So I’m here in Manila! After approximately 50 hours of travel my team (The Fellowship) and Team Adopted made it to Manila, Philippines. We are staying in an area called Cainta currently at Kids International Ministries. Getting from Launch week in ATL to Manila wasn’t a picnic. We flew from ATL to LAX where we had a 9 hour layover and LAX to China where we enjoyed another 9 hour layover! From there we had a 15 hour flight (my longest so far….swelling in my ankles is not exactly my favorite thing) from China we flew to Manila which was about a 2.5 hour flight and then took a 1.5-2 hour bus ride to our ministry site.
We have what we are calling a ‘Penthouse’…4th and top floor of the building. Beautiful view of Manila. 2 full bathrooms (cold water but feels great with this heat and humidity), beds to go around, prepared meals 3x a day and an orphanage right down the street from us. Our team has discussed our current living situation and counts everything a huge blessing to be thankful for in the midst sheds and huts that our neighbors are living in.
We have been able to do some ministry on the streets of a very poor neighboring area. This included giving out a soup/porridge type of meal, hygienic products, stickers, medical aid and lots of hugs and smiles. I met a couple of girls ages 12-14, Bianca and Rebecca who really caught my eye because of their age and smiles (they reminded me of some girls I mentor back home), they kept looking at me and finally came over to ask for stickers (smiley face stickers I had been giving to the younger kids). I gave them each a couple stickers and asked their name, age and if they had sibings. Bianca has 6 siblings and Rebecca has 4. I asked if the were in school and where their home was, Bianca said yes she was in school but pointed to her home (nothing more than a lean-to shack of sorts) Rebecca was not going to school and said she stayed home to stay with her younger siblings). I hugged the girls and tried to keep back the tears that they brought. I met many other children, Ren, Prith, Angela, and others who’s names I cannot recall.
Outside of street type ministry we have been working in New Hope Family Children’s Home with the kids ages 1 month- 5 years old. Lea, who has been working as a director for approximately 8 years is one of the sweetest women I have met here, she along with a very small handful of other women have been nannies here and work long shifts taking care of these orphans. The children come from parents who have passed away, or were unwanted or maybe even lost their families in a storm. Only 2 children were adopted in 2014. That number is so saddening. These children all have such joy and love to give; some more timid than others but all of them need a loving home. I am thankful to be able to be here in Manila for a few days to love on them and help take some of the burden off of the nannies. Pray for them as well as the children.
Lastly for this update is where we are headed to next! We have been stationed here in Manila for the last 3 days waiting to hear where we will spend the next 2ish weeks. We will be leaving for the airport tomorrow morning around 4am to take an hour long flight to Mindanao specifically Malay Balay – a very mountainous and beautiful area with full amenities. What a blessing! We will be working on the streets doing feedings, in the pregnancy crisis centers, doing awana bible classes, and in orphanages. I am so excited to see what God will do in Malay Balay and in our hearts. Please pray for health, safe travels and a covering over our next couple of weeks. Also if you would like to support me, I am still about $3,500 away from being fully funded! Thank you and God Bless. Love you all.
