The Philippine Chronicles, 3

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.