1st week in Manila

I meant to blog almost every day cuz I don't really like catching up but I guess I'm gonna have to do that today. Things have been quite hectic lately. We've been coming home late most nights and after a long day of commuting in the rain, you end up just wanting to sleep when you get home. Karen & I actually got soaked a couple days ago. We were on our way to go grocery shopping and all of a sudden, it just poured! Hard rain I might add! And because we didn't have an umbrella, we ended up being soaking wet after. It was like 1 of those scenes in a movie where it's almost ending or there's a transition sort of thing where it just had to rain.

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:::Thursday, July 31st:::
We (Karen, Jen & I) together with Anthony (1 of the new Board of Directors for Babyanne's Mansion here in the Philippines) went to visit the land in Baliuag, Bulacan (a town about 1hr 1/2 away North of Manila). It pretty much looks the same from what I saw on pictures as it is still mostly grass. But actually BEING at the site and seeing where the house, that will house 40kids in the future, will be built, just did something to me. It was so exciting! I just can't wait to see the cement being poured and for the house to actually start going up. I took pictures and took a little bit of a video clip to show all of you but I haven't uploaded it from my camera yet (I'm just not a very "techy" person so I need help in that area). I will soon, so just check back in in a couple of days.

After that, we met with our Consultant Oliver to go over the bids and discuss the contract. Although it was a long meeting, I was very thankful at the end knowing that we have him on our team. Cuz seriously, us not knowing anything about building a house and us doing it ourselves, wouldn't be a very good idea. But because of our Consultant (and other professionals who are members of our team), we are able to have a better understanding of what the process really entails. As he went through every part of the construction process, although a little overwhelming at times, I again just felt excited at the end of it as I started picturing the house in my head.

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:::August 1st:::
The 3 of us, together with a few other friends, went to Passion::Manila. Passion is a conference specifically geared towards reaching out to college/university students. It originated in the States and the conferences used to just be held there. Until this year when they started their World Tour and set out to minister to the college students of 17 different cities all over the globe. The night was just amazing. INDESCRIBABLE really (as Karen described it). The Filipinos were nuts! and went all out as they worshiped the only One who is worthy of praise. As a volunteer in the gallery upstairs, I think I probably had the best view in the house. As Chris Tomlin sang "Mighty to Save" near the end of the night, I just saw the sea of 8,000 people at the Ultra (or Philsports Arena) on their feet, eyes closed, hands lifted high and singing at the top of their lungs. It was AMAZING. It was in Vancouver that I became a Christian so although I've been back here in Manila for 6 times now, I still really didn't know how the Filipinos worshiped. But wow... they were loud! It really was an amazing sight to see.

There's so many things I could say about Passion::Manila - the amazing truth that was preached that night, the "crazy" people upstairs, the awesome volunteers - but what I loved most about that night was how we got to just declare that GOD IS THE GOD OF THIS CITY. HE'S THE KING OF THESE PEOPLE. HE'S THE LORD OF THIS NATION. GOD IS MIGHTY TO SAVE THIS COUNTRY. And that ALL OUR HOPE IS IN HIM. And that Name is strong & mighty & powerful. Wow.

My love & my heart for this country is ever renewed. I just saw so much hope from watching the Filipino people lifting up the Name of JESUS last night. My own parents even say after watching the Filipino news televised in Vancouver that there is no hope for the Philippines anymore... that this country will never ever change. I just refuse to believe that because as long as GOD is God, there is HOPE. He IS our HOPE.

I abolutely love being here and am so privileged, and forever humbled, to get to do what I get to do. I knew that God brought me here for such a time as this and wow, I just love it! There is no other place I would rather be than being in the will of God.


Please do keep us in your prayers so that Karen & I will be accomplish our goals and do what we were set out to do, for the time that we are here.