First of all I would like to apologize. While spending last month in the Philippines I really had a great time, but nothing stood out as what I would consider “Blog Worthy”, but this is why I’m apologizing. I realize that most of ya’ll following care more about what I am doing and where I am regardless of whether or not I feel like it’s exciting enough to write about. So I am going to give a quick recap at what went down last month. I will try to remember in the future that just the fact that it happens in my life makes it “blog worthy”(Wow that sounded kinda vain!)
If you look on a map of the Philippines go a little right and down till you hit big island called Mindenoa, get out your spectacle and look a little further and you might just see the city of Malaybalay and that little dot is where we spent most of our time.
We stayed at an orphanage with about 25 kids and worked daily at either covering shifts for the house mothers and changing poopy diapers or working planting grass on a field that they one day plan to host soccer teams for camps and outreaches in the area and all over the Philippines. This was a pretty tedious process considering that we had to separately plant clumps of grass all over the football sized field in hopes that it would grow even though we wouldn’t see the end result. The thing I love about our squad, however, is that while work may be hard somehow it always ends up being fun. I would also like to note that one of the most important things in these kids lives were their sponsers. I know we all see a lot of infomercials about supporting a kid, but if you are considering it, take from someone who has seen the results. It is worth it! The kids know who their supporters are and don’t take for granted what the role that they play in their lives.
On our first off day we ventured into the city a little bit to go to the park. What did I see? Well to my surprise the Malaybalay Ultimate Frisbee Team. Not something I expected to see, we immediately went up to maybe get in a game or two. One thing about the Filipinos is that they are some of the most friendly people you will ever meet. Needless to say, we had just enough guys to make a team so they let us jump in. We had so much fun and it never ceases to amaze me how well sports open up the doors and knock down the walls for building relationships. After a surprising 13-4 victory (U.S.A!!!) we were invited back and got to play a couple more times throughout the month. One thing that has fascinated me with meeting people my age is that our desires, questions, wants, seekings, and even relations aren’t that different. It amazes me how similar our generation is regardless of the culture or surrounding. It really bears witness to the fact that everyone needs and wants Christ wether they know it or not and even though there is still a lot of work to be done , it is oddly comforting to know we are on the same page.
