Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Latest News ...

Hi again:)

Well we had another very eventful week last week. You can never predict what the days will bring here! Ever!

I've had an amazing week though!

Monday we had a valentines party with the children at the open day centre which was so much fun. The kids had a talent competition/beauty pageant to see who would be mr and mrs valentine; and we got to judge. The kids loved it! Heidi preached as well which was really good.

Tuesday we just had a nice day playing games n singing with the kids (that was after getting 'lost-ish' on our way there; just got on the wrong jeepney, but managed to find our way - we're becoming more n more pro by the day haha).

Wednesday, a medically mission team called operation blessing came to odc for the day. They were a team of doctors, dentists, nurses, pharmacists, pastors and lots more. We had bout 120 children come for a complete health check up. It was so busy! I was able to work on the pharmacy desk which was a challenge to say the least!!! Everything was in Tagalog and I was having to try n read the doctors atrocious handwriting and shorthand, and fill in forms, and give out the correct medicine! Don't actually know how I managed to do it to be honest. But it was an amazing day. Can't wait till I can be one of those doctors.
Heidi was on the counseling team and was able to pray with the children and speak to them openly about Jesus.

Thursday and Friday we spent time out on the streets! I was able to take the medical kit and do first aid while we were out! It was amazing! It was so needed because there was one girl who had wounds all over her legs and she had knocked a lot of them while we were there and was in a lot of pain. I was able to clean and dress the wounds but bless her, she was distraught! Thankfully Heidi cradled and calmed her while I did what I could. We felt everything with her! I'm so glad that I was able to do it though.
We also taught the kids a song and Heidi came up with a sermon on the spot. She's amazing at doing that!:)
It was one girls birthday and her sponsor had come from abroad to throw her a birthday party. There were games, songs, food, balloons:) it was lovely. She was so happy. She was 12 and had never had a birthday party before. I just wanted to cry when I heard that. It's amazing what we take for granted.
In the evening we went out on the streets again with Wilma and we were still out at 10pm. I was doing first aid in the dark! Was just an amazing experience!! That day has got to be one of the best days we've had.
I have finally become a victim of the dreaded head lice! Haha:) well maybe not so dreaded. I haven't had nits since I was at primary school! I have to say I'm surprised we haven't had them earlier. Went to get some treatment and a nit comb the other day - my hair has never been so soft in its life!!! Haha

Staying in the shalom has been very nice, but it's lovely to be back at Benitez now. Feels like we've moved back home.
Really don't want to leave this place. Can't believe that 28th february is approaching so fast. Please pray that we can enjoy our last week and not have the 'end date' hanging over us. We've got a lot more painting lined up for this week so please also pray that we will have enough time to finish it all.

Please also pray for the secondhand shop as it has just opened. (Heidi n I went to see it today and it looks very impressive.) Particularly for the boys working there, the next container shipment and for Sol as she continues to make important decisions.

Lots of love as always
Sarah xxxx

Sunday, February 13, 2011

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

Saturday, February 5, 2011

News from Sarah ...

Hey :)

Just to update you on what's happening here.
So we are settled in laguna and loving it. The girls and staff have really welcomed us.
We have had to get used to not having showers here, instead it's a bucket:) but we are embracing the experiences. We haven't had internet for a few days as the bill wasn't able to be paid on time; but it's up and running again so we are once again in contact with the rest of the world haha.

Before moving to laguna on Tuesday evening we accompanied ODC and tunasan to Trinity University for a talent competition. It was a really good day out on all parts. Tunasan were entering the cultural category. They all wore beautiful outfits and danced a traditional Filipino dance. We have it all recorded!:) I am very pleased to report that they took, a very well deserved, first place!:D congratulations to them!

We went back to the Malate centre to pick up our bags and say a quick 'see you soon' to the children and the staff there. I am so pleased that we didn't have to say our goodbyes to them then because I don't think I could have done it! I'm so please that we still have another three weeks left. We are missing the children in Manila already. It will be nice to go back next Monday and have another two weeks with them:)

In the daytime, we have spent our time at tunasan. The first day we were able to help the children with their homework, and I was able to use my maths skills (which came back to me quite quickly - I was quite impressed) to help an older girl. It was really nice to see when she actually understood something I had taught her; it was difficult stuff!
We did paper folding with the kids on thursday, which can be more difficult than you would expect; but we had a lot of fun and laughed a lot.
Friday we went to the dumpsite where we had been in the week that Mary, Mela, Alec and Jess were with us. We helped prepare food for the feeding program and then took it to them. It started raining so we gave the food out quickly and returned to the Jeepney. However, the brakes on the Jeepney had broken so we were stuck there for over two hours while they tired to fix them. The children came and played with us while we waited. They absolutely love having their pictures taken. It's really funny:)
Thankfully the driver was able to fix everything and we were able to get home in the dark.

Yesterday we had a lovely day with the girls. In the morning we did some singing and hair braiding with them - which they loved!
Heidi and I decided in the afternoon to be brave and walk to the supermarket/mall on our own. God really gave us peace about it, we have found being on our own quite a daunting experience as we get payed far too much attention for our liking. But God is good and we had a very nice relaxing time.
The rest of the day we just relaxed with the girls and got to know them. It was lovely to chat and sing with them:)

We performed 'Shackles' (the song we taught them yesterday) with some of the girls in church this morning. It was a lovely church service - mostly in Tagalog, but some English, so I was able to understand quite a lot of it.
I have also really enjoyed joining in with the devotions in an evening. It's amazing to see the passion that they have for God. They are definitely an inspiring bunch and we are very privileged to be welcomed into this family.

Just a quick prayer request. Heidi and I have got to make our own way to and from tunasan this coming week and at the moment we are quite nervous about it so please pray that the journeys will be smooth and we'll feel confident enough to do it.
Also for Heidi's insect bites as they are driving her mad.
And for the coffee shop opening on monday.

Thank you for your support and prayers as always.

Love Sarah xx