So, one year ago today I found the World Race website for the first time. This morning, I’m posting a blog from the Philippines after waking up and running a 5K here with my teammates. (Watch out, those of you constantly checking out the blogs on the site- you’re going to blogging here too if you’re not careful!)
I know that I haven’t been writing a lot about our ministry here at the Children’s Home. It’s mostly been playing with toddlers and pulling weeds- and although there’s a lot that could be said about both of those things, it just hasn’t been on my heart to blog about it. If you’re really curious, you can check out some of the blogs from the rest of team Sisterhood, as well as Team S.O.L.I.D., who is here with us.
On Thursday, five of us visited an elementary school to read to the students, hand out lunch, and play for a few minutes. Considering that I’ve spent the past 10 years teaching in an elementary school, I was curious to visit a public school here in the Philippines. A little uncertain of what we were getting ourselves into, off we went, children’s books and two giant containers of stew in hand. We drove to the prettiest location imaginable. Pineapple fields were all that separated the school from the lush, green mountains rising in the distance. It was clear that the students here in this rural location were far less accustomed to having foreigners in their midst than in Malaybalay.
Once at the school, we separated and each of us visited a classroom to read a story. You can talk about Christianity and Jesus openly in the public schools here, and I read Max Lucado’s “The Crippled Lamb” to a group of thirty 3rd graders. (P.S. for my teacher friends: The 1st grades had FIFTY students each!) English is taught here, but I knew that only some of the story was getting through. I tried my best to ask questions to help them understand what was going on- a highlight for them was when I demonstrated the word “limping”! Despite the language barrier, the students were polite and very happy that we were there. After reading to them, I took their picture, telling them to say “cheese!”…a direction they had clearly never had anyone give them before. One picture is from before I told them what saying “cheese!” means, and the other after. Hopefully you can tell the difference!
Afterwards, we handed out lunch and then had a few moments to play with the kids. After a lot of high fives and a very giggly game of Simon Says, it was time to go. The students ran after the van waving and yelling their goodbyes. It was a fun time, and a sweet experience. I couldn’t help but think about what a hard time their teachers would have calming them down to focus for the afternoon… been there, done that. Sorry, teachers!
Afterwards, we took a different route home, and we saw one of the most amazing views of my entire life. (Hopefully the internet will be fast enough when I go to town to upload a short video below.) And I kept thinking about the students’ smiles and how their laughter made my day. When I got back to the home, I reread a note that my Mom gave me for the month of September, part of it saying “…every smile you see is a smile from God.”
Dear God, message received. Thank you.
Cold Shower & Coke Count: 14 & 3
