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Author Archives: Mel

Planting Seeds

I was recently reminded about the power of planting seeds. There is a species of tree found in Africa known as the Baobab. This tree can grow nearly 100 feet tall and 40 feet wide. They take about 15-20 years to grow and can live over 1000 years. Baobabs are also known as the “Treeaaa

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A Good Year

It has been an interesting year, but I have to say that it has still been a good year. Yes, this year has been a series of unexpected, unprecedented, and unpleasant events, but at the same time, there has not been an absence of good things happening. Psalm 23:6a from The Passion Translation says, “Soaaa

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1/3 Down

January, February, March, and April – 2019 has been a great year so far! Besides helping to lead the youth ministry at our main church branch in Francistown, I have been helping to establish and oversee the youth ministries at all five of our branch churches. I have been doing lots of traveling! So far, I have paidaaa

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38 and Feeling Great!

I recently turned 38! I have never been afraid of growing old. In fact, the older I’ve gotten, the more I’ve looked forward to growing older! When I was in my early 20s, I remember an elder telling me that their 30s were their favorite decade of life. It was so inspiring for me toaaa

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Celebrating Cultures

I now consider myself to be tri-cultural. My parents are from the Philippines. I was born and grew up in America. And for the past seven years I have been a missionary and resident of Botswana. I am a Filipino-American-African. And I am very proud of each of my cultures. I love being Filipino. Filipinosaaa

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A Year of Gratitude

I ended 2018 with a very deep sense of gratitude. A thought that constantly crossed my mind was, “I am so incredibly blessed!” Gratitude is a wonderful attitude to possess. It automatically puts you in a good mood and it’s impossible to possess gratitude without also possessing joy! I finished 2018 full of so much gratefulnessaaa

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Living the Dream

I think the only thing that I love more than being a missionary is being a missionary who gets to lead a mission trip. It was such a privilege and a dream come true for me to be able to take a group of my youth on a mission trip to Johannesburg, South Africa thisaaa

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Happy

“It is more blessed (makes one happier and more to be envied) to give than to receive.” (Acts 20:35b, AMPC) This month I celebrated my six year anniversary of having moved to Botswana. God has blessed my life with so much happiness since I made the choice to give of my life and serve here. This journalaaa

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Legends in the Making

Recently a good friend of mine paid me one of the highest compliments I have ever received. This friend told me, “Mel, you are such a legend!” And they didn’t just tell me this once, but twice – in one week! Needless to say, it made me feel awesome. I mean, really awesome. My friendaaa

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My Favorite Year So Far

Dumelang (Hello, in Setswana)! 2017 has been my favorite year of ministry so far! Ministry is about meeting needs, but I’ve learned that I can’t meet them all. It’s easy to think that meeting every need is the sacrificial duty of a missionary, but that usually results in operating in one’s own strength, which ofaaa

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