Introductions

Our week so far has been full of adventure with a tightly packed schedule spending time with the kids and staff of the Bright Lights Academy as much as possible. We started off visiting both of the Christian Missionary & Alliance Churches on Sunday. 10 o’clock service was spent in Village East and the 5 o’clock service was visiting the people in San Buena. We were overwhelmed by how everyone was so welcoming and friendly. We felt right at home, just as if we were back in Cleveland, Ohio. Monday was a team-building exercise for both the kids to get to know us and for us to get to know them, as well as for us to learn a little more about the Filipino culture. We were put into teams, made team names and team fight songs, and directions for the scavenger hunt we had all around the city. Whoever completed all the steps, with pictures taken as proof, and got back first, won. The hunt took us to the Rizal Capital Building and Municipal Center, Our Lady Peace Cathedral, Whitecross, Hinulugang Taktak, Cloud9, and St. Lucia Mall. Running from tricycles to jeeps for transportation while having the kids direct and translate for us was quite an experience. When finally returning back to the church, we had a few more challenges and then it was time to announce the 3rd, 2nd, 1st, and champion winners. Luckily in the Filipino culture, there are no losers. Everyone is a winner. On Tuesday was an especially important day and was the primary reason why we came on this trip. Our team slit into four pairs and grouped up with two kids each and visited their homes. We wanted to buy food for them and bless their household by gifting it to them and praying over them. So we started off by going to the market- buying 2 kilos of rice and 1 kilo of fish and we set out onto our rainy journey. We walked through the mud, walked through tunnels and through sewer water. In a 7 acre area, there are about 10,000 people living in the informal settlements. Homes built from any material that can be found and built on top of each other. Bathrooms and showers are outside for all to use, clothing lines are outside for individuals clothes to dry. We all had similar yet very different experiences going to the different homes. Some found it more difficult to connect with the families that they were visiting because they didn’t speak English, others spoke English and we could laugh and talk with those that were interested in hearing what we had to say. One of things we noticed was how happy and content these people were regardless of their living situation. To us, this was just a glimpse of their life but for them, this is their daily life. Yet there was no complaining, no discontentment, and they were so happy to have visitors. They greeted us like we were their own. We were truly humbled and grateful to have been able to have the opportunity to be in their home. We are looking forward to what God has in store for us the rest of this week as we continue to share experiences and learn more about this Filipino community.