A phrase I have not had much practice with but have heard in the past and one that has become very evident in my life the past month. Coming into the trip, we were told that having no expectations would result in the greatest experience. So that's exactly what I did, I dropped all expectations and left the country with a clean state. This definitely paid off within the first 48 hours of the trip, when we found out the living conditions. This included wifi, inside showers, beds with sheets and some delicious food all the time.
As the trip has gone on it has been interesting what expectations look like on a daily basis and how those can quickly change. Going into each day there is an expectation that whatever ministry you are doing that day will actually happen and there won't be changes. That expectation has quickly gone out the window!
There have been a number of days that we are called to be flexible with ministry for many reasons. We have teams coming and going each and everyday that have an opportunity to experience those ministries so we may all do housework for a day in order for them to have that experience.
Coming from a society where there is structure and expectations of all sorts are basically required it is an interesting thing to be shaken of that and have all expectations go out the window.
Other expectations I had going into this trip that I have struggled to get rid of are of God. I was ready to see God in huge ways, and in the people I met I was expecting them to hear me speak of God and pray for them and have mountains move and their worlds moved. I gave myself this expectation of God and then arriving in the Philippines I became disappointed. I have since learned that I cannot put God in this box and tell him how I want to see him in this place. God is in all things and in all things he is good. SO good. It has been a humbling and cool experience to see and learn how God is in all things, even the smallest smile of a child.
"For from You are all things, and to You are all things, You deserve the glory"
