Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Stop Trying so Hard to Fix Yourself
"Ate Amy! We have messages for you!" Grace, one of the girls from the choir calls to me from the porch. I come to the door smiling, to see Grace, her sister Pamela and two other girls from the choir standing there. Grace offers me a card filled with messages... mostly in English!... from the girls in the choir. They express their thanks, and say they love me and will miss me and want me to come back. Then Grace hands me a package of thin felt markers in bright colors... they look like the markers the girls used to write the card. A small gift in monetary or western value... but like the widow who gave only 2 cents to the temple treasury and Jesus said she gave more than the rich because it was all she had, this was a precious gift. Coming from a poor family, I treasure this gift as a sacrifice on her part and rejoice in it because I know God rejoices that she chose to give something away for another.
God answered your prayers regarding the last choir practice... it went so efficiently, I know God was with us. The concluding party for the choir girls also went very well, and so did our performances. My only dissapointment was that even at the party I wasn't able to have a good conversation with one of the girls to really share about who God is to me. But God had a different plan.
Sunday evening, the last Sunday evening of my stay in the Philippines several of the girls came over to the Roots porch in the evening and called out, "Ate Amy! We are here to visit you." I came and sat with them on the porch. Most of them don't know English very well, and I don't know Tagalog. But one or two helped interpret, and we talked about Canada for awhile. Then they asked me if I had a boyfriend. I was able to talk to them about the value of trusting in God in this area of life and how it is so much better to wait for someone who loves God than to enjoy pleasure now for a short time but regret it later. I praise God for this opportunity to share with them! My Aunty Melita has wanted to talk to these girls about this very issue, but didn't know how to approach it. It wouldn't have meant much if I had preached at them one choir practice, or at the party...but God brought them to me, after we had developed a relationship with one another, and they wanted to listen to what I had to say. Thank you Lord for this opportunity!
Again, on my very last night there (a Friday night) six of the eleven girls from the choir came one more time to visit me. We sang songs, and I was so happy to see that several of the girls had the words to at least some of the songs we'd learned memorized. The Lord opened an opportunity for me to share simply the Gospel, and a little bit about how God has worked in my life. I felt rather awkward, especially with the language barrier. My Aunty Melita helped interpret a few words here and there. But I praise God for the chance to share, and we can keep praying that these girls would seek Jesus as their source of life and everything. Saying goodbye was emotional for the girls and for me. Several cried and gave me big hugs, and told me they would miss my voice, and they would miss me. I pray that if they think of me in the future they will not just think of me, but that they would think of God also! And that when I think of them, I would turn to God.
Praises:
1. Praise for the last choir practice going well, and the choir party and performances.
2. Praise for the opportunities to talk with the choir girls
3. Praise for safe travel home and that all my luggage made it home successfully!
4. Praise for the opportunity that I had to go, and for the lessons God taught me while I was there.
Prayer Requests:
1. Pray for the choir girls that they would continue to seek God, and that the words of the songs would remind them to turn to and trust the Lord.
2. Pray for me, that I would continue to seek the Lord and trust Him as I adjust to life back home again and fight against falling back into old thinking or acting or speaking habits that God has since been helping me change.
As I think over my trip, I smile to myself about how God works. He didn't teach me lessons in the way I expected, but He was with me. When I left, I was ready to learn, and wanted to be changed... but I thought it would be through some specific disturbing thing I saw or experiences, or through some drastic event. You will remember me asking for prayer in my first email: "It is my true desire that I will be pushed to the limit at some point so that there is no way in my physical nature that I can "put on" good virtue or a good attitude but be hiding selfishness inside. Please pray that I will be tested so that I MUST rely on God for the strength to shine as His light!" Well, I learned something. I learned that it is impossible to shine as His light without relying on God for strength. I can't, and you can't put on good virtue and hide selfishness. It looks like we can for a time, but if we aren't denying ourselves, we are heading in a direction away from God. Sin in my life is a whole lot more prominent, and a whole lot more serious than I realized. And I can't try to make myself better. Let me quote myself from the last entry I made in my travel journal as I reflected on what I am learning:
God is big, and I am nothing without Him. It is wrong to get mad at myself and dissapointed in myself and beat myself up for not doing as well as I hoped at something, because if I am dissapointed in myself, I was at some point believing in myself (I am not refering here to humble repentant sorrowful dissapointment leading to confession... that is productive dissapointment). I cannot try to be better. It will not work to say, "I must stop focussing so much on food." or "I have to be faithful at exercising" or "I must change the way I speak so I am more gracious." On my own strength there is NOTHING I CAN DO TO BECOME BETTER. My only hope is to turn to Jesus...not the words about Him, but His very person, and cast everything at His feet and beg Him to forgive me and change me. That's all.
As I dwell by His strength more and more in His words and life He will, WILL, change me through a renewed mind to be faithful in all things that matter. My words, life, actions, thoughts will all glorify Him as a matter of course. I must remember my weakness in the flesh and press on by His strength to continue in Spiritual disciplines such as reading Srcipture, memorizing, praying, fasting. Thank You, Lord, that You've promised that those who seek You will find You!!!
I am going to seek to cling to God's promise in Philippians 4:6-7 "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."
Do you believe that? Do you really? Really? It's in God's Word, and it's a promise. I challenge you to try with me to stand by this promise. Whenever you feel an anxious thought, or circumstances are unbearably complicated, don't try to fix your situation or yourself. First, turn to Jesus. And don't forget the Thanksgiving part!
There are so many little things that I have been challenged and inspired in lately, but I can't write them all, so if you want to hear more, we'll have to talk in person! Thank you so much for supporting me on this trip. It means a lot to me that you all care, and I'm so sorry I've made you wait for such a long time for updates, and then written such long ones that perhaps some of you don't have time to read them! :-)
Resting in His peace,
Amy
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Music and More
Laaaaaa! "Okay, everyone close your eyes and try that again. See if you can all match your voices to one note." Louahooooahhaaaaaaaaaaaa! "There! did you hear that now! That was much better. That's what we want to sound like when you're singing the songs."
Last week I started a children's choir here on Second Mile. Between the two practices we have had, there are a total of eleven kids interested, including my cousins. I had SOOOO much fun with them!! I couldn't believe how much fun. They all LOVE to sing, and are fast learners. They aren't shy and afraid... they just sing out with all their might and we can work on adjusting it from there :-)
Over the last week I have been busy with something happening each day. Since last Monday I gave a keyboard lesson Monday, children's choir Tuesday, Bible study where I led the music Wednesday, Wednesday morning I helped cook at the Working Hands dorm, Thursday evening I went to a final dinner and presentation at the end of a street kids camp, Friday was Missionary team meeting in Manila and another kids choir practice, Saturday was the regular choir practice, and Sunday I went to church with one of the girls from Mustard Seed in the morning, led music for the afternoon service and also at that service the church choir performed for the first time! It was a good week. Oh, I forgot to mention music lessons with Daniel and Noah and writing another test for them.
Today in the morning Laura and I went to the Palenke to buy ingredients, and then in the afternoon we made Biko (sticky rice with sugar and cocoanut) with one of the national ladies here, named Lolly (pronounced Lowly). Later this week I may be cooking at the dorm again sometime, and have more choir practices and performances.
Between everything that's been going on, I have enjoyed spending time with the Roots, reading a book together as a family (The Edge of Eternity) and helping with various projects. We will be having guests for Supper tonight.
Well, I hope this gives you a bit of an idea of what I've been up to! Thank you so much for your prayers! I really need them, especially when there is a busier schedule. I am Praising God for every day I have here, and seeking Him for wisdom in how to spend my time.
Last week I started a children's choir here on Second Mile. Between the two practices we have had, there are a total of eleven kids interested, including my cousins. I had SOOOO much fun with them!! I couldn't believe how much fun. They all LOVE to sing, and are fast learners. They aren't shy and afraid... they just sing out with all their might and we can work on adjusting it from there :-)
Over the last week I have been busy with something happening each day. Since last Monday I gave a keyboard lesson Monday, children's choir Tuesday, Bible study where I led the music Wednesday, Wednesday morning I helped cook at the Working Hands dorm, Thursday evening I went to a final dinner and presentation at the end of a street kids camp, Friday was Missionary team meeting in Manila and another kids choir practice, Saturday was the regular choir practice, and Sunday I went to church with one of the girls from Mustard Seed in the morning, led music for the afternoon service and also at that service the church choir performed for the first time! It was a good week. Oh, I forgot to mention music lessons with Daniel and Noah and writing another test for them.
Today in the morning Laura and I went to the Palenke to buy ingredients, and then in the afternoon we made Biko (sticky rice with sugar and cocoanut) with one of the national ladies here, named Lolly (pronounced Lowly). Later this week I may be cooking at the dorm again sometime, and have more choir practices and performances.
Between everything that's been going on, I have enjoyed spending time with the Roots, reading a book together as a family (The Edge of Eternity) and helping with various projects. We will be having guests for Supper tonight.
Well, I hope this gives you a bit of an idea of what I've been up to! Thank you so much for your prayers! I really need them, especially when there is a busier schedule. I am Praising God for every day I have here, and seeking Him for wisdom in how to spend my time.
Sunday, July 5, 2009
My Holey Foot
Beware of this post if you get queezy stomachs about gross things.
It was Saturday morning, 11 am. I was just helping drop off some tools by the garden to help Daniel and the rest of the family get some work done for an hour before Lunch. And then it happened.
I was listening to the music being sung by the Seventh Day Adventists who are on the other side of the compound fence. They were singing "He Leadeth Me". I was also feeling tired that day, and thus clumsy. I tripped over and stepped on the edge of a rake which had just been dropped, points upward, on the lawn. I must have stumbled toward it, because somehow I ended up leaning all my weight on it, I'm pretty sure. I staggered forward, and sat down on the grass to investigate my scratch. It turned out to be a hole.
Between my pinky toe and the next one in line with it, there was a little strip of skin peeled up, and then a puncture, right between those toes. It didn't bleed much, which really surprised me. I'm estimating that it was about 1/2 cm deep, and I think it bruised some stuff internally. No broken bones though. I never knew there was a space right there on my foot.
With help from my Aunty Melita and Uncle Gary I got it cleaned up, and poured some anti-bacterial-something-or-other down the hole so that it would hopefully kill the germs. It is a good thing I'm up-to-date with my Tetnus shots, because the rake was rusty.
This morning (Sunday) there was a red area on the top of my foot and the little toe area looks swollen. I am taking antibiotics, and have drawn a line in permanent marker around the red area so that I can tell if it grows or not. Throughout today, the red area expanded just slightly. I am following Aunty Melita's instructions for caring for it each day.
Please pray that this injury will heal, Lord willing, and that it won't turn into anything dangerous.
On the plus side, it has forced me to sit still so I had some nice time of Bible reading and journaling today. You never know what's going to happen in a few short moments! Never leave a rake with the pokes facing up.
It was Saturday morning, 11 am. I was just helping drop off some tools by the garden to help Daniel and the rest of the family get some work done for an hour before Lunch. And then it happened.
I was listening to the music being sung by the Seventh Day Adventists who are on the other side of the compound fence. They were singing "He Leadeth Me". I was also feeling tired that day, and thus clumsy. I tripped over and stepped on the edge of a rake which had just been dropped, points upward, on the lawn. I must have stumbled toward it, because somehow I ended up leaning all my weight on it, I'm pretty sure. I staggered forward, and sat down on the grass to investigate my scratch. It turned out to be a hole.
Between my pinky toe and the next one in line with it, there was a little strip of skin peeled up, and then a puncture, right between those toes. It didn't bleed much, which really surprised me. I'm estimating that it was about 1/2 cm deep, and I think it bruised some stuff internally. No broken bones though. I never knew there was a space right there on my foot.
With help from my Aunty Melita and Uncle Gary I got it cleaned up, and poured some anti-bacterial-something-or-other down the hole so that it would hopefully kill the germs. It is a good thing I'm up-to-date with my Tetnus shots, because the rake was rusty.
This morning (Sunday) there was a red area on the top of my foot and the little toe area looks swollen. I am taking antibiotics, and have drawn a line in permanent marker around the red area so that I can tell if it grows or not. Throughout today, the red area expanded just slightly. I am following Aunty Melita's instructions for caring for it each day.
Please pray that this injury will heal, Lord willing, and that it won't turn into anything dangerous.
On the plus side, it has forced me to sit still so I had some nice time of Bible reading and journaling today. You never know what's going to happen in a few short moments! Never leave a rake with the pokes facing up.
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Links for Photos
Please forgive me for not figuring out how to make these hyperlinks. Also, I can't figure out how to email the pictures to the blog yet so that they all show up directly here... so for now you'll have to copy and paste in a browser!
Father's Day Trip:
http://picasaweb.google.ca/amy.n.skinner/FathersDayTrip?authkey=Gv1sRgCJew9vScyf_1YA&feat=directlink
Palenke:
http://picasaweb.google.ca/amy.n.skinner/Palankay?authkey=Gv1sRgCN2Tgoqk5tOCKg#
My Day with the Mustard Seed Girls:
http://picasaweb.google.ca/amy.n.skinner/DayWithTheMustardSeedGirls?authkey=Gv1sRgCIfc64rWhKPqdw&feat=directlink
Father's Day Trip:
http://picasaweb.google.ca/amy.n.skinner/FathersDayTrip?authkey=Gv1sRgCJew9vScyf_1YA&feat=directlink
Palenke:
http://picasaweb.google.ca/amy.n.skinner/Palankay?authkey=Gv1sRgCN2Tgoqk5tOCKg#
My Day with the Mustard Seed Girls:
http://picasaweb.google.ca/amy.n.skinner/DayWithTheMustardSeedGirls?authkey=Gv1sRgCIfc64rWhKPqdw&feat=directlink
Musings about Missionary Life
“Tao po! Ate Melita?” A Philippino lady comes to the door asking for money for her adult son to go to the hospital. He has a boil on his face that has expanded and spread under his jaw, and they can’t afford to take him to get medical attention.
Knock, knock! A child stands there with a letter. My Aunt picks it up and brings it back to the breakfast table Saturday morning. She reads the Tagalog words with her husband, and they decipher that one of the neighborhood ladies has gone into labour early, and needs help. A mother who has birthed four children before, and says there is something different this time.
One sardine. On top of a pile of rice. This is lunch for a poor child, and she wouldn’t even have this if it hadn’t been given.
Looking up at my Uncle with a shy face, a boy, about 14, explains that his family doesn’t have enough money to put him through school, and he is asking to be sponsored.
20%. On a fractions exam. The grade that a young man received as he struggles to understand math and stay in his carpentry program. What should be done? Can he re-take the test? Or is it over for him? How should his teacher decide?
These and many others are the tough situations that the missionaries here at Second Mile face. In one week. Should they give money to help, or would this be discouraging the people from taking initiative to help themselves? How much should they give? Is the health problem enough to recommend seeing a doctor?
Along with household chores and daily life, these decisions are ones that cause the missionaries to turn to God for wisdom on a daily basis. Couples pray for wisdom to know how generous to be with finances. The missionaries struggle to know how to help young believers grow, people who profess Christianity, and come to church, but continue in past traditions and sinfulness. Where is the balance between encouraging people in God’s love and warning them of His wrath?
As I have watched the missionaries here over the past two weeks, I have found it interesting how “normal” their lives are. That doesn’t quite sound right, but let me explain. They are living here, and have all the regular responsibilities of caring for a home and property, raising children, handling finances, grocery shopping, cooking, attending church and Bible studies, and attending association or community meatings. But across the street families are starving and people are aching for the gospel. Again and again the missionaries serve them, and hold services and preach the gospel. Some come. Some go. Prayer meetings are held regularly, and missionaries talk to one another about their experiences and pray for the people. Again and again. My Uncle teaches his carpentry class, and encourages the students in spiritual discipleship as well. Some do well, others fail. Life goes on, new students come, the same neighborhood kids come to Sunday school. Another bible study. More language studying. Another day. Life keeps going.
Sometimes it's exciting, and sometimes its not. Being a missionary is a life-long act of service to God, and faithfulness in prayer, and trusting that God is making a difference even when you can’t see it. Whether you are at home, or abroad.
Knock, knock! A child stands there with a letter. My Aunt picks it up and brings it back to the breakfast table Saturday morning. She reads the Tagalog words with her husband, and they decipher that one of the neighborhood ladies has gone into labour early, and needs help. A mother who has birthed four children before, and says there is something different this time.
One sardine. On top of a pile of rice. This is lunch for a poor child, and she wouldn’t even have this if it hadn’t been given.
Looking up at my Uncle with a shy face, a boy, about 14, explains that his family doesn’t have enough money to put him through school, and he is asking to be sponsored.
20%. On a fractions exam. The grade that a young man received as he struggles to understand math and stay in his carpentry program. What should be done? Can he re-take the test? Or is it over for him? How should his teacher decide?
These and many others are the tough situations that the missionaries here at Second Mile face. In one week. Should they give money to help, or would this be discouraging the people from taking initiative to help themselves? How much should they give? Is the health problem enough to recommend seeing a doctor?
Along with household chores and daily life, these decisions are ones that cause the missionaries to turn to God for wisdom on a daily basis. Couples pray for wisdom to know how generous to be with finances. The missionaries struggle to know how to help young believers grow, people who profess Christianity, and come to church, but continue in past traditions and sinfulness. Where is the balance between encouraging people in God’s love and warning them of His wrath?
As I have watched the missionaries here over the past two weeks, I have found it interesting how “normal” their lives are. That doesn’t quite sound right, but let me explain. They are living here, and have all the regular responsibilities of caring for a home and property, raising children, handling finances, grocery shopping, cooking, attending church and Bible studies, and attending association or community meatings. But across the street families are starving and people are aching for the gospel. Again and again the missionaries serve them, and hold services and preach the gospel. Some come. Some go. Prayer meetings are held regularly, and missionaries talk to one another about their experiences and pray for the people. Again and again. My Uncle teaches his carpentry class, and encourages the students in spiritual discipleship as well. Some do well, others fail. Life goes on, new students come, the same neighborhood kids come to Sunday school. Another bible study. More language studying. Another day. Life keeps going.
Sometimes it's exciting, and sometimes its not. Being a missionary is a life-long act of service to God, and faithfulness in prayer, and trusting that God is making a difference even when you can’t see it. Whether you are at home, or abroad.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
So, what is Amy doing anyway?
Okay, well I got to thinking that you might be wondering what I'm actually doing here. I will give you a brief description of my summer schedule as it sits right now. I am still praying that if there is more the Lord wants me to do, that He would reveal that to me.
Daily:
- help with chores/meals
- help Daniel and Noah in the garden
- help Daniel with an English report for about an hour
- practice some Tagalog
- help Daniel and Noah with guitar practice or lessons (I don't have to be directly with them every day, but at least once a week)
- teach music rudiments to Daniel and Noah 1/2 hour every few days (they are getting a crash course in music rudiments while I'm here, so I spend some time lesson planning for this)
Weekly:
- go shopping with Aunty Melita
- attend Lady's Bible study
- attend church
- attend 2 prayer meetings
- play with Children on Sundays after church
- teach "choir", hyms to people interested from the church
- teach keyboard to three girls Monday evenings and probably also Thursday as a mid-week booster lesson
Other:
General helping with opportunities that arise.
Again, these things don't happen exactly like this, because different events always come up and things change. But this gives you a general idea. This week in particular:
Friday: It is Action Fun Day, a day for all the missionary families here with Action to celebrate all the Independence or National days from the contries they come from (Independence Day, Philippines Independence Day, Cananda Day, etc.) There will be shared meals, praise times, games, etc.
Saturday: I will be going with the Roots and several others to the Ocean.
Daily:
- help with chores/meals
- help Daniel and Noah in the garden
- help Daniel with an English report for about an hour
- practice some Tagalog
- help Daniel and Noah with guitar practice or lessons (I don't have to be directly with them every day, but at least once a week)
- teach music rudiments to Daniel and Noah 1/2 hour every few days (they are getting a crash course in music rudiments while I'm here, so I spend some time lesson planning for this)
Weekly:
- go shopping with Aunty Melita
- attend Lady's Bible study
- attend church
- attend 2 prayer meetings
- play with Children on Sundays after church
- teach "choir", hyms to people interested from the church
- teach keyboard to three girls Monday evenings and probably also Thursday as a mid-week booster lesson
Other:
General helping with opportunities that arise.
Again, these things don't happen exactly like this, because different events always come up and things change. But this gives you a general idea. This week in particular:
Friday: It is Action Fun Day, a day for all the missionary families here with Action to celebrate all the Independence or National days from the contries they come from (Independence Day, Philippines Independence Day, Cananda Day, etc.) There will be shared meals, praise times, games, etc.
Saturday: I will be going with the Roots and several others to the Ocean.
Palenke
Today I had the fun of going with Aunty Melita and Daniel to the Palenke... a market type place under a big tin roof with tons of little shops selling all sorts of things. It was quite the experience! I did take pictures, but due to the fact that I am running out of time, I will probably have to post those tomorrow or another day. I will give you a brief description:
Sights:
Many trikes and people come to the market, and there are tons and tons and tons of little booths. Some of the stalls open right onto the street. Vendors have piles of veggetables, sometimes on a tarp on the ground, and sometimes on stands. Most of the shops are under a couple of giant tin roofs with dividers for all the little stalls and narrow hallways. Part of it is food, part of it is shops that sell clothes, school supplies, plastic things, you name it. The food part has some of the most interesting sights... and smells. The most interesting of course is the raw meet, hanging out there with flies buzzing around. I saw parts of pigs strung up, pig heads, skinned and unskinned, and intestines. There are all other manner of body parts of animals strung up, most of which I couldn't name, but many of them legs. There are little signs above the little shops that say "Sue and Nap Shop" if Sue and Nap run the shop. I saw one "Daisy Shop" because a lady named Daisy runs it.
There are also beggars around. There were little boys, and a mother and baby, and an old man. These were the ones that came up to us. Aunty Melita would offer them veggetables rather than money, and if they wanted them, she gave the some. It would be so hard to make decisions about who to give to and what! A little boy came and tapped my arm and put out his hand. I didn' t know what to do exactly, I just kind of shook my head and ignored him. I was standing by the veggetable stall near my Aunty Melita. She talked with him later, and I think he didn't want veggetables, or "Gulay", so she figured he wasn't in that much need.
Smells:
The most obvious smell was the raw meet. It isn't very pleasant I tell you. It's kind of fishy smelling in one area, and a different kind of gross smell in another area. When you are not by the raw meat there isn't any particularly strong smell. They sell a kind of rice here that has a very nice smell, and they call it "Sweet smelling rice" (Only in Tagalog) and sell it for a little more.
Sounds:
The main sounds are of people talking. Also horns beaping from the trikes on the street hoping to get the attention of shoppers who had full loads and needed a ride home.
Tastes:
Well, I didn't taste anything while I was there, but afterwards at home the food sure tastes good!
Feels:
Rain, when you're not under the tin roofed part. And very slippery, slimy, muddy floors that gets tracked from the raw meat section. Daniel said it was from the fish. I didn't get a chance to see the fish section yet, but another time I go I'm sure I will. In the parking lot there was gross mud and goo that was hard to avoid.
Anyway, it was an interesting experience! It is neat to see how friendly everyone is though. They don't just frown down and their work and pass on to the next customer. The people are very involved in your purchases, make suggestions, help you pick out veggetables. They ask questions. I was introduced to many of Aunty Melita's "Sukeys" (again, may be spelled wrong) or people she buys from regularly. They wanted to know how I was related to Aunty Melita, and how old I was, and where I was from, and sometimes what I was doing. I asked people if I could take pictures, and most people really quite like it when you take their pictures, especially the lady by the meat counter where I took a picture of a pig head :-)
All in all more personable shopping than I've ever done before.
Sights:
Many trikes and people come to the market, and there are tons and tons and tons of little booths. Some of the stalls open right onto the street. Vendors have piles of veggetables, sometimes on a tarp on the ground, and sometimes on stands. Most of the shops are under a couple of giant tin roofs with dividers for all the little stalls and narrow hallways. Part of it is food, part of it is shops that sell clothes, school supplies, plastic things, you name it. The food part has some of the most interesting sights... and smells. The most interesting of course is the raw meet, hanging out there with flies buzzing around. I saw parts of pigs strung up, pig heads, skinned and unskinned, and intestines. There are all other manner of body parts of animals strung up, most of which I couldn't name, but many of them legs. There are little signs above the little shops that say "Sue and Nap Shop" if Sue and Nap run the shop. I saw one "Daisy Shop" because a lady named Daisy runs it.
There are also beggars around. There were little boys, and a mother and baby, and an old man. These were the ones that came up to us. Aunty Melita would offer them veggetables rather than money, and if they wanted them, she gave the some. It would be so hard to make decisions about who to give to and what! A little boy came and tapped my arm and put out his hand. I didn' t know what to do exactly, I just kind of shook my head and ignored him. I was standing by the veggetable stall near my Aunty Melita. She talked with him later, and I think he didn't want veggetables, or "Gulay", so she figured he wasn't in that much need.
Smells:
The most obvious smell was the raw meet. It isn't very pleasant I tell you. It's kind of fishy smelling in one area, and a different kind of gross smell in another area. When you are not by the raw meat there isn't any particularly strong smell. They sell a kind of rice here that has a very nice smell, and they call it "Sweet smelling rice" (Only in Tagalog) and sell it for a little more.
Sounds:
The main sounds are of people talking. Also horns beaping from the trikes on the street hoping to get the attention of shoppers who had full loads and needed a ride home.
Tastes:
Well, I didn't taste anything while I was there, but afterwards at home the food sure tastes good!
Feels:
Rain, when you're not under the tin roofed part. And very slippery, slimy, muddy floors that gets tracked from the raw meat section. Daniel said it was from the fish. I didn't get a chance to see the fish section yet, but another time I go I'm sure I will. In the parking lot there was gross mud and goo that was hard to avoid.
Anyway, it was an interesting experience! It is neat to see how friendly everyone is though. They don't just frown down and their work and pass on to the next customer. The people are very involved in your purchases, make suggestions, help you pick out veggetables. They ask questions. I was introduced to many of Aunty Melita's "Sukeys" (again, may be spelled wrong) or people she buys from regularly. They wanted to know how I was related to Aunty Melita, and how old I was, and where I was from, and sometimes what I was doing. I asked people if I could take pictures, and most people really quite like it when you take their pictures, especially the lady by the meat counter where I took a picture of a pig head :-)
All in all more personable shopping than I've ever done before.
Monday, June 22, 2009
Born
A letter. Written by a neighbor, delivered by a child, on behalf of a mother in early labor. That is how our Saturday began. We were sitting at the Breakfast table when we heard someone at the door, and my Aunt received the letter. It was explaining that S. (name shortened for privacy) was in labor, and she needed help quickly. My Aunty got some things together, told our neighbor a few doors down, Aida, a Philippino lady who knows English and Tagalog quite well, and asked if I wanted to come. The three of us hopped in the family car/truck vehicle even though we were going only a three minute walk away just in case we needed to drive S to the hospital, and we were off.
Once we parked on the street, which, by the way, is extremely common, we started down a little dirt trail. On a side note, you park wherever you want as long as you don't block the whole road, and you're not on a main highway. Then other cars and trikes and Jeepneys just swerve around you. In the event that there are two cars coming the same way, one will just back up or go to the side or turn slightly so that the other vehicle can fit by. Often there are pedestrians walking along the roads too. Happily the vehicles don't go all that fast, because of the various obstacles.
Back to the path. We walked down the dirt trail by the house porch where the little community church service is held, and further back, further from the road. We walked under a clothes line strung with clothes drying, past a some corn which was growing, and to a little tiny shack without a door. It had a tin roof, and I can't remember what kind of walls, something thin, either tin with supports or plywood or something like that. The roof hung off both sides so that there was a large eav that a group of children were getting shade under. The house was low, slightly sunk into the ground and the doorway perhaps 5 feet tall. And as I mentioned before, no door.
I didn't go in right away. There was a whole group of ladies around and crowded into the shack. I could hear lots of talking, but didn't understand it because it was in Tagalog. Aunty Melita and Aida went in. I noticed a bedraggled dog hanging around, with something wrong with her tummy. There are lots of neighborhood dogs around, and Noah says that many of them have ticks and other types of sicknesses. An old lady arrived, and waved for me to enter the house. I was still a little hesitant, because I didn't want to be in the way, but Aunty Melita said it was fine, so I entered the house.
It was mostly a square shaped house about the size of a North American average to small bedroom. Along the back it is extended just slightly so that if you walked straight from the front to the back wall, you could turn right and out the back door. Most of the floor was dirt, but about half of it was board, raised about a foot from the ground. There was a wooden rail dividing the board part from the dirt part. There was a wire rack with some dishes in it, drying, and a fire place with two pots. A counter was made of a few tables leaning against the wall directly to the left when you enter the door. Umbrellas and other odds and ends were hung up over the edge of the wall which didn't quite meet with the roof. There was one window in that wall which is to the left when you first step in the front door. I saw I think two chairs and one stool.
S was standing on the wooden floor, wearing a dress, and Melita and Aida asked her how she was doing. She has had four children already, but this labour felt more painful to her than ever before. He labour started during the night, and now her water had broken, so she had to give birth. She thought she was a few weeks before she was due, so not too early. She didn't have any money and wanted help. We prayed with S. She is a Christian lady who has been faithfully attending the little church here and the lady's Bible study. The study used to be held there, in her little house when it first started. She used to be Muslim, but converted to Christianity several years ago.
Somehow through talking with the various neighborhood women clustered around, we heard there was a Christian midwife nearby. Aunty Melita, myself and a different Philippino lady went to fetch her. We drove, and only had to go a little ways down the road. She was somewhere else in Silang, but the people who knew her said they would let her know. We went back to the shack and told them. Aunty Melita asked if they needed anything for the birth, and they (the general concensus of neighborhood women, etc.) asked for alcohol for sterilization, oil for helping the baby's head come out smoothly, and cotton balls. Aunty Melita made sure that they knew we would drive her into the hospital if they wanted or needed it.
We went back to the Roots house and gathered some supplies, passed on the news, talked to a couple Second Mile neighbors, and then went back to where S was. When we got there, the midwife was there, S was lying down and there were slightly less neighbor people. The midwife said that she was fine, but it was looking like the baby would come out bum first. We again prayed with S, asking the Lord to protect and bring safe birth to the baby, puting our trust in the Lord. I couldn't believe how quiet S was. She is this tiny lady, and so quiet, there is no way I could tell she was in labour. Even when she had contractions, she was so quiet.
It ended up the midwife already had some of the supplies, but did need some of the things we brought. She didn't not have adult diapers for S, however, so Aunty Melita and I drove to a drug store in Silang to purchase these.
When we returned, we stayed for a long time, praying and watching and praying. Birthing is a not a private thing in the Philippines (not that it is anywhere else, either, but it wasn't at all like I would imagine a North American home birthing). Many people were making suggestions, and touching S and patting and pushing and giving advice and arguing here and there. All women, except for S's husband. They didn't mind having me there at all. I was concerned at first, but everyone waved me in. The ladies asked some questions about me. From time to time, different ladies would pop their heads in and see how things were going.
At one point the midwife checked the baby's heart rate with her stethoscope, and said that it was weak. The women were saying "Mabilis, mabilis!" (Quickly, quickly). Aunty Melita interpreted for me that they believed the baby needed to be born quickly. I didn't understand all they were saying, but I watched and prayed. I was there for several hours. Some of the things I saw didn't look good to me... pushing on the mother while she was having contractions, having her lying down all the time, other things. But I'm not trained at all. I just know that if I was giving birth I wouldn't want so many hands on me!!
Whenever little children would poke their heads in the door, the adults would yell and yell at them to go out. The oldest daughter of S, about 10 came in (they didn't mind her), got some plates and scooped a big pile of rice on each from the pot on the fire. Then she was trying to open a can of sardines, and having trouble, so I helped her. She put them in a bowl, and then scooped one sardin and a little bit of juice onto the rice for each plate. Her younger brother came and did the same. This is what they ate for lunch. None of the adults ate at all until later that evening. I found out afterwards that the midwife was also not feeling completely well. I also found out that the sardines and rice had been from Aunty Melita a few days before. S's husband is usually good at finding new work, I'm told, but has been out of work for several weeks now. I think they are renting, and the problem with low income workers here is that companies hire them for five months, and then right when they'll have to start paying them benefits and other things they let them go and hire new people. So many of the poor are constantly trying to find new work. There is no shortage of labourers here, so the job market is difficult.
For a time I went outside with the children and talked to them. My conversation goes something like this:
Me: "Ano pangalan mo?"
Child: states their name
Me: "pangalan?" pointing to younger sibling
Chilld: "Isa."
Me: "Eesa?"
Child: giggles and says with emphasis "ISA!".
Me: "Ilong." pointing to my nose.
Child: giggles.
Me: "Ano sa Tagalog isa?" pointing to my eye.
Child: "Mata."
Basically, all I could do was ask them their names, and then start naming facial features I knew, and then asking them how to say new things in Tagalog. They liked this though. The tiniest children here are so much more bilingual than I!!!
Eventually I decided that I would be spending my time more wisely if I went back to Second Mile and helped my cousins with the garden they were building, so this is what I did. Every few minutes I would pray for S and the baby again. It had been several house since the heart beat was weak and they said the child needed to be born quickly.
Aunty Melita offered to drive S to the hospital numerous times, but S didn't want to go.
Finally, in the middle of the afternoon Aunty Melita came back with a big smile on her face and declared that the baby had been born, head first!!! This must mean that either the midwife was mistaken, or God directly answered our prayers and turned the child around. It was a little girl, and she was healthy. S was also doing well. What joy!! To know that this child we had feared may be stillborn was healthy. My Aunt and Uncle paid for the midwife.
Several days later, after lady's Bible study we went over to drop off some food for S and her family (five children now, and husband), and we asked her what the child's name was. She said that Aunty Melita was going to name the baby. Aunty Melita was quite shocked. She had been forewarned by Aida, but wasn't sure if S really wanted her to name the baby, or if there had been a missunderstanding. But it seemed S wanted her to name the baby, with Bible names, she requested. So Aunty Melita suggested that we all think about names, and so the Bible study ladies started suggesting names. They seemed to all like Ruth, but were trying to come up with another name they liked. I suggested Hannah, because it is a pretty name, and I admire Hannah's faith and passion and her complete devotion to God in the Old Testament. Everyone liked this, and the baby was named Ruth Hannah. Praise God for new life!!
One thing which was disturbing for Aunty Melita (who saw the actual birth) was some of the folk practices which went on right at the birthing. While she was giving birth, someone took some coals, put smokey leaves on them and circled the mother and baby. Also, while the placenta was being birthed, the mother clenched salt in her hands for "good luck". This is a concern, because this was a Christian woman, and many of the neighbors there also claim to be Christians. It is our sincere desire that they understand the need to trust in God Alone for our strength and security, and not in "Old wives tales"! My Aunt and Uncle say that here, sometimes the Philippinos see church as something for Salvation and the afterlife, but still practice other things in their day to day living. There is so much prayer needed for the Christians to stand against these engrained practices. It is also very NOT Philippino to cause a stir or go against the general flow. So to stand against traditional practices is almost unheard of. Pray that the baby Christians here will continue to grow and that God will give them the strength to stand up against all odds!
Once we parked on the street, which, by the way, is extremely common, we started down a little dirt trail. On a side note, you park wherever you want as long as you don't block the whole road, and you're not on a main highway. Then other cars and trikes and Jeepneys just swerve around you. In the event that there are two cars coming the same way, one will just back up or go to the side or turn slightly so that the other vehicle can fit by. Often there are pedestrians walking along the roads too. Happily the vehicles don't go all that fast, because of the various obstacles.
Back to the path. We walked down the dirt trail by the house porch where the little community church service is held, and further back, further from the road. We walked under a clothes line strung with clothes drying, past a some corn which was growing, and to a little tiny shack without a door. It had a tin roof, and I can't remember what kind of walls, something thin, either tin with supports or plywood or something like that. The roof hung off both sides so that there was a large eav that a group of children were getting shade under. The house was low, slightly sunk into the ground and the doorway perhaps 5 feet tall. And as I mentioned before, no door.
I didn't go in right away. There was a whole group of ladies around and crowded into the shack. I could hear lots of talking, but didn't understand it because it was in Tagalog. Aunty Melita and Aida went in. I noticed a bedraggled dog hanging around, with something wrong with her tummy. There are lots of neighborhood dogs around, and Noah says that many of them have ticks and other types of sicknesses. An old lady arrived, and waved for me to enter the house. I was still a little hesitant, because I didn't want to be in the way, but Aunty Melita said it was fine, so I entered the house.
It was mostly a square shaped house about the size of a North American average to small bedroom. Along the back it is extended just slightly so that if you walked straight from the front to the back wall, you could turn right and out the back door. Most of the floor was dirt, but about half of it was board, raised about a foot from the ground. There was a wooden rail dividing the board part from the dirt part. There was a wire rack with some dishes in it, drying, and a fire place with two pots. A counter was made of a few tables leaning against the wall directly to the left when you enter the door. Umbrellas and other odds and ends were hung up over the edge of the wall which didn't quite meet with the roof. There was one window in that wall which is to the left when you first step in the front door. I saw I think two chairs and one stool.
S was standing on the wooden floor, wearing a dress, and Melita and Aida asked her how she was doing. She has had four children already, but this labour felt more painful to her than ever before. He labour started during the night, and now her water had broken, so she had to give birth. She thought she was a few weeks before she was due, so not too early. She didn't have any money and wanted help. We prayed with S. She is a Christian lady who has been faithfully attending the little church here and the lady's Bible study. The study used to be held there, in her little house when it first started. She used to be Muslim, but converted to Christianity several years ago.
Somehow through talking with the various neighborhood women clustered around, we heard there was a Christian midwife nearby. Aunty Melita, myself and a different Philippino lady went to fetch her. We drove, and only had to go a little ways down the road. She was somewhere else in Silang, but the people who knew her said they would let her know. We went back to the shack and told them. Aunty Melita asked if they needed anything for the birth, and they (the general concensus of neighborhood women, etc.) asked for alcohol for sterilization, oil for helping the baby's head come out smoothly, and cotton balls. Aunty Melita made sure that they knew we would drive her into the hospital if they wanted or needed it.
We went back to the Roots house and gathered some supplies, passed on the news, talked to a couple Second Mile neighbors, and then went back to where S was. When we got there, the midwife was there, S was lying down and there were slightly less neighbor people. The midwife said that she was fine, but it was looking like the baby would come out bum first. We again prayed with S, asking the Lord to protect and bring safe birth to the baby, puting our trust in the Lord. I couldn't believe how quiet S was. She is this tiny lady, and so quiet, there is no way I could tell she was in labour. Even when she had contractions, she was so quiet.
It ended up the midwife already had some of the supplies, but did need some of the things we brought. She didn't not have adult diapers for S, however, so Aunty Melita and I drove to a drug store in Silang to purchase these.
When we returned, we stayed for a long time, praying and watching and praying. Birthing is a not a private thing in the Philippines (not that it is anywhere else, either, but it wasn't at all like I would imagine a North American home birthing). Many people were making suggestions, and touching S and patting and pushing and giving advice and arguing here and there. All women, except for S's husband. They didn't mind having me there at all. I was concerned at first, but everyone waved me in. The ladies asked some questions about me. From time to time, different ladies would pop their heads in and see how things were going.
At one point the midwife checked the baby's heart rate with her stethoscope, and said that it was weak. The women were saying "Mabilis, mabilis!" (Quickly, quickly). Aunty Melita interpreted for me that they believed the baby needed to be born quickly. I didn't understand all they were saying, but I watched and prayed. I was there for several hours. Some of the things I saw didn't look good to me... pushing on the mother while she was having contractions, having her lying down all the time, other things. But I'm not trained at all. I just know that if I was giving birth I wouldn't want so many hands on me!!
Whenever little children would poke their heads in the door, the adults would yell and yell at them to go out. The oldest daughter of S, about 10 came in (they didn't mind her), got some plates and scooped a big pile of rice on each from the pot on the fire. Then she was trying to open a can of sardines, and having trouble, so I helped her. She put them in a bowl, and then scooped one sardin and a little bit of juice onto the rice for each plate. Her younger brother came and did the same. This is what they ate for lunch. None of the adults ate at all until later that evening. I found out afterwards that the midwife was also not feeling completely well. I also found out that the sardines and rice had been from Aunty Melita a few days before. S's husband is usually good at finding new work, I'm told, but has been out of work for several weeks now. I think they are renting, and the problem with low income workers here is that companies hire them for five months, and then right when they'll have to start paying them benefits and other things they let them go and hire new people. So many of the poor are constantly trying to find new work. There is no shortage of labourers here, so the job market is difficult.
For a time I went outside with the children and talked to them. My conversation goes something like this:
Me: "Ano pangalan mo?"
Child: states their name
Me: "pangalan?" pointing to younger sibling
Chilld: "Isa."
Me: "Eesa?"
Child: giggles and says with emphasis "ISA!".
Me: "Ilong." pointing to my nose.
Child: giggles.
Me: "Ano sa Tagalog isa?" pointing to my eye.
Child: "Mata."
Basically, all I could do was ask them their names, and then start naming facial features I knew, and then asking them how to say new things in Tagalog. They liked this though. The tiniest children here are so much more bilingual than I!!!
Eventually I decided that I would be spending my time more wisely if I went back to Second Mile and helped my cousins with the garden they were building, so this is what I did. Every few minutes I would pray for S and the baby again. It had been several house since the heart beat was weak and they said the child needed to be born quickly.
Aunty Melita offered to drive S to the hospital numerous times, but S didn't want to go.
Finally, in the middle of the afternoon Aunty Melita came back with a big smile on her face and declared that the baby had been born, head first!!! This must mean that either the midwife was mistaken, or God directly answered our prayers and turned the child around. It was a little girl, and she was healthy. S was also doing well. What joy!! To know that this child we had feared may be stillborn was healthy. My Aunt and Uncle paid for the midwife.
Several days later, after lady's Bible study we went over to drop off some food for S and her family (five children now, and husband), and we asked her what the child's name was. She said that Aunty Melita was going to name the baby. Aunty Melita was quite shocked. She had been forewarned by Aida, but wasn't sure if S really wanted her to name the baby, or if there had been a missunderstanding. But it seemed S wanted her to name the baby, with Bible names, she requested. So Aunty Melita suggested that we all think about names, and so the Bible study ladies started suggesting names. They seemed to all like Ruth, but were trying to come up with another name they liked. I suggested Hannah, because it is a pretty name, and I admire Hannah's faith and passion and her complete devotion to God in the Old Testament. Everyone liked this, and the baby was named Ruth Hannah. Praise God for new life!!
One thing which was disturbing for Aunty Melita (who saw the actual birth) was some of the folk practices which went on right at the birthing. While she was giving birth, someone took some coals, put smokey leaves on them and circled the mother and baby. Also, while the placenta was being birthed, the mother clenched salt in her hands for "good luck". This is a concern, because this was a Christian woman, and many of the neighbors there also claim to be Christians. It is our sincere desire that they understand the need to trust in God Alone for our strength and security, and not in "Old wives tales"! My Aunt and Uncle say that here, sometimes the Philippinos see church as something for Salvation and the afterlife, but still practice other things in their day to day living. There is so much prayer needed for the Christians to stand against these engrained practices. It is also very NOT Philippino to cause a stir or go against the general flow. So to stand against traditional practices is almost unheard of. Pray that the baby Christians here will continue to grow and that God will give them the strength to stand up against all odds!
Thursday, June 18, 2009
The SM Experience
Yesterday I had the opportunity of going shopping for groceries and other items with Aunty Melita and Noah. We went to the mall... a chain mall, which means it's a brand of mall and there are many like them all around the Philippines. It's called SM.
When we arrived, they were just opening the garage-door-like security door to reveal the glass doors leading into the mall. Standing just inside the door, one single door, were security guards in full uniform and gear who check everyone's bags as they enter. They also have this sensor stick thing that they wave in front of and behind you if they feel it's necessary. Passing through this, you're in the mall.
The first thing I noticed was how loud the music was. There was music playing in the main mall VERY loud, and the most interesting thing was what they were singing about. For the most part, you couldn't make out the words, partly because of the music blaring from each individual store which mixes with the main mall music so that you hear a jumble. But sometimes you could make out words, and there were these ladies singing something like this:
"SM, SM, we have what you need!"
They were singing about the mall. In English. I thought this was very interesting. There is a lot of English in the mall, and a lot of Taglish, or English signs with Tagalog phrases thrown in or vice versa.
Another interesting thing was that every now and then there would be an alarm sound, or beep or something (I can't remember) and all the staff in the mall would stop what they were doing, clap there hands and shout out a little chant about how they were going to serve us well!
Other than this, and the fact that many of the stores had guards by the entrances, it was very much like your average mall here. The people were very friendly and helpful, and would always say, "Good morning, ma'am". Most of the people knew some English. All in all it was interesting, and fun. It is a little bit different being in the minority as far as skin color. But it is interesting that here everyone want's to have whiter skin. You can see signs all over advertising skin creams or sun screens that "make your skin lighter". I think one of the most surprising was a bottle that had vitamin C in it and it said "known for it's skin whitening affect". Hmm, I wonder if this is true? :-)
When we arrived, they were just opening the garage-door-like security door to reveal the glass doors leading into the mall. Standing just inside the door, one single door, were security guards in full uniform and gear who check everyone's bags as they enter. They also have this sensor stick thing that they wave in front of and behind you if they feel it's necessary. Passing through this, you're in the mall.
The first thing I noticed was how loud the music was. There was music playing in the main mall VERY loud, and the most interesting thing was what they were singing about. For the most part, you couldn't make out the words, partly because of the music blaring from each individual store which mixes with the main mall music so that you hear a jumble. But sometimes you could make out words, and there were these ladies singing something like this:
"SM, SM, we have what you need!"
They were singing about the mall. In English. I thought this was very interesting. There is a lot of English in the mall, and a lot of Taglish, or English signs with Tagalog phrases thrown in or vice versa.
Another interesting thing was that every now and then there would be an alarm sound, or beep or something (I can't remember) and all the staff in the mall would stop what they were doing, clap there hands and shout out a little chant about how they were going to serve us well!
Other than this, and the fact that many of the stores had guards by the entrances, it was very much like your average mall here. The people were very friendly and helpful, and would always say, "Good morning, ma'am". Most of the people knew some English. All in all it was interesting, and fun. It is a little bit different being in the minority as far as skin color. But it is interesting that here everyone want's to have whiter skin. You can see signs all over advertising skin creams or sun screens that "make your skin lighter". I think one of the most surprising was a bottle that had vitamin C in it and it said "known for it's skin whitening affect". Hmm, I wonder if this is true? :-)
Pictures
Hello! Whenever I've tried uploading pictures directly to this blog, it seems to post only the first four pictures. So, because of this and also so that you can see more pictures, I thought I'd upload picture albums to the web and put links to the albums in here. So here's some links you can check out if you are interested:
The Beginning:
http://picasaweb.google.ca/amy.n.skinner/TheBeginning?authkey=Gv1sRgCNyT1t3QnoqEdw&feat=directlink
Travel Photos:
http://picasaweb.google.ca/amy.n.skinne/TravelPhotos?authkey=Gv1sRgCKmun6PCiu7ozwE&feat=directlink
Our Walk and Plant Life:
http://picasaweb.google.ca/amy.n.skinner/OurWalkAndPlantLife?authkey=Gv1sRgCLfe3q2EjKTg7gE&feat=directlink
I hope these work! I am excited to figure this out so that I can share pictures with you. Doing this has also shown me that I think I should take a few more pictures.
The Beginning:
http://picasaweb.google.ca/amy.n.skinner/TheBeginning?authkey=Gv1sRgCNyT1t3QnoqEdw&feat=directlink
Travel Photos:
http://picasaweb.google.ca/amy.n.skinne/TravelPhotos?authkey=Gv1sRgCKmun6PCiu7ozwE&feat=directlink
Our Walk and Plant Life:
http://picasaweb.google.ca/amy.n.skinner/OurWalkAndPlantLife?authkey=Gv1sRgCLfe3q2EjKTg7gE&feat=directlink
I hope these work! I am excited to figure this out so that I can share pictures with you. Doing this has also shown me that I think I should take a few more pictures.
Giving Attention
"Watch out Amy, they're plotting to get you!!" Daniel interprets, smiling at me accross the dodge ball patch of grass. One of the neighborhood boys hurls the squishy maple leaf covered ball I brought for this purpose straight at me. I duck just in the nick of time, and the boys errupt with laughter and cries of surprise and approval. It is Sunday afternoon, and some of the little boys from the Balubad 2 neighborhood come over to the Second Mile campus to play with Daniel and Noah, Rents, Ryan and Danise. These five are kids of the staff who live here at Second mile. There are about five neighborhood boys with us as well ... hilarious and mischevious and in great need of attention. They are very short for their ages, because they are not properly cared for, not having enough food to eat. But they sure can have fun!
After we are exhausted from dodge ball and octapus, we sit down on the edge of the basketball court. I start asking, "Ano sa Tagalog ito?" and pointing to my nose. Ilang" one of the points chirps. "Ano sa Tagalog ito?" and I point to my hair. Pretty soon kids are pointing to things and telling me the Tagalog words. Then one of the boys starts to sing "Head and shoulders, knees and toes" in Tagalog, but singing it backwards, so he is singing "toes and knees and shoulders and head!" Everyone is laughing and amused... especially when I forget the correct word and make up a new one by accident which sounds Tagalog to me (and maybe it is) but I have no idea what I'm saying It was so much fun, and Uncle Gary told me afterward that it was so nice for the kids to have some attention.
So far here, I have had opportunities to play with children, help Daniel with his English and Math, attend part of the girls club, attend the community church service, the ladies Bible study, and teach one choir practice. Praise God for these opportunities! It is so nice to watch and wait for opportunities to help, and practice being a listener. It is so fulfilling to listen and watch! One thing that I have been pondering is the value of giving attention. People are relational beings, and we like to show one another what we have discovered or learned, or share with others what we are having trouble with. What if we all got better at giving attention to one another? There is a difference between "listening" and giving attention, I think. It's one thing to hear with our ears what other people are saying, and see with our eyes what they are showing us. And it's another thing altogether to actually give them our full attention... give them our focus. God has been pointing out to me that I rarely REALLY give my attention to other people. There are a thousand excuses, especially back home in the hectic schedule. But what would a life look like that was focused on allowing opportunities for giving other people attention?
Choir practice. I was a little scared about this. Pastor Mel told the congregation in Tagalog on Sunday that I had come, and knew how to teach music. He said there would be some opportunities to learn music, and set up Tuesdays at 5 pm and Saturdays as times for learning to sing. Okay. So most people here know some English, but they are still Tagalog speakers. I don't know Tagalog. I've never taken voice lessons. I've only directed a choir back home of my friends. Ahhh!! I knew that pastor Mel has made it a goal for his congregation (about 30 - 50 people including children, and mostly ladies) to learn 5 hymns while I'm here. I guess not many people have had any training at all in singing, and they don' t know how to sing harmony. So, how to prepare? I found a song in the church music booklet which Aunty Melita brought home that had English and Tagalog words to "Trust and Obey". In church on Sunday, the congregation had sung "This is the Day" in English and Tagalog. I have used thsi one as a warm-up with my choir back home, so on Sunday when I was with the kids, I got them to teach me This is the Day in Tagalog. It is called "Ito ang Araw". Then I made up a list of words and phrases that I thought I might need to be able to say. Like "Song", which is "Umawit", and "Let's do that again", "Ulitin natin". The lady, Aida who leads the Ladies' Bible study here tranlated these phrases for me on Tuesday after the Bible study. Then I tried to learn them between 3:30 on Tuesday, about when she finished translating them for me, and 5 when we were supposed to start. Wew! I was still quite shaky on some phrases by the time some girls started arriving.
In the end, there were four girls and a couple little boys. We sang Ito and Araw for warmups, and worked on learning the harmony to Trust and Obey. At first there was absolutely no way they could sing one thing while I sang the other. But by the end, they had had the chance to sing both melody and harmony with the other half singing the other part. It was so exciting and so much fun!! Of course, there were still many wrong notes, and lots of laughter. One time we couldn't finish it, because we sounded so bad that we started laughing at ourselves. But there was definately improvement, and by God's grace they all seemed to understand me. Thankfully they all knew quite a bit of English. So please Praise God for this special opportunity that I had to use my love for music!
Prayer Answers:
1. Already I have seen God answer my prayers in specific little ways. Praise God for helping me direct that little choir practice.
2. Physically, I have adjusted so well! Praise God. I basically didn't have jet lag, and I almost instantly adjusted to the heat. I can't believe how smoothly those things went. Thank you Jesus!
3. Safety and VISA approved. Praise God that my flight connections all went very well and I was able to get my 59 day VISA right at the Manila airport without any trouble.\
Prayer Requests:
1. That God would help me grow in character specifically by helping me give attention to others during meal times. God has been convicting me that I tend to be so involved in my own eating that I don't serve others by watching for what they might need. As I have tried to pay more attention in this area, it has brought joy. But I'm still aweful! So prayer that God would help me be a servant at meal times.
2. Still pray, please, that sometime during this trip God would bring me to a place where I have to rely on Him completely, and don't have anything fleshly left by which to "pretend" to be a good person.
3. Pray that God would encourage the missionaries here... especially a short term missionary girl here in her 20s. She is sick, and is struggling with how to best spend her remaining time (until November). Please pray the God will show me how to encourage her, and that He would bring opportunities for me to talk with her.
4. Pray for wisdom for my Uncle Gary as he helps the young men here learn math skills and makes decisions about what is best for them.
There are many things to pray for always, but if I give you any more things, it will be hard to remember! It is my hope that through praying about specific things God will work in specific ways.
Thank you so much!!!
Give attention to Jesus this week.
Aspiring to be a servant,
Amy
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Summary of Experiences so Far
Well, already in the few days I've been here my cousins Daniel (14) and Noah (12) have taught me so many things and helped me with many experiences. We walked down by a stream near here (almost jungleish with vines and plants and beauty). I've tried fresh cocoanut (actually a little too fresh.) I've eaten pineapple that is fresh, four types of bananas or so, sticky rice with Jack fruit in it (very good), and fresh sugar cane which I watched them cut down. You chew on part of the sugar cane stock near the base after the outside skin has been hacked off, and it releases lots of sweet juice, kind of like lemonaid. You are left with the fibrous husky part that is kind of like celery strings and kind of like wood. You spit that part out, take another bite and enjoy the sweet liquid of the sugard cain.
For animals, I've seen:
1. A skink
2. Bitikey which are little lizards that run along the walls and eat bugs in the evening. They are about two inches long or so.
3. Banana spider... forgot to take a picture, I'll have to later. It is about an inch and a half body with legs about 3 inches, only curved around. They make big webs in Mango trees and such.
4. A poisonous Toad. It had poison pouches behind it's head but Daniel ensured me that you don't get poisoned unless you bit it. I told him I wouldn't bite it. :-) It made these funny moaning noises that sounded like wining. I never knew toads made sounds like that!
5. Love birds. Daniel has many of them!
6. Ducks. They have 9 ducklings and about five adult ducks here. A mother is laying another batch of ducks and Dan says they'll hatch while I'm here. Yay!
7. Phoebe, Noah's dog. She's nice and welcomed me into the family.
8. Baka, or cows. I've seen some white cows tied to trees in various areas.
9. Neighborhood dogs. There are lots of these.
10. One cat, named Zebra who was lost but now is found.
There are tons of plants here! Mango trees, cocoanut trees, banana trees, Mahogany trees, other fruit trees. Many plants and tons of flowers which bloom year round.
Interesting tid bits I've learned so far:
1. CRs are what they call bathrooms. This is short for "Comfort Room". At the airport they had a sign showing that you throw the toilet paper in the waste basket rather than in the toilet.
2. Banana trees only have about a 6 month life cycle. After they produce their bananas they die, or are cut down and harvested. This amazed me, because they are so tall! Everything grows so fast here.
3. Cocoanut milk is good for rehydration
Well, I hope you found some of this interesting! There's one last thing I should share with you, and that is what I will be doing later this week. The Tagalog pastor of the little neighborhood church here has set it up so that I can teach two choir practices to help people learn to sing harmonies. The first one will be this Tuesday at 5, and the second one on Saturday. I also have a couple people that I will be teaching piano lessons to. Please pray for wisdom as I prepare for this!
Have a joyful day.
For animals, I've seen:
1. A skink
2. Bitikey which are little lizards that run along the walls and eat bugs in the evening. They are about two inches long or so.
3. Banana spider... forgot to take a picture, I'll have to later. It is about an inch and a half body with legs about 3 inches, only curved around. They make big webs in Mango trees and such.
4. A poisonous Toad. It had poison pouches behind it's head but Daniel ensured me that you don't get poisoned unless you bit it. I told him I wouldn't bite it. :-) It made these funny moaning noises that sounded like wining. I never knew toads made sounds like that!
5. Love birds. Daniel has many of them!
6. Ducks. They have 9 ducklings and about five adult ducks here. A mother is laying another batch of ducks and Dan says they'll hatch while I'm here. Yay!
7. Phoebe, Noah's dog. She's nice and welcomed me into the family.
8. Baka, or cows. I've seen some white cows tied to trees in various areas.
9. Neighborhood dogs. There are lots of these.
10. One cat, named Zebra who was lost but now is found.
There are tons of plants here! Mango trees, cocoanut trees, banana trees, Mahogany trees, other fruit trees. Many plants and tons of flowers which bloom year round.
Interesting tid bits I've learned so far:
1. CRs are what they call bathrooms. This is short for "Comfort Room". At the airport they had a sign showing that you throw the toilet paper in the waste basket rather than in the toilet.
2. Banana trees only have about a 6 month life cycle. After they produce their bananas they die, or are cut down and harvested. This amazed me, because they are so tall! Everything grows so fast here.
3. Cocoanut milk is good for rehydration
Well, I hope you found some of this interesting! There's one last thing I should share with you, and that is what I will be doing later this week. The Tagalog pastor of the little neighborhood church here has set it up so that I can teach two choir practices to help people learn to sing harmonies. The first one will be this Tuesday at 5, and the second one on Saturday. I also have a couple people that I will be teaching piano lessons to. Please pray for wisdom as I prepare for this!
Have a joyful day.
Safe Travel
I am so amazed at the safe travel God granted for my journey. All my connections went very smoothly, and all the customs went smoothly... my metal hair barrets didn't even make the metal detectors go off! And thankfully I didn' t have swine flu symptoms, so I didn't have to get quarantined in Manila :-) I have adjusted extremely well to the new time zone, with hardly any jet lag. I calculated that I had about 3 hours of sleep in 42.5 hours. Then I went to bed and slept hard. I woke up in the morning Philippines time, and each night since I have been in schedule!
The heat here is sticky, but I don't mind it. Everyone showers every day, and there are fans. It also rains sometimes, so it gets a little cooler while it rains, but the rain does increase the humidity. I am amazed at how easily I've been able to manage the heat.
I had a special time looking out the window at the sunrise and clouds during the end of my long flight. Now I can relate even better to the Psalmist who wrote:
"The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork." Ps. 19:1
The heat here is sticky, but I don't mind it. Everyone showers every day, and there are fans. It also rains sometimes, so it gets a little cooler while it rains, but the rain does increase the humidity. I am amazed at how easily I've been able to manage the heat.
I had a special time looking out the window at the sunrise and clouds during the end of my long flight. Now I can relate even better to the Psalmist who wrote:
"The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork." Ps. 19:1
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
The Calm Before the Journey
She brushes the hair out of her eyes and begins to type on her keyboard. The room she is in is warm, the sun out the window bright, with delicate lilacs in view. It is early afternoon, and the circumstances are calm. The family cat insists on interrupting her train of thought to purr and rub against her face before climbing onto her knee contentedly. But her mind is not on the ordinary school room in which she sits.
Today is the day? It is hard to believe that in four hours she will be leaving for the biggest trip of her life. What will they want to hear? What will the friends and family who read this post be curious about? They will want to know if she is packed yet, and she is, mostly. But she wants to go through everything one more time to double check. And she wants to have a shower and.. grr, the cat sits on her keyboard to get her attention again. So many things have already be done in preparation, but there are other things she wishes she had done more of. Like learning about the Philippines. And studying Tagalog. And spending more time with friends. But alas! She must make the most of the time she has left.
So, in anticipation and excitement she signs off her first post, asking those who read it to send up prayers that she will have protection, physical strength for the trip (that will take about 26 hours from the first flight's take off until she arrives at the International airport in Manila), and most of all that she will constantly talk to Jesus and have a servant's attitude. You don't know how much she appreciates your support!
Today is the day? It is hard to believe that in four hours she will be leaving for the biggest trip of her life. What will they want to hear? What will the friends and family who read this post be curious about? They will want to know if she is packed yet, and she is, mostly. But she wants to go through everything one more time to double check. And she wants to have a shower and.. grr, the cat sits on her keyboard to get her attention again. So many things have already be done in preparation, but there are other things she wishes she had done more of. Like learning about the Philippines. And studying Tagalog. And spending more time with friends. But alas! She must make the most of the time she has left.
So, in anticipation and excitement she signs off her first post, asking those who read it to send up prayers that she will have protection, physical strength for the trip (that will take about 26 hours from the first flight's take off until she arrives at the International airport in Manila), and most of all that she will constantly talk to Jesus and have a servant's attitude. You don't know how much she appreciates your support!
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