I like coffee & spending time at Starbucks. I like wearing yoga pants because what other pants are that comfortable?! I sometimes take pictures of my coffee because I find enjoyment in what it looks like and they are cups of joy to me. I wear my hair in a messy bun because a lot of days I’m too lazy to do anything else. Oh, and I happen to be a white girl. All these things are taboo in the U.S. or at least quickly made fun of. These are all things on Instagram and twitter that make up and receive the hashtag #basicwhitegirl. So I may be called the basic white girl in the United States, which I’m totally okay with. Because guess what? I am a white girl and I just so happen to like all those things which many other girls in the U.S. like. Judge me all you want – I don’t care.
Because being a basic white girl has a completely different status in the rest of the world. Especially as I’ve been in the Philippines this month. This month being a basic white girl means I’m a celebrity.
Take the first day. My teammate, Emily, and I went into town. We were wandering around town with some frappes [yes, they have those here and are so wonderful on the hot days. Which is basically every day] in our hands. We were in normal clothes, which I guess isn’t normal enough since we are world racers. But as we were walking a basketball court, we were getting yelled at. There was a fence separating us from a group of middle-aged women, who were standing close to half court. They waved for us to come over to them, so we did what any world racer would do – we went over and talked with them. As soon as we reached them, we were greeted with excited hellos and introductions. Before we even got to introduce ourselves, the cell phone cameras were pulled out and we were being smushed into a group photo. And not just one, but about 7. The women asked us if we would do zumba with them, but since we weren’t really prepared, we quickly declined. But promised to send our friends to them another day.
As Emily and I left the basketball court, we were cracking up. It doesn’t help that both of us are on the taller side, especially for girls. But it wasn’t just our height that drew us out of the crowd. But it’s just the fact that we are white. That makes us stick out automatically.
My team is only the second group of Americans/white people to ever come to this town here in the Philippines. With that being said, people often stop and stare, point, laugh and run away in embarrassment, or stop us and talk. People always seem to be watching our every move, especially when there’s more than a few of us together.
The moments for this month are countless. Sometimes hilarious moments. Sometimes uncomfortable moments. Sometimes having people follow me around like a shadow as I’m shopping in a store. Sometimes having people stop me in the mall and ask if I’ll take a picture with them. Many times it’s waving hello and introducing myself and where I’m from.
There’s a lot of curiosity this month. It’s different than the previous months in Africa. I’m no longer being called out or taken advantage of by being upcharged for things because I’m white. I’m being called out because people are friendly and curious as to why I am here in Bulacan, Philippines.
What a platform that was simply handed to me upon arrival. And just because I’m a basic white girl from the United States. But what opportunity to share what I’m doing here from the United States. What an opportunity to share the love of Jesus. Kids don’t even know me but because I’m an American, they automatically latch on to my hand and play games and want to hear what I have to say even if they don’t understand every word.
Some days, I feel like I’m the bate for the Filipino teens, who we are ministering along with, to swoop in and get the hook. The other day, I was with three of the teens and we were walking down the streets, passing out flyers for the VBS. We are hosting it at the church next week. We would see kids or parents and that was my cue. I went in and said hello and asked how people were doing. I couldn’t say much else as I don’t know the native language. But that was the point. I was just opening the door in creating curiosity so the teens could then proceed to tell the kids & parents about VBS, with maybe using the facet of Americans teaching as a highlight to the event. I could have felt worthless during the occasion, but instead I saw myself as the tool to begin to invite the kids to VBS. Because as the basic white girl, I stir up curiosity in this town. The teens may have not had the opportunity or openness to invite their neighbors to the VBS if the door wasn’t opened with this white girl.
Should it bother me that my status of being a basic white girl is being used as bate? The more I think about it, the more it doesn’t bother me at all. Because there are so many opportunities that come from it. For instance, we are playing a basketball game against some teenagers at the end of the month. We are going to advertise for it by putting our picture on a flyer so people will see that we are Americans. But it’s all for the sake of the gospel, as we will be sharing some of our testimonies and the Gospel with the people at the basketball game. So if sharing my white girl status is what draws people in to hear the Gospel, then so be it.
I will gladly boast all the more in my basic white girl status because the Lord is using it for His glory. Because the people here in the Philippines are curious in who I am, they are willing to come to VBS and basketball games where the Gospel is being preached. Praise the Lord that 4 kids came to know the Lord at the VBS we did in a local village. It was definitely all the Lord’s doing, but if it took some Americans being there to get those 4 girls to come, then praise the Lord all the more.
I am just a tool in the ministry of the Gospel. Whatever it takes for people to hear it, I am willing for the Lord to use me in any manner. So make fun of me all you want in the U.S. for being a basic white girl, but the Lord sees me with my basic white girl status and gladly wants to use it for His glory and for building His Kingdom.
So I may not be posting pictures of my Starbucks this month, but I still can’t help but want to add the hashtag of #basicwhitegirl to many moments from this month. To God be the glory for all those moments as he uses me as a basic white girl to build His Kingdom. May I be faithful in obedience and in boldness in each of those moments.
