Day 13: Our Island Adventures!

hey everybody,

Today was our last rotation day, we started our day at 7am!
Groups 1 & 3 headed to the island Panay at 9am, as they reached the island and got to the ati tribes, they split into two groups with some finishing the construction by concreting the foundation of a classroom and preparing an area for a basketball court by digging out the rocks and sand to expand the area. While others were hard at work with their hands, others were hard at work with their minds teaching the kids at the school. 5 of us each sat down with 2-3 students from different year groups ad tutored them in basic maths and english, depending on their knowledge. Students rotated every 15 minutes which allowed us to help others at different levels.

After lunch we got back into construction for about 2 hours, once we felt like we had done all we could, we cleaned up, said goodbye to the kids and went to our afternoon feeding. When we got to the feeding, we sat the kids down and the 2 groups joined together to tell the kids stories and sing them some songs. We then made the kids some balloon animals and handed out their food. After the feeding we got on boat and came back Boracay.

While groups 1 & 3 were at Panay groups 2 & 4 started our day off with construction at the school Agape here in Boracay. While we were there we helped the filipino men to finish off building a rock wall which was very difficult because there was no space to work with, we had to stand on the rocks that we were meant to be making the wall with, which would crumble and fall into the cement. It was a difficult morning until we decided to leave the building of the wall to the filipino's and we mixed the cement for the wall.

Groups 2  & 4 had some free time after lunch, some went for a swim at the beach while others went shopping for themselves and family. We all just relaxed till it hit about 4pm, our two groups had to get all the activities reading for the afternoon feeding. We split up and headed to our feedings, we sang songs with the kids, and read/acted out a story for them, gave them some colouring to do and played with the kids and bubbles. They loved which made all of us leave the feeding smiling.

All 4 groups met back up at the Vista for dinner then after we had the night to do whatever we wanted. A lot of us went shopping, got massages or got more food ;)
It was a great end to our last working day and looking back on our trip we are very proud of what we have achieved and looking forward to coming back! :)

Natalee & Courtney

Day 12: Liv's birthday

Today was a very productive day for the team.

It started out a little later than we had hoped for, but it was a special day being Liv's 21st Birthday! 

Groups 2 & 4 hit the Island of Panay at 9:30 to do countless hours of heavy lifting and shovelling, constructing the new rec centre for the Ati kids.
The rest of the group was inside the school doing some teaching & playing with the kids.

At lunch, a few of us ran around with the children. They were so loving and instantly welcoming which made the day easily enjoyable. 

Whilst we were spending time with the gorgeous kids and digging Bon, Beth, Jojo and Cola also were having a wonderful time of fellowship with the Ati women. 

They were able to build relationships through pass the parcel, sharing coffee and biscuits and sharing hearts as Bon shared her testimony and Beth led the women's study.
It was a lovely morning and the beginning of ministry with the Ati women.

The groups split up into two and did feedings at different sites. We sung songs and the children joined in, we also acted a short story to teach them about the wise and foolish builders that symbolise a man listening to and acting on the word of god and the man who hears it but does not consider applying it into his life. The response from the children was positive and the feeding left them content and smiling. It was such a blessing to spend time with such beautiful kids and educate ourselves on their culture.

Group 1 & 3 spent the day on Boracay Island where they began the morning in construction and teaching at the local school before having the afternoon off to do as they pleased.
Many got adventurous and jumped on a sail boat. Unfortunately their adventures were short lived when the sail snapped... but they had fun anyway. 

Then they split into their groups and headed off to their feeding sites. 

To conclude the tremendous day in which we spent in the company of our fellow team members we hit the town for a nice dinner to celebrate the hard work done on the teams behalf but also to celebrate the 21st birthday of the boss, Olivia Burne. It was an enjoyable night that we used to share the adventures of the day and unwind.

Al, Tim & Han! x

Day 10: We Are Survivors

Today started out to be a very trying day with people still sick from the night before. Almost a third of the team were bed ridden with gastro so construction for today was difficult, but we battled on none the less. Those who could, walked down to the school to get started with some making bricks for floors and some teaching. It turned out to be a really joyous event. Breaking for lunch I had the urge to go back and get more done so a group of us sacrificed our free time and went back to work which I am so glad we did as we achieved so much more.  

Feeding time.
Today was such a great time and I was so blessed by the programme we ran today. It's funny how God changes your heart state about kids because I feel now I can connect with them on a deeper level. We sang songs for them, told them stories, played games and fed them. I found myself talking to a fifteen year old girl who, from the outside, looked as though she was loving life, but on the inside she was really suffering. I told her about my life and then she told me about her's and it broke my heart to hear that she was coping with so much. She was being picked on at school by both boys and girls and even threatened by the older students as well. We talked for quite a while and the meeting ended with a huge hug and a few tears from both of us.

Drew

A Quick Update

A big "Hello" to all reading at home, thank you for following our journey.

I'm here to quickly ask that you continue to pray for some of our team and keep them in your thoughts. We have had quite a busy night with a stomach bug sweeping through our team, all 9 resting now but we'd love a speedy recovery so we can take on this week with a renewed energy.

Wi-Fi willing, we should have a blog with today's events for you later this evening.

Thank you all again,

Olivia

x

Day 7: We Are at Boracay

Hello fellow readers!

We have arrived safely on the absolutely beautiful island of Boracay. With all transportation which included a coach, aeroplane, mini bus, boat and a safari van (this is just today!) on time and running smoothly we have all come to Boracay exhausted but ready to start our next adventure.

Upon arrival we were pleasantly surprised to find our accommodation minutes from the beach and an absolute luxury resort with incredible views. As you can all imagine we have made ourselves very much at home. However with the excitement of coming to a new place it was extremely hard to leave Manila and the friendships we were beginning to create with the children in the orphanage and in the community. I think I speak on behalf of the team when I say six days is such a short time and as we began making friendships and bonding with the kids it was time to leave.

Nevertheless the time we spent in Manila was fulfilling in countless ways; we managed to paint the outside of the orphanage, repaint the basketball backboards, ring and poles. Lastly we laid six or more walls onto the extension that will soon become an early childhood center for not only the children from the orphanage but from the community as well. It was an exceedingly productive week and to top off our awesome efforts we also heard faint comments from the American teams mentioning that the amount of work we had completed was more than what they had done in the whole time that they had been there.

All of our hard work paid off and we left Manila feeling incredibly proud of what we had accomplished and are now ready to #MAKESOME MAGIC in Boracay.

Missing you all back at home and thinking of you all while were here in one of the most amazing places I have ever seen.

(To the Watson Family and Nanny and Granddad, here is my blog miss you all and looking forward to seeing you next week.) 

Lots of Love

Kezia J

P.S. Wi-fi is particularly bad on the Island at the moment, we will try to keep updates coming. Just know we are all safe and having a great time!

Day 6: A busy day of shopping, construction and team bonding.

I found today extremely rewarding because I just felt our  whole team has really united and bonded so well. To start with, it was Mark’s birthday, so we decided to flip his bed, as a lovely wake up. I guess he found it surprising and maybe annoying but we didn’t mind. I think he’s over it now.

Breakfast, for me, was a challenge due to my dislike in eggs, and unfortunately that’s all we seem to eat. Anyways it was actually pretty good today, managed to grab a few sweet bananas. #soyummy Then we all rushed about, grabbing our gear for another heavy day of construction. We probably arrived at the construction site at 8:10am (I’m guessing now, but it was super early for me anyways…) Jon Kingdon liaised with the Filipinos on what projects needed doing, it seemed a bit hectic but, as a team, we pulled through, working hard and encouraging each other the whole morning. Also a group of us were able to do a majority of painting the children’s home, I think it was its second new coat ever since being constructed.  Here is a really brief list of some of the stuff we were able to do today (I’m hoping I get this right):

• Mix cement. Probably the common task, I think we did at least 7-8 massive piles, hand done.
• Painting, the whole bottom level and beginning of the second story is pretty much done now, so thanks heaps team.
• A full concrete slab is now completed thanks to us lot helping out, so that in it’s self is also a massive feat.
• This huge pile of heavy bricks (I’m going to say at least 120) moved up to the second story of the extension ready for laying. This was probably my favourite part, because we got this pretty epic line going and unity was extremely evident. Cheers team.

      So we went back to the YMC for lunch at about 11:30am, not before Jason Butson showed us all up and won this basketball game called “bump” four times in a row.  So lunch was amazing, but we had to get ready pretty quick to go out shopping at Green Hills. We all piled in this tiny bus at probably about 1pm and headed to the markets.

      When we arrived, it was hectic. I’ve seen Perth busy, late night Thursday shopping, boxing day etc. But Green Hills there was a different kind of urgency about the place. Shopkeepers trying to pull us in to their shops to buy wallets, calling out to us everywhere we turned, I think I was lucky to make it out without spending every Paso I had. 

      Now stocked up on basketball jerseys, hats, clothes, handbags, backpacks, necklaces, a little toddler basketball outfit (for Jon&Liesh), and not forgetting Pete’s insane Thor mask, we headed through the heart of the city to unforgettable place called Chilli’s. So this place went far beyond all preconceived expectations, the atmosphere, food and people were utterly incredible. We all sat on one long row of tables, chatting amongst ourselves, keen for a good feed. Kieran and I wisely chose to order a shared entrée as well (I know the rest of the team were jealous). The food came and it was excellent and the rest of the night was just as good. From Pete running around everyone’s tables as Thor, to Mark getting a couple of surprise birthday songs from the talented staff. In saying that I felt so humbled being at the restaurant because most (if not all) of the Filipino staff are so friendly and inviting. The wouldn’t let our drinks run out, they would laugh with us (and at us sometimes…) but were just a real pleasure to be around. I guess it gave me a real appreciation for people, regardless of their country, financial state or environment. We got back pretty late, but managed to have an awesome, God-given, devotions, with Drew speaking and sharing. 

      

      Anyway I guess that’s it for me tonight, its getting super late and we’ve got to be up pretty early tomorrow for another heavy working day. Thanks – Sam Dawson xxx

Day 5: Sometimes Pictures are Better than Words

Day 4: Shovels, Paintbrushes and Kickboards

15^th January 2014

Today started off like every other day, there was construction, swimming, painting and feeding programs. Two groups did the morning and afternoon feedings.  Both times the groups ran out of balloons and had to tell the little ones that there was none left, the sad looks on their faces was hard for everybody. The types of balloons that we usually make are spartas (swords), aso (dogs), bulukaluks (flowers) and crowns which the kids all love. The construction has been progressing and higher walls are being built everyday. The painting has also come along way, the whole place and playground looks so much brighter and lovelier.

The poor little nursery children weren’t allowed to go swimming today because they had just had their vaccinations so we ended up just spending the day playing with them. After a hard days work everyone sat down for a delicious dinner of chicken adobo then headed out to the children’s home for devotions. A few of us girls went to the Jazz home and shared with them, which was really nice because we got to see their house and how suited it is to their needs.

After all this we headed out for Starbucks before a late night samurai movie staring Keanu Reeves which most people fell asleep in, I however loved it and was glued the whole time. We ended p getting back at just after midnight, which is why the blog is so late.

Missing everyone at home but also having a fabulous time.

Keegan J