Ipis

Ipis is the tagalog word for cockroach. I don't know how to say i hate cockroaches, but i know how to say i hate you, you are ugly - so that's what i tell the cockroaches as i kill them: "Ay yo ko say yo ang pagit mo"

I just got this pic off google but that's what these nasty guys look like - ugly huh!?!?

We took Megan to the airport yesterday morning. Now i am the only native English speaker here. I'm bummed by that but my tagalog is improving marvelously. Before she left we hadn't had a cockroach in our room in almost a week. Then the rainy season started...

Last night i went to bed with no fears. Then, at 4:30 i got a txt and as i was trying to fall back asleep i felt something on my foot (told myself it was the blanket re-adjusting) so i kicked and rolled over. Then i felt it on my leg. I knew immediately - i grabbed the sheet and threw it against the wall; then i heard the clicking of ipis shell against the cement wall. I grabbed my phone to shine the light on it (to scare it and make it freeze so i could smash it. Then i went to pull up my hair (to get serious) while i stared at it. And oh my gosh guess what happened - there was one in my hair. I touched it with my bare hand and hit it out!

I jumped out of bed, threw on slippers (flip-flops) and my glasses and grabbed the killer bug spray. I found the one at the foot of my bed and killed it (telling it i hate it and its ugly) rather quickly. But the other demon was not to be found. Finally i saw it, swatted at it (it was mataba = fat) and it crawled up the wall. Seriously, that guy was almost 2 inches long. I wanted to scream but couldn't; i could barely breathe. Well, i smashed it and it fell from the wall onto Megan's shoes that she left. I sprayed the life out of it (a pleasant citrus smell) and gave it a couple more hits. Then i went to look at the other to make sure it was dead, when i looked back at the second it wasn't there. I panicked and trashed the room looking for it - never to be found. So, i threw Megan's shoes outside hoping it was in there.

I was never able to fall back to sleep after that traumatic experience. In fact i never even tried to. It was almost 5 by the time i was done hunting ipis. I read my Bible and prayed till breakfast at 7:30. Then i told Joel at breakfast and he went to pick up the smashed bug (which i couldn't stomach doing). He also looked in Megan's shoe and found the second culprit - at which time he said "wow man that's big!" and i said "told ya so!". He secured my room again. Idk how they got in. Please pray with me that they don't again! Its going to be hard to fall asleep tonight without thinking about ipis on me while i sleep :'( I have met some Filipinos that are afraid of ipis too (Jed and Aldean) which helps me not feel like such a baby.

The start of my internship

I started my internship activities and ministry Thursday afternoon. Joel and I left to go pick up a classmate of his who is currently studying social work. We went to the school they graduated to meet with a social work prof to get connections. We went to a squatter's village (Agham) - it was very desperate living conditions. There's a program called servants that helps with relief. The houses are small (about 15 sq foot) with 5-6 ppl living in them. There's no running water. The streets were packed with people and animals. Many streets (btw houses) were only about a foot and a half wide. Joel was nervous but did a very good job keeping me safe. Lots of people thought we were in a relationship - and he let them think that so they wouldn't approach me. It was a very humbling experience. The govt is doing some forced relocation and demolishing of homes.

Squatters move into an area illegally and build their homes. The govt doesn't do anything about it till they want the landback. Now they want it to build a mall - a mall. It is horrible. There are hundreds of people living there that have been there their whole life. A few days ago a fire was set on purpose to scare/intimidate the people - lots of people lost their homes.

This isn't the squatter's village we went to but this is what one looks like.

We met a man named Simon who works with "Servants" (see below). He is a white guy, about 30, from Switzerland. He left everything to minister to the people. He's been there 5 yrs and is fluent in tagalog - he's developed lots of relationships. We also met with a pastor there who moved his family into the area (they previously owned a home in a nicer area). Joel and I were speechless when we got back in the car. I can't imagine living there, much less moving there on purpose to minister. Did i say there's no running water or ventiliation? Many ppl sleep on the floors or multiple ppl in one small bed. Sanitation was horrible and drugs, gangs, and alcoholism were rampant.

Servants is an international network of Christian communitities living and working with in the slums of Asia and the West, participating with the poor to bring home and justice through Jesus Christ. Maybe i'll do a whole post on this program (and onesimo) later.
Here is their website: http://www.servantsasia.org/


Monday we are going back to do take them clothes we've collected. They already took a survey in the village to see who needs the close the most. It should be an interesting experience. All the conversations were strictly tagalog - I am really struggling with the language barrier (obviously). I know my experience would be better if i understood the language bc there's just not enough time for Joel to translate everything to me. It gets frustrating sometimes - but quite a few of my friends here are willing to work on their English, speak it around me more often, or at least translate every so often.

It has been a very good experience so far. I am safe, healthy, and well fed. I couldn't ask for more. I got to talk to mom on the phone a couple days ago and Jewel on facebook. Megan leaves tomorrow morning. Keep praying for me. I killed my first cockroach (which i realized fly) and so i'm getting braver with those.

After the team...

Hi. Its Sunday morning here. My team left. Joel did a good job of keeping me occupied and distracted so i wouldnt be depressed when they left. We got starbucks and DQ, went to the mall for lunch and grocery shopping (he is spoiling me now with american food), and then we watched a movie. We also went to the hospital where his wife works - St. Luke's, supposed to be one of the best in all of asia. It is internationally accredited so that is where all the ambassadors go. It is so nice - most of the hallways were marble floors and walls, with abstract paintings, the waiting room had fashionable leather furniture and free wireless. Joel says they cant afford that hospital - its just for the rich.

Yesterday we went to a waterpark - just Megan Snyder, I, and Joel's family. It was a lot of fun. Megan and I kept getting stopped by strangers asking to take our pic (bc we're white),. I'm not excited about strangers having pics of me in my bathing suit - but whatever. I am getting really tan here too!

THe room where i am staying is comfy but very small. I can touch both walls with flat hands at the same time. It is probably 15 foot long. There are 2 foam matresses on the floor - which is okay but i am concerned it will hurt my knees eventually. I am sacrificing a head pillow to put under my knees. I keep using the cream from grandma on my knees and it helps. they just hurt when i wear flip flops (like yesterday at waterpark). The room has a hanging closet and 3 small plastic shelves. Its just wide enough to put my suitecase on the floor next to my matress then we have to walk on the matress. It has a light and air con. It has a plug to charge my phone and stuff, which is nice.

When we were watching the movie at Joel's 2 cockroaches scurried into the house. It freaked me out (they were huge). I can do spiders and other bugs, even mice, but i can't do cockroaches. I just picked my feet up off the floor and Joel's 8 yr old daughter swept them back outside (yes, still alive). When Megan & I went to go to bed Joel said just call me if you need anything, for bugs or whatever. WHen we got in our room i said "i'm closing my bags so no cockroaches get in". When i went to close it one scampered out at me. Well megan screamed i grabbed my flipflops and phone and frantically called Joel. He heard Megan scream so he was already on his way. He sprayed it (bought bug spray just for us) and then picked it up with his barehands and threw it outside. He then bug proofed our room by closing all the cracks. Megan wanted the lights on (bc cockroaches are scared of light) so they were on till about 5am and i couldn't stand it anymore.

Overall we're having a great time here. After church we are going to do a sunday school in a squatters village (bagong sibol) - the same kids we did a VBS with before (so i'm excited to see them again). Then this afternoon is a youth service at Bagong Nayon where megan will preach and i will preach next next week. Then tonight we are going to visit the clinic megan will work at. Tomorrow Joel, Jed, and I are going 4 hours away to the seminary joel went to. They are dedicating the basketball court (baskebtall is the biggest sport here). I'm not thrilled about bball but it will be fun to see where he went.
Well thats all. Hope everyone is staying healthy and well there. I love and miss you.