“New blog from Eryn? What? I gave up on her weeks ago….”
No! Don’t give up on me! I’m sorry to my readers that it’s been so long. Things have been crazy! From leaving Australia, meeting with the rest of my team in the Philippines, having Debrief for the first week, leaving for another city and then going through our first week of ministry here, plus, being the procrastinator that I am, blogging has kind of been under the radar. Please forgive me. 🙂
So yes, I am in the Philippines! We’ve been here for two weeks now, and I love it! I find this simple fact hilarious, because I used to hate 
going out of the country, and now I thrive in third world countries. God’s sense of humor always keeps me on my toes. I’ve been in third world countries before, but never with this heart and state of mind. I have new eyes. But the Philippines are just like places in China and Mexico and Africa. People selling food on the street, children running around barefoot in dirty clothes, horns honking everywhere, hole-in-the-wall shops and restaurants. There aren’t really traffic laws here. The lines on the road are pretty much for decoration, and horns aren’t used for anger, but every time you pass someone, you blare it. You can pass anyone, and you usually do so by cutting into the opposite lane of traffic. If I wasn’t already used to this kind of driving from past missions trips, I probably would have died in the first week from a heart attack. Walking down the street, your nose usually goes into overload, smelling ten different smells within a two second span. Stray dogs run around everywhere, and people always stare at “the Americanos.” Everyone here is very friendly, always saying hello and waving. They love us here.
going out of the country, and now I thrive in third world countries. God’s sense of humor always keeps me on my toes. I’ve been in third world countries before, but never with this heart and state of mind. I have new eyes. But the Philippines are just like places in China and Mexico and Africa. People selling food on the street, children running around barefoot in dirty clothes, horns honking everywhere, hole-in-the-wall shops and restaurants. There aren’t really traffic laws here. The lines on the road are pretty much for decoration, and horns aren’t used for anger, but every time you pass someone, you blare it. You can pass anyone, and you usually do so by cutting into the opposite lane of traffic. If I wasn’t already used to this kind of driving from past missions trips, I probably would have died in the first week from a heart attack. Walking down the street, your nose usually goes into overload, smelling ten different smells within a two second span. Stray dogs run around everywhere, and people always stare at “the Americanos.” Everyone here is very friendly, always saying hello and waving. They love us here. 
Going through our first week of ministry was interesting. We’re working with a ministry organization called International Care Ministries. It’s been running for nineteen years, and they’re targeted people to help are those who make less than 3,000 pesos a month. That’s only about sixty American dollars. We have done the same thing everyday. We go out to a different area everyday, usually over an hour away in the back of a truck. We make home visits to the people who receive rice from ICM, and then eat lunch. After lunch is “ciesta” time, and we nap for about thirty minutes. They love their naps here. Once we wake up, our contacts teach the people standard living: how to brush their teeth, how to grow food, how to keep themselves healthy, what to do if their children get sick, how to tell if they’re sick, etc. During that time, we just sit and wait until their done. I’ve read through Joshua, Judges, Ruth, and 1 Samuel in only a few hours over the course of the week. At this rate, I’ll be through the Old Testament by the time we leave. After the lesson, one of us will give a word of encouragement, we pray, we hand 
out rice, and then we leave and our day is over. This is what we do everyday. But it’s so much more than all that.
out rice, and then we leave and our day is over. This is what we do everyday. But it’s so much more than all that.
I’ve been humbled every single day this week by the incredible people here in the Philippines. Like I said, ICM only helps those qualified to be under their care, and that means making less than 3,000 pesos a month. Most of these people have four or more children, usually more around seven. Most of them live in tiny huts smaller than bathrooms in American restaurants. And yet, they give us everything they have. We get invited to have lunch in someone’s home everyday, and they always “worry about our food,” our contact tells us. They’re worried about me? It brings me to my knees. In a third world country where these people have nothing, they’re willing to give us everything because we’re a guest and they delight in it. It makes me sick to think about how generally selfish Americans are. We’ve been asked many questions about America over the last week, and I’ve lost count at the number of times I’ve hung my head and had a hard ti
me answering because it’s shameful compared to how gracious and giving they are here. Everyday on our way back, I’m always silent going over the day in my head, seeing face after face in my mind and blessing each one of them. It brings me low, and I think that every single person in first world countries needs to see these things for themselves. So often, we reject humility because it makes us feel small or out of control. But I welcome it now. To be humbled is the most eye opening thing, and I ask for more of it. According to America, these people have nothing. According to God, they have so much more than we could understand. We could learn so much from these people who “have nothing.”
me answering because it’s shameful compared to how gracious and giving they are here. Everyday on our way back, I’m always silent going over the day in my head, seeing face after face in my mind and blessing each one of them. It brings me low, and I think that every single person in first world countries needs to see these things for themselves. So often, we reject humility because it makes us feel small or out of control. But I welcome it now. To be humbled is the most eye opening thing, and I ask for more of it. According to America, these people have nothing. According to God, they have so much more than we could understand. We could learn so much from these people who “have nothing.”
Like I said, I love third world countries. Interesting, Lord….
Lighting Up the World,
~Eryn
