So Internet isn't as reliable around the world as it is in America. With the one hour slot of Internet time I had to post this blog before I left for China of course it was crashed. I felt so bad not being able to post this blog about the Philippines, especially since my next country, China, is a closed country with no Internet or communication for the month. So now I am 2 months down and 9 to go, but still wanted to share with you the blog I originally wrote about the Philippines. I'm also not having any luck uploading pictures, but I will continue to try…
It's so hard to believe that my first month of The World Race is over. Words can't express how much I love the Philippines and what a blessing it was to be in such a beautiful country the first month of the race. So here's a little taste of things we did this month…
Every day children shifts at the orphanage had to be covered: (2 people per shift for toddlers, 1 for older boys, 1 for older girls)
10pm-6am: Toddler/Baby Overnight
6am-10am: Toddlers & Babies
5am-8am: Older Boys
5am-8am: Older Girls
10am-3pm: Toddlers & Babies
3pm-8pm: Toddlers & Babies
4pm-8pm: Older Boys
4pm-8pm: Older Girls
Work Projects Around The Camp and Community Ministries:
Scrapped and re-painted the outside of children's home
Made stairs from soccer field to children's home
Made stairs and pathway from road to dorm housing
Weeded the whole soccer field
Rock distribution and spreading
Sort donations at children's home
Planting and gardening
Re-built sandbox
De-rusted and painted beams for Pastor Larry
Prison ministry
Elementary school feeding and classroom story telling on Thursday's
Painted a mural at elementary school
High school ministry Wednesday afternoon
College ministry Wednesday night
Sunday morning 6am hospital feeding and prayer
Basketball ministry
Awana's Saturday afternoon
Jodi is a former world racer who moved back to the Philippines and started New Life Rehabilitation Home which houses minors, who she has discipled while in jail, when they get out. This is how we helped her…
Painted a mural and a bathroom
Bush whacked to prepare for a basketball court
Gardening
Administrative work
Each Friday night we had special events for the children at the orphanage which was such a blast and a blessing to just spoil them and provide them with an atmosphere of fun!
Carnival night
Talent show
Movie night
Adventures we went on on our days off (Monday)
White water rafting and cliff jumping
Rice harvest
Banana and pineapple plantation visit
Hiking to waterfalls and jumping off
Repelling off a 100 foot bridge
Blue water cave swimming
Rock climbing
Natural spring pool with the older kids from the orphanage
Beautiful picnic at a remote ranch
Zip lining
Random foods we ate
Balute (incubated duck egg at 17 days, it hatches at 24 days)
Frog – like the whole frog cooked whole and served on a plate, not just the legs
BBQ chicken intestines
Crumpy Nut – the worlds greatest food that we ate at every meal
Lady's Choice – the worlds best peanut butter
It's hard to believe we did this all in a month and looking back it seems like I've been here forever, yet I don't know where the time went. God absolutely blew me away the last night we were at the children's home. Every night since we have been here it has been overcast and usually rains. Well our last night walking out from where we eat dinner the sky was so clear with the moon and stars shining so brightly. I was blown away and speechless at God's faithfulness and the way He loves me. He knows how much I love the sky and just blessed me with shining His light down on me the last night here. It is my prayer that God's light continues to saturate the Children's Home and that He provides families for these wonderful children to live in.
So month 1 down, month 2 China here I come!
