Let me let you in on one of our jobs that
we get to do while in the Philippines. We are working with a new organization
Food for the Hungry. One of the things that they have asked us to do, is to go
to the houses of children that are being sponsored and interview them, and take
pictures. I was so excited to know that we were going to have the opportunity
to do this and then write success stories, and update stories on these kids.
But what I didn't realize is that I my heart would be so broken for these kids.
We traveled to 3different communities today. One of which was in the middle of
a cemetery. Pretty freaky, but I hiked through the weird smells and got through
it.
I want you to read of a couple of stories
that just stole my heart today. The first one, her name is Donna who is 12years
old. I was the interviewer for my group, so I was really excited. Donna has
been in the sponsorship program since 2006. When I first saw her I noticed
something just wasn't right and there was something that she was holding in. So
I began to ask the few questions that I knew I had to ask, then I really
started to ask her questions about life. That is when she told me. Her parents
had separated, and her mom completely left her and moved. Donna ended up moving
in with her aunt who already has kids, and is continuing to go to school. When
Donna isn't in school, she is taking care of her cousins. As she was telling me
her story, she began to cry. The minute she told me she had been left, my heart
dropped. She just cried through most of my interview with her. When I asked her
if she could have any dream in the whole wide world what would it be? She told
me that all she wanted was to be with her mom. Can you imagine? I looked in her
house that she is living in, it is like a shack I would say, where they cook is
across the street, and most American bedrooms are bigger than her whole house.
Imagine a mom, dad, and about 5kids living in something that small. Make you
think a little more. But the warm feeling you get when you enter into one of
their houses is priceless. I had the honor of sitting down with a family in a
small little room, and watched how all they wanted to do was make me feel
comfortable when yet, they are struggling so bad and some don't even know when
they will get there next meal.
The 2nd story I want to tell you
about is about a valedictorian names Virgel. He lives in a REALLY REALLY poor area but is
just the smartest little boy. So many times we look at our status quo and think
that we will never amount to anything. This boy changed my life. As I was talking
to a boy the age of 12yrs old. I felt like I was talking to a high school
graduate. His English was so proper and well spoken, and if anything he taught
me a lot. It was such an honor to interview someone who doesn't let where they
come from affect there future. When I asked him who his role model was, he told
me his parents. He understood that they worked REALLY hard to give him the best
even though its not really anything. I asked him again, if he could look up to
ANYONE even be a famous person who would it be. He told me again his parents.
Then I asked him if he could give advice to other people what would it be and
he then gave me a quote that blew my mind that someone his age would even
articulate so well."Keep your feet on the ground, always be humble and pray to
God." Then I asked him what other advice would you give to anyone. He then told
me "Word are powerful, choose good inspiring words." These might sound like
simple quotes, but the way this little boy spoke them so clearly and you could
tell that he really meant it at such a young age blew me away. When I was
asking him about his future, he told me, "I want to try and have an
interpersonal relationship with others so I can see and know those less fortunate."
REALLY?!? This little boy has his focus WAY off of himself. He wasn't coming
from a wealthy home,but He wasn't going to let that stop him from helping
others. I was so honored to have interviewed him. I was very challenged by a
12yr old. Because of the sponsorship
program he is able to go to school and get an education.
The last and final story I want to share
with you is of a parent interviewed that lives in the middle of the cemetery.
Her son is in high school, but really cant go to high school because of his
asthma is SO bad it's a stage 4. She told me that the other day during the
typhoon he had an asthma attack at 2am. They had to find transportation and
take him in for a treatment, because in the community that they live in,they
don't do treatments and to buy a machine it is to much. As I was interviewing I
felt like I needed to ask more about the machine and cost. So I did. And the
thing about me, is ive seen a lot of poverty, ive seen a lot of people in need.
But I just COULDN'T let this one slide by. So I found out that when they go to
the hospital, they have to pay for transportation, and the medications, but the
machine is free. I thought to myself, how much more would they save if I could
get him his own machine because his asthma is so bad. I talked to a couple of
my teammates and we will be purchasing a machine for him, and some medicines to
get him started. So at the end of our stay here we will be able to bless them.
It is way cheaper here than in the states. With jobs being bad here and fathers
finding it hard to get jobs, I feel like this is going to really help this
particular family out. I don't tell you this to get credit, I tell you this
because God loves this little boy enough to send us to be able to bless him.
There was just something about this lady that we knew we had to do more.
I am LOVING this part of my mission here.
It's what im passionate about. My heart breaks for people, but at the same time
I rejoice knowing that just because they aren't in the best of situations that
they are still dreaming and succeeding. I cant wait to continue to interview
more! I am SO excited about this part of my mission here. I cant believe our
time here will be coming to an end in a week and a half. Thanks for all your
prayers.
Here is the famous Balut that was brought to me for my b-day and we ate it as a team. it went something like this. A lady from the church walked into our prayer meeting and said, "Valerie I bring you balut for your birthday!" after that statement i could not focus on prayer any longer because i knew what was coming after. Enjoy the video.
Mondays are our days off here. So we have all been wanting to go to a famous waterfall that you can jump off of, but that would require some good travel time. We were all down to go this Monday. So Sunday night we get a text to pack one night of clothes that we were going to stay the night with 2 of our others teams in Manilla and go to a big basketball game with them. Awesome! So we packed our daypack for a night. Monday morning we got up early and realized it was raining. No biggy. So we just put on our rain coats and headed out to jump on the trike, then to the bus for a 2 ½ hr bus ride. We get to where we are supposed to then jump on a jeepney and realize, the rain is NOT stopping and we probably weren't going to get to go the the falls to jump off because there was a typhoon coming. REALLY? So we ended up having lunch in the city and just walking around before we jumped on the jeepney to stay at the other ministry site that we were going to stay at for the night to go to the basketball game. SO we are wet, and sticky and our plans for the day have been ruined at this time. BTW, im in my bathing suit and just have a tank and shorts on over it plus my backpack and we hop on the jeepney where the man tries to fit 10people to each side for a little over an hour bumpy, hot, and rainy ride! Matt and I tried to actually spread our legs wider to take up more space so the man wouldn't stuff more people in and we could get some breathing room, but he tapped our shoulders and spoke in his language and motioned for us to squeeze! REALLY?!? I kept saying we are americans, we aren't fit for this. But I guess it didn't translate.
Finally arriving in the city that we were supposed to be in, all 6 let me repeat 6 of us! Jump on a trike to the ministry site!
Finally united with 2 other teams that have been working at this site was feeling like we haven't seen eachother all year! When its only been about 3weeks.
We end up settling the little stuff that we have in a room and relax knowing that we weren't going to be going anywhere for awhile. AWHILE translated something like this, the basketball game got cancelled, we were stuck here all day, crashed internet, we really didn't have our stuff because we thought we wouldn't need it just for a night, no transportation, we couldn't get back to our ministry site, so we were stuck here, and are currently staying another night. We don't know how long we will be stuck here, with our limited items. We don't know what the next few days will look like.
God through this is stripping away more and more. I am even through this learning to depend on Him more. I am used to always knowing whats going on how we will get out of a situation, but here I cant do that. All we have to know is to depend on God. And when its time to move we move. I didn't think I would look up and find myself living in a typhoon without my stuff. But im learning that even though I don't have my bible here with me, that He is still here and I can still talk to him. I am learning to laugh it off and find joy is the weirdest situations. Honestly sometimes that doesn't come easy. But once I laugh, its way easier to let God do what he wants. I have watched as our 3teams through this situation where every plan got cancelled just find joy in it all. If I don't choose joy then I will be miserable. What do you choose in your icky situations? Being here and not being able to use running water, is hard. You don't realize how much you use it for things. But I choose joy when I use my water bottle to brush my teeth or pour water down a drain to flush. Sometimes I might have to fake it til I start believing it, but whoah does it make a huge difference. Whatever the situation is, choose joy.
Today we got to experience a new church.
One that doesn't speak in English in there service. It was very exciting! Had
no clue what they were saying but some words I recognized and thought to
myself, I swear I have heard those words spoken in tongues before by other
people. Lol. It was pretty neat.
After a service we of course had to take
pictures with the people because to them we are movie stars, it is very funny
by the way. Then we went to have our time as a team together doing whatever.
Because of us working with a new organization we have been in a lot of meeting
lately and really haven't had as much child interaction as I would of thought.
So in the back of my mind I have been wanting/praying to hold a baby. BUT I
never knew when that would happen because we work with high school kids during
the week to do a campus ministry. WELL today when we were coming home we had to
find a jeepney (google what they are) coming our way. I saw a CUTE little baby
with glasses on his mamas lap. I didn't know where that jeepney was going, but
all I knew was I wanted to ride on THAT one. So after hollering I want to ride
on this one because of the cute kid as I was walking towards the vehicle, my
team informed me that that jeepney was the one that took us to where we needed
to go. So I happily jumped on the jeepney not knowing HOW I was going to cuddle
with this little stranger baby and what the mama was going to think. I tried to
sit by them but someone was in between us. BUT then it happened, the person
next to me got off at a stop. Then it was gametime for me! I didn't know how
long I had, but I HAD to hold this baby before it got off. This baby had a bit
of down syndrome I think. When they lady in between us got off I said YES
finally I can sit next to this baby! So then I started talking to the cute kid
as my team was like oh no, what is Val about to do?! Then I did it! I asked to
hold the baby, im still not sure if they lady knew what I was saying, but I
just kinda took the baby out of her arms. (leave it to me to do that) and held
my first baby here in the Philippines!!
I began to just hold the baby and talk to
him and tell him how handsome he was, and rub his head, then a baby that was
all of a sudden awake began to drift in and out of sleep in my arms in a hot
crowded jeepney. It was beautiful! I did not want to let the baby go, but I had
to so they could leave. Even though we were off this afternoon from ministry
and we were all tired, I learned that you can never stop loving others and when
you never stop loving them and stay open to sharing the fathers love you get
little unexpected surprises like I did today. It was just an over flowing love
for this baby that I cant explain. I know God put him in my pathway today, and
gave me the privilege to hold this child. Below is a pic of him.More pics will be on my facebook probably later. Like I said most of my pics will be there.
Thanks for all your prayers and support. We definitely need them and can feel
them. I love to read yalls encouragement on here.Adios!
Wow! Just get used to this because you are probably going to
read this next sentence everytime I go to another country, but I LOVE THE
PHILIPPINES! I will probably say that about every country I go to, but get over
it. The nations are so beautiful. I have been blessed to have gone on so many
mission trips before this, but I have NEVER went to Asia, and WOW! The people
are beautiful!
On Sunday it will mark one week that we have beenhere. My team of 6 then ventured off to work
with our assigned organization on Tuesday. Excitement filled us as we anxiously
waited to finally meet the people we would be working with for a month. We were
automatically greeted with hugs and smiles from an organization that has never
before worked with AIM. NO BIGGY, we just have to be on our best behavior ;P!
Our team really not knowing what we were getting ourselves into got into Snow
White(the church van that I wouldn't really call a church van) and headed to
our new homes for a month. So many questions went through my head of what the
crap am I doing and my brain kinda went like this: im really excited, and is
this really happening, am I going to sweat this whole year, I better drop
weight if I do, and what if I get attached and don't want to leave, im so
excited, but im nervous, will they starve us,im tired i just wanta bed, ok there is no turning back now Val so
here we go!
SO we made it what we thought was going to be like a not
very long ride turned into a longer ride than we thought, but it went by fast.
With this organization we were hooked up with a Pastor.He told us to call him
Papa Dan. OH MY I just LOVE his heart. But as we began to talk to him I noticed
he didn't have a ring on his finger. He was not a young man either, so I was
puzzled at what the story was behind that but didn't want to be rude and ask.
Later on we found out thathis wife had
just passed away in May at the church. WOW! What do you do when someone you
don't really know tells you this, and they are alone now? My heart immediately
dropped and so did the teams. This man has kids, but they are either in the
states or off doing there own proffesions somewhere in the Philippines. This
man that we were connected with is a lonely man now. WOW. That hit my whole
team. He was SO happy to have us, and the best present we could give him was to
just listen and be his friend. He lives at the church in a little bitty fallen
apart house, and people take care of him, but he is still lonely.
So why do I tell you about Papa Dan? Because we as a team
feel he is our key mission this month. We have had a TON of meetings since we
have been here with the organization and are working on our outreaches with the
school and we have even done a program for a group of kids. That is all great
and awesome, and we LOVE it! But we really feel like we are here for Papa Dan.
To let him experience life again. He goes with us mostly wherever we go. He has
cleared out his whole month to spend time with us. We feel so honored to have
him. Every morning we allow him to give us a devotional, and he LOVES it! Even
though what he may believe doesn't line up with what some of us do, it doesn't
matter, because we are one and love sees no borders.
I think it really hit a lot of us when we had to go and meet
with the high school principal and teachers, and Papa told us that that is
where his wife worked and loved it! They asked me to pray for us as we closed
that meeting, so I did and I noticed one of my team members grabbed his
handand heldit as we walked out and toured the school
where his former wife taught. It was beautiful. We are here to be a light in
dark areas, but we are also here to encourage believers. I strongly feel along
with my team that we are here for Papa Dan and to bring life to him after this
tragedy.
AGAIN, IF YOU ARE WANTING TO SEE PICS PLEASE GO TO MY
FACEBOOK AND LOOK. IT IS WAY TO SLOW TO UPLOAD THEM RIGHT NOW TO THE BLOG.
I am currently at my first ministry site and it feels so
good. Let me catch you up on what has been going on. For the first couple of
days we stayed at a ministry site here in the Philippines with our whole squad.
That was a time to get over jetlag and regroup before all splitting and going
to our individual group ministry sites.
Let me tell you a funny little story about 6 americans
trying to get around in the Philippines and not having a CLUE of what we are
doing. They have these things called jeepneys and trike. Why is itthat people in other countries drive crazier
than others?!? Anyhow, we were riding in a trike all 6 of us, well should I say
riding? I shouldprobably say we TRIED
to drive in one of them, but whenever we took off, we had on person on the roof
and as we took off in the trike and it began to tip, and next thing we know we
are doing a popa willey, and in the air! EVERYONE WAS OK, and NO ONE WAS hurt,
but it was the funniest thing! Leave it to the Americans to make a vehicle do
something its not supposed to do.J
SO now we are here at our ministry site. We are very excited
to work with this organization that has never before partnered with The
WorldRace! We are excited to pave the
way for future racers! Transitioning has been interesting. Getting over jetlag
has been tough for us, but we are all getting through it with joy.
Now, that we have left all of our comforts and submerjing
ourselves into the culture it is really starting to set in with us. But you
know what the awesome thing is? We are not alone. It is very nice to be around
people and be honest and tell them, that you are emotional, or something just
isn't right and for them to accept that and stop what they are doing and
surround you with love and let you just cry. That is my new family of 5 others.
The six of us have a crazy 11months ahead of us. But knowing that we can be
honest and say UHM....no I cant do this or UHM...I really miss home and what the
HECK did I sign up for?!? It helps knowing we are in this together.
Continue to pray for us as we are working with a new
organization and getting to know there vision etc!
LOVE YOU ALL!!I
would love to hear from you! Feel free to emailme or facebook!
PS IF THIS DOES NOT MAKE SENSE it is because im listening to
a conversation AND typing AND still getting over jetlag! ;)
IF YOU WANT TO SEE PICTURES PLEASE LOOK ON MY FACEBOOK OR I PUT SOME UP ON HERE BUT BECAUSE INTERNET IS SLOW HERE IT IS HARD TO POST. I WILL BE POSTING MORE LATER.
Today marks exactly two weeks until I head out on this crazy adventure. It woud be crazy if I didn’t tell you that I was nervous. I am VERY nervous, but more excited because I know that I am walking out what I know God has called me to since I was in my mothers womb.
I spoke at a church this past Sunday and walked away from there excited about the future and very encouraged. I am very blessed to have people excited with me about this next journey and backing me up with prayer. I was talking to one of the members that has known me since I was little, and she said that it was time to birth this thing. I thought in my head, “Yea, I know I’ve been waiting forever. And FINALLY God is releasing me to do what I’ve been waiting anxiously to do.”
But then it hit us as we were all sitting there. You see I was accepted onto The World Race on January 2nd or 3rd. I will be leaving for the race September 6th. That is a little over nine months—a full term for a mom to carry her child! I mean I’m not a mom, but I know I have been anxiously praying and waiting to birth this new thing that God has for me. I have had a heart for the nations for a LONG TIME—every since I could remember. I just LOVE the nations and LOVE missions. It is in my blood. But I know this is now my time to birth something new into the nations. I know that God has had this nine month waiting process brought to my attention for a reason. I’m honestly still processing all of it.
So what does it feel like to be two weeks away from surrendering everything and giving up a lot of things for a year and living however the locals live? SCARY! But also fulfilling and exciting!! I don’t know what to expect, but that’s where God needs me. I think the best way to describe where I’m at right now is to give you this example.
Remember when you were little and it was your VERY first time to jump off the HIGH DIVE! I mean all the big kids were doing it and you wanted to, but were scared something bad would happen. What if your bathing suit fell off (because you have heard of all those horror stories) or you chickened out because it was just REALLY high up?! Well that is what I’m feeling right now. As I walk up the ladder stairs, there are people behind me cheering for me. This is the next generation that will come after me—they are watching to see how it is done. Then I have the people that are on the side of the pool cheering me on. These are the prayer warriors, financial supporters, encouragers, friends, etc. Then there is the lifeguard. The lifeguard is a picture of God. He is sitting there waiting for me to jump. He isn’t going to force me but once I jump He will make sure I don’t drown. He will come to my rescue when He sees I need it. Then there is the person jumping off. (ME) I don’t really know what it is going to feel like when I hit the water. I don’t know how deep I’m going to go. But I know it’s time to jump. So right now I would describe myself at the edge of the high dive getting ready for the unexpected, but knowing that God is going to be there with me, my supporters will be on the side of the pool, and I am taking a jump for the next generation to be world changers too! GGGGEERRRROOOONNNIIIIIMMMMOOOOO!!!
Have you ever been asked to do something from God and didn’t know where that came from? Prepping for this trip I have had to think a lot about things that need to be taken care of while I am gone and when I come back how will I survive. I have been taught to always have an out. Always be prepared and to have a back up plan if whatever it is falls through. God is teaching me that whatever He says goes and I don’t need a back up plan.
For about 3 years now I have known that I was going to go on the mission field. So I have been living very carefully and trying not to make any crazy decisions just in case God said “Go” the next day. But upon graduating Christ for the Nations, I knew it was time to get out of debt. I knew that in order for me to go on the mission field I was going to have to pay off those credit cards and pay off my car. THEN there came the World Race. Should I apply? I’m still in debt. But I felt God telling me to just do it. SO I did, not knowing what my financial situation would look like. I look up now with paid off credit cards and as of a month ago a paid off car!
That is all great right? So now I’m set for the mission field for a year! Now I will have a vehicle to come back to without any payments, and it will just sit for a year. WRONG—God spoke. SO many people have told me, “Val I don’t think you will be coming back for long.” I was like ok, sure yeah, whatever. But about a week and a half ago God told me that I was supposed to give my car away to my cousin in a different state! I mean, I hardly talk to her because our lives are so busy and she has a full schedule graduating. REALLY God? Not to mention God, I JUST paid off the car. It’s my first thing to ACTUALLY own in my name. But God spoke again, and again, and again to bless her with my paid off car!
After talking to my dad, and telling him what I felt compelled to do, he reassured me, that one rule in our family is that nothing we have is ours. God has control over it and He blessed us with it to give it away. I grew up knowing this so why was I questioning this? Everything my parents have had, if someone needed it, they gave it away if they could, and I have watched how God has provided crazy stuff for them.
I then realized this car was the last possession I was holding onto before I leave in a few weeks to do the World Race. I needed to release it, and let God be my provider. Yeah I could of sold it to make the last money that I need for my trip, but God said to give it, so I did. Being obedient doesn’t make sense sometimes, but at the end it does.
I had the honor to Skype my cousin last night and tell her how much God loves her to give her this her senior year so she can go off to college. It was awesome to be obedient and to remind someone how much He really does love us!
This was the last thing I was holding onto. I now will have no transportation when coming home, which is weird because even before I had a license I had a car (small town kids drive illegally ;) )SO this will be an next phase in my life watching God show himself in CRAZY ways. Never say you will NEVER give away your car after you watch someone else give it away because God has tricks up his sleeve.
So what has God asked you to do that you are still holding onto for dear life? Because I can tell you that once you do it, even though it’s crazy, you can’t stop smiling because you have done what He said to do!
Ladies and Gentlemen, boys and girls, come on a magical trip with me, put on your imagination glasses and read with me!
I am a semi-organized person I guess you would call it. In my closet you will find pants all together, tanks, dresses, quarter length shirts, etc. But what you will find when you look at my closet 2 to 3 months down the road is everything in a different order. Instead of pants being first you will see them last. I like to give all my clothes a chance of being in the front so I can see all of them. I guess after watching Toy Story it just made me think and (even though clothes didn’t talk in the movie) every since then I have always done that with my clothes. But seriously, you know that if you didn’t move your clothes around, you would forget what you had and clothes with tags would still be in the back of the closet.
As I was thinking about why I do this, I began to think about how we walk out our Christian life. We all have good intentions of putting God first. But then we swap God without even thinking about it because it either gets mundane/boring or we want to give other people more attention then we give God because its more exciting. We may not even realize it because it can happen so fast. Sometimes we get so caught up in order and reorganizing things and making it fit, that we forget what should be the first.
So if my clothes could talk, I think that they would all want to be the first in the closet because that is what I would pull out first. But isn’t that the same with God—He wants to be first so He is the first thing we call on? Think about it. What’s the first thing in your life?
