This weekend my friend Marites graduated from college. Marites interned with First Love this year and through which became a good friend of mine. She helped us out by translating, leading worship, doing kids bible studies, and so so much more. Marites graduated from Evangelical Theological College of the Philippines with a degree in Theology. After receiving her diploma and turning her tassel, her supervisor and friend Dave Clinton prayed for her.
It was great to be able to celebrate this moment with her. I'm so proud of her!
One of my good friends from last year, Gil Wong, came back to the Philippines for a visit. She's one of the sweetest girls I know. And being from the UK she has one of the sweetest accents I've ever heard! Our time together was short, but it was so great to spend time with her again. And maybe the next time we're together it will be in Liverpool.
While I was home for Christmas, I got a book called "Living Your Strengths". It's a book about discovering your God-Given talents and then using them to inspire your community and bring glory to God. When you buy the book, it comes with a web adddress and code to take a strengths-finder test. The test involves eighty-some questions, and you are allowed 20 seconds for each question so that you can't over-analyze the questions. Your answer needs to be your initial response. Three doctors came up with the test and the results. So the questions and answers are very well researched and educated. So here's my top five strengths in order. I would say the full description of each strength has me town to a tee.
We are about in the middle of another awesome pregnancy program in Tanza. These women are so much fun. One of my favorite parts of the class is when we do some strectching/exercise/game/dancing in the beginning. It usually involves a lot of laughing. We had odd number so I got to jump in....even though I didnt really know the words or moves! They are beautiful women already, but when they smile they could light up the world. I still can't believe God has allowed me to be a part of it. (sorry for the sideways movie) And if by some odd chance you cant figure out which one I am, I'm the tall white girl in back :-)
In the beginning of each class we take a little time to sing praise and worship songs. It's awesome to hear the women singing praises to God.
One of my best friends and fellow missionaires, Val, does the actual teaching part. She has two kids of her own, and one on the way. So needless to say she has a little bit more experience than I do at the whole pregnancy thing :-) She really does an awesome job. We're so blessed to have her helping us this session. Even if she is a little too old to be playing with dolls. ;-)
In this country there are a lot of superstitions handed down from one generation to the next. So these women are so eager to learn truth about pregnancy and parenthood. It's information and knowledge that they otherwise may not have have known.
Two of the mamas, Bilma and Marjorie, are due any day. In fact on our way to the class I was wondering if we were going to get there and find out that they already had them. But not yet. I'm excited that maybe at our next class I'll have two new babies to hold!!!!! Chelle and I were trying to listen to see if they could maybe tell us when they were going to be born.
Because of Ramiele Malubay, the Filipina contestant on American Idol, this country is Idol crazy. So this week at youth group we hosted "Pinoy Idol". Oh my word, it was soooo adorable and so much fun! The kids could choose between four different categories: singing, acting, dancing, or drawing. The kids were so excited to show off their skills. And of course, what is Pinoy Idol without judges? So Charmain, Chelle and I were the lovely judges. But thank goodness we didn't have to give feedback, just choose the winners. I would have pulled the Paula and told everyone they were lovely, beautiful, talented, full of colors, and then proceed to clap like a walrus :-)
We started with singing where the kids praised God with their voices singing worship songs.
Next were the actors. We only had one group, but they were extremely entertaining. If I watched Pinoy soap operas....I think they may look a little somethin like this. (It's in Tagalog)
After that were the dancers. We had a couple groups but Noime, Veronica, and Rozel stole the show dancin for the Lord.
The drawing competition was a little different. While all of the groups were preparing their performances, the artists were given a piece of scripture where they had to interpret in their own hearts, and then artistically display their interpretations. It was really neat to see their hearts for scripture on paper.
So, the lovely judges had to choose one winner from each category. And the winner is.......(left to right) dancing: Ludy, acting: Christine, singer: Kate, and artist: May Ann. The prize: a pack of Oreo's :-)
We brought some hats and wigs with us, just for fun. It was hilarious watching the kids try them on.
I just love going to the youth group and hanging out with them.
YAY!!! PRAISE GOD! Today Jerilyn got discharged from the hospital. After a month in the hospital she has gained enough weight and is well enough to go home. Rosie was so excited to be able to go home and see her other kids again. Her husband Jeri met Rosie and Jerilyn at the hospital in the morning to help bring them home. They were so cute carrying and protecting Jerilyn on the way home.... I just absolutely LOVE them and their family.
Jerilyn is such a great baby. Traveling by taxi, train, and car, she never cried. She was very content to lay in her mama's arms.
Now that Jerilyn and Rosie are home it will actually be quicker and easier to visit them than when they were in the hospital. Now they are only a short 5 minute car ride from where we do ministry at five days a week. So they'll be getting a lot of drop-in visits. We will still be supplying Jerilyn with formula, monitoring the amount she is fed, weighing her to make sure she's gaining weight, and transporting them to and from doctors check-ups every two weeks or so.
God I thank you so much for the life of Jerilyn. Thank you that you have already ordained all the days of her life. Thank you for allowing me to be a part of it. You are so good all the time!
The youth group at Tanza are preparing to set up worship teams and dance worship teams. In order to assess their strengths, and then have them try out in appropriate divisions. A guy named Jomel from a sister church in Antipolo came to give the kids an exam to determine their strengths. In the next couple of weeks the church will be hosting tryouts for the worship teams, and we will also be having a "Pinoy" Idol. It should be a lot of fun!
First you take six women, mix in some chocolate, sugar, caffeine, laughter, American Idol, talking, and games. Add many side dishes for taste. Serve and enjoy. Thats usually the recipe for an awesome girls night. God has given me some incredible women as friends here. Friday night Val, Michelle, Nat, Susan, Chelle and I had such a fun night. We all came bearing gifts of chocolate, sugar, and caffeinated drinks. Chelle made her yummy fruit pizza.
Yes, I know it looks like a lot of food for six women, but we did a pretty darn good job eating it!
After an hour of the typical chit chat, we proceeded to watch American Idol where screams of rage were directed towards the TV after one of our favorites, Asia'h, got voted off. We'll miss you Asia'h.
We then started what ended up to be a long game of Cranium. Val had been given the newer version for Christmas complete with accessories for the game pieces. It's real cute. The teams were Val and Michelle vs. Chelle, Nat and I. After Nat was done yelling out the answers to the other team (for reasons still unknown), we had a heated game going on. After a couple more hours of competition and of course eating, Val and Michelle rose victorious....ugh darn. Here's a short video of their victory celebration, Chelles half hearted effort to be happy for them, and my face of disgust. :-)
I can't help but praising God. We made another trip to visit Jerilyn and Rosie. Every time we go I am blown away by how awesome she looks and how she has improved since the first time we saw her when her mom brought her to the medical mission. Her cheeks get pudgier (if thats a word), instead of hanging skin she's got little rolls on her legs and her color looks so great. She has currently gained 3-4 lbs. Ahhh it's just so awesome to see her growing. I absolutely love being able to be a part of her and her families life. Rosie has even started saying things to Jerilyn like "Say hi to nanay Lisa and nanay Michelle." which means mama Lisa and Michelle. It warms my heart every time I hear it.
Through this, God has shown me how as believers we are a lot like Jerilyn. When we first come to Christ we are helpless, broken, and in need of someone to save our life. We're unable to save ourselves. We're too weak. We can't do it on our own strength. We are in need of a savior to come in and rescue us. In John 10:10 Jesus says, "I come that they may have life, and have it to the full." Jesus came to give us life, and life to the fullest. Not only life here on earth but eternal life with Him in heaven. I now have a little bit better understanding of how much Jesus desires for us to have life through Him. I want so badly for Jerilyn to grow, mature, strive, and have an abundant life. So badly that I ache inside. And God wants that for me....times about a billion jillion....yes a lot :-) It gives me such joy to see Jerilyn growing, striving, maturing, and smiling. It made me realize that God gets pleasure out of seeing me grow, strive, mature, and to place my life in His hands. Just as I yearn for Jerilyn to do that, God is yearning for me as well. Thank you Jesus, I love you so much.
Here's some pictures that I'm sure will touch your heart as Jerilyn has touched mine.
I am living in Omaha with my sister and a couple other girls. I'm working at New Hope Life Center for Women. Woo Hoo! On Feb 7, 2004 I met my true love - JESUS! I live my life as a sacrifice for the Lord and pray that every day I will fall deeper in love with Him. So this blog is about the life God has blessed me with.
Gods Girl
Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the Lord your God with all your heart and lean not on your own understandings. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your path.
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I'm a sinner saved by Grace. God radically changed my life Feb 7, 2004. I look back to my life before Christ and sometimes it feels like a movie of my memories. But that's how amazing God is. The power of Jesus on the cross is enough to transform any life. Just look at Paul. I pray to fall more in love with Jesus every day. I am a missionary in Manila Philippines teaching and coaching at Faith Academy (www.faith.edu.ph) High Schoo part time. Full time God has allowed me to be an awesome part of ministering to the poor in a squatter village called Tanza. I just love the women and people there soooo much. I have two amazing parents and am the middle child of 5 kids. I have two beautiful nieces and one handsome nephew. I played 3 years of college volleyball before having my second back surgery. I graduated from The University of Nebraska at Kearney with a degree in HS Special Education. I'm a country girl at heart. I love sports and have been playing since I was old enough to pick up a ball. The three most important things to me are the Lord, my family, and my friends.
