I'm home and loving it!
Currently I have no signs of jet lag, which is really good. The trip home was long, but went smoothly. Even customs in the United States was a breeze! It was wonderful to come home to my parents, sisters, grandparents, and Nick, and share some of the many experiences and all of the pictures (yes, all 760 pics) with them.
Thank you all for your prayers while we were over there. I definitely think I am changed because of this trip and can't wait to share this with everyone!
Love you all,
Danielle
Monday, December 10, 2007
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
Things are really fantastic.
I'm thinking this will be my last post until I'm home. We only have today and tomorrow left to do work, and Friday is a fun day for us at the waterfalls near us.
It's really wet and rainy...we're living in a giant mud pit :)
I'm having so much fun! Tonight we're singing at the live concert/crusade so that should be fantastic. We're doing hospital ministry today and working with the kids again tomorrow.
We're having a party tonight with one of the families and a girls night sleepover on Thursday night and then a farewell party Friday night. Everyone keeps telling us the typhoon made this Saturday disappear and Dec. 8th fell off the calendar so we can't leave :P.
I got to talk to my 3 favorite people last night, which was wonderful. They were really encouraging and I'm not feeling as homesick. It's just been a fantastic week so far!!!
I love and miss you all. Coming back to the states is going to be a re-culture shock.
As always, we really appreciate your prayers :)
-Danielle
I'm thinking this will be my last post until I'm home. We only have today and tomorrow left to do work, and Friday is a fun day for us at the waterfalls near us.
It's really wet and rainy...we're living in a giant mud pit :)
I'm having so much fun! Tonight we're singing at the live concert/crusade so that should be fantastic. We're doing hospital ministry today and working with the kids again tomorrow.
We're having a party tonight with one of the families and a girls night sleepover on Thursday night and then a farewell party Friday night. Everyone keeps telling us the typhoon made this Saturday disappear and Dec. 8th fell off the calendar so we can't leave :P.
I got to talk to my 3 favorite people last night, which was wonderful. They were really encouraging and I'm not feeling as homesick. It's just been a fantastic week so far!!!
I love and miss you all. Coming back to the states is going to be a re-culture shock.
As always, we really appreciate your prayers :)
-Danielle
Monday, December 3, 2007
Monday, December 3rd
Hello from the Philippines, everyone!
Things have been better than great lately. I'm still feeling pretty homesick now and then, but overall I feel way more comfortable here.
My mind has been changed in ways I didn't know it needed to be changed. I have really experienced so much of this different culture and been fully immersed in it.
Let's see, the last time I wrote was Thursday, I believe. Thursday night was the formal at the school, FCA, which included prepared dances like a tambourine dance, which was awesome, as well as FCA idol and crowning of the Princess and Prince, Ms. and Mr. of the night. Everyone was dressed up and the food was great as well.
Friday was an absolutely phenomenal day. I led devotionals in the morning. This was challenging for me, but turned out really well. I talked about having perseverence through prayer as well as experiencing the many ways to pray beyond using words. I have never been completely satisfied with prayer and it has intimidated me, so I was definitely compelled to talk about it. I also talked about being patient for God's answers to prayers, and how sometimes the answers we receive are not the ones we want, sometimes they are "no." We then were at FTC all day, which is the orphanage type place. Lots of wonderful kids. We hung out and played with them all day long. They are wonderful and just want so much love. Even though they have less than most of the kids I have come in contact with, they are more generous than anyone I have met. We played Red Rover with them, which was really funny to explain because while most of them know English, they don't exactly always understand what we're trying to tell them. They kept like clotheslining eachother. We then played some game that I didn't understand because they could only explain it in Tagalog. Then we just hung out and played with play-dough and cards until lunch. I wish I could talk about each child individually. They are simply amazing children. Tina, CheChe, Jenilynn, Judea, Tutoy, Jerome, Shiila, Mark, BemBem...the list goes on and on.
After lunch I hung out in the girls dorm. It's amazing to watch how they take care of eachother. They are all eachothers mothers, the older ones help the younger ones shower, calm eachother down, give eachother love...its amazing. Next there was a birthday party for everyone who had a birthday in November. We played a game called stopdance, which is like freezedance except you have to pick your partner up and freeze. It was hilarious to see everyone picking eachother up and I actually got our group out because I was laughing so hard instead of freezing! We also played musical chairs and did races. Again, the children are all so self-sufficient and though an adult was facilitating it, it was the kids that were setting up the games and teaching us the rules and picking teams and telling one another to be quiet so it could start. Something I had never seen before.
Then I went with one of the girls, Jenilynn,back to the dorms. We kinda talked about some stuff in her life and then she gave me a bracelet and nice letter. Again, they are so generous. I was trying to help her because she seemed a little down, but she was the one that ended up helping me more than anything.
After, we had LifeGroups all over the place. Mine was in Santisimo and to get to the people we had to walk through a rice field! Peoplelive in these little huts that are just in the middle of the jungle, yet inside there are televisions and the like. It was just an amazing experience to be so immersed in the culture and among the people here. The mountains and beautiful views didnt hurt, either. Wow is the only word I have.
Friday night was youth worship. Really fun and I love all those kids so it was great to just be with them and hang out. It's really unique because people from Frontline pick up and drop off every person for this night because of lack of transportation. So we literally waited 2 hours after the service was over outside of the church for the one van that was going back and forth because we were the last group to be taken home.
I got to talk to my mom then and it was soo wonderful :)
Saturday was an easy day...laundry and laying around...basketball game at night. It's how frontline connects to the community. They made us do the Ice Ice Baby skit and although we were all embarrassed...they completely loved it. Another big difference than the states, that's for sure. They love to dance, sing, and be entertained and being silly is completely accepted in all occasions!
Sunday was church in the morning, basketball and relaxing during the day, and church at night. Last night I saw the largest spider I have ever seen in my whole life. Seriously bigger than my fist. Eek. We were trying to catch lizards and it was pretty humorous.
Today we're at the school helping in classrooms. Everything is on an individual basis here. Each child has their own goals and own work to do and the teacher moves from place to place to teach and help them. Very different, but effective, I think.
Alright, I need to go. I've been on Romeo's laptop for far too long.
Love you all and missing you more!!!
As always, we really appreciate your prayers,
Lots of love,
Danielle
Things have been better than great lately. I'm still feeling pretty homesick now and then, but overall I feel way more comfortable here.
My mind has been changed in ways I didn't know it needed to be changed. I have really experienced so much of this different culture and been fully immersed in it.
Let's see, the last time I wrote was Thursday, I believe. Thursday night was the formal at the school, FCA, which included prepared dances like a tambourine dance, which was awesome, as well as FCA idol and crowning of the Princess and Prince, Ms. and Mr. of the night. Everyone was dressed up and the food was great as well.
Friday was an absolutely phenomenal day. I led devotionals in the morning. This was challenging for me, but turned out really well. I talked about having perseverence through prayer as well as experiencing the many ways to pray beyond using words. I have never been completely satisfied with prayer and it has intimidated me, so I was definitely compelled to talk about it. I also talked about being patient for God's answers to prayers, and how sometimes the answers we receive are not the ones we want, sometimes they are "no." We then were at FTC all day, which is the orphanage type place. Lots of wonderful kids. We hung out and played with them all day long. They are wonderful and just want so much love. Even though they have less than most of the kids I have come in contact with, they are more generous than anyone I have met. We played Red Rover with them, which was really funny to explain because while most of them know English, they don't exactly always understand what we're trying to tell them. They kept like clotheslining eachother. We then played some game that I didn't understand because they could only explain it in Tagalog. Then we just hung out and played with play-dough and cards until lunch. I wish I could talk about each child individually. They are simply amazing children. Tina, CheChe, Jenilynn, Judea, Tutoy, Jerome, Shiila, Mark, BemBem...the list goes on and on.
After lunch I hung out in the girls dorm. It's amazing to watch how they take care of eachother. They are all eachothers mothers, the older ones help the younger ones shower, calm eachother down, give eachother love...its amazing. Next there was a birthday party for everyone who had a birthday in November. We played a game called stopdance, which is like freezedance except you have to pick your partner up and freeze. It was hilarious to see everyone picking eachother up and I actually got our group out because I was laughing so hard instead of freezing! We also played musical chairs and did races. Again, the children are all so self-sufficient and though an adult was facilitating it, it was the kids that were setting up the games and teaching us the rules and picking teams and telling one another to be quiet so it could start. Something I had never seen before.
Then I went with one of the girls, Jenilynn,back to the dorms. We kinda talked about some stuff in her life and then she gave me a bracelet and nice letter. Again, they are so generous. I was trying to help her because she seemed a little down, but she was the one that ended up helping me more than anything.
After, we had LifeGroups all over the place. Mine was in Santisimo and to get to the people we had to walk through a rice field! Peoplelive in these little huts that are just in the middle of the jungle, yet inside there are televisions and the like. It was just an amazing experience to be so immersed in the culture and among the people here. The mountains and beautiful views didnt hurt, either. Wow is the only word I have.
Friday night was youth worship. Really fun and I love all those kids so it was great to just be with them and hang out. It's really unique because people from Frontline pick up and drop off every person for this night because of lack of transportation. So we literally waited 2 hours after the service was over outside of the church for the one van that was going back and forth because we were the last group to be taken home.
I got to talk to my mom then and it was soo wonderful :)
Saturday was an easy day...laundry and laying around...basketball game at night. It's how frontline connects to the community. They made us do the Ice Ice Baby skit and although we were all embarrassed...they completely loved it. Another big difference than the states, that's for sure. They love to dance, sing, and be entertained and being silly is completely accepted in all occasions!
Sunday was church in the morning, basketball and relaxing during the day, and church at night. Last night I saw the largest spider I have ever seen in my whole life. Seriously bigger than my fist. Eek. We were trying to catch lizards and it was pretty humorous.
Today we're at the school helping in classrooms. Everything is on an individual basis here. Each child has their own goals and own work to do and the teacher moves from place to place to teach and help them. Very different, but effective, I think.
Alright, I need to go. I've been on Romeo's laptop for far too long.
Love you all and missing you more!!!
As always, we really appreciate your prayers,
Lots of love,
Danielle
Thursday, November 29, 2007
:)
We were able to come back to the computer lab for a brief moment while we're waiting for lunch, so I just wanted to apologize because my last blog is not cohesive or eloquent in the least and I feel like I'm usually pretty good at that. I feel like I'm all over the place emotionally, spiritually, and otherwise since I've been here. I wish I could share more details now, but cannot wait until I get back so I really can talk in depth about this experience. :)
-Danielle
-Danielle
Day 4
Hello all!
Wow. God is working in huge ways in the Philippines. I only have like 5 minutes to write this entire post, but we have been kept extremely busy. We have also experienced so very much in the short time that we've been here and I think we all have kind of heavy hearts at the moment.
Visiting the orphanage a few times has been amazing. Those kids are just soo yearning for love and want to hold our hands and hug us and play with us for hours and hours. It took a good 20 minutes to say goodbye this morning.
The people at the compound we are staying at are the most welcoming I have ever experienced. I feel like I have already known most of them for years instead of just days. The showers are brisk, but refreshing. We wake up with devotionals and they're wonderful. The food has all been very delicious as well.
Yesterday...oh wait, two days ago (we have nooo sense of time while we're here--no watches or anything. people just tell us we're leaving and we end up where we stop.) we visited a jail here in San Pablo. I don't even know where to begin. There were 15-20 men per cell. We prayed with them and talked with them. They were so kind to us...and then you remembered it was a jail. It was really hard to hear some of their stories and see them reaching out and wanting so much love as well.
This week at FCA-the school here- it is sportsfest, so yesterday we each wore a colored shirt that matched one of the teams and acted as coaches for the races they did, tug of war, and flying ball. Then we as the visitors played against the high schoolers in volleyball. This was sooo much fun!!
Yesterday we walked through a barroqua (sp?) which is a neighborhood here. It was amazing to be immersed in this culture and really walking through their lives. They live sooo very differently and think so differently than we do in America and it really is eye-opening. I hope to bring this mindset back to the United States and let this serve as a movement in my life, as Casey and I talked about, instead of just an experience cemented in time.
I have been extremely homesick because we don't have access to phones or computers often. I have never really felt homesick before, but I definitely have in the past few days.
Everyone here comments on how tall I am, and I mean everyone!! They ask how tall I am and gawk at me and things. Its pretty amusing. But then they ask if I have a boyfriend and I say oh yes, and its wonderful because hes 6'4" and they gawk some more :)
Other things we do here are Life Groups. This is when we gather with a group of people and sing worship songs, discuss our faith, etc. This is Frontlines way of bringing people to their faith and it is wonderful. People just will lay it all on the table and open themselves up and its really inspiring.
We did go tour San Pablo 2 days ago and rode these tricycle things around one of the 7 lakes. It is absolutely beautiful here. The mountains are incredible. Pretty much got gawked at in the market, but havnt seen any other Americans the whole time, so that's probably a big part of it.
Alright, that is about 1/26th of everything I wanted to say. Make sure you read our group blog too so you can see what other perspectives of our trip are.
I miss and love you all. Please keep those prayers coming. I know that every member of the group is feeling this trip in big ways, the people working for Frontline would love your prayers, and of course those they are helping.
Much love,
Danielle
Wow. God is working in huge ways in the Philippines. I only have like 5 minutes to write this entire post, but we have been kept extremely busy. We have also experienced so very much in the short time that we've been here and I think we all have kind of heavy hearts at the moment.
Visiting the orphanage a few times has been amazing. Those kids are just soo yearning for love and want to hold our hands and hug us and play with us for hours and hours. It took a good 20 minutes to say goodbye this morning.
The people at the compound we are staying at are the most welcoming I have ever experienced. I feel like I have already known most of them for years instead of just days. The showers are brisk, but refreshing. We wake up with devotionals and they're wonderful. The food has all been very delicious as well.
Yesterday...oh wait, two days ago (we have nooo sense of time while we're here--no watches or anything. people just tell us we're leaving and we end up where we stop.) we visited a jail here in San Pablo. I don't even know where to begin. There were 15-20 men per cell. We prayed with them and talked with them. They were so kind to us...and then you remembered it was a jail. It was really hard to hear some of their stories and see them reaching out and wanting so much love as well.
This week at FCA-the school here- it is sportsfest, so yesterday we each wore a colored shirt that matched one of the teams and acted as coaches for the races they did, tug of war, and flying ball. Then we as the visitors played against the high schoolers in volleyball. This was sooo much fun!!
Yesterday we walked through a barroqua (sp?) which is a neighborhood here. It was amazing to be immersed in this culture and really walking through their lives. They live sooo very differently and think so differently than we do in America and it really is eye-opening. I hope to bring this mindset back to the United States and let this serve as a movement in my life, as Casey and I talked about, instead of just an experience cemented in time.
I have been extremely homesick because we don't have access to phones or computers often. I have never really felt homesick before, but I definitely have in the past few days.
Everyone here comments on how tall I am, and I mean everyone!! They ask how tall I am and gawk at me and things. Its pretty amusing. But then they ask if I have a boyfriend and I say oh yes, and its wonderful because hes 6'4" and they gawk some more :)
Other things we do here are Life Groups. This is when we gather with a group of people and sing worship songs, discuss our faith, etc. This is Frontlines way of bringing people to their faith and it is wonderful. People just will lay it all on the table and open themselves up and its really inspiring.
We did go tour San Pablo 2 days ago and rode these tricycle things around one of the 7 lakes. It is absolutely beautiful here. The mountains are incredible. Pretty much got gawked at in the market, but havnt seen any other Americans the whole time, so that's probably a big part of it.
Alright, that is about 1/26th of everything I wanted to say. Make sure you read our group blog too so you can see what other perspectives of our trip are.
I miss and love you all. Please keep those prayers coming. I know that every member of the group is feeling this trip in big ways, the people working for Frontline would love your prayers, and of course those they are helping.
Much love,
Danielle
Monday, November 26, 2007
First Day
Hey everyone!
Well, I'm here safe and sound. What an adventure it was though, that's for sure. We traveled for literally over 24 hours. The first plane ride was 13 hours. I tried to sleep, but couldn't much, so I knitted and read and watched tv and listened to music. About 1/2 way through I was really getting ansy, but overall it wasn't too bad. Kinda more of a blur than anything else.
We had a 3 our layover in Tokyo, so, yay, I've been to the Japan, even if it was just the airport. We were alldead tired because it was about 1 am American time, and so decided we wanted to sleep a little bit. When we laid down in a corner, though, we seriously had people staring and laughing at us. I guess it's not normal to lay down in an airport in japan like I think it would be in America. Anyways, the next flight we rode on a HUGE plane. It had two levels and was 10 seats across! I had a whole row to myself, as I believe all of us did, so I laid down and slept for almost the entire flight. We were delayed for about 40 minutes and taxied on the runway during that time, but honestly I'm not sure why because they were speaking in Japanese.
Everything through customs went smoothly, we all got our bags, and found the people from Frontline easily, so overall travels were awesome. After getting into Manila we had about a 2 hours ride to San Pablo, so by the time we got to where we'll be staying for the next two weeks, it was like 11am American time. I was pretty distraugt because the phone they had told us to use didn't work so I couldn't call home. The ride from the airport to San Pablo, as well as getting there, really kind of unnerved me. It was definitely just a big culture shock.
We have quaint but wonderful accomadations. There are 2 hut-like things, one for each pair of two girls. The boys are staying in a room attached to the office. Casey and I are in one, Marquita and Lindsey are in another. In each one is a desk, buck beds, a closet, and a bench. The bathrooms and showers are in their own little building also on the compound. There are about 30 other people, all part of Frontline, living there as well.
Today we had orienation, where they told us about what we'd be doing. We also visited the orphanage and school, which we're at right now. The children are all soo wonderful and we actually get to go back to the orphanage later to play, which is fantastic. We will be doing devotionals in the morning every day, be visiting the school, helping with chores around the compound, visiting the jail with their jail ministry, and playing with the kids at the orphanage.
Today has been so very fun. The kids are amazzzinggg. It will take some getting used to with the different lifestyle, smells, heat, food, etc.
I have been thinking about my family and friends alot. I hope everyone is well. While today has just been a peak into what we'll be doing, I'm very exciting to see what the next 12 days hold.
Please keep the prayers coming :)
Much love,
Danielle
Oh, yes, and the typhoon completely changed direction and is headed north, totally away from us. :) God is good.
Well, I'm here safe and sound. What an adventure it was though, that's for sure. We traveled for literally over 24 hours. The first plane ride was 13 hours. I tried to sleep, but couldn't much, so I knitted and read and watched tv and listened to music. About 1/2 way through I was really getting ansy, but overall it wasn't too bad. Kinda more of a blur than anything else.
We had a 3 our layover in Tokyo, so, yay, I've been to the Japan, even if it was just the airport. We were alldead tired because it was about 1 am American time, and so decided we wanted to sleep a little bit. When we laid down in a corner, though, we seriously had people staring and laughing at us. I guess it's not normal to lay down in an airport in japan like I think it would be in America. Anyways, the next flight we rode on a HUGE plane. It had two levels and was 10 seats across! I had a whole row to myself, as I believe all of us did, so I laid down and slept for almost the entire flight. We were delayed for about 40 minutes and taxied on the runway during that time, but honestly I'm not sure why because they were speaking in Japanese.
Everything through customs went smoothly, we all got our bags, and found the people from Frontline easily, so overall travels were awesome. After getting into Manila we had about a 2 hours ride to San Pablo, so by the time we got to where we'll be staying for the next two weeks, it was like 11am American time. I was pretty distraugt because the phone they had told us to use didn't work so I couldn't call home. The ride from the airport to San Pablo, as well as getting there, really kind of unnerved me. It was definitely just a big culture shock.
We have quaint but wonderful accomadations. There are 2 hut-like things, one for each pair of two girls. The boys are staying in a room attached to the office. Casey and I are in one, Marquita and Lindsey are in another. In each one is a desk, buck beds, a closet, and a bench. The bathrooms and showers are in their own little building also on the compound. There are about 30 other people, all part of Frontline, living there as well.
Today we had orienation, where they told us about what we'd be doing. We also visited the orphanage and school, which we're at right now. The children are all soo wonderful and we actually get to go back to the orphanage later to play, which is fantastic. We will be doing devotionals in the morning every day, be visiting the school, helping with chores around the compound, visiting the jail with their jail ministry, and playing with the kids at the orphanage.
Today has been so very fun. The kids are amazzzinggg. It will take some getting used to with the different lifestyle, smells, heat, food, etc.
I have been thinking about my family and friends alot. I hope everyone is well. While today has just been a peak into what we'll be doing, I'm very exciting to see what the next 12 days hold.
Please keep the prayers coming :)
Much love,
Danielle
Oh, yes, and the typhoon completely changed direction and is headed north, totally away from us. :) God is good.
Thursday, November 22, 2007
First post before we're off...
I'm hoping to be able to blog while I'm over in the Philippines so that everyone is able to get a peek at what we're doing and what's going on over there :)
We leave in 3 days and I'm getting more and more excited every second.
On Saturday we're going to meet at the airport around 8am. Our plane takes off around 11:00 and then we'll be traveling for a good 20 hours. Woah. I've definitely never traveled for that long. I'll let you know how it goes!
Tomorrow is Thanksgiving and I'm looking forward to being with family and enjoying really good food!
I ask for your prayers as we make this incredible journey to the Philippines!
-Danielle
Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
We leave in 3 days and I'm getting more and more excited every second.
On Saturday we're going to meet at the airport around 8am. Our plane takes off around 11:00 and then we'll be traveling for a good 20 hours. Woah. I've definitely never traveled for that long. I'll let you know how it goes!
Tomorrow is Thanksgiving and I'm looking forward to being with family and enjoying really good food!
I ask for your prayers as we make this incredible journey to the Philippines!
-Danielle
Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)