Whoopsy. Ha. It has now been at least two months in the Philippines…and I have not written one blog…again. (Well, technically, I write plenty of blogs, but they are so similar I end up not posting any of them. Heh. Well…)
Well, welcome to the Philippines, y’all! “It’s more fun in The Philippines,” as they say!
As you can imagine, a lot has happened in a span of two months. Figured if you were still around reading my blogs, I guess we must be friends, so I guess I’ll write like we’re friends.
THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED IN TWO MONTHS
– Mom came to The Philippines for PVT (Parent Vision Trip). Together we entered bars to talk to girls about leaving because Wipe Every Tear could help them. (PRAISE HANDS) And in that time I got kicked out of a bar, and also was served a rum and coke instead of just a coke which is what I actually ordered.
– ALL SQUAD for two months of the Philippines. Those two months of all squad were great and weird and hard all at the same time. Lots of gossip and rumors, but also so much fun living with everybody. Also you pass sicknesses to each other and stuff like that.
– People got lice. (Short lived, but still a thing when you’re always surrounded by kids.)
– People got so many tattoos. (Some spiritually connected. Some just for fun…I got tattoos as well. – *gasp* “Emily got tattoos?!” But trust me, mine are spiritually connected.)
– People got a terrible sick of throat and cough proportions. (*raises hand* I got pretty sick. Also a thing when you’re always surrounded by snotty kids and live with 40 people and when all 28 girls sleep in one room together.)
– We had team changes. (Actually we have had TWO team changes already. Team GOAT [Greatest Of All Time] was for the first month and a half in the Philippines. And now we are in our final teams.)
– Made relationships with kids at the Children’s Home. Friends from the ages of baby to adult. Relationships consist of “Tita, push please,” “Tita, higher,” “Tita, water,” “Tita, what’s your name.” High fives and tickles and a mix of Tagalog and English.
– I forgot how to photographer. (aka, this thing happened where I haven’t picked up my camera in the span of time I’ve been here, kinda. Or kind of lost the effort, but not the desire. So, sorry Grandmom. Hey, I’m trying to back at it again though!)
– Lots of heat. Lots of water. Lots of too much thinking. Lots of junk food because city life.
– Trike. Jeepney. Jeepney. Trike. Taxi.
– SWITCHFOOT ON EASTER SUNDAY.
– MOVED CONTACTS. My second team change in the Phil reunited me with those I had spent many months as teammates on the Race with. Bailey H., Kaela, and Katie were all on my original team of four months. Lily and Taylor were on my second team for two months, and then Lily was on my earlier Phil team called Team GOAT. And this is my first time with Molly. And our team name is What the Hill because our ministry is in the mountains of the Philippines, but we thought it would just be hills and that the Phil wouldn’t actually have mountains. Welp, they really do.
– I’ve done construction, farm chores, painting, raking, moping, walking and hiking here in our mountain home. Rabbits, chickens, and pigs. Poop. We’re helping with the making of a barber shop and a grocery store to empower this community and the church we live at (again, just like when I was in El Salvador) we do a lot of housekeeping. ITS NOT AS HOT UP HERE. WHOOP. We wore our flannels and freeze at night. YEAH!
– I seem to have become very much attached to strawberry mix Mentos. I’m addicted.
I’m so glad God knows the plans He has for us and how they align with things and just when you need it. Literally everything on the Race has been perfect timing, but I didn’t always realize it. For example, I’m so glad I’m in the final team I’m in now and the location we’re at now. The perfect people and place to reflect and process the Race and rest before coming home. To process how I’ve grown and how I’ve changed on the Race and what it will look like as that new person coming home.
The end is catching up to me slowly and quickly. I see the end of the tunnel and its coming soon, the light is breaking through and I’m bracing myself for the impact of going home. It may be two more months away, but explain that to me after 8 months have already quickly gone by. Where did time go? I cant spend time regretting things I did or did not do well on the Race. I take one day at a time and keep moving forward. Each day I’m learning to take as it comes and to decide that morning that it will be a good day.
It’s funny to think about who I was before the Race. It’s just so very weird to even think about how different I am, how much I’ve changed…how much better I am. All I can think to do is reflect. I feel as if the change never happened, like one day I was this person and the next day I was this person. But then I remember all the pain and other things I experienced that has brought the change on my soul. How hard it has been. What’s the difference? Love. Love is the difference. I find it true. I’ve been shown love in so many ways and forms. And it has brought this change.
I just want to thank all my supporters. Any of you who felt that little whisper to support in the best way you knew how. In your way, you came with me. You did ministry. You also were a part of the change in me. The growth that has ensued in me from this journey. You’ve pointed me in a different path, you changed my direction, you changed my life. And I just want to thank you and assure you. You made a difference in a life.
Love
Your Em.
