6/9/12

Our last day in the Pandan neighborhood of Gingoog.

We got going early today so we would have time to take the goals that Dan and Mark and some guys from the village built to their final destination. Mark has been eyeing a spit of sand that has been slowly growing as people remove stones from the creek upstream to build with. God gave him a vision to build a soccer field to get the kids of the village involved in team sports. Mark has learned that many Christian values can be taught through team sports.

As soon as the goals were in place we played a game with our crowd of following onlookers curious to see what Marko, as they call him, was doing. We had fun, Mark and Dan demonstrated a victory dance and when we were done several children took the field and were enjoying themselves too.

Next it was time to go to a meeting for Compassion International. They have a day for the kids that they support to come and do activities, receive aid  and be fed on Saturdays. The requirement is that one of their parents has to come and stay on the grounds during the event. As a result there is a captive audience to share with. The three of us were invited to give a message to these people who were mostly moms. It was a powerful time. You could tell they really appreciated us and also what we shared with them.

It was a very hot day. Even the locals were commenting about the heat so I decided to take a dip in the ocean and then shower off in the CR (comfort room) to wash off the salt and sticky sweat. That lasted maybe 20 min. but I don’t really mind the heat. I'm kind of soaking it up really.

The CR Patti and Mark have is basically a bathroom that works without running water. It is a concrete room that has a toilet, sink and shower space built over septic tank that has holes in the side to leach into the ground instead of lines that run out from it like the one we have here at home. Next to the toilet is a large plastic trashcan filled with water that was hauled by hand from the neighborhood well. You scoop the water from the container and poor it into the toilet after you are done each time to “flush” it. The sink has a plastic water container with a spigot over it and the drain runs straight onto the floor underneath where there is a floor drain that is shared by the shower. The shower is set up with two more of the same plastic water containers set on a higher shelf so you can stand under the flow and get clean. All of the water is hauled in by hand for all of this. It really is an ingenious set up for a home with no running water!

The rest of the day we spent just hanging out with Mark, Patti, Bekah, Raymond, Grace, Raymar and Anna Mae. We had a wonderful dinner together. It was chicken cordon blue! We have, by the way, been having a cook who, worked until recently at a fore star restaurant in town. He has been cooking our dinners for us. It was a great way for Mark and Patti to spend more time with us and took allot of stress off of them as well as a chance to help out our cook. Not to worry, City’s Edge reimbursed them for our meals while we were there. We were, after all, there to help them not to be a burden to them.

Their Pastor also came by to spend some time with us. He played the guitar and sang with us too. It is so hard to say goodbye. I will really miss these people and this place!

Tomorrow we fly back to Manila and begin the long trip home.

6/3/12

Sunday in Gingoog

As I said, I watched the sun come up. Must be because my body clock is backward. Sunrise is not usually on my radar.

We had a wonderful breakfast American style except for the fresh mango which was the best ever, then we headed for church.

The tide had come in and flooded the village so walked through shin high water part of the time as we went. It's mostly water from the creek that is backed up into part of the village.

Church was very joyful and the music was uplifting. Most of it was in Pilipino but some of the songs were in English as well. Our own pastor Dan was invited up to do the message and did a great job of the first few Beatitudes with the local pastor interpreting the whole time. Dan and I also lead 2 worship songs. I was touched by the people and the worship. We were very welcome!

We came back and had lunch. Then it was time for Bekah to do her bible study with the local girls. I sat in and watched. What a great ministry she has! She is so great with the girls and is amazing at the language. They were hanging on her every word. It was fun and imaginative. As I sat in some of the girls snuggled up to me and several wanted to hold my hand whenever they could. I was very touched by the whole experience. I didn’t know what she was saying but I could see the amazing interaction between Bekah and the young girls she was teaching. Bekah even had a drama for them!

When it was all done she did it all again! I think she did it three times!! Sunday is a busy day for the Kenney family, to say the least.

6/11/12

We all slept well and were ready to head home to our loved ones this morning! The flight was an early one so we opted to just go straight to the airport and have breakfast on the plane.

As we were going through Security I realized that my iphone was missing! When I thought it through I came to the conclusion that I had left it at the hotel I spoke to someone at the Delta desk and they called the hotel for me. The hotel said that they had found my phone but it was too late to bring it to the airport before the flight left so we exchanged emails so we could arrange the details of getting them to send it to me. We then got on the plane to Tokyo and we were off!

Tokyo airport was a good lunch stop. We found a coffee and sandwich shop that even passed Dan’s high standards. The funny part was when I went to use the restroom. I could not figure out how to flush the toilet! There was an armrest on the toilet that had several buttons on it. One had a drawing that looked like a buttocks with water droplets around it, one looked like an upward stream of water and one was most defiantly music notes, (tied eighth notes to be specific). I wasn’t even sure what the others were. I can only wonder at what musical notes have to do with a toilet. I do hear they love karaoke in that country! I finally decided that the next woman in line could flush for me. Maybe she could read Japanese.

Then at last we boarded the final flight to Portland. It took us nine hours in the air but we lapped the sun on our way so got back an hour before we left. You gotta love time travel! Well there is that whole international dateline thing…

 I am so thankful for the time we spent in the Philippines. I have so many great memories and have met so many wonderful people! I’m sure I will be thinking about the people of Gingoog for a long time to come. Thank you so much Patti, Mark and Bekah for opening your world to us and letting us peek inside and hopefully help you in some way to do what you do. You are truly a light in this world!

6/10/12

Our last day in the Philippines was full of travel. 

During our time here we sampled almost every form of transport in the country, most of them today. On the trip into Cagayan Del Oro we rode a Moterella to the buss stop in Gingoog where hopped on a large air-conditioned bus that actually had an onboard movie. We bought 5 seats for the 4 of us and put our bags in the extra seat.

We got off the buss on the edge of CDO because we needed to find a restroom, then we took a multicab into town where we got cold coffee drinks and then caught a taxi to the mall to have lunch.

While we were at the mall Dan took Patti over to the electronics store and bought a CD player with speakers for the Nehemiah house that had theirs stolen from the house. We also had some New York style pizza for dinner in one of the mall restraints.

Then we headed for the airport for our flight to Manila. We rode Philair express into Manila and this time the Hotel transport was there to meet us when we came out of the airport! We were pleased to use a flushing toilet and get a warm water shower again. 

The wifi at the hotel was down so I wasn’t able to post. I guess this will get put up after I get back.

6/12/12


Back home and catching up.

Between the busyness of the trip, the slow connection speeds, and the wonderful wash of new and exciting things to see and people to meet I have missed posting some of my log entries along the way. If things are out of order I apologize. I did date the entries though so you can put the pieces together. Anyway the next few posts will be catch up ones.

I am home now and full of wonderful memories! So much to think about. I want to sort through it all thoroughly to see what God has to tell me in all of it.

I was welcomed at the airport by my dear friend Patti Risdal who was excited to have me home again.

When I got home I found the sink clear of dishes as Mel had promised and a balloon with a piece of cake and a note from Mel, who was still at work. What more can a girl ask for really? I love my husband!!

I threw my cloths in the washer hugged Patti goodbye and went to bed! Praise God for horizontal sleep! I'm hoping it won't take too long to get my sleep schedule back on track. I woke up at about 3:30 and again with Mel at 4:30. At least I got to have coffee with him before he went to work. I am a truly blessed woman! Praise God!!!

6/8/12

I spent quite a while talking to Patti today finding out what the rhythm of her day is normally. I know that they do whatever comes up as it comes but I wanted to understand the regular flow of things. It is a busy life but it does have room for rest and for personal devotion and time for the random stuff of village life. There is almost a commune kind of feel to the relationships here. Everyone knows everyone and is constantly living life in view of everyone else.

We did another bible study today. This one was with a mixed group of men and women. We were right on the beach in a covered Square of benches. Mark lead it and everyone seemed to really be blessed by it. I shared the chorus from “Emmanuel” since the words of the verses had completely escaped me. I guess that’s what they were supposed to hear today.

I took a short break to swim and shower in hopes of gaining a little energy in the face of the heat of the day. Even the locals were complaining it was hot. It did help me feel better.

Next I spent some time helping Steve and Raymond work on the fold up bench project. By then it had gotten very hot and it was really hard to keep enough energy going to work on it. We did get it moved forward a bit but we still aren’t done.

After dinner we took our last trip to Nehemiah house. We all hopped into an extended cab pickup and headed into town. They have no problem with people sitting in the back of a pickup there. We went to the city square where there were huge statues of fruit and played a game with the girls. After that we went to the park and then went to the pier. We walked all the way to the end and just sit for a while and looked out at the water and the lights. It was a great chance to just talk with them some.

When we walked back to the truck the girls were quietly singing a song. It was hard to hear because they sang so quietly. Finally, I realized I knew the song they were singing and soon we were all singing along as we walked. It was a magical moment.

We took them all back and said our goodbyes and headed for bed.

6/6/12

Today Bekah made us French toast for breakfast. It was very good. We also had fresh pineapple and mango and ham.

We started working on a hideaway bench for the Kennie’s house that will go in the room they are building for the kids of the village to use for bible study and to teach some classes in guitar, photograqhy and whatever else they are inspired to do.

Next Dan and I went with Patti to the woman’s bible study. We again waided through high tide water to get there and in fact we dangled our feet in the water most of the time. I pulled my feet out when a baby barfed in it. Just thought I’d give it a little time.

The study time was great though. The ladies discussed the passage and then there was some deeper sharing that followed our urging to share more deeply with each other.

Then it was time to visit the Nehemiah house in Gingoog. We showed up with tools in hand as we had a project to do. We made the structure for a covered bridge that goes to the “Dirty Kitchen”, a kitchen where you use a fire to cook the food.

We spent a few hours working and then we were treated to dinner with everyone The highlight of the meal that was made for us by the house mom, who went by Momma, was mango float. It was one of the best things I ever tasted! It is kind of a mango frozen pie desert. Heavenly!

After dinner we got to play and have bible study with the girls. Many of the girls were new to Nehemiah so the joy and trust level was lower than it was at the Nehemiah house in CDO. Still it was wonderful and we got a chance to pray personally with the girls for their needs and fears.

On the way home we rode in a small buss called a multicab. It stopped several times on the way home. I think it was vapor lock. We limped it home on a prayer. We basically ended up stopping for cooling down and then Dan, who has a nack for driving beaters, would rev it up and go until it died again and coasted until it slowed and then Steve pushed it to the side of the road and the process started again. Good thing we are working on Philippino time!

6/4/12

We all woke up really early this morning. Yes even Dan! After all there is a rooster just outside his window. We also are going to bed really early so…

Today was the family day off for our missionaries and as their helpers we helped with the relaxing. A tough job but someone’s got to do it. We went to a local resort with Patti and Grace,  Raymond and Their son Ramar. Anna Mae also came with us. She is a young woman who had been in the Nehemiah house in the past and now lives in the village. Unfortunately Mark was not feeling well so he couldn’t come.

At the resort we spent most of the day swimming in the Pacific and relaxing on the beach. I snorkled out to the reef and took some pictures of fish. We all went out on a glass bottom boat and looked at the fish and choral reefs that I had skin-dived on earlier. We threw out bread for the fish and watched them go crazy. We even saw a sea turtle swimming along near the boat! Oh, and we did indeed find Nemo!

None of our Philipino friends had ever been to the resort and the whole experience was new and exciting for them. It was fun to bless them and share their joy in the experience.

We took Patti, Bekah and to dinner on the City’s edge card as a thank you to them for all they do. We were also joined by Grace,  Raymond, Ramar and Anna Mae, while Steve took Grace and Raymond to dinner at the next table over on his dime so he could bless them and they could get to know the man who had helped them in their time of need.

The restaurant had walls that were more like large screens than walls. We could watch the rain and lightning that came just as we were ready for dinner and enjoy a cool breeze.

Then we all went back to the house and talked for a while before turning in for the night. Praise God for another awesome day!

6/3/12

Gingoog. What an amazing place!

I am watching the sun come up this morning. Roosters are crowing and birds are singing and there is an occasional snort from a pig thrown in just for fun.

We spent several hours yesterday getting here. The national highway is a very busy and very bumpy as well. It is under constant repair and still is very rough. All along the rout were small squatter homes and shops that are cobbled together on the public land that is 15 feet on each side of the highway. The result is a seldom broken line of shacks mostly made of rusty tin roofing, scrap lumber and bamboo. Whenever traffic would slow to a stop the locals were quick to come and bring drinks and snacks that they hoped to sell to the passing menagerie of buses, motorcycles, trucks and cars of all sorts. In each town you added bicycles to the mix for a drive that is really a dance as they weave in and out and pass in ways you would never attempt back home.

Then we finally arrived in Gingoog! We turned off the road and saw the church where we met the Bekah who is the daughter of our hosts, Mark and Patti Kenny, and the pastors son and several people who greeted us and helped us carry our bags into the little squatter village. This one seemed better cared for than the one we had seen in Cagayan Del Oro also known as CDO. As we walked in we were greeted with waves and hellos from almost everyone along the way.

We were lead into an amazingly cool house built mostly of  palm tree wood posts with bamboo strips for floors and mat wall panels from woven bamboo. I was shown my room. I am in love! It is up on top of the house and is open to the world with only a roof and a short waist high wall for privacy that is also a bench all around. Wow! I feel so blessed. I got to look out last night and see the fishing boats on the bay and watch the sun come up as I set up in bed.

After we moved in we were served a wonderful curry and rice meal made by a local chef and then it was off to town where we were a part of an evangelism event for the city. 

Steve and I gave our testimonies and Dan gave a short message and Dan and I sang a worship song. The local pastor and the band from the church here were doing a full worship event too. What a cool night. Well hot and rainy actually but wonderful!

Blessings to you all!!!

6/02/2012  5:11 AM

I finally have had a good nights sleep! We are at the Neamiah house in Cagiene Del Oro.

Yesterday we spent several hours in the airport. Our plane was an hour or so late and there were so many people waiting for flights that we sat in a very crowded terminal what seemed like forever. When we were finally called for our flight we didn’t hear/understand the announcement. Thankfully I heard and barely understood Dan and Steve’s names as they were called over the intercom with thick accent. I never did hear my own name! After that we sat for a long time on the tarmac before they even closed the door on the plain to get in line for take off.

When we got to Cagine Del Oro Patti and Mark Kenny were there to meet us with huge smiles and hugs. They had used the time to meet some local kids and they introduced us to them. Then we hoped in a pickup and headed for the mall. We went into a huge store full of random things. It was kind of the Philippine’s version of Wallmart where w bought some bottled water and snacks for us and some treats for the girls. Then Steve bought the Kennie’s a blender which we will use as a coffee grinder and then donate to them to use for their home.

I feel so blessed to be here! Last night we were welcomed with a celebration in our honor. Over the front door was a banner that said Welcome City’s Edge and it was signed by all the girls! As we came up the stairs, the girls cheered and came to meet us with great joy and smiles! They grabbed my hand warmly and raised it to touch their foreheads. It was very sweet and touching.

When we got inside there was a feast set out for us on the table. There was even a pig with an apple in it’s mouth! There were also among other things, lasagna that was wonderful and Mango that I’m sure will be part of the feast in heaven with our King.

When we were done with dinner the girls did some dances they had worked up just for us to the tune of some rocking Christian worship CDs. Next we played some games with them and I danced and sang with them to Christian CDs.

Several of the girls brought me their journels to write in to them. I really enjoyed getting to talk with them one on one and give them a hug and encourage them. I feel so blessed as I woke up today thinking about it all.

The top photo is my room in Gingoog! What an amazing place!!! I have been more than blessed!

Wow, what a ride!

We took off from PDX just after noon. As we flew on I saw land again. I was expecting ocean all the way. I asked and found out it was Alaska! Next I saw Ice floes on the water. What? Really? For miles and miles there was ice.

Then to my surprise we flew over Russia! Huge mountains and snow. Then it was china. Volcanic mountains and lots of lakes and rivers. Then it was Japan and we saw lots of rice patties very neatly laid out around every source of water.

We landed in Tokyo and spent most of our 2 hour layover in line for customs.

Finally we got on a plane and spent another 2 plus hours getting to Mindeno where we spent forever in customs again. Then we went looking for our transport to the hotel and were unable to find it so we called a cab.

We were caught in a traffic jam and went through a very alive and very pour part of the city full of every kind of traffic all doing whatever they wanted in traffic and pulling it off flawlessly.

We arrived at the Isabelle Garden hotel around midnight totally exhausted and fell into bed.

This morning we were awakened by roosters and airplanes. The  view of rusty tin roofs were outside our window. We went for a walk through the surrounding streets and had some coffee in a street side shop. We wondered through a neighborhood that was built of pits and parts of everything you can imagine all cobbled together.

We will fly out this afternoon to Mindeno.

Wheels up in the morning! Time to fly off and see what God is doing on the other side of the world! More soon to come.