blog

oh canada ... home sweet home ... mixed emotions

Mon, 25 Aug 2014 14:43:31 +0100

Hello everyone!! I landed safe and sound at 9pm on Friday night. I was welcomed by my wonderful family. We then drive to my grandparents house and I attempted to sleep. After a rough night's sleep I spent the day with my family, giving out gifts and being properly reunited. Sunday I went up to camp for a couple hours to visit Lydia (who has been working there since June 26th). After such visit, we all came home to a house that was in a bit of disarray due to our floors being refinished on the main floor. After unpacking and some laundry being started, I went to bed.

Needless to say, it was not a restful night of sleep, waking up at least 6 times. This morning I started getting ready for work and my heart began to feel heavy. As I did my devotion, I realized just how much I miss the friends I made in the Philippines. They taught me so much about leadership, serving, working together, accepting people, encouragement and loving everyone. I cried a lot this morning and just wanted to be back in Manila, with Karin, sipping our tea/coffee and eating breakfast together. I know that this is going to be a rough transition back into life here at home, and with school just a week away, I feel like my life is moving too fast. In the Philippines I was able to sit back each day and look at what happened, but here there never seems to be time to reflect on the day or to have deep conversations unimpeded by time with friends. But I know that God is with me here in the business of life just as He was in Manila.

last full day

Thu, 21 Aug 2014 04:58:43 +0100

I can't believe that today is already my last full day here in Manila. The time has really flown by and God has really shown me many amazing things here. The following is the last update as to my movements, including what the rest of today and tomorrow will look like.

Tuesday (Aug 19)
Karin had school, and took me to the center early. I helped Cecille with the SLC pre-school program again. These kids are uncontrollably cute and are eager to learn. It has been such a blessing to meet them and to watch Cecille teach them. After this Cecille and I shared lunch together from the canteen around the corner and I asked her about her life. She really has a great story, but because I didn't ask her if I could post it, I will gladly tell you in person if you ask me. Her story just made me even more inspired by her. Through all her trials, she still has a smile on her face and continues to rely on the love and provision of God each day. After lunch we hung out in the SLC room with Jizza, mostly because of the air conditioner. It wsa a slow early afternoon, but the wifi had been restored to the center, which helped time pass faster.

At 3 pm, Jam arrived along with 4 of the sponsor kids to make more Christmas cards. We did this for about an hour and ended with a snack. It was fun to just sit with the kids and be crafty together. After this I went down stairs to help Ate Lorna with the food for feeding. It was a very hot day (evewn for the Filipino's) and so the time seemed to just creep by, but eventually it was time to go to feeding. Cecille came with us to do the teaching for the night. After feeding Karin and I took the dishes back to her apartment and we did them after dinner. Karin was very tired after her communing to school and other errands, that she basically went to bed right after dishes.

Wednesday (Aug 20)
Karin and I went to the center, she did some paper work and I helped for the last time with SLC. Today all ten pupils were in attendance and were so cute and fun. At the end of class they posed with me for a few pictures and then sang me a song. Then the girls all came and gave me kisses and the boys hi-5's. I'm going to miss those kids and hope that when I return and visit a school that I can see them again. After this Karin and I went to Star Mall for lunch (Wendy's again) and to do some errands. Karin used the internet cafe while I bought some things for her.

After this we went back to the center and nearly fell asleep, it was so hot. After a bit I remembered that there was a TV and DVD player in the SLC room, so I went to watch Anastasia. Karin later joined me and we enjoyed a bit of childish enjoyment in the blazing heat and long wait of the afternoon. We took a short break to peel boiled eggs for Ate Lorna, but then promptly finished it. Seeing as it was my first time watching it, it was a strange film and I am very glad that my mother didn't let me watch it as a kid. It would have scarred me. Then we went to feeding, where Jam led a game.

Thursday (Aug 21)
I woke up early this morning but managed to stay in bed being really lazy. I picked up my book and finished it before doing anything productive. I made pancakes for a late breakfast and Karin asked me some debriefing questions while we ate. I can't believe that I go home tomorrow, but I am also very ready to go home. I have had an amazing time here, but There are many thing waiting for me back home too. After breakfast I packed my things. This proved to be quite the task that took some creativity.

Later today is my last feeding session, and after this the IT Tender team is going out for dinner as my farewell. I will be very sad to say goodbye to everyone here and will miss them dearly. We have bonded so quickly and have made connections that I know will last beyond border and time differences.

Tomorrow (Aug 22)
I will take my things to the center and go to my one session of SMART kids. This program is run by John Coffey, with the help, of Amanda (a volunteer at the local boys home that is run by the former IT Tender founders). After this, Karin, and maybe some Filipino's, will take me to the airport.

It is so strange that this trip has come to an end but alas, I knew that this was going to be a short adventure. At least I have Micah Witt to share stories and thoughts with. I am ready to come home and see how I can apply all I have learned here to my life as a university student in Ontario. Life is a journey filled with little adventures that God uses to teach us more about Himself and ourselves in Him. I am ready for the next part of my journey. Home ... here I come!

nearly done ... mixed emotions

Mon, 18 Aug 2014 09:27:46 +0100

I can't believe that I have less than 4 days left here in the Philippines. This has certainly been a journey and an adventure.

Friday (Aug 15)
We went on a community visit to the families who live along the rail road tracks near Karin's place. It was an eye opener that there was such living conditions so near to the nice apartment where we were staying. It was a very hot morning and I was feeling quite exhausted, so after the visit we went to a corner store to get a bit of air conditioning and a juice to get more energy. Afterwards we went to Ate Lorna's daughter, Aileen's, school. It was a lovely visit; we met the principal,. her teacher and got to visit in a special needs class. There were around 75 students that were in a rotation schedule to be in this class with various needs from being blind and deaf to having downs syndrome. This was Ate Lorna's first exposure to so many people with special needs in one place as they are often ostracized here and are kept hidden from the public most of their life. The kids were really sweet and one deaf girl gave each of us a rainbow loom bracelet she had made. After this we went to Ate Lorna's house for a short visit. It was a very small home and not very stable as it is on stilts to avoid being flooded by the river below in large rain storms and flooding. It was a good morning with many new experiences. The afternoon was spent resting at the apartment and getting ready for Night Life that night. Night Life was a crazy night!! When we got to the center, I was mobbed with children so much that I couldn't move. After we were all set up, the kids came in by 4 and showered then waited for everyone to be done so the rest of the night could start. After the showering was finished, they sat and listened to a Bible story taught by Jam and then enjoyed dinner and juice. It was tiring night but is was really nice to see the kids.

Saturday (Aug 16)
We spent Saturday doing completely touristy things. We went to a market called Green Hills, further away in Manila, to do some souvenir and gift shopping. We got there early as to beat the rush. Amanda came with us, and the 4 of us were done our shopping by noon. Karin was buying gifts for people and family for thank you's as well as Christmas, Amanda was buying thank you gifts for her supports, as were Janet and myself. We also splurged and bought a couple treats for ourselves. After this we went to a nice restaurant for lunch and the Ayala Museum. The museum was really cool and opened my eyes to the tumultuous history of the Philippines. They were a colony of nearly every superpower throughout history, and their heritage is marred with assassinations, wars and protests. It is amazing that out of all this conflict, can come a people group that are so friendly and inviting. Amanda came over for dinner after and we displayed our new treasures to each other, like all girls who love shopping do.

Sunday (Aug 17)
We went to a church called Jesus King of Kings Community Church (JKKCC) where many of the missionaries in partnership with ER from the retreat go. It was lovely to see them again, especially because I leave on Friday. I said my farewells and spent the rest of the day at Jizza's house. Karin and Janet were staying at a hotel that day and night because Janet's flight left at 7am the next morning. It was a nice relaxing time with Jizza and Amanda. I got to go to the children's home that Amanda has been working at for the last 10 months and meet the boys. These boys are from various situations which as neglect, abuse, abandoned or orphaned and living on the street. Two boys really made my heart melt; two brothers named Brian and Bernard, who were found under a bridge holding hands, orphaned and living on the streets. They are such sweet boys and give affection so quickly. They both reminded me so much of James that I just wanted to bring them home and see the 3 of them play together. After the visit, I went back to Jizza's house to spend the night there. It was a restful Sunday, as all Sunday's should be.

Monday (Aug 18)
Today I commuted to the team meeting with Jizza. I led the team devotion this morning, and it's focus was on remembering to be present in what God is doing now and not always looking ahead to what God might do in the future. This has been a struggle for me lately, and as many of the staff are soon encountering major life changes, I thought it would be appropriate to share my thoughts on it. They were all very encouraging and echoed that it is hard to stay in the present and not want to know what is the next step. Jizza was particularly encouraging, saying she had recently been in a time of waiting, but that God grew the fruit of patience in her and her faith grew as she continued to depend on Him for this patience. Then I went upstairs and did a few jobs for Karin as they discussed some things that did not pertain to me at all. After the meeting, Karin, John, Jam and myself went to Festival Mall for lunch (Wendy's!!!!). After, we helped Karin look at laptops to compare prices for a new one, as her's has completely died. Karin and I then bought some things the center needed and went back to re-arrange some things. Then we came home and have the rest of the evening off. Karin and I have been enjoying our time together and have had a wonderful heart to heart conversation today. It felt good to get it off my chest to her and hear her empathy and encouragement.

As my time draws to an end, I will be very sad to say goodbye to this place and these wonderful people, but I know that God is with them and has the best in store for each of them. God has used them in my life in many ways this summer and I would not be who I am today without any of them. My going away party will be so sad, and there will be tears. One comfort I have is that here in the Philippines they don't say "goodbye", they only say "see you later." That is a very comforting thought, as I truly believe that I will come back here another summer, and possibly longer, to continue to watch them do God's work here in Manila.

deeper thoughts ... the future

Thu, 14 Aug 2014 06:42:02 +0100

As many of you know, I came here with the expectation that God would show me if ministries like this are what He has prepared for me. In January when John came to Bethany to share, I was struck by the practicality of their ministries and the devotion of all their workers to their dream. Since coming here, those initial reactions have been reinforced as I have gotten to know each of the staff better.

I am still praying for God's direction as to my future, but I am also enjoying each moment of watching the impact that these devoted workers are having on the children and families involved in their ministries. I haven't had as much of a pull at my heart for this organization yet, but I expect that it will start when I go home. Everyone here is so kind and transparent with each other. Both John & Jam and Gabby & Jizza have expressed a wish that I could come back for their weddings, even though I have just met them. They are all so kind and caring and always there for each other. I am feeling more like a part of the team each day, but still praying for God's direction and guidance.

I will leave you with the verse I read this morning that was an encouragement to me in my quest while here.
"The secret things belong of the Lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law." ~ Deut 29:29

May this be an encouragement if you too are fretting about your future. Know that God has revealed to you what you need to know for now and he will provide the rest of the information when you are ready for it.

i am alive ... the last 7 days

Thu, 14 Aug 2014 06:33:10 +0100

So sorry for being so delayed in this next post. The internet has been pretty spotty everywhere we go, so I finally gave in and went to an internet cafe, which is where I am sending this to you from. Here is the low down of the last few days.

Wednesday (Aug 6)
Last time I just told you about the morning of Wednesday. That afternoon I helped Ate Lorna prepare the food for the feeding program. My help consisted on peeling many eggs that had been boiled and dividing up the food between 49 containers. As we waited for the food to cook, I asked Ate Lorna about her family. This set her off on an hour long description of her children and how much she does to try to make their lives better. She has three children, one is 25, one is 18 and the other is 13. She opened my eyes to just how much effort parents here go to to provide for their children and give them a better life. That night we went to the feeding program. It was more lively because the weather had been better that day. After, Karin and I took the dishes back to her place again to wash them. After that we packed for the retreat that we were going on the next day.

Thursday -> Saturday (Aug 7->9)
This was my mom's birthday, so I made sure to say Happy Birthday to her from the Philippines. The team met at the IT Tender center at 9am to leave for a retreat that was graciously being paid for us by a team from Coast Hills Community Church in California. After a 2 hour van ride, we arrived at Rizal Recreation Center (website: http://www.re-creationcenter.com/). It was a lovely location, cooler than Manila and littered with palm trees. We enjoyed buffet food, mostly filipino, and much relaxation and recreation. The Coast Hills team did a couple sessions on perseverance and how God is always with His children, especially in the hard times. This was a great encouragement to the filipino workers, as they are always bending over backwards for others. I met many lovely people, both American and Filipino, and used the free time to get to know the IT Tender staff better. There was a pool at the center which was very refreshing. During the course of the retreat, I got many questions about Canada in comparison to the US from the American's. It was funny, hearing their stereotypical views of Canada.

We arrived home from the retreat just after lunch time on Saturday. Karin and I took our time unpacking and getting organized again. Then we went out to Festival Mall for dinner, groceries and a movie (Guardians of the Galaxy). It was a very fun last bonding time with just the two of us as another woman from the UK arrived the next day.

Sunday (Aug 10)
I was blessed with the opportunity to go to Jam's (John Coffey's fiance) church. She and John met me close to our house and we made our way across Manila to church. Jam's family lives around the corner from the church, and I was able to meet them before the service. Jam is the eldest of three daughters, who are all gorgeous and her parents are very sweet and kind. We went to the service, which is held in the main floor of the pastor's house. There were around 25 people in attendance, including children. The pastor gave a message on the barriers in our lives that get in the way of God's blessing us. It was a really good and thought provoking sermon. The pastor was very accommodating and did his best to speak as much English as he could, even though I was the only foreign visitor. When he spoke in Tagalog, John translated the main points to me. The pastor even had me come up and read a passage. The service was very involved, as there were around 8 of us called on to read passages. The kids didn't make a peep during the whole 2.5 hour service and I was very impressed. John said that he had never heard the pastor speak that much English ever, so it was clear the he was making an effort to make me feel comfortable. It was a lovely service and a very welcoming experience. After church we went back to Jam's house and her family served us a delicious pork meal. I enjoyed time getting to know both John and Jam better and seeing how a filipino family tries their best to make a living in their crazy and overpopulated city. I heard John's side of the story of how he and Jam met, it was quite romantic.

After this, John and Jam took me home where Ate Lorna and her 13 year old daughter Aileen were doing some cleaning. This is just one way that Ate Lorna makes a bit of extra cash to help provide for her family. Her daughter was very cute and fun, a but shy at first, but once we started singing "Let It Go" the ice was broken and we had a good time. A while later, Karin arrived from the airport with Janet, the new visitor from the UK. She is only staying one week and leaves this coming Monday morning. We then had a chill evening of helping Janet get settled in and getting to know each other better.

Monday (Aug 11)
The morning was a bit awkward as there were now 3 of us in the house, and my routine was a bit unsettled. But we made it through and went to the team meeting at the center. It was quite a busy meeting that mostly discussed the sports fest that was happening the next day. Gabby (an IT Tender staff who helps with the ALS) and Jizza (the IT Tender Social Worker) are getting married in November. As a way to raise money for their wedding, Gabby designs shirts, and they are having one design that will be sold at a slightly higher price to raise money to pay for the catering of their wedding. It is a great idea and I have purchased a few from him. After the meeting, Karin, Janet and myself treated the IT Tender staff to lunch at the near by Star Mall. It was fun to have that time with the whole team. After that Janet and I went to a market in Makati to purchase some "rubber shoes" (running shoes) for some of the youth who were coming to the basketball day the next day. It took us a while to find a vendor who had all the sizes we needed and would sell them to us at a decent price. While at the market, I was able to pick up a gift for Chloe, which I know that she will love. After a long day at the this market, we finally made it home around 8:30pm. It was fun but exhausting.

Tuesday (Aug 12)
This was the basketball day. We woke up at 5:15 am to arrive at the center at 7am and then all went over to the complex we had rented for the day to set up. Then the Coast Hills team arrived for an IT Tender orientation and a run down of the day. Their church had funded the entire day, including the jersey's the boys had (and got to keep) and the t-shirts the rest of us got as well. Once the boys arrived, the day began and everything was a blur after that. The boys at the event were clients of the IT Tender Night Life program that ministers to out of school street youth. It was obvious throughout the day that they were enjoying themselves and the interaction with the boys from America, was so exciting for them.

After this event we packed up and went back to the center for a bit of a cool down and break. Shortly after, however, we loaded on to a bus and went to the going away party for the Coast Hills team. They had been such a blessing to many ministries in Manila, and all the people from the retreat were at this party. It was a fun night, but us from IT Tender were exhausted. The filipino's had fun getting the American's to eat balut, soup #5 and male cow parts. They all made our room smell bad, but we kept the doors shut to keep the air conditioning in. Saying goodbye to the team was a sad moment, and you could tell that each ministry deeply appreciated the work they had done for all of them. Once we got back to Karin's place, the three of us just passed out in bed.

Wednesday (Aug 13)
This brings me to yesterday. Karin had a morning class at Tagalog language school, so Janet and I made it to the center on our own. We joined Cecille in the SLC pre-school program. The kids remembered me and were excited to see me. It was nice to watch them learn and help them through their practise exercises. After the lesson, Cecille took Janet to the community behind the center and under the nearby bridge while I stayed back to journal and rest. After this, Janet and I took Cecille out for lunch at Star Mall before we went back to help Ate Lorna buy and prepare the food for the feeding. The local Alabang market was a fun trip and Janet and I were able to buy some food for our own dinner.

The feeding that night was a bit crazy as Ate Lorna was the only filipina with us. But we did our best to play games with the kids, and we went without the lesson for the night. After the feeding we went back to the house to again do the dishes. Janet was very gracious and did the feeding dishes while Karin and I rinsed the sweat from the day off and cooked dinner. After dinner, she even did the dishes from dinner. Then we sat and chatted a bit about Janet's experiences of the day.

Thursday (Aug 14)
Finally this brings me to today. The three of us went to the center for 10am for Janet and I to meet Jizza for another community visit. We went to Sucat, the pilot area for many of the IT Tender programs, especially the sponsorship program. It was eye opening to see the tiny houses that these families live in and also exciting to hear about the effect that the IT Tender sponsorship program has begun to have on their lives. We met one girl who is currently a sponsor child, and she was lovely. All the families let us pray for them before we left each house. We had lunch in Sucat and then went back to the center. This brings me to this moment. Tonight we have the feeding program tonight and are about to go back to the center and help Ate Lorna prep the food.

a little bit deeper

Wed, 06 Aug 2014 06:33:56 +0100

Yesterday's post was a very short one just to let you know about my activities here in Manila with IT Tender. Now I want to give you more.

Sunday:
The first day I arrived, I was feeling a mixture of nervousness and excitement. I was nervous for how I would find Karin, my wonderful host who was picking me up, and how I would fit in here with the Filipino culture. As it turned out, these worries have been for nothing. Once I stepped out of the airport, Karin started jumping and waving. I went and met here and Ate Lorna (a very kind and caring woman on staff with IT Tender) and we got a taxi home. It was really humid and hot even though it was only 8 in the morning. It was a nice drive from the airport to Karin's appartment in an air conditioned van. As Karin pointed out where the IT Tender center is, the communities where their clients come from and other places I would need to know in the area, I had many memories from Bangladesh flooding back. There is a specific smell about the South East Asian nations, maybe it's their sewage systems, but I found myself thinking of my time in Bangladesh and the wonderful team I was with.

After getting to her appartment, I unpacked a bit and took a shower and changed. A few short hours later, once the adrennaline began to wear off and jet lag began to hit me, Karin and I went to the other side of town to a very western looking and feeling out door mall. It was here that I met the Witt's for a short bit. It was so nice to see them, familiar faces in a foreign place. Seeing them made my trip feel more like a dream than reality, but it was such a blessing to see them. When Karin finished her afternoon service at church we all went for dinner. My stomach was still on Ontario time so any food was making it feel sick. As Karin and I rode the bus, jeep and trike to her appartment, I was nearly falling alseep; once we got back to the appartment, I changed and basically passed out on my bed.

Monday:
After a somewhat restless night's sleep, the next morning Karin had a meeting, so I spent the morning with two sweet girls from Great Britain who were just finishing up a 2 month stay, Lizzy and Megan. We went to the mall so they could get some souvenirs and so I could buy some food for my time here. They found a place to print pictures, but it took at least 45 minutes, so we were sitting and waiting a while. While Megan was waiting at the counter, Lizzy and I had a random and slightly awkward encounter with a gentleman who was using a computer. At first he told us he was a bishop, then he handed us his card and said he was a para-legal. He asked Lizzy if she was in MI6 and said he would help us if we ever needed anything.

After this we had lunch and headed to the IT Tender office for the team meeting. I finally met John Coffey, the team leader, and he was very welcoming and seemed excited to have me here. I was officially welcomed by the rest of the team and the three of us girls sat and listened as they discussed upcoming events. John kept apologizing that the meeting was taking a long time, but I was just happy to be able to the inner workings of IT Tender and see everything that goes into each event. After the meeting, Megan and Lizzy stayed back to order pizza for their going away party that night and Karin and I went home to rest a bit. Within two hours, everyone on the IT Tender team came to Karin's place for a really fun despidida (farewell party). We enjoyed pizza, cake, each others company and a fun game of trivia. Then the team said final words and prayed over the two girls. It was so touching to see how much of an impact they had on the team and to hear of the impact they had on the clients, kids and youth in just two months. I hope I can have a similar impact here and that this experience has a deep and lasting impact on me.

Tuesday:
After a better night's sleep, only waking up once, we at Karin's appartment woke up slowly and the girls began to pack. We had a special breakfast of pancakes as a celebration of their last morning in Manila. As we were eating, the girls gave me a few tips, listed their top 5 and shared some final thoughts. It was cool to hear their insight from being here for 2 months. I only wish that I could be here as long. Then Karin took me to the IT Tender Center to have my orientation with John. It was so nice to sit and listen to him share all about this organization and to hear the back stories of everyone who works here. It is so clear that he has a passion for what they do and I know that he is a blessing to the team here. I only pray that when I find my path for my future, that I will be as passionate about what I am doing and everything my team stands for. After, I went downstairs to help some of the kids make Christmas cards that will be sold in Ontario at the International Marketplace, hosted by Ontario Christian Gleaners in November. Ontario Christian Gleaners provides some of the food that IT Tender uses for their feeding program with no required payment of money, just pictures and stories of how their gift is helping children in Manila. John mentioned this event in my orientation and said that he cannot make it but that Greg Reader, his contact with our home church, would be there. He also mentioned that they were looking for one more volunteer. I gladly offered. It will be such a cool opportunity to be able to sell the cards that I helped the kids make and to be able to promote this wonderful organization that I have the privilege of working along side this summer.

After the cards, I helped divide up the food Ate Lorna had made for the feeding program "Food for Life" that evening. Then we had a bunch of free time. During that time I helped Jam, another staff member and John's fiance, keep working on the cards. They're really pretty. Then it came time to go do the feeding program. We transported the supplies and set up. It had been raining much of the day so the night went slowly. We had 26 of the 49 kids come and they slowly trickled in. The kids were measured for height and weight and then they participated in a craft, then they played games as they waited for food (duck, duck, goose and doggy, doggy, who's got your bone). Then the kids lined up, prayed, got a serving of vitamins and food. After eating the ran around and played some games. One girl fell and hit her head, but after a bit of panic and the eagle eye of Amanda (an American trained nurse), she was deemed fine. After the program, Karin and I took the dishes home to be washed to be used the next day.

Wednesday:
Today I woke up nice and early, 6am. The sun rises much earlier here, around 5:30am and sets much earlier as well, around 6:30pm. So I tried to fall asleep again, but the effort was in vain. Karin left at 7:30 for her tagalog school, and Ate Lorna came to get me and take me to the Center at 8:30am. We took the feeding supplies with us so we can refill them for tonight. I joined Cecille with the Simula Learning Center. It is a pre-school program for the local kids from ages 4-6. Cecille was once a client of IT Tender and discovered her passion for teaching while volunteering with them. When she became full time staff she became the teacher of this program and has continued to prepare the children for school. She ash recently received a generous gift from an anonymous donor to pay for her college degree in pre-school education. She is seriously a miracle worker with the kids and can command their full attention and silence with just one syllable.
After the program, she took me to see the community that most of these kids come from called Napacor. Most of them live just behind the Center in tiny huts that are all built around an electricity tower. Many of the children also gather under a nearby bridge for shade and a place to take a nap. Under the same bridge is where Cecille's family has a little shop that sells snacks, cigarettes and shirts. Cecille goes to work at the shop when she is done classes for the day and both she and her family spend many nights sleeping there. The government has made it illegal for shops to be set up there and for people to live there, but both Cecille's family and the many others who live under this bridge have no where else to go. It was an eye opener as to the conditions of such an overpopulated and impoverished city like Manila.

After this I came back to the Center and helped Jam make another card design for the Marketplace. After a while, John and Ate Lorna came to get us to go eat lunch. We had barbequed chicken, filipino pancakes and rice. This was my first real filipino meal and it was delicious! It was really fun to go around the corner to the Center and buy it from the locals and then to sit down with the team and share a meal and community together. I am really loving this experience, and I just may come back at least for a longer short term trip to see if this is where God has called me. I love the values of IT Tender and the obvious heart and soul that all the team members put into everything they do here. Tonight we have the feeding program again, which should be rowdier because there has been no rain today.

Please keep praying for the IT Tender team as they go about their daily tasks and do everything they can to provide and empower those they serve and minister to. They are being the hands and feet of Jesus here in Manila.

here in manila ... quick update

Wed, 06 Aug 2014 03:39:22 +0100

I made it!! I arrived safe and sound at 7:30 Sunday morning. After getting my bag, I met Karin (my gracious and very British host) and she took me back to her place to freshen up. After a bit of unpacking and a shower, she took me across the city to see the Witts (a very lovely and close family from church). It was really nice to see them here in Manila. They helped me adjust and gave me a few tips for my time here. We stayed together for the rest of the day. Then Karin took m back to her place and I basically passed out. After a slightly restless night, I spent Monday morning with two really sweet and kind British girls named Meagan and Lizzy who were finishing up a 2 month stay with IT Tender. Then we went to the IT Tender office where I met most of the team and was officially welcomed. After the meeting we went back to the appartment for a bit of a rest before we had a going away party for Meagan and Lizzy. At the party I met the rest of the team and enjoyed fun games. Today I have already had an orientation and helped kids from the sponsorship program make Christmas that will be sold in Canada to raise funds and awareness for the IT Tender team. In just a bit I will be going to help at the feeding program for 50 malnurished children. I'm already feeling like a part of the team and really feeling like there may nea future for me here. Keep praying for the IT Tebder team and ministries as they all put their hearts and souls into the lives of these children and familes.

today is the day

Fri, 01 Aug 2014 19:28:45 +0100

In less than 9 hours, I will be boarding a plane that will take me on a crazy and wonderful adventure to the Philippines. As the hours count down, I am both nervous and excited. I am nervous simply for the loneliness of the 20+ hours of travelling and the faint uncertainty of what I am doing during my entire time there. Yes I have a couple ideas of what I will be doing, but those will just be a few days of the 3 weeks of my trip. I am excited to see what God has planned for me and how He will direct me in the calling of Social Work I feel He has placed on my life. I have a feeling that this will be just an introductory trip with IT Tender and their ministries.

I want to say, yet again, a huge thank you to everyone who donated to my trip and has been supporting me in prayer. I have raised $3,796!!! IT's policy with donations that surpass the goal, the extra funds go to the organization that the team/individual will be serving as a gift. This means that IT Tender will be receiving $656! I am honoured that those of you who chose to help me pay my way there were so generous that IT Tender can be blessed with this gift. Please keep me in your prayers as I travel over the next couple days and as I serve the Lord with the IT Tender team.

7 days to go & reflections on my life

Sat, 26 Jul 2014 01:02:09 +0100

I can't believe that I am leaving in 7 days. I am very excited for the adventure I am about to embark on and the lessons I am about to learn about God, myself, the global body of Christ and another culture.

As I begin to prepare for this journey spiritually, mentally and physically, I have had a small epiphany about my personal journey thus far in my life. I have been working on preparing what I will share as my story and testimony while in the Philippines and this time of reflection showed me one of my flaws that has been the cause of a lot of feelings of anxiety, nervousness, loneliness, and being unwanted. Throughout the course of my life I have placed much of my identity in those I surround myself with, both family and friends. There have been many moments when these people have been there for me and have lifted me up to the Lord in prayer, encouraged my growth towards Him and called out His giftings in my life. Among those moments have been others when those I rested part of my identity and sense of belonging in hurt me or used my reliance on them for their own advantage. Some of these experiences were very minor and I didn't realize their impact until now; others were more significant and had a major impact at the moment and still do.

I share this with you because it leads me to a decision I made the other night as a way to start making these moments of misplaced identity right. A lot of my unrest and anxiety of being wanted by people comes from a slight obsession with romance. Now, every girl has fantasies and dreams about her future wedding and husband and their relationship and the world makes a fortune off this; but mine was not healthy. It was becoming an obsession, and it constantly reminded me that I was romantically alone, and that left me unsatisfied. So, the other night I decided that I am going on a month long (at least) fasting of all things that hint at romance; be they books, songs, TV shows or movies, I am doing all I can to remind myself that my identity and worth is found only in the Lord Jesus Christ, and it shouldn't matter if I feel unwanted by friends or family or if I am getting nervous that my "prince charming" is never coming. Jesus Christ made me, and can see the woman He is molding me into and that is all I will ever need. I know that this will be a long journey, but I can't wait to see where the Lord takes me in it. It has been encouraging to look back over my life and to recognize the voice of God and His showing me more of who He created me to be, and I have just begun.

One personal journey has begun and another is about to start. I can't wait to see all that the Lord has in store for me and what He opens my eyes to.

it's almost here

Sat, 19 Jul 2014 02:16:44 +0100

I know it has been a while since I last posted and today marks just two weeks before I board a plane for this exciting adventure. As the day approaches, the reality of this trip is beginning to sink in, and I am getting both nervous and excited for it. I am excited to see what God will do in my life and what He will show me as to my career in Social Work. I am fully aware that He may make this experience so enticing that I may go back once I have finished school for an internship with IT Tender. That idea alone excites me. I am also very excited to see what I will learn about the diversity of cultures across the world and just how tricky adjusting can be.

All that being said, I am also a bit nervous for this experience. My flight is going to be long, some might think arduously long, with a short stop in Vancouver for gas during which I will be most likely staying on the plane. It will be nearly 20 hours on the same air craft. That seems a bit daunting. I have done a 16 hour flight before, and even that was a bit rough. I am also nervous about overcoming the language barrier with those I am ministering to with the team. Yes members of the team can translate for me, but in my experience it diminishes the intimacy of the conversations.

I am also aware of the recent typhoon that hit the Philippines. My hope and prayer in this is that this will increase the level to which I can minister to these people and that I will see God moving in through their lives. It is never a pleasant thing to deal with natural disasters, but I see it as an opportunity to better engage with those around me and minister the love and strength of Jesus to them.

As the days approach I have finalized my paper work with IT Canada and am awaiting the last few donations to be processed. I praise God and extend many thanks to everyone who has donated to my trip and allowed me to embark on this adventure. I am now fully funded and can relax and let God take me on a wild ride in Manila. I ask that you pray for me in the coming days. That I will be able to find everything I need to pack and get it all packed in time, that I will have safe travels and that the Lord makes Himself and His path for my life known to me during this time.