Well, after 24 hours of traveling we finally made it to KIM
(Kids International Ministries) in Manilla, Philippines. I am pretty sure that
it’s 2am in Texas and it’s the middle of the afternoon here. I am so jet lagged
but I have been instructed that if I don’t stay up it will be just as bad
tomorrow. So, here I am, blogging (and on the first day-Joey).
The 14-hour plane ride from LAX to Hong Kong wasn’t as bad
as I was expecting. We each had out own TV. I watched Meet Bill, Man VS
Wild (Carol, I still can’t see what you see in him, he drank his own pee!!),
Friends, played Bejeweled and tried to sleep some. They actually fed us 3
times!! And it wasn’t anything to shake a stick at. The food was pretty good.
We hopped another plane to Manilla and then took a bus to KIM.
You guys wouldn’t believe it here in Manilla…the driving
kinda reminds me of NYC drivers. There are no stop signs or lights; you kinda
just go where you can. There are people crossing the street on foot, riding
motor scooters, bicycles with sidecars and what I can only describe as taxies
but they are like little busses with an opening in the back and people just
jump in and out. Everyone is out on the
streets walking or just sitting around hanging out. There is trash everywhere.
It doesn’t seem like there is a clean spot anywhere. And, I am guessing that
the makeshift shacks that we saw everywhere from the airport to KIM (an hour
drive) is where most people live. It’s unbelievable. If you have ever driven
from Austin to LA (Ann) I can describe it as what Mexico looks like across the
Rio Grande on the boarder between Texas and New Mexico.
Once we got to KIM and got off the bus we were surrounded
with about a dozen little boys that were waving and wanting to play with us.
They are so excited that we are here. These weren’t even the kids that live at
KIM. We are actually staying at a location about 300 feet from the actual
orphanage. We will be going there tomorrow to meet all the kiddos. I was told
that they range in age from 10 months to 16 years. I am really excited because
everyone seems so welcoming.
I really miss you guys.
I’ll try to take some pix tomorrow and post them so you can
actually see what I see.
xoxo
joy
