Hi friends!!

I am currently doing my Discipleship Training School with Circuit Riders. We are in our lecture phase right now and have about a month left before we leave for our outreach phase.

I recently found out that I am being sent to the Philippines to share the gospel and serve the communities there.

Many people may not know this, but I was actually born and raised in the Philippines. I moved to the United States about 8 years ago and have not been back home since I left.

Recently during an outreach team hangout, our leaders shared that they had been interceding for this tour since August. What is amazing is that I gave my life to Jesus in July, and in August I felt God awaken my calling to share Him with others. I even have a video recorded on August 8th where I talked about my desire to tell people about Jesus.

At that time, I did not even fully know the gospel or how to share it yet. All I knew was that I loved the Bible and wanted people to read it. It genuinely broke my heart to think that many people only knew of God, but did not actually know God Himself. I simply wanted to encourage people to open the Bible and discover who Jesus truly is.

Writing this reminds me of my roots before I even knew how to clearly share the gospel.

There is another part of this story that feels so personal. The Philippines is divided into three regions: Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. I am originally from Luzon, but our outreach team is going to Mindanao.

I have actually never been to Mindanao before.

But the street I grew up on in Manila is called Mindanao Avenue. Now I am being sent to the Mindanao region.

There are two teams going to the Philippines — one to Visayas and one to Mindanao — and I have been placed on the Mindanao team.

Even more amazing, the first person I ever shared the Bible with was a Filipino woman I met through a local Facebook group. She had posted asking if someone could bake a cake. I normally do not do things like that, but that day I happened to see the post and offered to bake one for her. My mom suggested I make a tres leches cake, so I baked it and brought it to her.

When I met her, I found out that she was Filipino.

At that time I did not know how to share the gospel yet, but encouraging her to read the Bible and showing her that it was not as intimidating as it seems brought so much joy and fulfillment to my life. That was one of the moments where I began realizing my purpose.

A couple months later, God showed me how to clearly share the gospel while I was spending time with Him in my secret place, interceding for others. Shortly after that, I shared the gospel with a close friend over coffee, and in that moment she gave her life to Jesus. We got her a Bible right there, and to this day she still follows Jesus and has a relationship with Him.

And she is Filipino.

From the beginning, it feels like God has been orchestrating my life to bring the gospel back to my people.

I have not been back home in years, and now I get to return with a purpose — to share the love of Jesus that transformed my life.

To make this outreach possible, I still need to raise $8,000 to cover flights, housing, ministry resources, and outreach expenses.

I truly believe that missions are never meant to be done alone. Some are called to go, and others are called to send. I am stepping out in obedience to go, and I am inviting you to partner with me as a sender.

If you feel led, I would love to invite you to sow into what God is doing in the Philippines. Your generosity will directly help bring the gospel to communities and individuals who need to hear about the love of Jesus.

Philippians 4:17“

Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account.”

Your prayers are also incredibly powerful, and I am so grateful for everyone who has already been supporting and believing in this mission!

Alizza