My squad and I have made it safely to the Philippines!
I have quickly fallen in love with the culture and people. I am surrounded by a mini street market, full of life. The main mode of transport here is by Trike (a motorcycle with a roofed side car) and Jeepnees (a mini jeep limo thing with very very short ceilings and spray painted by quite possibly; hippies). That – in and of itself – is so fun! Wildly adventurous every time.
My team is actually split in two different locations at the moment because March is Manistry Month, meaning all the fellas on Squad O are together doing ministry as just boyz. SO, us abundance gals are at a separate ministry with two all girls teams – Semper Fortis and Hephzibah (it’s actually the best). At the end of this month we have PVT (Parent Vision Trip) and I will get to see my Mom and Dad and do ministry with them!!!!! Finally, after that, we (us abundance gals) will join the Abundance and Kairos boys at their current ministry; The Children’s Garden; it’s about a 20 minute drive from our current ministry location.
For this first month I am partnered with an organization called Kids International Ministry. I already REALLY like it here. They do feedings in many different areas around providences in Antipolo and Manila every day. They run a children’s home (orphanage), a birthing clinic, and a school as well. At the feedings, we usually run a little VBS with the kids before handing out the food. At the children’s home we help out the caretakers in any way they need and play with the kids after school! At the birthing clinic we do a lot of medical-ish things and (might, depending on timing) have the opportunity to catch a newborn baby and cut the umbilical cord!! Lastly, at the school some of us will teach/coach! Lots of exclamation points throughout this paragraph but a simple period doesn’t show any of the excitement I have!
Dasia, Alyssa, Ky, Lillabea and I have also been asked to run the Media and Marketing of K.I.M. I am super stoked for that because storytelling is something I am extremely passionate about. Helping this already successful organization without any marketing or lack there of
flourish is such a cool opportunity. The Lord for SURE placed us here for a reason. AND at the school I have been asked to coach volleyball and teach a PE class!!! AND at the children’s home there is the sweetest special needs girl named Maricel that is 24, my new bestie. AND THEN super fun news: there’s a girl here at the organization on an 11n11 world race route that is also learning sign language and had PLENTY of lessons to GIVE me!!! Ah. Thanks God. Jesus is just surrounding me with my passions. So kind and sweet of you, Papa.
Just a quick little update on life!
Much love!
Joyfully,
Kell
(sidenote: anyone else think its confusing that filipino is spelled with an f but the country starts with a ph??? I have yet to find the answer, but I’ll let you all know when I do.)
