So we boarded the plane in Houston and had the entire middle
row (5 seats) and 2 by the window all on the same row! the seats had lots of
space in front so the kids napped on the floor and laid out on the seats. it
was an 8 hr flight to Honolulu and we changed planes there then headed out to
guam. the kids slept for around 3 hrs on the first flight and for about 4 hours
on the next one. the flight from Hawaii to guam was 8 hrs. in guam we changed
to another plane and flew for 4 hours to manila. by the time we landed we were
so exhausted. we met up with james and he had a van and a hired driver waiting
for us. we had ourselves plus 11 suitcases and 15 carry ons in a very small 8
person van (it was a sight) we went to a cargo place to send our big bags via
cargo style and we went on to the hotel while james finished that.
I was kinda
nervous to be there without him but the driver was great and we got there
quickly. while I got our kids bathed my mom, dad, and shel walked to get pizza
hut ;) it was a sweet tasting sauce and very very thin crust, I loved it.
after we ate we went straight to bed because it was 12am and we had to leave
out by 5am.
the next morning our same driver was there at 5 and we headed back
to the airport. going through customs was so easy. I think they were scared of
james ;) before we boarded in manila I saw a big sign that said MASSAGE and
almost ran for the door. I only had 30min, but a 30min massage was $10. I
could've used 6 hours of a massage but 30 min was better than nothing. so we
boarded the plane which was 6 seats on each isle. we were sort of split up but
people were so kind to move so we could sit together.
once we got to kalibo I
really felt like I was finally in a foreign country. and it was HOT and HUMID.
we had to walk on the tarmat. there we had another driver in a smaller van but
we still fit all of us and all of our luggage and headed out on the 2 hr drive
to malay.
when we arrived at the house, I'm pretty sure I was in shock. I
looked at james a few times and asked to go home. he assured me I would get
used to it. I'm still trusting God to help me with all this. I was shocked
because this in nothing like I excpected. we live in a sort of gated community
thing, like a burrow called dumlog. there are houses all around us. mostly
bamboo with leaf roofs but some homes like ours (cement walls and tin roof)
there are people everywhere and lots of kids. woman with the children and men
stick to themselves. they dry the rice on the side of the road then have it
processed. they dry coconut shells for coconut oil on the road too.
so once we
got here we had chicken Joy (fried chicken) and rice along with this vegetable mix that's spicy
but awesome! we have a five gallon water cooler that we have drinking water in
and james had sweet tea made!! after lunch we made beds to rest but I was not
able to rest, just ready to go!!james and Lydia took a trike (motorcycle with a
side car that can hold 6 people) to kim's house to borrow the truck. when
they got back dad, james, and I went into Caticlan (10min away) to exchange our
money so we could buy our car. well the pawn place didn't have enough so we
had to go back today. before heading back we got some cookies(chocolate),
biscuits (sweet), and cheese rolls which taste like a cinnamon croissant.once
we got back the local kids were through with their
school day and Daniel was out playing football and basketball
with them. kim and robyn came over that evening to say hi but we all
actually went to their house to go walk on the beach. there I had a few seconds
of wifi. that night we ate leftovers and passed out on our 6 inch memory foam
(stiff) mattresses.
the next morning, which is today, we got up and I made
scrambled eggs with we ate with our cheese rolls. after that we went to
the mustard seed school where all the kids say HI UNCLE JAMES!! they
light up when they see him. they were pretty shy but I hope to get to know
them quickly. after that we saw the church and upstairs where some
girls(about 15-20) ages 4-15 sleep. they have either cardboard or a thin rug to
sleep on. it made my heart just melt. I wish I could bring them all
here. we met some of the moms who cook for the kids in what they call
a kitchen. its an outdoor fire and a table. they were so friendly and everyone
calls Lydia a doll. they say she looks like Barbie dolls (which
I think is awesome because they say she looks like me). after that we
went to caticlan to exchange our money. $5,000 is 215,000 pesos. we
were rich for 10 minutes, then we bought our van! it seats 5 people but the
back is open but closed in and tonight after church we fit 10 kids in the
back. im pretty sure we can fit 25 people in our five seater van!!! Daniel
is the size of the 11 yr olds and Lydia is the size of the 8 year olds and sam
is the size of the 4 year olds. they call them dan dan, lydi, and sam
sam. I'm auntie Ashley, which I love! after we bought our van we also
bought our sectional and a water cooler which we had deliverd. when we got
home mercy (our amazing God sent!!) had pork steak with onions and fried rice. OH MY it was so good!!!
not sure im going to lose any weight but who cares! after lunch we napped a
little and mom and I unpacked a little. we all share one wardrobe it has 5
shelves (we each get one shelf) and a place to hang a few things. I am going to
give so much of what we brought away. we don't need near what we brought and
they need way more than I can give. sister anna came over to visit and we sat
on the front porch where she played my guitar and we sang praise music. this is
about the time the kids get out of school so they began to trickle over. before
I knew it there were like 10 kids in here with Lydia, coloring and playing
barbies as well as about 20 kids playing ball with Daniel. well you know where
I headed!! baseball was sure to break the ice and it did. before we had to get
cleaned up for church I bought 3 kilos of rombaton (a sweet fruit) for 60 pesos
and gave all the kids some for a snack. (40 pesos = $1) oh did I mention it
rains off and on all day??? it does!!!
then we went to church at 6pm. there is
where we finally met the ati. oh my goodness. they are the most beautiful,
skinny, dark haired kids you've ever seen and they were singing praise songs
and giving God praise for everything He has given them, which is nothing
material at all. the boys got to go with uncle james for their message and i'll
start with the girls next week. after the message we had a circle prayer time.
I can only understand a little of what they say. sometimes they translate
themselves but not much. after the service was over mom and shel helped hand
out these corn muffin things. I could only think that that was all they had for
dinner and we had a huge pot of food on the stove. I want to give all I have
away. I see things so differently already, and they are so grateful. once we
left there and drove some kids home we headed back here for dinner, supas (like
chicken noodle soup) but made with pork. then we bathed, sam and Lydia took a
warm bath in a basin. james boiled some water to make it warm because there Is
no hot water. then we put them down and james and I visited about some stuff
and now im headed to bed.
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