Back to School

After a "Big Day", it was nice to switch the pace up a bit and spend some time at the JCCV school. I spent the morning tutoring English. The classrooms were filled with little children dressed in yellow and blue uniforms. I assisted in a few classes, or more like joined the kids with whatever they were doing. The rest of the time I spent with CJ and Angela. CJ is 9 and a smart boy. We went over reading, pronounciation and comprehension. Angala was a bit older and had a very playful personality. We sat in the principles office reviewing the English alphabet. Everytime she got a letter correct she celebrated with a laugh and smile. It was a fun day, and some well needed rest from activity as I continue to fight this sinus infection.

In a two days I will be heading north to stay with a local Pastor. Pastor Rey (a.k.a Sugar Rey) has invited me to spend the weekend with He and his family. He and I am excited to make the trip, and he assures me that I will love his wife's cooking. However, he is not shy in constantly reminding me that the living conditions will not be as "luxurious" as the YMC. We will be visiting local churches and he has asked that I encourage the people there. I ask that you keep this time in prayer. Pray that Christ would be set on display for all he is; the Lion of Judah and Lamb of God.

A Big Day

Today was a big day here at the YunJin Ministry Center (YMC). Work began early to prepare for the cement pour for the addition to the YMC building. It was all hands on deck as workers, visitors and hired hands from the surrounding community worked to pour the cement in about 7 hours. Work began around 6am and was finished around 2pm. We constructed an assembly line of cement mixers, bucket fillers, bucket passers, and those who emptied the buckets. The 30+ people made for an eventfull day. After the cement was poured and smoothed and tools were cleaned, the workers all gathered around for bible study. The 20+ men sat around at 2pm to hear about the son who was crushed to bring freedom and how this demands response. All in all, it was a big day.

Getting back to 100%...slowly.

I have been trying to fight off a cold for the last week, but I am on the up--or so I think. It has been difficult because the schedule has continued; construction 8-5, bible study with the workers--not knowing if what is said is understood--at 1, children devotions at 7 and random opportunities that present themselves. Being worked, stretched, challenged, tested....

Today, however, offered a change of pace. This morning I joined Coach Errol along with 30 kids from the school to a soccer tournament held at local Faith Academy High School. The morning was enjoyable as we watched and cheered on. The few of us that were there did the best we could to cheer them on. It was a joy to watch them run and laugh. I was proud to see them all play so strongly, but still fairly. Again, I witnessed the contributions of Norco in action. The kids played with soccer shoes donated from Norco. Well done.

Later a few volunteers and myself trekked further into Manila to help Miles with her feeding ministry. We acted out Acts 9 and shared how seeing Jesus Christ for who he really is changes you. Then we played some more, passed out lunch and handed out toothbrushes and toothpaste.

There is so much to take in, so much to do, and so much to be a part of. It is difficult to be everywhere at once. And equally difficult to keep from being distracted. In the midst of life here., I find myself wrestling to maintain focus. There are so many things that would have my attention. Please keep this in prayer.

We work together, we read together, and we play together.

Another day with the boys. Today made me realize that I have become "one of the guys" with the Filipino workers here at the YunJin Ministry Center in Manila. Usually we start around 8am and go until 5pm working on the new addition to the YMC. Most of the men are skilled masons, carpenters, and electricians. And I, I just try not to get in the way and do what they ask me to. Over the last week I have had the oppourtunity to get to know these men. We laugh and joke to take our minds off of the task at hand, but are still serious about the job. We spend a lot of the day with each other. From 8-5 we work, taking few scheduled breaks between. After lunch we come together and go through scripture. They read the selected verses in Tagalog and I do my best to communicate how what they read is pointing to the source of eternal life. Today however, was a bit out of the ordinary. Today after 5 they asked me to join in on a pick up basketball game. So there we were after five, just hanging out and running around. They knew that just because I am tall does not mean I can play...so I did my best to compensate my lack of skill with size and wasn't too bad. There was no job, no duty, just good times. (excuse the poor picture quality; camera's broken).

The Word of John 1 and the Jungle Book

5 pm came around without a hitch. A full days work completed. Showered up, ate dinner, and then time for devotions at the Kids home. We all gathered in the same upstairs living room as many times before. 7pm on the dot, devotions seem to be the only thing not running on Filipino time. We all sat on the floor as the nights before, but tonight we did something a little different. The children shared what experiences they remembered before coming to Kids International Ministries. They each shared in their own words stories of sleeping outside of police stations, being abandoned after parents go completely broke, living in abandoned cars, begging on the street, and siblings watching out for each other from abusive parents. It was another striking reminder of where I am. We then discussed the Word that was in the beginning, and that was with God and was God. It has been a little difficult trying to gauge where the children are, but after some trail runs I think I've found a good level; much deeper than bible stories. We finished, then ended the night with readings from the Jungle book as the little boys huddled around and stayed quiet for 15 minutes. That's usually how the night goes; the Deity of Christ at 7 and the Jungle book before bed.

Hard to get de-sensitized.

Saturday. Began the day with lingering thoughts from yesterday. Today was a bit more joyful, but still bittersweet.

Let me tell you a little bit about my friend Randy. He is 25, a husband and a father of two; one little girl and a 10 week old baby boy. I have spent the last week working side-by side with Randy. We often take our minds off of work with simple talk. I've discovered he enjoys music, and American pop-culture. He, like every true Filipino, loves the boxer Manny Paciao. Randy is one of the more animated guys at work, so seeing him with his family allowed me to see a side of Randy that I have not seen at the work site.

Randy's little boy Kirk has been ill this last week. The little baby boy has suffered from dehydration and diarrhea. I sat and watched as Kirk was given fluids by a retired nurse here at the YunJin Ministry Center. He never made a sound, but sat quietly moving his arms while mom and dad anxiously sat nearby. The parents were given some food to take care of themselves and their precious child, they Randy went back to work. When we talked earlier in the day he shared with me how he would spend Sunday (his day off). Breakfast, church, and make some Lunch for the Family and some time with his wife.

Later in the day it was back with the Kids. Again I unfairly experienced the fruits of the Norco team. In the afternoon I helped Mile's hand out sandals and toys that had been brought over by the infamous Kuyas (brothers), Ates (sisters), and Lola (grandmother) from Norco. The smiling faces were rewarding. There was little to spread around, so somethings had to be spread thin.

Please continue to pray for the people here in Manila and Kids International Ministries.

Another Day in Manila

The team is back in Norco, and life continues in Manila. Today was another typical day in Manila, in that it came before I was prepared...as if I could have been. It started quickly with filling in on a 5 minutes notice for the school chapel. Then later filling in for the workers bible study at the YunJin Ministry center with equally short notice. However, neither of these were the most challenging tasks of the day. Around noon a few people and I traveled further into the city to visit two families. We got connected to these families through a children's feeding ministry done by a staff member of K.I.M. Our Norco team got acquainted with the children of the families while we were all here, so today I had wished they could be a part of this. A few volunteers at K.I.M. and myself took groceries and medicines to the families. One of the families has a little girl who is no older than a year with boils on her head. We entered into the little hut that housed four different families and visited for a bit. The kids all gathered around, smiling shyly. We prayed and were on our way to home number two. If the first house was not enough to make one pause, the second house would surely stop you in your tracks. After a walk through staggered shacks we made our way into a very dark make shift house. There was no lighting, just a glow from a pot heating on the flour with some coals. We handed over the groceries and met the children. Then I met their father. This is where my heart broke. The fraile man lied huddled in the corner on a thin straw mat slightly seperating him from the damp concrete. He mustered what strength he could to sit upright. Miles, the K.I.M staff member who operates the feeding ministry, shared some words then told me that he has been suffering from a sickness in his lungs. He showed me the injections he takes regularly. He could not have been older than forty, with a wife and young children, but his ailment sucked whatever youth was left in his body. He, though, was happy to see us. I still do not understand why. In that moment I felt as though he, for his fervor, was much stronger than me. The night before his family shared a meal of a pound of rice and two eggs, and yet he wanted to get up and greet us. I thought of Matthew 5. We prayed. Then we said our good byes and was on our way. I was not prepared for this. I don't think that this event will ever leave my memory. Please keep the people of Manila in prayer. Poverty is not a choice here, it is a way of life.

Back Home

Most of us are back home (after a 30+ hour trip!) and getting back into the swing of things. However, one of our team, the dauntless Joe Rodriguez, decided to stay in the Philippines until August to continue to help out Kids International Ministries there. So he'll be taking over this blog, filling us in with updates of his time there. Joe, our prayers are with you: be strong in the Lord.

Mindanao!!!

We are now in the south of the Philippines! :) We are in Malaybalay, Mindanao. It is beautiful and NOT very hot!!

Most of us are sunburned but that is a minor detail. We are loving the weather. We start work at 8 AM and then have lunch at 12 PM and then return to work until 3 which is when it typically starts raining.

The humidity is very limited and evenings and nights are...dare I say it?...almost cold.

There are 14 children here who love our attention and energy and we are more than happy to give it to them. I personally have found a friend in a 6 year old boy named Charley and then learned that he does not actually live in the orphanage but on the property with his family. He gets fresh water each day from the orphanage for his family.

There are many amazing ministries here and we have been blessed to be a part of them.

Please continue to pray that we would finish strong.

We love you, Norco!!! =)