Sweating to the MAX!

So, I have never sweat this much before in my life. I am
dripping almost 100% of the time and my hair soaks through with sweat at least
twice a day! So gross to push the hair off my sweaty face and have to put my
hand through my soaked hair! It doesn’t matter, it’s no big deal, it’s not
going to bring me down! I am in the land of smiles and I have so much to smile
about!

Some of the things that make me smile here in the
Philippines are:

-the beautiful children who call out “hi” and accept us so
easily

-when we go out and six of us cram into the tricycle and
then hop on a jeepney. I so love the jeepney’s and would love to take one home…
could you see me driving one of these around? The picture is a Jeepney.. I am going to try and get a good tricycle one so you know what I am talking about.

-bringing food 5 days a week to children who are hungry

-seeing my teammates getting climbed on and hugged by so
many kids

-the goats, the chickens, the roosters, and the dogs all
around

-getting to study the bible with wonderful Pilipino women

-eating a meal with new friends, tasting things I’ve never
had before, and dancing with the young girls after dinnerthis is my squadmate Jillian and we tried Halo Halo for the first time… it has 12 different ingredients mixed together with ice at the bottom.. interesting…

-the kids walking to and from school in their uniforms

This is a great nation and there is much to smile about but
there are also things that are breaking my heart:

-the beautiful children who have no family, orphans waiting
to be adopted

-people who have children together but are not married
because they can’t afford it

-so many children not in school because it is not available
or too expensive

-the contrast of the huge houses with squatter homes all
around

-so much pollution that you feel it in your hair, in your
lungs, and see the black dust around

-brokenness and oppression but I want to see healing and
freedom come to this nation