I was not planning to attend Balikatan this year. In fact, I previously just attended one, in Chicago, and that was because of a reunion of members from Xavierville Bible Church following Balikatan. Also I don’t have dugong IVCF, not having been directly involved in student ministries while I was a missionary in the Philippines. But my life did intersect with many IV people especially at Diliman Bible Church and XBC. I should introduce myself to many who don’t know me. I served in the Philippines with Overseas Missionary Fellowship, formerly the China Inland Mission. Some of you may be familiar with Hudson Taylor, founder of the CIM in 1865 and pioneer missionary to China. He was a real pioneer including taking single women in the groups of missionaries he took to China for ministry, wearing Chinese clothing, etc. I remember arriving at the Manila pier in March 1960 (one of the boat people,) feeling that I was just where I belonged and was very privileged to serve in church planting ministries until 1994. I have taken 5 trips back, some for short term assignments. I guess you can take me out of the Philippines but not the Philippines out of me. Anyway, I am here because my dear friends, Robert and Monina Davids graciously picked me up near Philadelphia and will get me home again. And an added attraction was that I had never been to Boston.

I am so glad I came! What a blessing. I sense a joy, unity, and purpose in Balikatan this year even compared to the one I attended 4 years ago. And I love the emphasis on missions too. And there are so many people here I knew as young grads long ago who are now adults, with growing families who are blessed with Christian parents.

I want to read two short passages. I moved into Senior Housing last year and find that older people can be cranky and discontented. The Apostle Paul says in Philippians 4:11-12: “…I have learned how to be content with whatever I have, I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little…” This is something I need to continue to learn. There is so much here in the US to entice. When I came home to retire it was easy to think that maybe I deserved more creature comforts, etc. having done without many in past years. But there is a secret to learning contentment, as Paul continues in v. 13, “for I can do everything through Christ Who gives me strength” So I can learn and practice contentment in every season of my life, through Christ’ power and presence.

The second passage is Philippians 2:14-16a: “Do everything without complaining and arguing, so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people. Hold firmly to the Word of Life…” My desire now is to live like this, by His grace, especially in my Senior Housing and in relating to my maraming mga apo sa pamangkin who need Jesus in their lives.

Thank you all for blessing me at this Balikatan. And maybe I will get to San Francisco too!