Here’s a recap of some of the events that transpired this week. We only have internet access once a week now..And there are so many details involved withe each story, but I’ll try to sum it up in a nutshell.
We helped move huge tree logs to create a perimeter around a safe space for the children to play in. AS you can see, it seems the children had some fun helping us too.
Then we sanded the logs down…and painted every other one white. Now the children have a much safer area to run, laugh, and play leap frog in. Leap frog is a popular game here.
The guys treated us ladies like royalty on Valentines Day. They are great brothers. They paid for massages for each of us, by women who are from the church. They also rented a karaoke machine.. and we karaoked the night away!
Kuya Al and Ate Marina are pros at this!
The evening made me realize, even more, how much I want to celebrate love in some way, every day with the person God has for me.
The community of Aninuan (where the church is located), is full of loving, smiling Filipinos. We have been doing a lot of relationship building with the people at the beach, but I felt God telling me to build more relationships with the people in the community this past week. So I did.
I was drawn to a family that lives not too far from Kuya Al’s house, and my teammate Cinthia felt to come a long with me. We met a wonderful family, who was so excited to meet us. We sat and talked with Jennifer, Nancy, and Alma for some time. They invited us over a couple days later to learn how to make bracelets.
Jennifer told me that I should stick to singing…
While Cinthia and I learned how to make bracelets (Cinthia was much more skilled at it)..the rest of the team was picking up trash along the road in the community. Kuya Al was trimming all the grass from the houses along the road.. making it look nice and pretty.
We also had a movie night in the community. Kuya Al showed a movie called Fireproof. The acting was a cheesy… but the message was beautiful… Love needs to be fought for, especially in relationship… and fought for the way God fights for us. I have to admit, my eyes did get a bit watery at certain parts…
The week ended with the weekly evening meeting, which is completely in tagalog. I was sitting next to my new friend Jenlene, who also gave me a Valentine’s Day Card.
I was trying hard to focus, but my mind was wandering here and there…until I heard my name come from the microphone!
I perked up in my seat, and was hoping Kuya was referring to the town in the Bible.. but he wasn’t…
” Someone asked Bethsaida if she had a boyfriend, and she said ‘Yes….. His name is Jesus.”
I had mentioned that to one of the teens earlier that day. Though I’m dark, I’m sure my face was beet red as the 500+ eyes darted my way.
When I asked Kuya about the shout out after church, he said that he was talking about how God has to fill our hearts completely. And that if any of the members asked us if God filled our hearts, we would say yes.
I nodded my head… I’m learning… I’m learning more and more how much God is filling my heart…and I don’t ever want Him to stop.
Here’s a pic of Moymoy…enjoying some sweets.. I think he’s pretty ugly, but everyone else thinks he’s super cute… and I have to admit.. this pic gives a good argument.
Agenda: Love,
Bethsaida
Here’s a trailer that shows what Threads of Hope does, with some more detail.
