Destination: Philippines!

About the Author 3About the Author of the author 4Friends, Meet ACTION 5Knowing God, Taking Action 5Contact Me! 7Can I Drive to the Philippines? 8What Do You Want? 9About the AuthorAbout the Author

Out of the Blue is a publication written by a Christian missionary, Catie Smith, in the process of moving to the Philippines for full-time ministry. You will find essays about God, cultures, and people. In addition to the mind munchies, you’ll also find humorous and heartwarming stories, recipes, art work, etc. For you couch adventurers, out-of-the-box thinkers, Jesus freaks, God seekers, and internationally curious folks this publication is dedicated to you.

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About the AuthorSomeone once told me that the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom, but the love of God is the highest wisdom. My earliest memory, around the age of four is a moment of feeling terrified at the idea of being separated from God. At that moment, I asked Jesus to save me from my sins, He came and has never left me since. I grew up in a loving Christian home and was very involved with church. On my road to earning my B.S. in chemistry, I was heavily involved with Campus Crusade for Christ, leading Bible studies, organizing major events, discipling in evangelism and prayer. Part of me was genuine and honest in these activities, but I had a deep struggle in my heart. Doubt crept into my mind, sin snagged a foothold, and guilt ruined the silence in my life. My double-mindedness brought me to a crossroad. To make a long, beautiful story short and sweet, I pleaded with God to show Himself to me. I had a radical encounter with God: the doubt became strong faith, the guilt became security in my Father God’s love, and the sinful addictions lost all power. GOD IS AMAZING!

My international missions involvement started at age 12 on a trip to China. I returned to China on another short-term mission trip and began to feel very strongly that this was something I’d like to spend my life doing. I continued to take trips: Philippines (2006, 2009), Guatemala (2007), Netherlands (2010), and Uganda (2010). The trips ranged anywhere from 2 weeks to 5 months. The adventures entailed teaching English, helping with feeding programs, working at orphanages, encouraging other missionaries, organizing a conference, preaching, teaching, and always getting to know people on a personal level, making friends and praying for and with them. After my first trip to the Philippines, I knew I had to return. Following my second trip, with prayerful consideration, I knew one day I would live there. I’ve known for most of my life that God was leading me into full-time missions. Now is the time. I am saying yes to God and I’m excited to take each step with Him. 3

About the Author of the author

We all are subjected to darkness in this world. You may be burdened, under depression, controlled by anger, tired of living in the mundane, struggling to find purpose or longing to be accepted. You may be forgotten, abandoned, broken, suffering from addictions, or encumbered with guilt or fear. Darkness is all around us and, whether we like to acknowledge it or not, darkness is in all of us. God is light and in Him is no darkness. We are separated from God, the Light, but there is hope! Let me put this in different terms. Our sin separates us from God and condemns us to death. God loves us and He wants us to live and not die, but sin still had to be punished. The solution was a substitute sacrifice (i.e. someone else had to pay the penalty of death for our sins). Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, came to earth, lived as a man, lived a sinless life, and He died for the sins of the whole world for all of time. This is AMAZING! Our penalty is paid in full and now we can know God. We can LIVE in the LIGHT and not die in the darkness. Accepting this gift will cost you your life as you know it, but you will live like you’ve never thought possible. All you have to do is cry out to Jesus to save you from your sins. Jesus will come and you will know Love like you’ve never imagined.

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I have been to the Philippines twice: 1-month trip in 2006, and a 3-month trip in 2009. Both of these times, my primary contacts were Will and Joanie Feuerstein. This wonderful couple has known me since I was about 7 years old. Ate Joanie (Ate means older sister in Tagalog-- the national language in the Philippines) used to give me and my brother, Nathan, the job of testing toys and sorting clothes at the Cleveland City Mission. They have been tremendously influential in my life. Experiencing their prison ministry in the Philippines was a memory I’ve held tight to when I was doubting God, because of

the incredible testimonies of changed lives I witnessed.

The Feuersteins are currently missionaries with Action International Ministries (ACTION) and founders of Face 2 Face Ministries. When I visited the Feuersteins in the Philippines, I was introduced to ACTION as well. I am impressed by the way ACTION nurtures creativity and how well and appropriately they support and guide their missionaries.

Action International Ministries is an evangelical, interdenominational missionary-sending agency that

works in Africa, Asia, Europe, and Latin America. Their strategy for urban ministry involves evangelism, discipleship, and development. ACTION networks with local churches, national organizations and other mission agencies to reach people for Christ, and seeks to train then in Christian living as well as assist them in their physical and economic needs.

When I visited their International Headquarters in Washington State this past Fall for orientation, I received further confirmation of us being a “good match.” ACTION has a diverse range of denominations working together peacefully, united in Jesus alone. The

people come from many different backgrounds and the way God ministers through them comes out in such a variety of ways. I love the inventiveness of God’s ways. We also really connected on the vision of holistic style ministry. God brought funny confirmations using horses and caged birds (another story for another time). At the end of orientation, I was accepted for a 2-year term of ministry. My personal commitment is to full-time missions.

K n o w i n g G o d , T a k i n g A c t i o n“Knowing God and Taking Action” is the motto of Action International and I

agree with it. Before I leave for the Philippines, I’ll be attending a one-month cultural school in Colorado and finding partners to stand with me in prayer. Since I am not on salary with ACTION, I will also be spending my remaining stateside time raising financial support, which is partially the purpose of this newsletter. Once arriving in the Philippines, the plan is to attend language school for the first year. There is potential to work with different ministries; but there will be no specific plans made until I arrive. Though I will not be officially working in their prison ministry, I will be mentored by the Feuersteins.

I’m attracted to sustainability projects and holistic-type ministry. By that I mean I’d like to be involved with imparting skills, spiritually and physically to help people I want to show people how to come to Jesus, to walk by the Spirit and to bring others to Jesus. I especially want the Filipinos to see themselves as God sees them: As individuals who are the focus of affection from a loving God and people who are highly valued by the King of Kings.

I’m very excited to learn the language! I want to be able to talk to and get to know people without the use of a translator. I believe knowing the language will be the best tool for building relationships.

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I have been to the Philippines twice: 1-month trip in 2006, and a 3-month trip in 2009. Both of these times, my primary contacts were Will and Joanie Feuerstein. This wonderful couple has known me since I was about 7 years old. Ate Joanie (Ate means older sister in Tagalog-- the national language in the Philippines) used to give me and my brother, Nathan, the job of testing toys and sorting clothes at the Cleveland City Mission. They have been tremendously influential in my life. Experiencing their prison ministry in the Philippines was a memory I’ve held tight to when I was doubting God, because of

the incredible testimonies of changed lives I witnessed.

The Feuersteins are currently missionaries with Action International Ministries (ACTION) and founders of Face 2 Face Ministries. When I visited the Feuersteins in the Philippines, I was introduced to ACTION as well. I am impressed by the way ACTION nurtures creativity and how well and appropriately they support and guide their missionaries.

Action International Ministries is an evangelical, interdenominational missionary-sending agency that

works in Africa, Asia, Europe, and Latin America. Their strategy for urban ministry involves evangelism, discipleship, and development. ACTION networks with local churches, national organizations and other mission agencies to reach people for Christ, and seeks to train then in Christian living as well as assist them in their physical and economic needs.

When I visited their international headquarters in Washington State this past Fall for orientation, I received further confirmation of us being a “good match.” ACTION has a diverse range of denominations working together peacefully, united in Jesus alone. The

people come from many different backgrounds and the way God ministers through them comes out in such a variety of ways. I love the inventiveness of God’s ways. We also really connected on the vision of holistic-style ministry. God brought funny confirmations using horses and caged birds (another story for another time). At the end of orientation, I was accepted for a 2-year-term of ministry. My personal commitment is to full-time missions.

Friends, meet

K n o w i n g G o d , T a k i n g A c t i o n“Knowing God and Taking Action” is the motto of Action International and I

agree with it. Before I leave for the Philippines, I’ll be attending a one-month cultural school in Colorado and finding partners to stand with me in prayer. Since I am not on salary with ACTION, I will also be spending my remaining state side time raise financial support, which is partially the purpose of this newsletter. Once arriving in the Philippines, the plan is to attend language school for the first year. There is potential to work with different ministries; but there will be no specific plans made until I arrive. Though I will not be officially working in their prison ministry, I will be mentored by the Feuersteins.

I’m attracted to sustainability projects and holistic-type ministry. By that I mean I’d like to be involved with imparting skills, spiritually and physically to help people. I want to show people how to come to Jesus, to walk by the Spirit and to bring others to Jesus. I especially want the Filipinos to see themselves as God sees them: as individuals who are the focus of affection from a loving God and people who are highly valued by the King of Kings.

I’m very excited to learn the language! I want to be able to talk to and get to know people without the use of a translator. I believe knowing the language will be the best tool for building relationships.

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My heart is for the lost, forgotten, poor and broken and it doesn’t matter much to me how that plays out in ministry. It’s difficult to make specific plans from the US end, so it will be an adventure seeing what doors God opens once I arrive. I want to see what He is doing there and join in the work God is doing already.

Your prayers are greatly coveted! I’m hoping to depart around July 2013, but nothing is set in stone as of yet. I need to raise monthly financial support before I go. If you feel inclined to join with me financially, you can go to my ACTION site (see below) and give online.

All gifts are used as designated and receipted for tax purposes. Most of you reading this I know personally and I THANK YOU so much for your friendship over the years, prayers and financial support. Honestly, my life wouldn’t be what it is today without the friendship and prayers from you wonderful people. Thank you is hardly enough.

Contact Me!I would love to get together before I leave to share about my trip and to spend time with you before I go international again. Also, If you know anyone who would like to receive this publication, just send me their address.email: catie.smith@actionintl.orgphone: 440.645.3380

Check out my blogs!Travel thoughts and stories: k8djeepney.wordpress.comArt for thought: peanutbuttersideup.wordpress.comFor my personal ACTION website...http://www.actioninternational.org/missionaries/smith-catie

All gifts are used as designated and receipted for tax purposes.ACTION USA • PO Box 398, Mountlake Terrace, WA 98043-0398 • Tel. 425-775-4800 • info@actionusa.org; ACTION Canada • 3015A 21 Street NE, Calgary, Alberta T2E 7T1 • Tel. 403-204-1421 • info@actioncanada.org; ACTION New Zealand • PO Box 8928, Christchurch • Tel. 011-643-0933 • rob@brighthopeworld.com; ACTION United Kingdom • PO Box 144, Wallasey, Wirral CH44 5WE •Tel. 0151-630-2451 • info@actionuk.org • UK Registered Charity 1058661 • ACTION website: www.actioninternational.org; ACTION Philippines • PO Box 110, Greenhills Post Office, 1502

C o n t i n u e d . . .

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Can I Drive to the Philippines?

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you����������� ������������������  cannot����������� ������������������  :)

Capital: Manila

Population: about 98 million

Language: Tagalog (Filipino), which is similar in tonality and grammar to Spanish.

Time Difference: 12 hours and sometimes 13 hours from EST because they don’t participate in daylight savings time.

Climate: Tropical!

Greetings: “Magandang umaga” (Good morning)“Magandang hapon” (Good afternoon)“Magandang gabi” (Good evening)

Manila

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The first recorded words of Jesus Christ are: “Why were you searching for me?” (Luke 2:49, NIV)

“What do you want?” (John 1:38, NIV)

C.S. Lewis once wrote, “All get what they want, but not all like it.”  It seems we get caught spending our life on something.  Time is like money, except you are constantly and consistently spending it.  It’s always being spent on something.  If you evaluate your desires simply by what you are purchasing, what would your desires be?  The question Jesus asks is a difficult question to answer personally.  We are complex people with various desires, and many desire something that they don’t know how to “purchase.”  And even more people spend their whole life trying to slam the hammer on their evasive desire to get a good look at what it even is.  Therefore, many are left unsatisfied in life.  Sleep escapes us, depression is always knocking, confusion is a regular diet, and guilt pays a visit to those who know what they “should want.”  With all those vultures and cold, dark clouds, it’s hard to remember that we were meant for the Promising Sunshine.

Desire is a womb.  Desire is an escort to deeper things.  Desire is a sign of breath in the lungs.  Desire takes you out of the norm.  It is fascinating that Jesus would record His first words as being an expression of interest in the heart of man– the desires of man.  Reading further in John 1, Jesus asked, “What do you want?” and the men answered with their desire to go with the Messiah (Jesus).  The Messiah ["The Anointed One"] was the One who would take them out of darkness, the One who would bring them life, the One who would feed them food from God, the One who would give them purpose, and the One who would give them freedom.  Those men received what they wanted, and spent the rest of themselves on that desire.

One desire– the desire for the One.10