We have arrived in the Philippines!!!
What a culture shock! Arriving in the Philippines was a much different experience than in New Zealand and Australia. I officialy FEEL as if I am living like a missionary. As I walk up and down the streets I see poverty everywhere. Houses are made out of whatever material they could find and are not large enough to comfortably fit a whole family. Garbage is thrown everywhere and it often smells of sewage. The temperature is HOT and HUMID. As soon as I walked out of the airplane it was as if the air was trying to suffocate me. The air is not only thick, but dirty as well. There is so much pollution that you can not even see the beautiful mountains. O…and not to mention the hundreds of flies that seem to swarm around you and stick to your sweaty legs…YUCK! Traffic here is Insanity! Riding from the airport to our contact I thought I was going to die at least 5 different times. There seems to be no road signs/lights, no speed limits, or really any road rules at all.
( This toilet was sitting in the middle of the sidewalk…Yes…EVERYONE can see you pee while walking down the street)
Besides everything I described above…I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS PLACE!! The people here are amazing. They are alwasy joyful and always friendly. The children are BEAUTIFUL and give you the biggest smiles at the smallest bit of affection you give them. Everyone is hospitable and crave to have a more personal relationship with you. Even a trip to the mall leads in deep conversations and new friendships.
A group of girls we got to minister too during a regular trip to the mall
Our first week here in the Philippines was used for a squad debrief. A time for sharing, teaching, worship and rest. God took me through a lot and I KNOW this is going to be a GOOD month. I will be writing another blog in the next couple days to explain what God is doing in my life…I promise. ( I know I havn’t been the best at blogging – SORRY — but I feel as if I’m going to have so much more to blog about this month)
Our official ministry started today! My team was one of four to stay back in Manilla where our debrief was held. We are staying at a center called YMC-lets just say its a school, orphanage, church, community builder, etc. All in one J They gave us many ministry options available that we could have a chance to do. Our team (team 12:18) decided that we were going to work with a lady named Minda and her community. We don’t know exactly what this looks like right now, we just know that we want to impact her community and give them the love of Jesus. Children’s programs, community worhsip, bible studies and feeding programs are a few things we would like to put into effect. We went into the community today and got to know the people there. I mostly played with the children and talked to the women. I loved watching the guys on our team, Matt and Caleb interact with the children. Most of the children do not have a father figure in their life. When they recieve attention from Matt and Caleb, their eyes light up and it is obvious that they crave male attention.
I felt as if I was really just trying to “soak it all in” today. As I was playing with the children I could not help but look around me and see the conditions these children were living in. It was just not a community like I have ever seen before. I kept trying to imagine myself growing up and living in a place like that. I always knew I had it good growing up in middle class America…but to have an experience like that takes it to a whole new level. You can hear all the stories you want and be told how bad other people have it compared to you…but until you experience it yourself…you really have no clue. Yet to see all the Joy and compassion everyone still has for one another touches me. They litereally have near to nothing but you would never know by their spirits. Even though my physical eyes see dirt, grime and despair…spritually, I see/feel Joy and compassion. We went back later in the day to distribue food. All of the kids came running with their bowls. As I scooped rice into each child’s dish I just kept thinking please God help this food not to run out because I will not be able to turn anyone away. Thank the Lord we had just enough to feed those who came! I learned that they take food to that specific community every Monday, but it is ususally the only GOOD meal they get a week (except for the lucky few who go to school and get a meal there). I am a person who likes to eat…and who likes to eat good food and a lot of it. Not knowing where their next meal will come from or when it will be…WOW!!! I can not even imagine living like that.
Matt giving out
vitamins
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Giving food to a little boy
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Our team will be at this community 6 days a week, doing whatever we can to help this community. Please pray for us, that we will hear God’s voice, help this community and make a lasting impression of God’s love for them. I will be sure to keep everyone updated!!!
