Lou's first day

Hi everyone, we've had a fantastic couple of days! Today was very interesting to put it mildly, gives you heaps to think about that is for sure. I'm not even going to begin to go into Lou's thinking. We have met so many amazing people and i have had so much to laugh about, high lights were going to the new house and having such an amazing welcome, Mark A having to shake some ones snotty hand and Mark H's near explosion.

You know you have got nothing when you have to live on a rubbish dump to sift through tons of rubbish to recycle cans, paper plastic and metal... and you know you have everything when you can walk though the biggest shopping centre in asia and eat an amazing meal, buy donuts and even get a laptop for 200 pounds all withing 20 minutes of one another. That has been the extremes of the day . In the middle of all that Kanlungan childrens project does an amazing work bringing hope to the abandoned, the abused and the forgotton. To hear the children singing about Jesus in the centre was just overwhelming to see the power of God changing a childs life from hopelessness to a future. The Gospel in action.

PS Don't eat philipino chili's they are extreme even for a spicey fiend like me.

Love to all

mark H

Arrival & First Day

Hi there!!!

Sorry that it has taken a while to get onto here. The Internet Cafe I used to use has closed down, so its been a bit tricky. Still have managed to find another one now so hopefully we'll get things going!!!

Flight was long but uneventful. Kuwait Airways looked after us well. We arrived 4:00 yesterdaye afternoon, met by Ate Sol and other friends from Kanlungan. It was great to see them all again. Got to the Shalom at about 6pm, showered and then out for a meal at TGI Fridays's!!!

Today has been busy - in our morning devotions we looked at the passage from Ephesians 6 - using the armour of God!!! Then onto the Drop-in Centre and Office, an introduction to Kanlungan to those who had not been before and an opportunity to see more friends for those who had.

Then it was on to the New House!!! And what a great place it is - so much lighter than the old centre. It really is a blessing from God. We enjoyed the Children's presentation and then did a small one of our own (well done Mark H for the puppet!!!). Lunch followed and then we left for Smokey Mountain. Difficult to know what to say at this point!!! I'll encourage some of the other team members to blog their thoughts later.

Back at the hotel now and getting ready for a trip to the Mall of Asia.

Please ket us have your comments - its great to hear from you.

Yours

MarkA

Bags are packed, goodbyes said and work loose ends tied up, so I guess i must be ready. Not sure what to expect only that the Lord will be there as he is here, so looking forward to the adventure ahead. Please pray for my family that they don't miss me too much.

Blessings

Mark.h

ready to go!!!

Well it won't be long now and I am excited and really looking forward to seeing everyone again. Just finished a busy session at the Beacon and said my goodbye's, I will miss everyone but I know from last year once you get there the time just flies! Looking forward to going out with a great team and I am sure God is going to bless us plenty and hopefully we will be a blessing to the Kanlungan family
Mary

2 days to go!!!

2 days to go ... and last minute preparations are well under why (except that I'm still on a course in Sheffield!!!)

Still, I know that once I leave here tomorrow (Friday) things are going to happen very fast!!!

We are planning to leave Mansfield at 3am on Saturday morning, then its a 4 hour check in at Heathrow and we take off at 10:30am

Our flight schedule is as follows (UK times in brackets):

Depart Heathrow 10:30

Arrive Kuwait 19:35 (16:35)

Flight KU0104

Depart Kuwait 23:55 (20:55)

Arrive Manila - Sunday 16:10 (8:10)

Flight KU0411 

Manila is 8 hours ahead of UK time and you can track the flights on the Kuwait Airways website

Please pray for the team as we prepare to go, and check back because I have asked them to post their own thoughts about going.

For me - my current thought is that I want to get on with it!!! Really looking forward to seeing everyone there again. Really looking forward to coming together as a team from our different places. Really NOT looking forward to the flights!

Please do check back during the trip - I will try and update every day, including on Sunday night when we arrive. Also please do leave your comments. They really are an encouragement!!!

Many thanks for your support

Mark

Streetlight Visit 2009

14 days to go and its almost time for the Streetlight Visit to Kanlungan for 2009.

Its a new team going out this time, with 7 people visiting for the first time and 4 of us on return visits.

We fly out on Saturday 24th January from Heathrow with Kuwait Airways. So, at the moment we're getting all those last minute things done - changing money, getting travel injections, insurance, getting the itinerary sorted out and all that stuff. 

So, please keep an eye on this blog - we'll update it again before we leave with details of all the team members and details about our flights.

Plus ... we have some good news from Kanlungan, they have put down a deposit on a new house to replace the Malate Centre in the centre of the city, and they should be moved in by the time we arrive.

And finally ... we now have the ability to donate to Streetlight on-line, go to the giving page on the Streetlight Website and follow the link there.

So ... watch this space!

Mark