Launch has officially come to a close, and the RACE has
begun! Team X-Stream will be staying in Manila with Jeff Long’s Ministry here
at the YMC. I am thrilled to get to stay in such nice conditions. We have beds,
fans blowing in our faces, sit down to 3 cooked DELICIOUS meals a day (complete
with dessert). We have towels, sheets, pillows, tile showers, HOT water to
bathe in, COLD water to drink, access to laundry, oh yeah…did I mention the
women here learn how to be massage therapists, so for about $4 you get an hour
long massage. Ok, so maybe this isn’t EXACTLY what I was expecting, but you
won’t hear me complaining one bit. Ministry this month is up for grabs but
offers: the KIM Children’s home, hospital visitation shifts, prison ministry,
construction, visiting the townspeople, leading worship at the children’s home,
and I’m sure God has much more in store for us. We will be staying here with
Carly’s team of 6 women, for a total of 9 women and 3 of us men.
Each team was assigned to create a video with the prompt
“Things I Never Knew.� I’ve included the video at the end of the post. Friday,
as we were walking into the neighborhood (of shacks made from trash/scrap
metal/wood) to film a scene for the video, we stumbled upon a woman’s birthday
party inside an open hut. Much like an American birthday party, they were
celebrating with food (marinated squid), drink (gin & juice) and music
(1990’s karaoke)! We opted out of the first two, but couldn’t possibly pass up
the karaoke. So, in the middle of a squatter village in the Philippines I found
myself singing “Hey There Delilah,� “Don’t Stop Believing,� and N’SYNC’s ever
popular “Bye Bye Bye.� The birthday girl LOVED it, and the twenty-some other
people at the party sang along and took pictures of us white people belting our
elementary/junior high school ballads. It was AWESOME! This morning a woman
told April, “Hey you’re the girl that sings!� Apparently our karaoke party was
hot on the streets yesterday! We’ll be
going to the arena Sunday to watch Jeff’s (our ministry contact) son play in
the college basketball playoffs. If you’re watching ESPN 8 the Ocho be sure to
tune in and look for me in the crowd! I’ll
post our team video as soon as I get enough bandwidth to load it.
This month is sure to be a huge blessing to not only the
wonderful people of this country, but to us as we delight in the joy and giving
spirit of the Pilipino people. I miss you all back home already, and wish so
badly you were all here to experience this alongside me. Please pray a prayer
of unity for my team, and a specific prayer of peace from the Father to DRENCH
me each night as I lay my head down and each morning as I raise it again. I
love you all, and am so grateful for the opportunity to serve.
With Much Love and Forever Grateful,
Jordan
