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My Story
And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself,
and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. - Philemon 2:8
If I am to summarize my story, it is simply to say that I am a great, wretched sinner, but that Jesus Christ is my great and only Savior! I was born in the Philippines and raised in a family that practiced Catholicism like most Filipinos, as it was the predominant religion at the time. However, even at an early age, I had my questions and doubts about how these practices served to change the condition of the human heart.
I was 12 years old when my family moved to the Bronx in NY, and it was during this time that the Lord changed everything in my life. During that initial year while attending a small Christian school in Yonkers, I finally heard a clear presentation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ for the first time. I distinctly remember waking up around midnight that same day, sneaking quietly into our bathroom, locking the door behind me, and kneeling to pray that God would save me. From then on, my spirit has only known great and lasting peace–for God has saved me!
The most beautiful thing about the Christian life is that the Lord brings you to the right place at the right time to allow you to hear the exact message and the exact lessons you need to continue to become more like Christ. He also uses the right godly brothers and sisters to encourage us along the way. Looking back now, I can finally see how the Lord was in all the details to follow by guiding and directing my path to bring me to the place where I would have the most joy in doing what is the most important work for a believer: edifying the church and reaching the lost.
The seven years that followed allowed me to serve in the US military. It was during this time that my path towards worldwide missions became clearer than ever. I remember attending a mission conference while I was stationed at Fort Walton Beach, FL. It was during this week that the Lord burdened my spirit to go on a mission trip. Of the three missionaries that I heard that week, I ended up joining with two of them on mission trips within that same year. They say that you never forget your first mission trip. And though that is true for most believers, I agree to disagree. It was my second mission trip that year to Guatemala that I will never forget. For the first time, I joined a small medical mission team through a little-known organization called MMO. The preacher on the second night of the mission conference was Bradley Edmondson. I was at the right place, at the right time, to hear the right person. What a great God we serve!
The Lord is faithful. In the years that followed my military career, He has helped me finish my professional degree in Physical Therapy. I have been honored to have served on 10 trips within the last 5 years. I have met and worked alongside many wonderful believers, missionaries, brothers, and sisters in Christ all over the US and around the world. God showed favor to me by blessing me with a lovely wife, Katie, whom I met on a medical mission trip to the Dominican Republic. And we are very blessed to be able to serve together these last 2 years.
As the Physical Therapy Director, I am responsible for supporting the MMO team to ensure that the PT clinics run smoothly, both for the teams that I lead and for teams with other physical therapy professionals. This will involve communication, preparation of the supplies these volunteers need to practice, and praying for them. Lastly, I will be involved in actively recruiting other therapists who share the same passion for reaching the lost by showing them the love of Christ via medicine.
We cannot do this alone. Primarily, we need your faithful prayers so that we can continue to work with the help of the Holy Spirit. And if the Lord leads you, help support the Lord’s work financially for us to continue reaching the whole world with the light of the Gospel.
If you can help financially, you can give online by using the form below, or by mailing in checks to:
Medical Missions Outreach
Account #117
289 Jonesboro Rd, Suite 364
McDonough, GA 30253
Thank you and may the Lord richly bless you!
Ryan Macatugal