Philippines Dec 9-20, 2010

This year's trip was much different. Stephen came again, David (our little brother), and our friend Zach came. We had a very pleasant one day layover in Hawaii, and spent the day swimming in the ocean and walking around town and down the beach. It was beautiful. We also climbed a bunch of trees, and swung on their vines till our hands were raw. It was awesome. We also saw a bunch of homeless people, but they weren't begging or moping... They looked pretty happy. I would be.

Makes me wonder though, is anything being done for them? Do they want to be that way? (Haha, I wonder if anyone would support a missionary to Hawaii?)

In the Philippines, I started off the trip laying in a tent for two days, listening to planes fly 5 ft above my head every five minutes (not much of an exaggeration). I had a headache so bad, I didn't even realize I had a fever too. When I was feeling a little better, we went to the hospital. I was fine, just a little tonsolittis. I spent the rest of the time on 6 pills, and a mouth wash. It was a good adventure.

The rest of our time was spent mostly rushing from place to place, or doing absolutely nothing - but fighting off red ants, and filling their holes with dish soap. We also had fun picking mangos off our tree from the top of our roof. We also had a guava tree. I thought guava's were pink, but now I know they also come in white. They tasted pretty good.

One night, we went out to the streets to "observe." We talked to a bunch a kids, and basically asked them why they live on the streets, and how did they got there. Most of them have run away from their homes because of abuse. Two kids, John Mark and Omar, wanted to come live with us, so we brought them home. It was so funny though, because our bus kept breaking and kept breaking, and it took us three times longer to make it home.

John Mark opened up quickly and told us a lot, but had a problem with disobedience. After a couple days he had to sent back. Not to worry though, Pastor Rey will keep checking up on him. We're not finished with him yet.

Omar, on the other hand, is a great kid. He's only 11, and i still don't know why he was on the streets - probably also because of abuse. He is such a goof ball and such a love. My favorite memory of him was when I gave him a toothbrush. He was so tickled! He was laughing his heart out, and running around the house shouting "toothbrush, toothbrush!" Everything we gave him, would send him into heaps of laughter and excitment. It was great.

I'm excited for him too, because soon he'll be able to go back to school, and I know he is so loved at the orphanage!

We also met a woman named Beth, who ran away from her home with her six kids and has been living on the streets, selling peanuts 12 hrs a day to make a living. Scratch that, to earn a meal.

Her face says so much, and she is one of the most beautiful women i have ever seen. I can't believe all she has been through. It is so heart breaking, and yet she is so strong, and so easy going. Her personality just draws people to her. Especially the street kids; it took me a couple days to figure out which ones were actually hers.

Praise God, we were able to get her a bright pink house, and got her started with an electric stove, some food, and some other stuff you need for a house. Because of that we spent a lot of time in the market, and made a bunch of friends! Mostly kids, and they would follow us everywhere. We were quite a sight.

Most the time though, we were at the orphanage, just hanging out with all the kids there. I don't think I have ever played more ninja destruction in my life. ( Or, "ninja construction!" as Omar would say).

One of the girls, KC turned 18 that month, so we had a big birthday party for her, and more than 80 people showed up! She is such a hard working, loving girl. I was happy for her. :) She's the one who makes us bracelets and necklaces every year.

We also drove a couple hours away to Taygaytay. We visted a look out on top of a mountain, and prayed over the north, south, east, and west areas of the philippines. We also visited Colossians Gardens - a beautiful place! Pastor Rey's friend owns it, and is a very strong christian. He allows Pastor Rey to us it as a bible camp for all the kids in the program. (Papa Rey provides scholarships to kids who are truely in need, and really want to finish their education; pretty awesome!)

We also traveled to Borcay of Novelta. A gorgeous beach tucked away on a marine base. My favorite parts were the water, all warm and fantastic, climbing trees with a three year old (Beth's daughter Elisa), and eating bbq-ed pork. So delicious!

Our last day was spent riding a jeepney to the mall. Riding another jeepney to a train. Taking a train to the market. Working our way through the market, buying some not-worth-all-this-hassle souvenirs, and then repeating to get back to the mall. Then to the airport.

I will miss all their beautiful faces! It's ridiculous how much we fall in love with them, and how amazing how much God loves them! It was a good trip.

Heaven

Last night I heard a song called "Can I stay here forever?" (Starfield), and it made me ponder heaven.
I had this thought...what if Heaven was like a dream..? Like you go to this place, and it's wonderful. There's a warm glow that warms you to your insides, and makes your face smile. It's so peaceful. The weather is just right...not too hot, not cold. It looks like spring - flowers everywhere. Everything seems so alive! Some children run past you laughing. "This is a cool place" you think to yourself. Everyone you meet is so joyful, and so kind. But they also seem so real and down to earth, you feel so comfortable just hanging out with them. You feel youself, letting go...of everything. It's like whatever you're missing, it must be here. You breathe in...and breathe out...smiling. You love it here. A man approaches you. He smiles as he comes. Right away the two of you hit it off and start talking...you end up talking for hours! This guy is super cool, and he's funny too, but he is also the most loving person you ever meet. He likes to listen to you, really listen to you. You don't feel judged in anyway at all, and you pour out your heart to him, the good and the bad. He doesn't mind at all...He tells you about forgiveness found in Jesus, and asks if you want it. You say yes, and pray together. He tells you your sins are gone, and to "Remember them no more, you're free my child!" You like that he calls you his child..you feel so special and so loved, and also so light, and so free!
You feel like dancing. So you do! Your friend joins you, and someone starts playing some music, and other people join in. It's a party! You can't help but to think how awesome this place is.
When all calms down, you go to eat with your friend, on the hillside. Just chillin and taking it in... and continue talking. He's delighted to see you, and tells you he really enjoys talking to you. You still can barely believe that you have meet someone so caring, so thoughtful, so nice...so fun. You love it, and your heart is so happy and pure feeling...you can't contain your joy - it is written all over your face. You are overwhelmed by the love that pours from his eyes into yours...During a moment of sweet silence..you look out at the distance...and ask..."Can I stay here forever? Here, with you?"

That's when you wake up. You realize the man you were talking to was Jesus. You can't believe Heaven could be a place so awesome...You're in awe, and yet you still feel so happy. You can't wait to go back!!

My (Ann) eyes have been opened! For me, Heaven was always something that I struggled with...I can't gasp it with my mind...it seemed so distant, so far away...so fake. (All lies from the Devil!) But for a long time...I just didn't understand. Thankfully, God has really opened my eyes through this song, and his word, and now I can't wait to go to Heaven! I realize now, it's a place where I'm gonna go when I die, and I won't want to leave. I'll want to stay there forever. And when I ask Jesus if I can stay forever, he'll look at me and smile, and say "Of course!"

I've had a paradigm shift, and just wanted to share this with you all! :)

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only son (Jesus) [to die in our place] that whoever believes in him, should not die [and go to hell] but have a everlasting life [Heaven!]"
John 3:16

Believe in Jesus! I want you in Heaven with me! :)

I will serve you while i'm waiting...

Oh goodness, it is time to update the blog! Our trip to Haiti was epic. We went with YWAM Dayton (Ohio) and Reach Out to Haiti to a place called Ruuska village. Ruuska village is a safe place where women can come to get jobs, and children are sent to be adopted. Barbara, "the General" is in head of the place, and makes sure each of the kids goes to a christian home. Praise the Lord.Ruuska village is not very big, but there is normally about 70 children there. However, because around 78 children were able to be adopted right after the earthquake on medical visas, there were only about 12 kids and babies while we were there. I can't imagine how crazy it must have been with all those kids; how much fun!
Our first couple of days there, we worked on organizing the medicine, clothing, and food depos, but most importantly getting to know the kids and babies. I love babies! My heart was immeditely drawn to this little guy named Maki. He just had the kind of personality that makes your face light up with a smile, and big brown, happy eyes. Then I meet baby Stephanie. I do not think there could be a cute baby. This baby was just so, so cute! She has big fat cheeks, and we had endless fun squishing them and making her look like a chubby fish. Oh goodness, and how she would laugh! It would make me so happy! Then I meet Missy. Missy was three months old, but she was so frail and tiny. She lived in a house with very strong voodoo presence, and we could tell that was what was holding her back, so our team prayed, and prayed, and prayed for her to be set free, and to grow strong and healthy, and wow - God is faithful, and he heard our prayers! That little girl grew stronger, her skin became softer and darker, her hair started growing, there was an unmistakable light in her eyes. She was free! Thank you Lord! Then there was baby Bernadine. Oh my, she was a cutie! So healthy, so happy, full of joy from the Lord. Just looking at that kid made my heart so happy. I know, that just like with all the other babies, God has a plan for her, for them. Plans to prosper them, and not to harm them. Plans to give them a hope and a future.
The next baby arrived during my second week there. Now I don't know what it is about this little guy, but he captured my heart. I literally feel as if my heart is missing...but not lost. Because I know who has it. That would be Leo. Leo's mom died in child birth (I think), and he was given to relatives, who for some reason or another didn't want him or couldn't take care of him, so they left him on the road. On the side of the road. People that's just crazy. Sometimes I'm sad because I feel like nobody wants me, yea, but really, I know I have people who care about me. Leo. Leo was abandoned. He had nobody. His life was left to the mercy of anyone who would care. Anyone. They could have been good. They could have been bad. But God. God is good, and somebody brought him to us. Leo wouldn't smile. It was like he couldn't. There was no love in this poor little baby's life. His first two months in this world, were probably harder than mine, or yours, ever will be. So man, I spent every second I could holding that baby and loving on him with everything with in my heart and then some. God's love just poured out of me in a way so intense I knew it couldn't possibly be me. And guess what? By the end of three weeks, Leo tripled his weight, his eyes were bright, his skin was darker, he had little wisps of hair starting to come in....and he could smile. He smiled! I have never, ever, seen anything so beautiful in my entire life. Really he is not a pretty baby, but when he smiled it was like all of heaven broke loose. I could not contain my joy. There were sometimes when I was so happy, my heart felt like it would leap out of my chest, and my eyes would weld up with tears longing to be shed. Tears of pure relief and of joy. Joy. Joy!
God does care. God takes care of everyone. He cares about me, he cares about you. God answers prayers. God listens. God is just God, and God isn't pocket sized. He's just, and he's powerful, and he's crazy. The amount of his love just absolutely blows me out of the water. There is no way I could ever life without it, and I want everyone to have it. Every single person on this enire planet - "until the whole world knows" - JESUS IS AWESOME! Because Jesus is God, and God is love.

Love wins. Love always wins.