Archive - March, 2008

The Philippine Chronicles, 3

March 13, 2008 in Compassion, Conviction, God, Let's Be Honest, Life, Love, Travel 0

So, I’m tired again but I know that the last post really sucke so I’ll push through and try to make this one more interesting (or at least more detailed).

Today was a great day. Actually, it didn’t start terribly great. About two minutes after we left the hotel we realized that I had left the tripod (you would think that is something that I wouldn’t do; you’d be wrong). So we had to turn around to go get it. Surprising, everyone was very understanding.

We visited our first project today. It was at Capitol City Foursquare Church in Quezen City. In the Philippines, children typically attend the Compassion project on Saturdays, so it was different to see this project. What we were able to experience however is the Child Survival Program part of this project. This program works with mother/child units ranging from expecting mothers to children that are four years old. It was really cool to see how the workers interact with the mothers and children and to learn how they are giving them a huge advantage in simple survival.

Callie was able to meet the child she sponsors. His name was Jaepee and was extremely shy at first. You know, when those of us who sponsor get the opportunity to meet our children we typically bring a backpack full of gifts. Then we meet the children, give them the gifts, take a lot of pictures and ask a lot of questions. This can be extremely overwhelming. But Jaepee eventually opened up, though he had very little interest in being filmed.

For lunch we went to a place called Max’s, which is evidently a pretty typical chain restaurant around here. Eric and I sat a table with a number of people that included two of the LDP students, Michelle and Nice. They were kind enough to walk us through our meal, and thanks to them I had a taste of my first corn-milkshake. Some of you know that I have an adversion to corn in any form, much less as a milkshake, but it really wasn’t that bad. You can see a little bit of our lunch in the video below, hosted by Eric.

We also shot interviews today with all four of the LDP students. This is by far my favorite part of these trips. Just in case you’re not aware, God is working mightily in the world, and these LDP graduates are living testimonies of that.

The most poignant moment of the day was when I asked one of them named Kiwi to try to describe what poverty looks like in the Philippines. She said, “I remember when apples first came to the Philippines. It was a really big deal. It was like everyone had apple fever.” At this point I was actually trying to figure out if she was talking about Apple computers or the fruit. She was talking about the fruit. I’m an idiot. She continued, “I begged my parents to buy us an apple so that we could just see what it tasted like, but even a rotten apple, we couldn’t afford.”

What have you eaten today?

The day was good. The day was long. The day was hot. I want more days like today.

Now on to a more personal matter…

I’m really torn between two worlds right now. I want to be here, in the present, making the most of the opportunities God has blessed us with to listen to these stories and discover how to best share them. But my heart right now is back home.

Some of you know that Liza and I have been journeying through fertility treatment. We haven’t been just super-open about it because there are a lot of unknowns still and just to be honest, people don’t always know what to say about it and just end up saying something stupid. That’s probably prideful, but anway…

So, that journey is somewhat culminating here in a couple of hours as I write this, and I’m halfway around the world. And honestly, I don’t know how to feel about it. I believe I’m being faithful and obedient to the path God is calling me to walk, yet Liza is having to walk part of the path by herself right now. And that sucks.

And I feel helpless.  There is absolutely nothing I can do to affect the outcome.  This is truly beyond any illusion of control I might have.  And it’s realy life.  This is seriously real-life stuff.

When did this start happening?

I hope this isn’t whining.

So, if you see Liza today, or if you just want to call her, it would be awesome for her to know the people that care about her today.

And I’d like to ask you to pray. And pray hard. The financial and emotional burden this has been is taking its toll. We’re looking forward to ending this part regardless, but we’re sure expecting God to come through with one particular outcome over the other. And to have you join us in asking Him for that would mean the world to us.

Tomorrow we’re supposed to see some of the poorest areas in which Compassion works. How do you even process that?

We’ll see.

Signing off.

The Philippine Chronicles, 2

March 12, 2008 in Compassion, Travel 0

I’m exhausted.  The short amount of sleep last night combined with a somewhat laxidazical day has not helped my adjustment to the Filipino time zone.  My head feels like its swimming.  So, I’m about to go to sleep.

Regardless, today was a good day.  We met four of the five LDP candidates for the summer, and, of course, they’re all fantastic.  Great people.  Great stories.  I’ll hopefully post a little more about them tomorrow.

We also went to the Philippines Country Office for Compassion.  For those of you who aren’t aware, Compassion cares enough to hire the very best people they can find.  Noel, the country director here, and his staff are extremely innovative and ambitious in how they tackle and accomplish Compassion’s misison.  I told Ben today that whenever I meet someone “higher up” in Compassion I know that they’re the person I want to have dinner with.  They’re incredible.

Brian and Lisa got to meet Maria, the little girl they sponsor, as well as the child that Benk’s grandparents sponsor.  That was really cool.  It’s somewhat emotional to even just watch a child and a sponsor connect.  Maria lit up the day for sure.

Tomorrow we visit our first project, and Callie will get to meet her sponsored child.  We’ll also start shooting heavily with the LDP students.  Can’t Wait.

Signing off.

The Philippine Chronicles, 1

March 12, 2008 in Compassion, Travel 0

Well, we’re finally here in the Philippines.  We got to our hotel this (Wednesday) morning about 3:00a.m.

So far my iPhone doesn’t work, my iPod has crapped out.  Roger and I are basically sleeping together and I’m a little tired.

But who gives a …. We’re here with Compassion, and it’s going to be awesome!

Today we’ll be visiting the country office and meeting most of the LDP students that we’re hoping to have working with us this summer.  The I think we’ll just tour around Manila and then have dinner, kinda take it easy and let everyone get adjusted.  And I think there are some people who definitely need to get adjusted.  We’ll see.

If you see Liza, give her a hug or something for me.  I know this is hard for her.

Alright, more to come later.

Signing off.

Off We Go

March 11, 2008 in Compassion, Travel 0

Philippines or bust!

C U L8r

March 10, 2008 in Compassion, Ministry, Student Life, Travel 0

So, in a little less than 12 hours I’ll board a plane here in Birmingham with my ultimate destination being Manila, Philippines.  Taylor, Eric and I are headed over with the event staff and Ben from Compassion to shoot some videos of the LDP students that will be traveling with our teams this summer serving as advocates for children living in poverty.  I’ll try to post here as much as possible to keep any of you that are interested up to date.

It’s pretty overwhelming.  Going on these trips always is.  Going to a new country can be overwhelming.  Seeing poverty like we don’t experience here in the States is overwhelming.  The humility that God wants to use you to do something about that poverty can be overwhelming.  Plus, I feel like I’m leaving a lot behind undone and unfinished.  That’s overwhelming.

But I refuse to whine about it.

I look forward to what’s about to happen to me.  I look forward to when I will look back on this past month and these two weeks and see all the ways I missed how the Lord was moving.  I look forward to getting back and being able to share all my stories.

But as I look forward, I will also be committed to the present, to the nowness of what’s going on.  I will make the most of every opportunity and live in the moment.

Just so long as everyone else in the moment isn’t driving me bonkers.

I’ll see ya’ when I see ya’!

Spring Forward

March 9, 2008 in Let's Be Honest 0

I (along with all of you) lose an hour tonight. I would go to sleep, but I wanted to watch SNL. Unfortunately it sucks tonight. They’ve already reused a joke about Amy Adams and Kristen Wiig kinda looking alike. Wait. I think it’s about to get better. Nope. It didn’t. Oh well. I think if I have to hear another thing about that Christian kid from Project Runway I’m going to make a hot mess all over my fierce carpeting. Auf wiedersehen!

The Measure of a Man

March 8, 2008 in Life 0

There are moments in a man’s life where he is tested, thrust into situations behond his control. He either emerges victorious, able to maintain his dignity and integrity, or he is found wanting.

Today I was tested.

I won’t go in to details (I wouldn’t want to taint the purity of my readers). So let me just say that I stared down what could have been an extremely mortifying situation and made it my… well, let’s just say I came out on top.

So, yea me!

Hip, hip, horray!!

Whiney McWhinerson

March 7, 2008 in Conviction, Life, Whining 0

So, I’ve been transferring over some of my old posts from Xanga. Right? Well, in doing so I’ve been reading back through all of them, and I have had a disturbing moment of self-realization.

I am (or at least have been) a pretty major whiner.

I don’t want this to continue to be the case. I have a great life. It’s just ridiculous for me to be like that.

Or is it?

You see, I read a number of blogs by people my age and if I were to label the common thread running through all of them I’d have to say that word would be “whining.” We’re so discontent with whatever our current situation is that we can’t shut up about it. We make all these vague, melodramatic statements about how things could be better or at least different but then how they’re not and then what we might do about it and then how we won’t actually do anything about it and then we whine some more that we never did anything at all.  I’m sure if we were to look for some research there’s probably some out there about how cynical and disenfranchised Gen X is and why we behave in this manner.  But that shouldn’t necessarily excuse it.

Sounds absurd, right? Well, if it doesn’t, I think it should.

After all, Paul writes in Philippians 4:12-13: “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength” (emphasis mine).

Shouldn’t I trust that God knows what He’s doing, that if He’s really leading me in life, if the Holy Spirit is fulfilling His role, if what Jesus said is true, that if I’m obedient, then I’m right where I’m supposed to be?

Who am I to whine about it when I don’t like it for some reason?

Am I even whining about whining right now?

I know it will be a never-ending quest for me to try to overcome it, but feel free to call me out whenever it comes up, if you want.  So long as I can do the same to you.

Hmmmm?

Xanga, the Bane of My Blogging Life

March 6, 2008 in For Real 0

I got out of this blogging game mainly because I got fed up with Xanga.  There are a few reasons for this occurence, but I won’t bore you with them here.

Now that I’m re-embracing my blogging life I thought it might be nice to import some of my old Xanga posts.  WordPress does not do this easily, and I am positive that the blame lies not with them but with Xanga.

I have read countless forums on how to do this and found myself diving into unknown territory of downloading and running scripts that I really don’t understand.  All of this has come to no fruition.

So now I am just copying from my Xanga and posting here.  This works only on the basest level of efficiency.  I haven’t even been able to figure out how to do the comments yet.  We’ll see.

If anyone has any suggestions, I’m all ears.

Hakuna Matata

March 5, 2008 in Woot Woot 0

I’m writing this from my iPhone just because I can. If you don’t have an iPhone, don’t worry about it. It’s really not a big deal. But if you do have one, you know that actually it is kinda a big deal.

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