There was once a girl who went to the Philippines. She visited Visayan Wesleyan Bible College on the island of Cebu. It had been a whole year since she was there, but when she arrived again she remembered that last year it was her favorite place to do VBS. She thought the kids were amazing there. They had such a different mindset than kids on the other islands she had been to. They were more interactive and eager to be involved. They weren't as initially shy as other the kids she had played with. While some of that can be considered personality she was told that it was think that much of it is cultural.
This year when she returned she remembered three kids from last year - Fransis (her absolute favorite kid ever), Brian, and Mary Rose. (These are pictures she took this year ).
When she arrived this year with her team she was reminded why she fell in love with these kids. On May 12 they did their first VBS at the Bible college. Michael remembered her and warmed up fairly quickly but he wasn't interested in the games she was playing. She found other kids to love on and they became her new favorites. She was told you're not supposed to have favorites, but she just couldn't help herself but to fall in love!
Dil-John fell off the chair and was bleeding and crying. She picked him up and nursed his wounds and held him till he stopped crying. After that he didn't want to be put down and so she held onto that cutie for over an hour. When she finally put him down he continued to walk behind her like a shadow. It was adorable to watch.
She was trying to learn the kids names (and did fairly well!) but there were so many of them. She pulled out this notebook and the kids jumped at the chance to show herthat they could write their own names. These boys are Dorwin and Ezekil. It was a lot easier to remember their names when she could see them written down :) It's also a good exercise for the kids and a chance for them to have pride in showing off their skills to her!
While the team was playing basketball the girl continued to bond and play with her favorite kids. The kids would all scurry up the basketball goal while the action was on the other side of the court. Sometimes she would climb up after them and they would scream and climb faster. They were so ticklish; she would grab their feet and they would try to cling on as they were laughing.
Dil-John had these two homemade guns. It was just a piece of pipe with a rubberband tied to the bottom with string. He'd put a rock in the pipe, stretch out the baloon, and let go as he watched the rock fly. One time he shot the girl in the eye with a little pebble. It hurt and he knew what happened so he felt bad. She couldn't get upset because he was so cute.
Dil-John shot Fransis in the leg with his homemade gun. Fransis was crying and so she went to him. He wanted picked up so she sat down with him and comforted him till he stopped crying. He was tired and just relaxed in her lap for about 30 minutes. When he looked up at her with his big brown, watery eyes she about melted. While she held him she just prayed over him - for his physical safety and health, for food for him and his family, for an opportunity to have a good education, for spiritual growth and maturity, and that the peace and love of Jesus would surround him and his family.
These are the bonding moments she had with Fransis while he sat on her lap. Even though he's not smiling she knows he is happy, and that makes her happy. She loves that little boy and wanted to slip him in her suitcase to bring him home with her. But she knew that wasn't possible so she just loved him hard while she had the chance. This picture represents one of her favorite memories of her whole Philippine experience.
The kids hung around all day even though the girl's team didn't do a VBS - that day the team just painted. The kids only had the bread and juice we gave them for snack and the team's left-overs from lunch. So they found some mango jello to give the kids as a snack, knowing that they wouldn't have food when they went home. They loved it!
After playing super hard all night the kids were so thirsty. The girl didn't have drinks to give them but she found some ice in the cooler and took turns giving the kids some ice cubes. She even got the kids to say please and thank you.
Here she is at the end of the night when the rest of her team joined in playing. You can tell she is so happy doing what she loves.
This girl had a blast with these kids. She would say their names and they would run. She'd chase them, grab them, and tickle their. Their smiles and joy were contagious, the girl caught it and was filled with love. These kids - Fransis, Stephen, Icho, Luto, Jeremy, BJ, Dil-John, Hannah, Christian, Dorwin, and Ezekil will forever be etched in her heart. Well I know this girl and I know for sure that she will not pass up an opportunity to return next summer and love on these kids again! But until then she is praying for them everyday!
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