A day in my life in the Philippines
Wednesday November 23, 2011This morning began with me reading my Bible and doing a bit of journaling and I went over the prophetic words my team had given me the night before. My teammate Megan had lead us in an exercise where everyone writes a prophetic word or picture on several numbered papers and at the end you find out which number belonged to whom. So everyone gives everyone a word. You even give one to yourself because you don’t know which was yours.
As I looked at my paper again, I realized six of the seven words were about the end of something dark and a new beginning and three of those described that beginning as a sunrise. Just proof yet again that God is so cool and awesome.
(the girls’ room)
I share a room with the other three girls on my team, plus the five girls from the other team here with us. The room is set up like a camp cabin with bunk beds and a bathroom containing two toilets and three showers. So even though it sounds pretty crowded to put nine women in one room, it’s really not bad at all.
The room is on the second floor of the Camp Morriah Complex and leaving it to go to breakfast includes going down 28 steps and up 8 more steps to reach the driveway. Then it’s a short walk down the driveway to the New Faith Family Children’s Home where the kids live and we take our meals.
After breakfast I head out to the construction site on the other side of the soccer field to work on the new building with the tireless work crews who are there night and day. They have a deadline coming up soon, and they encouraged us racers to help out where we can. Today we were leveling out a huge ridge of dirt. It was actually pretty fun working with friends and enjoying one another’s witty banter while we shoveled. They don’t have access to any heavy equipment here on the Isle of Mindanou, so we use shovels and manpower. I’ve found it to be quite invigorating to work with my hands and make a difference, however small, in a pile of dirt.
(the construction site)
I wasn’t able to work very long today because my team leader Tom had asked me to go into town and download some things from the internet.
Then I hurried back across the soccer field, down the driveway, down 8 steps and up 28 to my room. I was all hot and sweaty which made the freezing cold shower feel good for a change. Then I changed and as I was getting my things together, I saw Lollio, my ride into town, drive away. Oh well.
(Jeepneys in Manilla)
I met up with Stephen and we walked down to the road and caught a jeepney. Jeepneys were brought here by the army as personnel transport, and now they are used as taxis. The cab can fit one or two plus the driver and then however many people you can cram in the back two benches, which face inwards so you can’t help but look at your fellow passengers. It’s usually a tad crowded, and Americans are a good deal bigger than Philippinos, so it can be a bit awkward sometimes.
Now I don’t count myself to be fat by any means, but the average Philippino is about 5” and can only be described as petite in bone structure. So at 5”6’, I am a giant. Please don’t think I am prejudiced in any way. That’s just how it is. When I am sitting down and talking to someone, I am always startled by how short they are when we stand, and watching my teammates in a crowd is so strange to see and I find myself questioning my eyesight and depth perception.
(Joshua and his new friend Lucy)
When we got to town, we went to a hotel where we ordered some sodas and enjoyed their free Wi-Fi. I was looking forward to the chance to check up on my family on Facebook since I hadn’t been online in over a week.
Some of the other racers were already there and when Stephen and I left, Megan took a jeepney back with us.
(Tom enjoying lunch)
After a delicious lunch I went to work in the nursery. I simply love the toddlers and infants there, and when they smile at me, it feels like sunshine on my heart. A couple of them were sick today, so it was really good that I was there to help with fussy babies and cleaning throw up covered little ones.
I must say it’s hard for me to love a little boy that is so messy and who is screaming with exhaustion and general unhappiness at the world. But I know God was with me and I found it in myself to hold this child, clean him up, and rock him as he slept for the first time in 36 hours.
Maybe love isn’t always an emotion. Maybe it’s not always for someone who loves you back. A lot of times true love seems to be a decision to act in the best interests of someone else regardless of personal cost. How often does God hold us and comfort us when we are anything but lovable? He is always so good to us even when we are covered in the filth of our mess ups and so mad at Him that we can’t even see that He is helping us.
When my relief showed up, I went back to my room for a bit of quiet time before dinner.
Right after supper all 14 racers piled in a 15 passenger van and Donald took us to two collage ministries. I went to the Inter Varsity meeting. I had met some of the people before and was so happy to see them again! We played a couple of games and ate spaghetti, rolls, and ice cream before beginning a great time of worship. I was so encouraged by this group’s heart for worshipping our Creator. Tom and Brandon (the other team’s leader) both shared a word, Emily and I sang a song, and then the power went out. So everyone shone their cell phones at the next speaker and the last bit of the service felt more intimate as we listened in the dark. All in all, a great evening.
Afterward we were picked up a driven back home where the power was out too. Because we didn’t have the flood lights on for security the stars were simply amazing! I have never seen that many stars in my life! At home I see Orion and I can see the three stars of the belt, the four stars that mark the shoulders and feet, but there are about 50 stars between those that I had never seen before! I am not even exaggerating. Between all the stars I’m used to seeing are millions more! God is so awe inspiring! And I am so grateful He had let me be in this place on a night with no light pollution at all. Now I know what they meant when they said the skies proclaim the majesty of our king!
