These journal entries are from Cole, he had been journaling about the trip to keep up all informed and finally got a strong enough signal to send it... he also has some video that he will post when he can... can't wait to see that...
4-9 Monday
Left SFO at 12:30 PM had a 13 hour flight, where I couldn't sleep at all landed in Seoul Korea had a layover in Seoul Korea for 3 hours and then a 5 hour flight to Clarkfield.
4-10 Tuesday
Arrived in Clark Field, Philippines at 2 am, got to Bro Abners house and had to be up at 7 am to start the VBS.
4-11 Wednesday
We started off our VBS right away, we were asked to assist the leaders in teaching the kids, but it started out that we were only going to be giving our testimony and just trying to encourage them. So all four of us gave our testimonies in separate classes. After I gave mine and did my part I was moved to the tiny tots class where bro Abner told me to go back upstairs to where some of the older kids were. As soon as I walked in the door, Bro Abners wife asked me to teach the lesson on Peter... my response was What!! I was shocked and gave a deer in the headlights look, cause there is a lot to talk about for Peter... Bro Gary laughed at me for awhile about. So I asked which story, she said the one where he was in prison and the church prayed and he got out. So I started, and tried my best to remember everything about it, I think I got most of it. Then Bro Gary gave a lesson on fellowship. Which he had time to prepare for because he knew a little bit ahead of time that he was going to give that lesson. Afterwards we helped feed the children and then we were taken to the hotel that we are going to be staying at for the first 5 nights. After we got our 2 rooms (we are sharing), which are basic rooms with a double bed and a twin. Bro Mike and I are roomies, and Bro Gary and Bro Kevin are roomies. We were able to rest for about an hour and a half before we went back to Bro Abners church Independent Calvary Baptist Church for the afternoon VBS session with the older high school age kids. We got there and Bro Abner did the introduction and then we split up into 2 groups. Bro Gary and I took one group and Bro Mike and Bro Kevin were in the other group. We started off by giving our testimonies and then we went into the lesson. Bro Gary taught about Peter in prison this time and I taught about fellowship and the importance of it and what comes about as Christians fellowship one with another. As Bro Gary taught he and I kind of did a mini play reenacting the story. The youth here are very shy so we tried to get a response or reaction out of them. The played seemed to work (or at least we entertained them) as I played Peter and Bro Gary played the angel and Rhoda. I do believe that they were able to better understand the story after getting an idea of what happened. Once we finished we went back into the sanctuary to sing a few songs and play a couple of games then conclude the session. After VBS we ate dinner and went back to the hotel, and crashed. The heat here seems to wear you out, so we blasted the AC as high as we could get it and knocked out.
4-12 Thursday
Bro Abner serves as the vice principle for the local school so he had some obligations to attend to. He took us and we hung out with him for the first part of the day. We were a little bit bummed that we didn't get to help at the VBS. When we did show up late(as they were concluding the little kids) the children all told us that we were late. :( They love to take pictures and sit around you. We were told that we were going to still do the afternoon session with the older kids. As we were resting and waiting for the afternoon session we found out it was canceled, we found out after Bro Abner called us. We were bummed, still not sure why that happened. This is why flexibility is important when going on these trips, national born missionaries tend to be less organized. So today was a kind of team building day from that point on. Still a great day to sit and get to know one another and the ones that were there but still we were bummed we didn't get to do the VBS like we thought.
4-13 Friday
Closing ceremonies for VBS were help tonight. We were blessed to help out with the passing out of the certificates and awards. They in turn presented us with a gift. We felt very blessed to be apart of their VBS and encourage them any way we can. After the awards we decided to take the youth group (the ones that helped put on the VBS) out to dinner and hang out with them to get to know them better. It was the highlight of the day. Most of the youth are from 15-22 years old. We had pizza and tried very hard to get them to open up a little bit. Some of them finally caved, and started to tell us a little bit about them. Then we walked around the mall for a little bit. We were the entertainment as we didn't know where we were going. I was told that some of the kids like my eyes because they don't see blue eyes very often. The pastor is the one that told me because they are too shy, just something we don't think about, having different colored eyes is a big deal because they never see it, kind of neat. They are able to understand English but are very shy to speak it. We wish they would use it more but are happy that they are opening up little by little.
4-14 Saturday
Today started as a day that was just going to be a tourist day in which Bro. Abner took us around and showed us the city. He started by taking us to an area where a whole bunch of pastors live, it is a small community of about 30 pastors. When we got there the man of the house Pastor David who was Bro Abners pastor back in the day, served us coke-a-cola and we sat in a circle and talked to him. Later a few more pastors/missionaries (Eddie Garcia), all stopped by and we had great fellowship talking to them. Even when you think you have a "day off" it turns out with a great time of fellowship with fellow brothers in Christ. Some of them know of a lot of people and pastors back in the states. They use ABA material to study/teach out of. After talking for an hour or so we walked over to the church and got to look at the church. They showed us how their building was too small and how they have started construction on a newer much bigger building. We then went to another church to see how they do some things and fellowship with some of the members there. I learned a few ideas that could be useful in the states. Then we went to the first Missionary Baptist church to be established in the Philippines, and it was very nice. All the churches here have tile everywhere. There was a youth band that was playing as we walked up. I thought that it was a recording or CD playing. It was awesome, they sound amazing. We were able to sit and listen to them sing praises to God for a little while. I took a video of them singing that I am trying to get it posted on facebook. We were also able to see an old military hospital that has been converted into a catholic church. Kind of errie.
All in all we have been here for about 4 days, I think and have gotten a lot done. We can't wait for Bro Russell to join us and then we move to a new location Monday to do a youth camp. Thanks for all your prayers... keep them coming
hope you enjoy
love cole via allie
No comments:
Post a Comment