Moments from our day:
- Had a lunch with some LDPs that are finishing up their studies at the university here in Cebu…in a very established mall that would be a nice place at any location in the states. Some of the guys even grabbed a Starbucks after lunch. You see a lot of the western influence in many of the popular chains that we would have in the states (McDonalds, Seattle’s Best, Wendy’s, KFC, Papa Johns, Johnny Rockets, etc.)

- We then traveled to the Loving My Neighbor Student Center that is at the Cebu City Alliance Church. Upon arrival the kids greeted us and they placed seashell leis that they had made on each one of us and gave us a welcome and a smile. We then were able to go into the church building (one that has grown significantly the last 10 years do to the presence of Compassion and the project growing to 600 children.)

- Jeff and Jourdan Johnson lead us in worship. Introduced Jeff and told them he had been an American Idol contestant (pastor told me that a bunch of the boys were goggling him later to try to find him.) They did a great job of leading and the older teenagers jumped in on Blessed Be Your Name. Jourdan also lead us in Hosanna in what I think was a powerful moment for her. These words were rich for us in this little church that shares a wall with a brothel, “Heal my heart and make it clean, Open up my eyes to the things unseen, Show me how to love like You have loved me, Break my heart for what breaks Yours, Everything I am for Your Kingdom’s cause, As I walk from earth into eternity”

- During the program the kids lead us in worship and shared testimonies and one 9-year old cutie shared Psalm 139 from memory (that she began memorizing a week ago.) It was a powerful moment and we were all so proud of her and I think a little convicted for ourselves and our children (both personally and in the church in the states.) Don’t miss the power of Psalm 139 from this girl that we would later realize she was living in a cemetery. You have searched me, LORD, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you, LORD, know it completely. You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain. Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,” even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you. or you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. How precious to me are your thoughts, God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand—when I awake, I am still with you. If only you, God, would slay the wicked! Away from me, you who are bloodthirsty! They speak of you with evil intent; your adversaries misuse your name. Do I not hate those who hate you, LORD, and abhor those who are in rebellion against you? I have nothing but hatred for them; I count them my enemies. Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

- After our program we spent some time connecting with the kids and serving ice cream (Ed Newton got after it.)

- Then it was time for our home visits and we split into five groups and headed to a cementary where over 300 of the 600 kids live. I have experienced the Tomb Dwellers before in a different area of the Philippines, but it is not something that you can every fully comprehend as it is beyond bad. You simply slip through a small opening off a highly crowded street and walk into an entire subculture that has 500 families living in what are numbered at 329 structures of a 9000 square meter area. People are doing what every they can for homes making tombs into beds, tables, walls for their houses, entertainment areas that included men playing pool, basketball, cards and various other games. Noises, smells and sewage everywhere and kids with barely any clothes on living in the same area as their chickens, pigs or goats. A lot of the team began asking questions and wondering how this could be. I guess the truth is when you have nowhere else to go you go where no one goes. It was and is bad. Becca and I along with Kristian and Kerri Stanfill visited a small home of Kenith Lamdag that has been in the Compassion program for 6 years and has sponsors that he knew by name from Australia. He lived in this little dirty, leaky area with his father who has no work and two siblings. His mom was a way doing some work in another country and left us with some questions about what has really happened to her.

- We spent some time walking through the area and having kids ask us to bless them (a traditional touching of the forehead) and simply wanting to laugh and say hello and a few giving us the middle finger as they play and don’t really know what they are doing. As we were leaving Kristian and I walked by a lady’s little house as she danced around the kitchen listening to a Chris Tomlin song. Was a nice light-hearted moment. Then each of our smaller groups slid back out of the walls, through the streets and to the bus to process with a full and heavy heart.

I am continually so thankful for how Compassion is equipping the local church to make major impact in the community and equipping them to be advance the Kingdom one child and one family at a time.

She was very successful in the banking industry with 52 associates working under her. But while there, the Lord began working in her life and moving her away from that as she “submitted her plans to Him.” She began volunteering at a Compassion project and went to school to get some Bible training and became the director of the project at Capitol City Foursquare Church, an amazing church that has a great focus on ministering in their community. I really believe that Susan is a hero of the faith. The kind that like when Stephen was being stoned that Jesus stands up for in agreement with their faith and obedience.

During our time together she shared with us that if Compassion does not use the funds that they receive from sponsors well is it like “throwing pearls to pigs.” So because of that she works hard to make sure that they are excellent and efficient in all that they have and all that they do. Just another moment in my journey with Compassion that reaffirms my trust of them.

I wish I could bring all of my friends and people that I know that have any influence (which we all have) to a place like this so they could see, smell and touch poverty…and know that the cycle can be broken. It is possible. We meet many kids that are now adults today that are proof of that.

It was a great day 1 in Manila, Philippines.  We spent time at a Child Survival Program here in the city.  Manila is actually many different cities that have all grown together to form Metro-Manila and has about 8 million people living tightly in the area.  Traffic can be brutal.

After spending time interacting with the project staff and moms in a program that allowed us to also sing some songs with them led by Brett Younker and Kristian Stanfill, we had some brief activities that showed us how the Compassion/Church project staff trains moms and infants.  Really is a great program that allows for a great start for kids.  Something that Compassion identified as a need and added it to the more traditional child sponsorship program that they are more well known for (more on that at a later time.)

After our morning the project staff (who are mostly volunteers) feed us a lunch in the open area of the project that would be similar to what we think of as a carport. As I sat having a lunch and talking with a few of the guys that are here with us I was very aware that over my shoulder were three young kids on the other side of the large gates that are designed for protection. They simply sat on the ground watching me.  I have been at many Compassion projects and I knew who these kids were, they are kids that are not in the program-unsponsored kids.  Through the years I have had people with me that have been upset and wondered why can’t all the kids come in and get the benefits.  And truth is that would be great (after all Jesus said let the little kids come to me and the Kingdom of God will be theirs.) But the truth is there is no way Compassion could be effective in reaching their goals of breaking the cycle of poverty if it was just open the gates and feed kids and send them back to their homes with full stomachs.  Yes a short-term need would be meet, but with little long-term change.  Compassion is all about long-term change, for the child, the families, the communities, the 26 countries they work in and even more that very Kingdom of God they are advancing.

But that does not change the fact that here these three kids are sitting on the outside looking in.  One thing that can change their life is you.  You see the deal is Compassion has 1.3 million kids in their programs around the globe.  While that is a significant impact (and a very specific impact on the one child!) it is still well below the need of millions and millions of children that make up the estimated 1.7 billion people that are living in absolute poverty (inability to afford basic needs such as clean water, healthy food, health care, education and often clothing and shelter.) Truth is when poverty is present in a community those that are often the most overlooked are children.  When someone steps up and becomes a sponsor of a child living in need Compassion is able to move that child from the group of registered kids needing sponsors to a sponsored child and in turn they get to go to the other side of the fence and register another child in need.  Beauty to see an innocent child go from a desperate situation to a future filled with hope.  Yes, the Lord does not need us to accomplish this, but the joy is that He allows us to be a part of His plan and His provision for people.

You may remember that story in John 5 where Jesus comes into Jerusalem and the dude has been laying by the pool of Bethesda for 38 years.  Jesus asks the obvious question, “Do you want to get well?” Simple answer from his heart is YES…but there is no one to help me he says.  None of these kids or families wants to be in the situation that poverty has them in; they just don’t have someone to help them.  I am so thankful that countless volunteers working in a over 5000 local churches around the globe are taking the Compassion International model and are helping kids and families up off their mat and toward hope and a future.  But that process, that poverty-cycle-breaking-disciple-making-process has a place for you and I.

I knew that Disney was releasing the story of Secretariat this month, but did not know it was directed by Randall Wallace (writer of Braveheart, Pearl Harbor, wrote and directed We Were Soldiers) and that Wallace is a believer from my father’ s hometown, Jackson, TN. Earlier this month a few of the Student Life staff and I were privileged to hear him share with us at the Catalyst conference in Atlanta, GA. (Ironically he was there on opening day of the film, which is a big deal.) After showing a clip of Braveheart, him talking about leadership, faith, heart and making a difference and ending with a clip of the Secretariat film, I leaned over to Drew Francis, one of our staff and said, let’s take all of the Student Life team to the movies and see it. After all I love the movies and we all love the power of a good story.

So yesterday, the Student Life staff trekked to the movies together, something teams should do more often. Not just go to the movies, but be community. It is important to not just show up to a building, do your job and leave. Invest yourself in the people the Lord has given you for this season of life…in the end our impact on people will last far longer than most tasks we take on.

“Run your race…”: words that stuck with me as I walked out the door and processed the story. Being a true story and knowing the outcome does not take away from the excitement. You could grab on to the aspect of believing even when others think the obstacles are too much, remembering who you are (your identity) or maybe even the refined strength of a woman taking on a male-dominated society. But at this moment, for me it was a matter of heart. It seems that that is what Penny Chenery (played by Diane Lane) saw in her horse, heart. While the horse looked magnificent on the exterior and had great bloodlines, it seemed that what separated Secretariat from all the horses in 1973 (many historians believe he was the greatest racehorse of all-time) was heart. As I thought of this my mind went to the words I was taught as a child out of 1 Samuel 16: “But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.“ The great thing for Secretariat was he had both, he had the outward appearance, but in the end it was a matter of the heart. Makes me want to make sure my heart is healthy and strong. I hope not only the Lord, but the world, will see a heart that is unwilling to give up and unwilling to not run the race that is in front of me. “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” (Hebrews 12:1-3 NIV) I hope that would be true of each of us as believers in Christ Jesus.

Secretariat died in 1989 at the age of 19 (horses run as a thoroughbred in the Kentucky Derby, The Preakness & Belmont Stakes as a 3-year old) and when they weighed his heart it was 22 lbs, which is almost three times as large as that of an average horse. He was mourned by millions as an American hero and buried whole in Kentucky. Typically just the head, heart and hooves of a winning racehorse are buried with the rest of the body being cremated.

I think it is safe to say that Secretariat ran his race and ran it well. Now it is our turn.

Footnote: Don’ t miss the closing song; It’ s Who You Are also written by Randall Wallace.

While looking at my back she saw a small area of concern and decided it needed to have a biopsy.  She told me that if it “is something” she thinks we can get to it, as it was somewhat superficial.  Ironically Becca had just gone to the same Dermatologist and later that day received a little yellow card that said all was good from an area they took a biopsy on her.  Throughout the week I did not receive my yellow card and then yesterday afternoon while at Catalyst missed a call from the doctor’s office and they left a message that told me to “give them a call when I could.”  I had missed them before closing but figured no yellow card, plus that meant not great news.

After talking with the office this morning they informed me that the biopsy came back as a Basal Cell Carcinoma, which is Skin Cancer.  Thankfully it is not a Melanoma, which is potentially much more dangerous and aggressive.  I began laughing (she said not a normal response) as she explained to me that while it is cancer, it is the most common form of skin cancer.  And to be honest, give me a good look over with my lovely white skin and all-natural red hair and I am a great candidate for trouble.  She asked about the laugh, and I simply said it is just one more thing on our list.

The “spot” is very accessible on my back (not a common location as she pointed out during the exam and most case studies confirm.) They have scheduled me for a procedure called Photodynamic therapy on Tuesday October 19^th.   My understanding is this therapy has been used more widely since 2001 and has a high success rate for what is usually considered a cancer with a superficial location, or basically on the skin more than into the skin’s tissue.  It will be an out-patient procedure that will take place over 4-5 hours that uses photosensitizes (think lasers), a topical cream that acts as an activator on the targeted area becoming toxic and finally a highly sensitive light that destroys the targeted cells.  This procedure is less intrusive than doing a surgery that would require removal of the cancerous area (would like to keep that part of my back if possible) and stitches.

After the procedure I should be good to go and do a follow up at three and six months to make sure the cells are taken care of.  I am sure that my doctor is also going to want me to wear a two-piece bathing suit for a while, but I did not have a lot of plans to hit the tanning bed any time soon.  And I don’t think she will have to remind me to use my sunscreen in the coming days.

I told Becca today that while this is a physical thing it is also very much a spiritual thing for me (as in spiritual warfare.)  You see there is a lot of things the adversary cannot take from me, but one that he can is my focus.  For those of us that are believers trying to live a life of purpose and be Kingdom advancers, he would love to do nothing less than rob us of that focus.  Often times the theft does not come in just big things like going off the deep end and becoming an alcoholic, getting involved in an area that purity should have won or finding yourself in a scandal that everyone is talking about…it comes in simply “doing and dealing” with life.  We are all going to have little and big distractions that come at us, but we cannot allow them to steal the focus and calling that has been placed on us and hopefully in us.  Talking to Becca tonight I see how this could take that from me, my prayer tonight and my words to myself are simply words to continue to remain steadfast in my focus and my faith.

I hope that regardless of what is in front of you, you too can grab hold of what matters and simply remain in Him and He in you…and go advance the Kingdom.

During the summer of 2009, Sterling began having random vomiting. After a few trips to the doctor and various medications, we decided we needed further testing, the first being a CT Scan on October 2, 2009. I could tell that something was wrong as we had one Radiologist reviewing the scan, then another and finally a third. They came in and told me that Sterling had a mass in his head and we would be referred that day to a neurosurgeon at the local Children’s Hospital. Not the news we were expecting and it seemed as if the dark clouds began to roll in. The next days were difficult as we met with various medical personnel, had more MRI’s and some additional exploratory procedures. Quickly we realized we had no control in this situation. Sterling had his first brain surgery for nine hours on October 13th. He came through the surgery well, but they were only able to get 75-80% of the tumor and we had to wait for a pathology report. Two long weeks passed and we finally got the call that the tumor was benign. Tears flowed as we realized that cancer was not spreading in our son.

The hurdles continued as Sterling still had seizures daily and we watched the remaining tumor until it began to grow again this past summer. We were forced into another high-risk surgery and in late August had seven more hours of surgery, only to turn around 24 hours later and have another 7 hours the next day. Our neurosurgeon prepared us for some potential motor skill issues and some field of vision loss. Those days were extremely hard as we looked into Sterling’s eyes and tried to explain to him what was going on and speak truth into his life about God’s character.

Someone asked me how we can believe and trust in God when our son is going through something like this. Simple answer, how can we not? For my wife and I, it is all we have and even in the middle of the storm we have perfect peace that only comes from God. Calm and peace, I fully believe are far from the same. When circumstances change, God’s character does not. He is good and loving and regardless of what happens around me, I remain confident that God is for me, and for my son and for each of us that are followers of Him. Obviously this does not mean my son or anyone will be healed in this body, but that does not change the DNA of God.

This summer we had Matt Redman with us a few times at Student Life and at one of those events I stood backstage and sang the words he penned, “when I’m found in the desert place, Though I walk through the wilderness, Blessed be your name, Every blessing You pour out I’ll turn back to praise, And when the darkness closes in Lord, Still I will say, Blessed be the name of the Lord, Blessed be Your name…”

We don’t like walking the road marked with suffering, we would rather pray for the cup to pass from us, and that can be good and often the plan of God. But in this life suffering will come and we have to hold to God and say “let your will be done, not mine,” for what we only see part, He sees full.

Can you sing when you get the phone call that you did not want to hear, when the bank account hits zero, when you have to say good-bye to a loved one, when life simply seems to not be going your way, when you feel all alone or when your own body fails you? The words may not always be clear and the eyes often not dry, but the Truth remains. Allow the Spirit to use the storm to exhort your faith in Jesus the Son and God the Father, encourage fellow believers and even draw lost to Christ.

The road for us continues to not be easy as we still have seizures and still have tumor left but it has been filled with amazing community, tight connection with our family and intimate moments with my Lord and for that I am grateful. If He is for us, who or what can be against us.

J. Roger Davis

Bec & I believe this week & these days are reminders of God’s character. Regardless of what comes at us, He has always been present & true. We have seen that in the last three brain surgeries and we are confident that God continues to be for us and won’t forget us in the journey.

Thanks to each of you for your prayers, thoughts and words of encouragement. They have been felt by us and evident in Sterling.

Today being Saturday meant that the project was in full swing.  And again one of my favorite parts was listening to the children sing.  There is a simple joy in their voices.  We also got to see some of the project and participate in their “crazy Olympics” that had a few of our staff in sack races, bottle relays as well as egg passes.  I think all that were involved as well as those watching really enjoyed it.  During this time I noticed numerous kids that are not registered in the program that where just outside the gates longing to be a part.  It is a real tough dilemma as you want to rescue every kid from poverty and with that I am not just talking about lack of money, but the mentality of poverty.  It is a hard truth to realize, but with limited funds and the strategic design of the Compassion program it does not allow for ALL kids to be involved.  Although more sponsors would bring in more children.

Compassion is all about changing a child’s life and subsequently their family by a process.  It takes time as they move them from a poverty mentality to a mentality of being a child of God…wonderfully made and dearly loved.  One of my favorite thoughts was an LDP friend that shared with me a few years ago “I live in poverty, but poverty does not live in me.” What a great thought for all of us to know and live by.  Regardless of our circumstances and surroundings, God has already planned out our steps and created our self-worth.  No thing rather in much or little defines who we are.

After we wrapped up our time with the children of this project we traveled across town to meet up with some of the kids that we sponsor.  I was able to see Ian an 11-year-old boy that Becca and I have been sponsoring for a year.  He rode a horse for the first time, we rode a camel together, as well as a spinning swing that about did me in, face painting and a great meal together.  While service was sketchy we also got to make a skype call to Becca and the kids.  It is great to be connected to a child all the way on the other side of the world.  I am thankful for him and the opportunity for our children to learn about how God wants to love.

Today Ian and the others where not kids living in poverty…they were simply kids being kids.

You may remember singing that simply song as a child.  I was reminded of those words and thoughts both yesterday and today.  We were greeted at Emmanuel Church in Kibera Slum in the Nairobi area to another of the amazing Child Development Centers that Compassion International has operating in Kenya.  The ministry that has been serving through local churches here for many years has over 73,000 children registered in their church based programs.  As we walked into a fairly large concrete church with a metal building (that had been destroyed during the 2007 post election violence) we were greeted with stares from little children and small smiles as they tried to figure us out.  After a brief word of introduction we were invited to sing a long and the words of this simply song began to ring out in this simply church building.  Laughter accompanied it as we sang with the motions similar to the chicken dance.

That time was another beautiful reminder that the church is not about grand buildings with nice stuff…it is about the people that the Lord Christ Jesus came and set free, reconciling us back to him and to now be a light in the world and a group of people totally reflecting him.

Then today we went out of the city in to the Maasai lands.  The Maasai are one of the 43 tribes in Kenya, but they are one of the few that have kept their African traditions from previous generations.  The people are bright and colorful in their attire and ornamentation, but even more their smiles and hospitality.   We visited Lenchani Baptist Church were most adults are not consistently employed and can earn the equivalent of $26 US a month as animal herders and selling beads. (on the way there we passed right by the home of Ian, a boy that our family sponsors.  I could see the house and it was tough to not get out and run up there. I am looking forward to seeing him on Saturday.)

The people here could easily feel abandoned by God.  But the joy and love for the Lord and each other was evident in them. The little building was crowded and gave me some of my favorite images of Africa as I saw 4-5 kids looking in the two windows of the church.  The day was a full day of great experiences.  Our group was split into four small groups and we were sent out with a family to experience a little of their life.

My group went out with a 13-year-old boy named Simon.  Most Africans that are “born again” have a Christian name and an African name.  Often they use both.  Both of Simon’s parents have died and he lived in a small home that his grandfather built on land that had homes for each of the other families under the grandfather’s line (maybe 20 in total).  As we pulled up to the home we were greeted with numerous children running up to us to say hello.  Quickly we were reminded how bad the flies are as each of these kids faces and bodies were covered with them.  I looked at Simon in his pink school uniform and looked at the other kids that obviously were not attending school and you could instantly see the difference that Compassion was making in the life of this young boy.

He quickly warmed up to me and we began “experiencing” his life.  We went into the small home and saw his little bed in an area that is the size of most of our closets in the states.  We then were handed our staffs for herding goats and cows and taken over to the pen were we had to separate the goats from the lambs.  I was told it was too dangerous to take the lambs out as foxes or hyenas could attack them or they would spend their time trying to drink their mother’s milk.  This was my first time herding, but it was a lot of fun as we took about 100 out into the fields to graze.  Simon showed me how to do it, using the staff and my voice.   He told me that Maasai boys begin herding when they are 3 years old. (remember that when you ask your kid to pick up their room.)  I thought of the David of scripture tending the sheep in the fields and protecting them as Simon told me about the dangers and him having to kill hyenas that would prey on the little lambs or goats.

We then came back in to fetch water and I may have snapped my 5^th or 6^th vertebrae.  The Maasai carry the water on their heads by placing a strap on their forehead and carrying the water jugs of numerous gallons behind them.  In their culture it is the woman that mostly does this work, but we got to experience it with them. Then we gave some food gifts to the family and prayed prayers of blessing over their home and family before returning to the church for the rest of our afternoon.  I hope I don’t forget my time with Simon.

The day also allowed for us to learn more about the Child Survival Program (CSP) that Compassion has introduced to work with mothers during the pre-natal days as well as through the first 3 years of the babies life.  They are teaching them nutrition, how to care for the baby and helping them get proper medical care.  It has had amazing impact thus far in each of the countries that it is up and operating in.  Like the traditional Compassion programs a sponsor can be involved in helping support these much needed programs.

“This is the church, this is the church that the Lord has made. I well rejoice and be glad in it. This is the church, this the church that the Lord has made.”

Before we left and completed our day with the Maasai people I was reminded of these words again from our previous day.  Here we are packed in this small metal and concrete building with different color skins and contrasting clothing styles and at least 3 to 4 languages being spoken and I knew I was at Church, I knew I was with the Church.  Because where the people of God are there he will also be. And we know in scripture that there will come a day that every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord.-it was sweet to be with different tongues all confessing One Lord.

We closed our time in a prayer of thanksgiving and blessing lead by this humble pastor Moses whose voice while likely not very educated rang out with authority and the presence of the Holy Spirit.  And on this day I was thankful to worship with him and the Church.