Well its been almost 2 weeks since we arrived here in General Santos and its been a wonderful the experience. The place here is beautiful, the people here are absolutely amazing so friendly and giving. Here in General Santos we are working with ICM (International Care Ministries) a lot of the staff members are very young, and enthusiastic about there work its so encouraging to see how they love what they do and do an awesome job in everything. The people at ICM are very caring and friendly they really love to serve the Lord in their work, just being around them is so encouraging and uplifting. Some of the programs that ICM have are open air clinics, preschool, teaching family values to families, and transform where they help people get on their feet and teach them the importance healthy lifestyles.
While on the transform visit I had the oppourtunity to visit some of the resipients of the program and ask them questions about how they feel about the program and how its helped them, and it was such a blessing to be able to be in their homes and seeing how there lifestyles have transformed. It was also very heartbreaking for me to see how they live and just realizing like man I have it good What on earth was I thinking, I have so much and some of these people have next to nothing and I never appreciated what I had or was never satisfied. But after seeing them and visiting them I got to pray with the people and it was awesome to see how Gods hand is upon their lives and just to bless them in pray and let them know that God will provide for them. It was really sweet.
The Philippines man its for real im actually here I still cant believe it and I have been here for 2 weeks already, I will say the first day we got here major culture shock I was in a twilight zone all day everything was just so new and weird I felt like and alien it was intense. Right now were are staying in a hotel is pretty nice minus the dog size rats in our ceiling =) and embarassing Comfort Rooms/Bathroom moments. Everything is finally settled down a bit?? still hasent become a norm yet most likely wont but we are managing things in the best way we can. Everyday something new happens I really cant expect anything out of the day because it WONT happen the way I want it to happen just living in the moment.
Since the moment we stepped foot on this Island we make head turn like seriously its insane, I have never been stared at so much in my entire life its crazy even like at this very moment. It feels like we are celebrities minus the fame, cameras and bodyguards. well i think its mostly at my teammates I am more on the brown side and have been told I look like a Filipina,so its pretty sweet. Culture here is so different from transportation to the air, cutting a field of grass with a machette, 6 americans 1 canadian stuffed into 6 inch tricycle, market anxiety, rice for breakfast, lunch, and supper….. YUM!! ITS THE PHILIPPINES BABY.. I LOVE IT!! Nothing can go wrong?!?!?!?!?!??!
