday I'll be in a position to be giving gifts. Isn't it like grace? I can't possibly pay God back for that, but I think he wants me to "pay it foward." I think it's that eternal gift he gives us that compels us to give freely. In this way, essentially, every gift is from God. Perhaps this is what James means in James 1:17 "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change."
I'd like to share more lessons I've learned recently, but I'm running short on time for this update. In short, I never stop growing and learning, and I never expect to stop. It's amazing to see all of the good things God is working into me and bad things he's worked out. I can't wait to see what happens next. I'm just praying that he really uses me to bless and challenge others in the coming months. I ask for your continued prayer support and thank you so much for everything since I've come out here!
Grace & Peace,
Kevin Patrick Graham
