Oh, You Look Filipino!

I don’t know which is more funny….being stared at and called “Chino Gringo” in Central America, or having everyone here in the Philippines come up to me and start talking Tagalog (their native language, but yet EVERYONE knows how to speak English). When I tell them I’m NOT Filipino and don’t speak Tagalog they reply in plain English with “Oh, you look Filipino.” Loves it!

First, I’ll start off by telling you about our living conditions for the month. I think it’s safe to say the past three months I’ve lived in some pretty secluded areas. Don’t get wrong, I’ve enjoyed EVERY place I have stayed and am NOT complaining one bit about where we lived. I’m on the World Race and I want to experience those less than “normal” living conditions. In Honduras we stayed in the mountains that were 30-40 minutes away from
 Tegucigalpa. In Nicaragua, we traveled around the country so much that we only stayed in each house for an average of 3-4 days and the homes were in tiny villages/pueblos. Costa Rica we stayed in a jungle farm with sounds of monkeys waking us up every morning. In each place, internet access was hard to find/get to. Shopping malls were a rarity and Starbucks was NO where to be found. And now to Manila…..the capitol city of Philippines. Thank you Lord for blessing me with civilization this month. J There is wi-fi readily accessible here at the ministry house, HOT showers, and a wonderful kitchen staff to serve us. Starbucks is only a 15 minute jeepney ride, there’s an overwhelming number of shopping malls (some put the Mall of America to shame), and there’s PEOPLE around….lots of them!! Woooo!!

Secondly, the ministry here is absolutely NOTHING like I’ve ever experienced. Even by World Race standards, this ministry is one of a kind. Normally when we are sent out to partner with a ministry we do whatever the contact has for us. Well this month, we have free roam on whatever we want to do. Kids International Ministry is a very healthy ministry and has built up a lot relationships throughout the community. They have developed programs and ministry opportunities to help the needy, sick, and poor. Some of the ministry opportunities include: feeding poor/homeless, working at the KIM orphanage, construction, prison ministry, prostitution ministry, VBS, teaching art classes, disciple/hang out with the older orphans that live independently, community outreach/evangelism, and many other various small things around the ministry site. There is  always something to do, and it can be a bit overwhelming at time, but it’s ALL good! Our contacts Jeff and his family allow us World Racers to pick and choose whichever ministry the Lord calls our heart to.

The ministries that I have chosen to participate in this month are feeding ministry, working in the nursery at the orphanage, hanging out with some of the older orphans, and working on a business development plan for The Jeepney Magazine. The Jeepney Magazine is a street magazine that is published here at the KIM house. I am working with Ate’ (sister in Tagalog) Cecill and Ate’ Reah. The Jeepney provides jobs for the homeless of Manila. The homeless person becomes a vendor by buying the magazines at cost and then when they sell a magazine, half of the money goes back to the magazine and the other half the seller gets to keep so they can provide for their families. The staff at Jeepney need help trying to find places for their vendors to sell. Here in Manila, it is illegal to sell things on the sidewalks because it is considered “private property.” Myself, Cara Parker, and Angela Bringham all have business backgrounds are working together to try and find places for the vendors to sell the magazine to help gain more exposure for the magazine and help get more sales to the vendors. We are also working on how to get business to advertise in the magazine. The Jeepney is a really slick magazine that includes articles about poverty in Manila to fine dining and entertainment. I’d read it….that should say enough about how cool it is.

 

I could literally write 17 pages about how cool this month is going to be, but I won’t for your sake and mine. Did I mention they have HOT showers here?

Spiritually, I feel a-ok! I had a very very cool talk with my squad leader Lauren last night and she asked me what the Lord was teaching me this month. I didn’t have a real good answer for her because I really didn’t know what the Lord was teaching me this month. Truthfully, I haven’t had much alone time with the Lord. I haven’t had time to ask Him what He wants to teach me this month. Maybe it’s because I haven’t been observant enough to see what He is trying to teach me. Having that part of the conversation really made me think about my current situation. I thought about why I haven’t dug into the Word as much. Why I wasn’t praying as faithfully as I should. I just really don’t know. So I finally decided to sit down and pray and ask, “God, what do you want to teach me this month.” I knew I may not get an answer, and if I did, GREAT! Well….I heard exactly what I needed to hear from the Lord.

Hmmm…..this blog seems long enough. Maybe I’ll save what I heard for my next blog…. 

Yeah. I just did that.