Soooooo….Team Habibi has decided to stay in El Nido, Philippines for the rest of the year! Sorry, we’re skipping the other 10 countries! …Ok ok, just kidding – but if we were forced to stay here, we wouldn’t argue =P
We’ve only been in El Nido for one week, and have already fallen in love with the people, beauty, culture, and ministry.
I talked about the people a little bit in my last blog, but to reiterate: Filipinos are AWESOME! They’re probably the most friendly, hospitable people group I’ve ever met. The other day we were at a ministry site, and didn’t have any food with us for lunch, so the adults killed a chicken right then and there for us! Thirty minutes later we were all eating boiled chicken, with rice that had been harvested nearby. yum yum!
The beauty of El Nido is pretty self-explanatory:
Community is really strong in the Philippines, enriching their families and culture. While walking in Manila, we came upon a neighborhood where several families were working together to prepare vegetables that they could all share. The joy and care people have towards each other is inspiring.
Working with ICM this month has been amazing so far!
One key ministry that we hope to complete this month is building houses for families that are currently stuck in nearby slums. The building project is called the GK Site, and 20 families have already been relocated here. We’re working on 2 houses that will soon become home-sweet-home for 4 more families!
Below are the houses we’re working on, and what they’ll look like when they’re complete!
The Preschool Project is another amazing ministry we’ve had the opportunity to witness! In the Philippines, kids are required to know how to read and write before entering Primary School. Many parents, however, are unable to teach their children these skills, and do not have enough money to send them to an actual preschool. ICM began the Preschool project so these kids can come learn how to read, write, and speak English, as well as learn about Jesus, and practice basic health habits – for FREE! We’ve already been to 4 preschools, and I can say without a doubt that it’s making an incredible difference in the lives of these families! Oh, while the children are learning these things, their parents have the opportunity to learn agricultural skills that can aid them in making money for their families. =D
There’s so much more to say, but that will have to wait for another blog =)
I’ll post again soon!
=D
