Oh Philippines how I love you. To be honest, at first I wasn't so sure about this place. I had some serious expectations about returning to Asia and what it would be like- well that was ridiculous, I should have learned by now not to expect anything. This country has been full of surprises. For one, a trend that has carried over from Central America has been my involvement with kids. RIght now two girls, Ghyle and Trisha, are peeking through the barred windows of our living room playing hide and seek with me (as i never move from the couch). Before The Race I wanted nothing to do with kids and was all about ministering to people around my age. But so far this year, the best relationships i have built have been with people age 14 and down.
The other night I asked one of the girls, Vanessa (pictured below wearing a purple shirt), if there was anything I could pray for her before I went to sleep. She spent about five minutes in silence and I kept rephrasing the question thinking she hadn't understood me. Finally she turned to me with a serious look on her face and said "Spiritual Growth". I asked her how old she was and she smiled as she innocently said "Twelb" and ran off into the darkness to find the trail back to her home.
The incredible level of spiritual maturity that some of these kids have is due in large part to JoJo- our contact, pastor Al's, daughter. She loves the children here with a pure heart and can bring a smile to the face of any kid ages 1-15. Though she is doing an incredible job, and most of the kids are ridiculously happy and can quote 5x more scripture than I can, they still have serious problems. Hunger, poverty, five outfits in their closets, lack of love and tendencies to cut themselves are common in this area.
I feel like I am so close to some of these kids, yet our relationships have just started. There is so much more to do, to talk about, to hear, to experience, to learn. I can't believe we only have a week left here. This Race is flying past way too quickly
From Left to right: Kasey, Ghyle (pronounced Gale) and Vanessa
LunLun!!
JaLin
