Upon arriving, we found that Bilma had FINALLY had her baby...only about a week overdue. The poor girl, she was looking more uncomfortable every time we saw her. This is her with her daughter, and new baby boy.
We started off the celebration by singing praise and worship songs led by Charmain and Marites, two awesome girls who have become close fiends of mine.
Then came competition time. The first game we split up the women in two different teams. After balancing the calamansi on a spoon in their mouth, each contestant had to race as fast as possible around a chair and then return to their line where they passed the calamansi to the next in line. (with no hands)
Because Val is also pregnant and we were short one player, she was game enough to join in.
Each member of the winning team got to pick out an outfit from the basket. All the outfits that weren't given out during games were given to the women at the end of the day. Many of these clothes and the money for the graduation celebration was donated from supporters back home. Thank you supporters!!!!!!!!!
The next game was a contest of three women at a time. Each woman was blindfolded and they had to race to see who could diaper a Cabbage Patch Doll the fastest. Each winner got to take another pick from the clothes basket.
After the games Charmain, the church pastora, shared the gospel of salvation with the graduates, their families, and even some visitors outside the church.
Charmain has become a very close friend of mine who has an absolutely beautiful heart for the Lord. She has been such a blessing in my life and will continue to be a blessing to those in Tanza. Many of the women have started coming to church. We don't know how many hearts have received Christ because of this program, but one day when we're in heaven we'll find out.
Next on the program was the turning of the tassles....oh wait we didn't have caps and gowns. But we did hand out certificates, bibles, daily devotionals, pictures frame with class pictures, and gifts including outfits, cloth diapers, thermometers, diaper pins, blankets, etc. The women were so grateful. It was a joy to be able to give these gifts to them.
After all was over, we took time to take maraming (lots) pictures, and say many many sad goodbyes. There were lots of hugs and lots of tears. But even though goodbyes were said, memories and friendships will last a lifetime.
