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