Today was another awesome day. We did two VBSs again - in Joel's church with 63 kids and then at the dump with 52 kids. Today things went a lot smoother because things were more organized and we knew what to expect. We told the story of David & Goliath. The kids love our animated acting out of the stories. They remembered everything when we quizzed them on Joshua & Jericho from yesterday.
All of the kids at Greenpark on the last day of VBS.
At the dump we divided up into 3 groups to do more ministry after VBS. Vaneetha and I organized the donated shirts and put them in bags and walked around the dump with the youth from the Manila districts and gave them to these families. Many of them were also donated, new IWU shirts. The families loved them. Walking around the dump was a heart-wrenching experience. It is intense poverty. It reaked and you knew the bacteria was rampant. The kids walk around it in as it surrounds their house - it is normal for them. In America the government would do something about it - but here the govt's way of dealing with it is legalizing rummaging through trash at dumps (which used to be illegal). I wish we could do more there...
Passing out shirts in the dump
This is where the family of six sleeps. This is the hammock for the baby to sleep in.
This is just one area of the dump. This is down by the homes not the actual dump area. The dump area is what you might think but worse. We weren't allowed to take pictures of that part or even go there (although i think we got closer than we were supposed to when we passed out clothes). This is the people's living conditions... where the kids run and play.
The others painted the churh benches an awesome color. It really livens up the churh. I think it will draw more people in because the whole attitude of the church is refreshed. Our VBS number there almost doubled in one day. I can't imagine what tomorrow's numbers will be... i don't think we'll have enough coloring pages.
Well, to end on a good note we are all doing great. We had Filipino food for lunch & dinner. The team was very brave and tried practically everything. We had quail, clams, milk fish (whole), some other whole grilled fish, squid, coconut shrimp, adobo shrimp, crawfis, and many other unique Philippine cousines. They're excited for more experiences and so am i :) I've already got my menu ordered at other restaraunts i went to last year!
Cold shower time :)
All of the kids at Greenpark on the last day of VBS.At the dump we divided up into 3 groups to do more ministry after VBS. Vaneetha and I organized the donated shirts and put them in bags and walked around the dump with the youth from the Manila districts and gave them to these families. Many of them were also donated, new IWU shirts. The families loved them. Walking around the dump was a heart-wrenching experience. It is intense poverty. It reaked and you knew the bacteria was rampant. The kids walk around it in as it surrounds their house - it is normal for them. In America the government would do something about it - but here the govt's way of dealing with it is legalizing rummaging through trash at dumps (which used to be illegal). I wish we could do more there...
Passing out shirts in the dump
This is where the family of six sleeps. This is the hammock for the baby to sleep in.
This is just one area of the dump. This is down by the homes not the actual dump area. The dump area is what you might think but worse. We weren't allowed to take pictures of that part or even go there (although i think we got closer than we were supposed to when we passed out clothes). This is the people's living conditions... where the kids run and play.The others painted the churh benches an awesome color. It really livens up the churh. I think it will draw more people in because the whole attitude of the church is refreshed. Our VBS number there almost doubled in one day. I can't imagine what tomorrow's numbers will be... i don't think we'll have enough coloring pages.
Well, to end on a good note we are all doing great. We had Filipino food for lunch & dinner. The team was very brave and tried practically everything. We had quail, clams, milk fish (whole), some other whole grilled fish, squid, coconut shrimp, adobo shrimp, crawfis, and many other unique Philippine cousines. They're excited for more experiences and so am i :) I've already got my menu ordered at other restaraunts i went to last year!
Cold shower time :)
Jessie I am so excited about what God is going to do through you and your team!!!!! You are an amazing servant of God!! Praying for you..... Tell Sarah hi from me & Amy
ReplyDeleteGlad things are going well. Thanks so much for the updates. You're all in my prayers. Tell Megan her Mama loves her. :-)
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