….So I can understand Tagalog. God
showers us with presents daily but sometimes we are oblivious. This
can be anything from sunsets to laughs to just about anything. My
parents and my grandparents would speak to me in Tagalog growing up.
I unfortunately do not know how to speak the language but it was such
a blessing and present from God being able to “eavesdrop” on
random happenings or just being able to understand comments that were
being said. I kept a list of some of the best things I heard.
Here is a glimpse of my special present
to me from God and my secret Philippines of the things everyone heard
but I got to understand:
to me from God and my secret Philippines of the things everyone heard
but I got to understand:
A team from “N” squad (Team 7) helped a
widow cement and paint her house for her and her family. One of the
local pastors asked if we could encircle the house an
d pray.
widow cement and paint her house for her and her family. One of the
local pastors asked if we could encircle the house an
d pray.“I am so thankful for my brothers and
sisters and their hard work here. As we pray and hold hands we may
not know each others names now but when we meet again we will.”
sisters and their hard work here. As we pray and hold hands we may
not know each others names now but when we meet again we will.”
Every Wednesday morning I went toa local squatter community to help feed children. In one of the
communities, a family invited the pastor’s wife and our group to her
house. Before we left the pastor’s wife prayed.
“We feed you but God eternally feeds
you.”
you.”
Two little girls were playing
outside dancing and laughing…
outside dancing and laughing…
“I want to be Lady Gaga when I growup..”
4. A group of us signed up to run a
5K marathon (some did a 10k and a half-marathon) in Manila. I
walked it. No shame… hahah but of course I dramatically
finished… meaning with my hair down and fake running/model
walking.. meaning the announcers pumped up the music and commentated
while I ran…. I wasn’t nearly as sweaty as everyone else was and
my hair was still down while I was in the Powerade line….
“She looks sexy after she runs…”
5K marathon (some did a 10k and a half-marathon) in Manila. I
walked it. No shame… hahah but of course I dramatically
finished… meaning with my hair down and fake running/model
walking.. meaning the announcers pumped up the music and commentated
while I ran…. I wasn’t nearly as sweaty as everyone else was and
my hair was still down while I was in the Powerade line….
“She looks sexy after she runs…”
When there were more than 2 of us
walking almost always heard….
walking almost always heard….
“They’re so loud…”
2 kids were talking about what
happens when they do something bad..
happens when they do something bad..
“if you’re bad-your mom will spank
you.”
“if you’re bad-you’ll turn into a
chair.”
“well you’ll turn into a dog”
“well you’ll turn into a white
person.”
“well you’ll turn old.”
… and then they started laughing
hysterically for a couple of minutes.
hysterically for a couple of minutes.
a little girl points to Danny and
tells her friend…“That’s the one I was telling you
about… he’s mixed. He’s half asian and white.”
tells her friend…“That’s the one I was telling you
about… he’s mixed. He’s half asian and white.”
Angel, my favorite 7 year old began talking about boys and some others who walked by… “He is handsome. He is really ugly. She is pretty. I am pretty. He is ugly.”
Security man at customs….
“Are you Filipino?” “Okay. You can go through.” -He didn’t check my passport, my card or anything.
the first day walking through the
community and a child starts yelling at me…
community and a child starts yelling at me…
“Hey, you are stepping in poop!”
Visiting Grandpa “you’re too dark and i’m surprised
that you still have your baby fat…” lol oh gramps…
While waiting at the trike stop for more people to pile into our trike, the driver’s friend asked…..
“Do you have a boyfriend back home” No. “Do you want a boyfriend from these homelands?”
many random times from different people….
“I wonder if she’s Filipino. Do you think she can understand me?” Always followed by a yes. 🙂
Filipino woman at feeding for children pointing
to John Blair…
to John Blair…
“That one. He is my husband. I will
marry him and he can take me back to America.”
marry him and he can take me back to America.”
The Warden at the Antipolo Jail….
“You look like my niece. Her eyes are too big just like yours. She looks Indian just like you.”
During VBS, I was Mandi the MadScientist.. I wore pink lipstick and blue eyeshadow. The sweet older lady in the kitchen said…..
“Michelle, I have never seen you look so beautiful. You should wear this makeup every day.”
At Rizal Provincial Jail, they
have to wear yellow shirts…. Emma from my small group said,
have to wear yellow shirts…. Emma from my small group said,
“I like that yellow shirt you are
wearing. You’re big like me. Can I have it?”
wearing. You’re big like me. Can I have it?”
. Hearing many of the prisoners
testimonies and their struggles from the past.
testimonies and their struggles from the past.
