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The Philippines taught ‘many lessons
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SBC president Rob Reimer is privileged to lead students on MX3
STEINBACH, Man.—In January of this year I had the privilege of leading 12 of our third year students on Mission Exposure 3 to the Philippines. Like many people, I have wondered what really happens on an MX3 overseas trip— is it really a significant experience for our students? How does it benefit our students? My questions have been answered and I am pleased to share with you the impact of our experiences.
After 33 long hours of travel, our Philippines host Carl Loewen, an EMC missionary, met us at the Manila airport, taking us on the last leg of our journey—the one hour drive to Second Mile. We arrived around 1:30 am, thoroughly exhausted, but excited that MX3 Philippines had finally begun.
Our first days were spent in orientation, some initial exposure to Filipino culture, and overcoming a 14-hour time zone difference from Steinbach. During our first weekend in the Philippines, we went individually or in pairs to spend time with Filipino families. We lived with people we had never met, in a culture we were not familiar with, ate food we had never had seen or tasted before, and in a setting that was very different from North America.
Understandably, our students expressed some fear and anxiety before leaving, along with anticipation of what God was going to do through this challenge.
All of us experienced tremendous hospitality and acceptance from total strangers during the home stays. It was
Pastor Lino dela Pena, EMC missionary Carl Loewen, and SBC president Rob Reimer. Pastor Lino has been the houseparent at Honest Hands (a discipleship ministry) for the past three years, works in street ministry, and is church planting in a “squatter” community.
amazing to us that the common link of love for Jesus and our desire to passionately follow and serve Him was all that was needed to have fellowship with each other. It was during this weekend that we fell in love with the Filipino people.
Throughout the week we served in a variety of ministries. Some of the ladies served at Micos Clinic, a medical clinic for the poor, by sharing their faith and praying with the patients.
Through MX3 we discovered that God uses our inadequacies and clumsiness to encourage others and build up the Kingdom.
The other ladies served at a private Christian elementary school sharing about our culture and enjoying interaction with the children. The men helped disciple the students at Second Mile in the mornings and working on a roofing project sponsored by EMC’s Project Builders in the afternoons.
The second weekend was spent working with the poor in Manila. On Friday and Saturday we distributed food, sang, shared our testimonies and played games with some of the people living on the streets and in squatter villages. Our hearts were broken for the people living in such decrepit, indescribable conditions, but our hearts were also broken for the spiritually impoverished. We talked about how God was transforming our view of the spiritually poor in our own communities and country.
Through MX3 we learned many lessons. We witnessed that joy is not a by-product of wealth and a life of luxury, but rather a result of knowing Jesus and having fellowship with other believers. Secondly, we discovered that God uses our inadequacies and clumsiness to encourage others and build up the Kingdom.
Finally, we examined our own lives and wrestled with how we can better live out our faith as we return to Steinbach. SBC’s goal and vision to train servant leaders for God’s kingdom is furthered in experiences such as MX3. We are encouraged to see God’s hand at work, shaping the hearts and lives of the students who seek to follow Jesus and hear His call. Rob Reimer, President, Steinbach Bible College
