It hits me at different moments that this is no short term mission trip, but that this is just the first month of 11, which causes me to be so excited and yet terrified at the same time!
I am so in love with the Philippines and with the ministry we are working with. We flew into Manilla, spent two days there and then flew to Mindanao. I have to say I like Mindanao a lot better because it is more rural rather than a big city. The Philippines are so beautiful and tropical which brings me comfort of home. Where we are staying there is a Dole plantation across the street, I have never had sweeter mangos, bananas, and pineapple in my life! We are definitely getting spoiled with the food that is prepared for us!
It has been a lot of work working different shifts with the orphans and then doing other projects on top of that, but it has been such a great opportunity to bless the staff and give them time off and to bless the Children's Home with different work projects. It breaks my heart hearing the children's stories… Its hard to fathom the pain and abuse they have been through when all I can see is beautiful innocent children. But it is been such an honor to speak truth into their lives. That they are God's beloved children whom He created with purpose and meaning, that they are good, beautiful, and worthy of love. Hearing their laughter seeps joy into my soul. Comforting them when they cry while praying and singing over them grows a compassion in me that I've never known. It's been a great, hard, and humbling first week of ministry.
Thank you all so much for your continued prayers and encouragement! It is so needed 🙂
P.S. on a funny note, a lot of Philippino's go by double names for their nick name. Like Donald is called Don Don, Mary Joy is called Joy Joy… So our team with lack of sleep and delusion thought that was the funniest things ever so we all have new names… And I'd like to inform you that my new Philippino name is Chrin Chrin (we can all agree that Christ Christ would be a little inappropriate… lol)
