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

Day 3: We Made Some Magic Happen

Today we had an early wake up so we could get a good start on the days activities.
First thing in the morning one group went to a feeding with some of the American students from Taylor University; who are staying at the mission centre with us while they spend time teaching at local schools. While this was going on the rest of the group went on a tour of the community with Jeff's wife Colleen; it was amazing to see completed building projects from groups that have visited in previous years and to see the positive impact they have had on the community.

After the tour we made our way to the children's home to begin construction. The two projects we worked on today were the Early Learning Centre and refurbishing the playground. We were really impressed at how the team banded together to start building three of the walls for the learning centre and dig a trench. The playground swings and jungle gym were cleaned and freshly painted. We also spent some time painting the home itself. We completed our tasks while children from the home watched us and showed their appreciation with thumbs up and words of encouragement.

After lunch we continued with our projects and a small group spent the afternoon doing swimming lessons with children from the home. We began our swimming session with children from the nursery. They were absolutely delighted to get in the water and the air was filled their squeals of joy and laughter.

Our evenings activities involved a small group of girls visiting Josies' Angels Home and devotions with the children at the children's home. Aleisha, Megan, Hanna and Ash went to the Angels home and were able to take a tour and meet the beautiful girls that live there. It was a time of devotion where Megan lead the girls in a song and Aleisha shared her personal testimony with the girls.
At the children's home the children performed some songs for us before one of our amazing groups then led us in some worship songs and performed a story for the children. We then had some time to just be with the kids, a highlight for me was seeing some of the children playing on the freshly refurbished playground.

We are all pumped and ready for a big day tomorrow #letsmakesomemagic


Love Jess and Liesh
xox

Day 2 Smokey Mountain

Day 2 Smokey Mountain

So after a much needed rest, we hit the church at 8am, to find so many of us confronted by an awesome message by the american missionary team (taylor university). Before we knew it we were on a bus backed full of food we had prepared the night before, heading to Smokey Mountain and P18.

Arriving approximately an hour later, we packed the food and had it delivered ready for us to handout to all the people in need. Walking in to P18 was alarming for all of us to see the extremely poor conditions for the families to live in, considering the area is literally a trash dump. Seeing the kids running around, covered in dust, most had no shoes or shirts on in such a hazardous environment, it was amazing to see the joy on their faces from something so simple as holding their hands.

After distributing food, giving aid, making the kids balloon animals, and sharing our love, we played a fun game of basketball with the older kids.

From their we split into 2 groups, half went to Smokey Mountain to distribute food bags and the other half went to small local church to do another food distribution. We met some amazing people along the way.

Later on, during a debrief everyone got a chance to share and a lot of people were incredibly moved by a lot of events throughout the day and by Jason and Logans Messages. Overall it was a very awakening, emotional and inspiring Day and Night.

Logan and Mark

#letsmakemagichappen

Hi everybody!! 

If you could see the team right now you wouldn’t believe your eyes. They are elbow deep in grouping supplies ready to be distributed to the folk who ‘live’ at Smokey Mountain. There are tables of rice bags, tables of noodle packs, tables of sardine tins, tables of coffee, little soaps and shampoos. Each of these products will be bagged up for approximately 350-400 people to receive tomorrow.  The whole team is busy bagging it all up now.

It’s truly amazing how energetic they have all become because today was full of cues and heavy bags with little or no sleep. The flights went on without a hitch, bar the bit of turbulence. Aleisha did so well considering her baby bump to deal with in the crowds; Jon was fabulous. It appeared that the only complaint was that the international flight schedule was helped out with a domestic carrier between KL and Manila. This computed to a smaller plane, less frills with half the amount of food. Consequently tonight everyone was famished and quite tired.

The sights and smells brought a lot to talk about. Lots of ‘oos’ and ‘ahs’.  Jason experienced his very first flight ever!!!! Came out the other side grinning!! Laura was thrilled to discover that her pale skin was the absolute envy of all Filippinos. She is not only talking herself up as being beautiful {a healthy frame of mind considering she is God’s creation!} but admired from all who look at her as we strolled the suburb this evening.

Thanks for all who put in somehow toward this trip. Jake’s comment at dinner was priceless. ‘I always knew I would come, I just set this money aside every pay, got it paid for ….easy. Much better than a new Xbox One!!’

Lots of love to my family; Scott, Bek, Carrie, Cal, Jordan, Amy, Reub and my wonderful man who I am missing, Glenn James. I am well and very happy xx

Bon

Team Departure

The Countdown

It's well past midnight and I lay here wide awake, the idea of sleep rudely being interrupted by one of two distractions. The first possibility is that I simply decided to indulge in a coffee far to late in the evening, which does not seem to far from truth. The other is that we are only a day away from perhaps one of the most challenging/life-changing/exciting/self-defining trips I am yet to encounter, and I cannot express how honoured I feel to be encountering this with you, my team.

Stand back and take a good look at this life we are all apart of. You'll see that it's not about you or me, it's about more than that. We have to get out of the mindset of this me, me, me culture and try to see it with a different perspective. See that it's about others. Living for others, loving others.

This is what you are all about to do.

You are leaving your comfort zones and this place of familiarity. You are taking on this new, exciting adventure where the things that used to ring important will be lessened, and your eyes and hearts opened to these new, wonderful people.

I urge you all to remember this as hurdles begin to build up over the next two weeks. It is going to be a challenge; physically, mentally, emotionally & spiritually but in all things, this thing we're all doing - it is bigger than you. We are going because we want to be a vehicle of change, witness a difference in the lives of others.

For those family members who are reading this blog, I encourage you to follow our journey. Be inspired by the feats your husband / wife / daughter(s) / son(s) / boyfriend / girlfriend / brother / sister / grandchild(ren) are achieving and the goals we as a team are striving to reach together, your support throughout this journey will mean more to us than you can know.

To the team, I honestly can not express how much I am looking forward to serving with you all.

See you tomorrow.

Liv

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