last 24 hours.

This morning as I woke up, I just couldn’t believe that my last 24 hours in the Philippines was already here. As I lay in my bed reflecting over the last 17 weeks, tears came to my eyes. I knew that I should post a final blog entry in country. As I try to type the words that are filling my heart, I am discovering the impossibility to put my emotions into words. The Lord has done a tremendous work in my heart while living in a country that is not my own. I wish that I could explain to you the changes in my heart and life; however, I pray that you will not even need an explanation as you see the difference played out in the story of my life. Instead of rambling on while trying to make sense of all my feelings, I think it would be most appropriate to tell you two of the biggest lessons the Lord has taught me in the Philippines.

1) God is enough. The day that I stepped on the airplane, said goodbye to my parents and began the first day of my journey to the Philippines was a big day for me. If you know me (up until this point in my life), you know that I am not generally a person who is super gutsy or adventurous; however, it is amazing how things change when you know that you are right in the middle of God’s will. God is enough. These past 17 weeks, I have learned that He is enough. All of the clutter of my previous life took away the beauty of knowing and resting in the fact that no matter what “God is enough.”

2) The Gospel is urgent. Growing up, you learn that you need to share the gospel with others, but so many times I let the excuse- “well, they can see me live like a Christian so I don’t need to tell anyone” -get in my way. Arriving in the Philippines has changed my attitude towards the gospel. The Gospel is urgent. People need to hear it, see it, be loved by it, and experience it. It makes me sick on my stomach to think of all of the opportunities that I have wasted, by letting my pride stand in the way. I haven’t used all of words, time and resources to tell everyone that I know how Jesus changed my life and how He can change theirs. I live with all the material possessions, privileges, and extras a girl could ever ask for and yet I selfishly gripped them with all I had. A missionary once said, “The Gospel is only good news, if it gets there in time.”

These two lessons have rocked my world. I am committed to doing all I can, for all I can, however I can until the day Jesus comes back. I pray that you will too. Thanks for following this journey and praying for me along the way. I fly out at 7:45 am on May 10 (7:45 pm May 9 in the States) and land at Raleigh at 8:00 pm on May 10 (8:00 am on May 11 in the Philippines!). May God bless you and keep you. To God be the Glory.

Sincerely,

Madison

PS- My family will be hosting a "Welcome Home/Graduation" party at Peace Church on May 15 from 2-5pm (floating). I would love to see you there! [Email me for more details or directions: mcwheeler@liberty.edu]

The beauty of waiting

"Much, much stress results from your wanting to make things happen before their times have come. One of the main ways I assert My sovereignty is in the timing of events."

Written as JESUS in Jesus Calling

I have had this quote on my desktop for quite a while now. I have read it over and over, knowing that the words written by someone ring very true for what Jesus would say to me. There are many things in my life that I want to happen: mission field, marriage, children, further education; however, I know that the Lord has beautiful timing that is so much better than mine. My tendency is to hurry things up and just check them off my list. Living in the culture of the Philippines, where time is not of the essence and people are more important than a deadline or time schedule, I have really come to cherish waiting. At first I would “get my panties in a wad” (as we southerners like to say) when things didn’t happen when they were planned, but God has quietly whispered in my ear, “Wait my daughter, wait.” This has been a lesson that I feel like I have tried to learn over and over in my life. The Lord has now put me in a situation where I have been forced to wait. Maybe not on the big things in life, but I have learned how to wait for the little things. I am so thankful that the Lord chooses to teach me little lessons that I know will only make me more like Himself. So today, when you want to be in a hurry or find yourself being impatient, remember that the Lord chooses to display his divine Sovereignty in the timing of events. Even the little ones.

See you soon, Madison

Missing it already...

I am only two weeks away from flying back to the States and leaving this place I have called “home” for the last four months. Nothing in my life will ever be the same, but I find joy in the fact that the Lord has drawn me close to Himself in the last 17 weeks. I am overwhelmed when I think about how good God has been to me and how much I want to share that with friends and family back home. I want to lament a bit about all of the things I am going to miss about living in the Philippines.

1. Yummy fruit.

2. Being encouraged by the missionary community.

3. Learning words in a new language every day.

4. Holding those sweet babies at Gentle Hands.

5. New Friends.

6. Immersing myself in the culture (riding public).

7. Ants (Just thought I would throw that in to make sure you were paying attention!)

8. Eating rice (well, kinda).

9. The beautiful beaches.

10. Faith Academy.

I am learning to trust the Lord in the little things. Trusting him for a job between when I arrive at home and when I leave in October for the mission field (the Dominican Republic). Trusting that He will provide the financial support I need to be able to serve in the DR. Trusting that people will commit to pray for my future ministry. I am just learning to trust him for tomorrow. A sweet hymn has been in my head for several days now and I want to share it with you.

“Trust and Obey, for there’s no other way, to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey!”

Thanks for reading! See you soon then!

Sincerely,

Madison

Pondering on the Cross.

The Philippines is a Catholic country and celebrates Easter in a very different way than I do. I have heard stories of people flogging themselves and beating their own bodies until the point to near death. On Maundy Thursday, thousands and thousands of people walk miles and miles up to a city called Antipolo to the oldest Catholic Church in the PI to participate in a series of rituals surrounding the death of Christ. There is so much commotion and customs that the Filipinos practice on Maundy Thursday, but that is it. They miss the celebration. They forget about the fact that HE ROSE AGAIN ON THE THIRD DAY! Many don’t even understand the impact of His resurrection. I have read a poem that puts together the emotions and thoughts of the events surrounding Easter. I pray that the people of the Philippines and even those at home who miss the beauty of the third day will grasp the impact of His resurrection.

How awesome is that day to me-
O day of hallowed history!
Set time in God’s determined plan
To sacrifice the Son of Man.
What famous work that day was done
By Jesus Christ, His Perfect Son!
The Second Adam, sent to save,
Humbly obeying to the grave!

How savage is that day to me-
O day of pure brutality!
When Christ, the Son of God Most High,
Was fiercely whipped and hung to die.
And O the horror of my sin,
Seen there in His appalling skin!
For God struck down- as meant for me-
The sinless One, at Calvary.

How precious is that day to me-
O day of purchased liberty!
In Him, a freeman now I live;
My sins, through death, did God forgive.
No wrath at length looms o’er my head,
But loving-kindness there instead.
His righteousness, my guilt replaced,
And Love, this ransomed soul embraced!

O awesome, savage, precious day-
‘Tis God the Savior on display!
What peerless, holy, gracious Mind
Would fashion such a Grand Design?

Prayer Request

Dear friends, family, and faithful readers,

Change is good. Depending on your perspective. Depending on what you are changing. The definition for transitions according to the Webster dictionary is: "to make radically different." When I left North Carolina three months ago, I never realized the radical change that was about to happen. These past three months I have been drastically changed. I have come to crave the Lord’s presence, hunger for His Word and see the world through the eyes of Jesus. I have begged for a heart that breaks for the things that break the Lord’s heart. I am nearing the end of my journey and beginning a new journey. Big Change.

I am writing to you to ask that you would join me in prayer for a very specific prayer request. I am asking that you all pray for my transition from the Philippines back to the States. Many of you might not understand, but this is a very trying time in a missionary’s life. Although I have only been here for 17 weeks, I can already feel the tension arising from the thought of adjusting back to a totally different life. I am praying for a few specific things: 1. I will establish my decisions for the things that need to change in my life upon arriving in the States. The Lord has show me many things while in the Philippines about the way I live and I want to decide now that I will not go back on the things I have learned; 2) I will not get frustrated with trying to explain 17 of the most drastic life-changing weeks of my life to those who ask how was the Philippines; 3) I will be able to translate the things I saw and learning into action to make a difference in my community and help ignite a passion for the lost and poor; 4) I will never ever forget how Jesus changed my life in just four short months. I will never be the same. Thank you friends, for your prayers. I hope to see you all soon (I arrived May 10 to RDU airport!). Have a wonderful day!

Your friend, Madison