The campus courtyard could be anywhere in America, with hundreds of college-aged students in t-shirts and blue jeans, standing in groups, talking, laughing.  But a closer look reveals this campus is no where near the US, rather thousands of miles away in Manila, Philippines and these students are among the 750,000 located in Manila alone.  Sprinkled throughout this Filipino crowd are five South Carolina college students sharing with their counterparts from the other side of the world.  They, along with other team members are spending the summer in metro Manila as one of seven mission teams sponsored by SC Baptist Collegiate Ministries committing their summer to sharing Christ all over the globe.  Below are their stories in their own words.

Bonnie West – from Roebuck, SC and an Anderson College student – currently assigned to Batangas State University, near Manila.

“On Thursday we jumped right into visiting the campuses and meeting students. I along with 4 other people are at Batangas State Univ. They are mostly engineering students and have no clue about being an art major. I was really nervous going to the campus the first day because we went up to so many students to share the gospel- kinda out of my comfort zone. We visit the campus from 10am to about 4pm. Once we meet people and possibly share the gospel with a track or other means we collect their cell numbers and perhaps make another meeting time to have another bible study with them. When we walk around the school or anywhere we are the only white people around and get so many stares and looks from people. Some people come up to us wondering why we are here. I tell them I will being teaching Conversation English and staying here for 2 months and also sharing about a personal relationship with Christ. That's want they truly need here and do not understand about. We really want them to know that God wants to have a personal relationship with them and it's not about good works. I have been able to lead several to Christ through these talks and have lead a couple bible studies, today actually. There are several different groups of friends that I meet with different times to talk, hang out, get know one another, and continue to share about the gospel again and again so that they will get it.” – June 22, 2005

Melanie Pope – from Charleston, SC and a Winthrop University BCM student – currently assigned to Philippines Normal University – Manila

“Today at PNU (Philippine Normal University), I talked to a "barkada”, a group of Filipino friends, of 5 students - physics majors about how Jesus connects us to God. They were all very intellectual and asked many thoughtful questions. They were also very charismatic and easy to laugh with, but then again most Filipinos are like that. Their names are Randy, Luis, J.R., Arvin and Mark. After hanging out with them on the grass for about an hour with some Filipina girlfriends from my barkada, I asked the boys if we could pray together before they leave.

I got us all in a circle and asked that we all hold hands. While praying, I asked God to show Himself and to reveal his truth and all that He is to these young men. Shortly after, the sky turned partially gray and a big gust of wind started to blow. As I continued to pray, the wind kept blowing. Right after I ended my prayer with an "Amen," the wind stopped and the sun was shining.

I once heard that every time someone opens their heart to Jesus the wind blows...” June 17, 2005

Rorey Garnett – from West Columbia, SC and a Lander University BCM student – assigned to Polytechnic University of the Philippines

“Today I got to minister to a group by myself. They were a group of civil engineering students whose average age was 15. Not because they are smart necessarily, but because they start college around 14 or 15. They were very interested in why an American was in the Philippines and that opened a door, or actually God opened that door for me to minister to them.” June 17, 2005

Sarah Bosworth – from Columbia, SC and a Columbia College BCM student – assigned to Batangas State University, near Manila

“Please pray for the students at Batangas State as we share Jesus with them. In the coming week the summer missionaries that are working here will be holding Bible studies to help lead students to Christ and disciple them.” June 20, 2005

Erica Blagg – from Knoxville, TN and an Anderson College BCM student – currently assigned to the Joy Student Center near 4 college campuses in Manila

“Tuesday through Thursday Jalah, my missions partner,  and I went to the student center. Many of the students that came for the first time last week have been returning. That is a very good thing. We have seen some salvations in the short time that we have been here. I shared with a barcada (group of Filippino friends), they did not accept but I am meeting with them for Bible Study-pray for their salvation. One living in America would not understand how rich and blessed we truly are.” June 16, 2005

To read more stories from collegiate teams serving around the world, log on to www.scbaptist.org/collegiate.