I experienced my first (and I hope it won’t be the only) Mission Trip two years ago when some of the youth from our church were sent to Cebu after (a year after?) Yolanda hit the Philippines.

Not knowing what to expect when we got there, I expected the Worst. And the worst, I got. The facilities were okay. We stayed at a church where we all (roughly around 18) had to share one bath room. We slept on creaking hardwood floors. We had to wake up at 5am, cook our own breakfast, head out to houses on mountains, and got home at around 7pm just in time to cook dinner. These may sound inconvenient but I assure you it was more fun than it looks like.

Ah yes, the worst. Although I admit that hiking was a strong contender for the “worst part of my missions trip” list, this one tops the bid: tuko. I am very afraid of lizards. Imagine the kind of Fear that came over me during the whole trip. The very first day, I was told by my sister (who went ahead of me) that every night, the tuko would make its noise.

And it was true. It was all true. It sounded as if the lizard was inside the wooden beams of the church’s ceiling, waiting for a strong gust of wind to send it tumbling down the floor. My fear doubled the first night and I couldn’t sleep. But I prayed. I prayed that God will see this irrational fear of mine and give me the courage to go through with it.

I will admit that for the duration of the mission trip, I have been afraid of that lizard. But why am I recalling this now? This may be a measly reflection when compared to what others see in this verse, but God’s word stated that He would protect me from my “enemies” (i.e. – fear itself).

God sent me to Cebu to share the gospel with people who hadn’t had much left after the calamity and God was the one who made sure that the lizard stayed where it was supposed to be. It was also God who provided me with courage and strength to conquer my fear of lizards and my tiredness from hiking up mountains in the heat. God provided me with what I needed, not what I wanted (like a separate bathroom or a soft bed).

Where God guides, literally or like in spiritual endeavors, He will surely provide. In this way His presence is felt when we need Him the most.