Congratulations K SEM's Kafe

Hi again:)

I can't actually believe how it seems to be getting hotter by the day here! We are definitely entering summer now and thinking back, it makes the first few weeks in January feel really cool (shame we were still getting used to the heat then). But God is good; as for the next week we have air conditioning!!!:D This morning we moved back into the Shalom, which actually feels like we have taken a step back in time and are missing Mary, Mela, Jess and Alec very much, it doesn't quite feel right not having them around in the Shalom! We will be staying here for the next week before moving back to Benitez for our last week (I am trying not to think that far ahead though)! It will be very nice to have hot showers (well, luke warm ones anyway...don't think we'll ever need hot ones here), air con, a tv, cereal for breakfast and a few little home comforts for a week:)

I can't believe that it has been a week since I wrote the last blog! Time is going so quickly and so much seems to happen. Monday was the official opening of the coffee shop. K SEM's Kafe:)
We drove down early with Ate Jane and three of the girls from Pacita, as they were performing a few dances and songs. We stopped off at the Malate Centre for lunch; all the staff were there as they had just finished staff devotion. It was so nice to see them all, and be greeted by all the children. I don't think the children had understood that we would be coming back as they were so surprised to see us, it really felt like we had just popped home for an hour. After only a week we were missing them all so much! It was so special! We also got to meet two Danish volunteers who had flown in the day before. They seem lovely. It was nice to impart some 'wisdom' (if you can call it that haha) to them.
For the opening, K SEM's was packed. There were so many people there, you could hardly move. The place looked beautiful! Everyone had worked so hard on it. Outside they had two huge bouquets of flowers and they officially cut a red ribbon to open it:) we have so many pictures;) The presentation was then started with thanking everyone who has been involved with the coffee shop and at the top of that list was The Streetlight Trust. Heidi and I felt very honoured to be able to represent Streetlight! Everything went so smoothly and we had some fantastic performances from the Girls home and the Boys home (which also included Heidi and I performing Shackles with the girls from Pacita) and some lovely speeches and prayers. I just want to say a massive congratulations to everyone who has been involved in making K SEM's Kafe become a reality and pass on a big thank you to everyone for giving your support in prayer and financially.
It is absolutely amazing to see what God is doing here, seeing Kanlungan grow before our very eyes. I am so happy that I am able to be a part of it.
Next step is the secondhand shop, so please keep praying for that too.

It was hard saying goodbye to the girls at Pacita this morning as we have had a wonderful time with them! On Friday night we accompanied some of the older girls to their youth fellowship evening at church. It was such a good evening!! They were all so welcoming! They had some worship, games and a Bible study. All the girls seem to be in their element; hosting games and leading groups, they all get stuck in! Heidi was able to play a song which they loved:) and the band there were able to jam along, which she loved. The atmosphere was awesome! It was also nice to spend time in small groups for the Bible study and hear how passionate they are about God and see how eager they are to learn more and more. It was a great evening.

As the girls have such long days at school, and then have chores when they get home, we have only actually seen them in the evenings in the week, so when it got to Saturday again we were really excited to spend the whole day with them. We did some more singing with them in the morning. Heidi is in her element and has been putting together different medleys for them. I think she would have liked to start a 'Pacita Choir':) it was just nice to spend time with the girls and (not forgetting) the little boys there.
We did spend the rest of the afternoon washing clothes; but I have to say that the girls couldn't seem to believe that we wash our own clothes, which I wasn't sure how to take haha. In actual fact we both quite enjoy it, it's quite therapeutic and definitely the way to go when we go to uni haha:)
Our last evening there was such fun. We bought sweets for them and watched a film together. We had such a laugh and it really felt like we were part of their family. I really am going to miss them all so much!

I am sorry to say that my Tagalog is not coming on as I would have liked it to haha. The girls are very good teachers (and can be quite harsh I might say) but even the basics I am struggling with:( Heidi on the other hand is picking it up really well:) Thankfully the little that I do know comes in very helpful with using Jeepneys. We have managed to commute to and from Tunasan everyday. By ourselves!!!:) Praise God that it has all worked out fine. We even spent an hour on one the other day after taking some of the children to buy new shoes.
We did have one day that we had to return to Pacita early as both Heidi and I were ill, it turned out to be food poisoning and some of the girls and staff had it too, so must have been something we'd eaten the night before. We did think that it was quite an achievement to get this far into the trip before being ill!:)
Heidi has now come down with a cold so please do pray for her, that she will recover from it quickly.

We are so grateful for your prayers and for your lovely messages! We love to read them.
Thank you
Love
Sarah x