mental photographs/videos thus far:
– getting to dip in the pacific ocean during a 12-hour layover in LA
– eva air’s safety procedures video which is expressed through interpretive dance. sir, real.
– eva air’s bomb veg meals.
– conversing with a zen buddhist nun. she believes she’ll have to reincarnate despite not wanting to. getting to share the gospel with her and letting her know that jesus provides a way out of that karmic entanglement.
– taiwan’s “hello kitty” all pink-and-white boarding gate. unexpected.
– meeting zach, a free-spirited vegan brother from spokane, during our layover in taiwan. he was on his way to the philippines for a month followed by thailand for a month, which is precisely my schedule for the next two months. we had a joyous two hours during our layover discussing our spiritual paths along with our fondness for eva air’s safety procedures video. we’re hoping to meet up in thailand.
– arriving at my team’s first destination, a church/guesthouse perched high up in the verdant mountains of the philippines.
– witnessing the jeepneys, taxi vans that sort of resemble rusty hummer limos decked out in the freshest artwork, ranging from “lord of the rings” designs to images of jesus to even one featuring a portrait of michael jackson, kanye, marilyn manson, and the virgin mary side by side. google “jeepney.”
– going on a daylong excursion with my team, a local pastor, and a tribe of street kids to a village nestled in the valley where we spent all day swimming in the river surrounded by majestic hills and coconut trees. following jesus can…be…amazing and so worth it and you should give your life to jesus if you haven’t already.
– hoopin it up with the local kids. b-ball is the sport of choice in the philippines and everyone’s got pretty decent handles.
– sunday church in a simple structure with a worship band that consisted of a singer, a drummer, and an electric guitar player. would choose this over hillsong any sunday. for real.
– double rainbow appearing right outside of our guesthouse. i think i actually know what it means.
– the guinness book of world records’ largest ten commandments stone structure situated right up the hill from where we’re staying. formidable. bold. didn’t see it coming.
– the overlook from where the largest stone tablets replica stands – one of the best views in the philippines. manila can be seen not so far away in the mist but is far from missed up here.
– walking through the marketplace. goodbye, sterile america, with its spick-and-span surfaces that are devoid of bacteria as well as life. this is where it’s at. don’t see the popular shopping malls out here. visit cogeo.
– papayas.
– christmas music playing in every grocery store. no thanksgiving, so christmas starts in september. “in the first month of christmas, my true love gave to me…”
– the 6 lovers of God i’m traveling with and the faithful family of four who are hosting us. i don’t hashtag, but if i did, hash-tiggidy-tag grateful.
