I'M HOME: An Informal Trip Report/Overview

Dear friends and family,

It's hard to condense the last two weeks into words because to me, there are dozens of memories and moments and events and words said and the most adorable faces and the sweetest smiles that it's hard to sort through them all and pick the ones that stand out the most. I'm also running on less than four hours of sleep, so I apologize if I'm slightly incoherent.

I think one of the most impactful things I've seen in Manila is the rampant poverty. One day driving to Redemptio, we passed by a field completely covered with plastic bags. Men and women were sorting through and cleaning these used trash bags, only to sell them for 8 pesos (5 cents) per kilo. While driving through the streets of Manila, we often passed by street kids and teens who sleep under bridges and roam the streets. Police officers will sometimes kill these kids who have absolutely nothing in the world in an attempt to stop crime and homelessness. Outside the SMs or malls, there were kids outside, maybe eight or nine years old, who held out their grubby hands for a few pesos.

The day we visited Tondo and Smokey Mountain, I also saw people who have absolutely nothing, who live among literal heaps of trash and walk among dirt intermingled with broken glass. Many of these kids don't even have clothes, and most of them don't know what it's like to live with electricity, running water, or to have a meal a day.

Yet while the poverty in Manila is shocking and heartbreaking and difficult to digest, it's also humbling. These people are still so joyful and happy, and they smile in the midst of their hardship. All too often I find myself complaining or grumbling or even just feeling down and depressed, but it's a humbling reminder that contentment and joy can rise above circumstances. Joy is a choice and a lifestyle, and seeing poverty and how people deal with poverty really made me think.


One child that really is memorable to me is Princess. I was blessed to be able to stay at the Home of Joy orphanage for two nights in Cavite, and during that time, I really connected with a little girl who was there. She's about three years old, and while I can't post straight-on photos of her on social media, here's a photo of her from the back.

She really is one of the cutest little toddlers I have ever met. When we first got there, she didn't interact with us much, and she was pretty independent and capable of playing and coloring by herself and she didn't smile a lot. But the second day, she really started to warm up to me and would start to ask to be held or even just climb into my lap, and it became easier and easier to make her laugh.

On the plane ride back, her face kept popping into my mind, and I still wonder when Princess will be adopted and if the family who adopts her will be Christian and will teach her about her Heavenly Father. It's hard to leave the kids not knowing what their future will look like, but I know I have a God who has the best plan for Princess and who loves her even more than I do. I know she won't remember me when she grows up, but I also know I'll never forget her.

During my stay I was so blessed to stay with the Nichols family and to learn from them about what missions looks like. To me, what really struck me was that on one hand, being a missionary can be pretty "normal" in a sense that the Nichols' home is large and comfortable and we were able to go to the movies, get our nails done, have breakfast and meals with friends, and grab food in the SMs. Being a missionary doesn't necessarily mean living in a hut and giving up all types of Western comfort, though it can.

But on the other hand, there was plenty of "abnormal" mixed with all the "normal." The routine there consists of dealing with heavy traffic, bugs, and interacting with those from a different culture who approach tasks differently. The Nichols also serve in Redemptio and so going to Floodway, working with the kids in their school, seeing and dealing with the poverty around them, and helping the squatter community is considered a regular part of their week.

I guess seeing how missions works today surprised me a little because when I was little, I heard stories of Amy Carmichael or Hudson Taylor who converted many people and rescued many orphans and translated the Bible and things like that. There are still missionaries who serve the Lord in that way, I'm sure, but I learned that sometimes missions doesn't look like that. Maybe it's just working in one ministry in one area like Floodway and loving all the kids there and building relationships with the community and assisting the local church and being a light and a witness by word and deed.

I loved Redemptio, and that was one of my favorite ministries I visited. While I was there, I was able to use some of the funds I received to buy each kid a Happy Meal for their merienda during each prek and kinder class, and the kids LOVED it. Some of them had never had McDonalds before, and it was so neat to see their smiles and enthusiasm. I still remember most of the kids' names in the photos, and they are just so precious and funny. It was a real privilege to be able to serve there.

A lot of people have asked how this trip has taught me spiritually, and I think I've learned the importance of trusting God. When I see Christians in Manila living with pretty much nothing, yet living as if they have everything because they have Christ, when I see pastors suffering from cancer or working among the poorest of the poor, when I see how they trust God to provide for them physically and spiritually, it begs the question: If Christians with nothing overseas can trust God, shouldn't I be able to trust Him with what I have? It's again truly humbling to be taught by the examples of other believers, and it has shown me how important it is to trust God.

Looking back, I know that God has really used this trip to draw me closer to Him. My personal devotions have gotten so much deeper and sweeter, and I look forward each day to spending time with the Lord. Going overseas and seeing God working and the love other believers have for Him has really increased my desire to know and love Him more, and I am so grateful He used this trip to teach me and draw me closer to Himself.

There are a lot of people I would like to thank for making this trip possible, to everyone who gave generously and who lifted me up in prayer back at home. The Nichols family has also been so generous and gracious, and I am really blessed by their friendship. It was so great getting to know them better and spend time with their family. Thank you also for reading my blog; it's really encouraging to know that people have been praying for me and are interested in what God is doing overseas.

Global missions is really an exciting journey, a journey of new experiences and building relationships and trusting God. I know Manila and the Philippines will always hold a special place in my heart, and I already miss the culture and the food and just the hospitality and warmth of the people there. The past two weeks have flown by, but they've left behind dozens of memories to treasure and to remember for years to come. Thank you again for your prayers and support!

Salamat,
Amanda

Day 13 - Redemptio

Dear friends and family,

Today was my last whole day here, and my last day visiting the first prek and kinder classes. Tomorrow I plan to drop by the second prek class before heading to the airport. I'll really miss each and every child at Redemptio, each little girl with their cute braids and pink hair ribbons and the little guys with their gelled up hair. They make me laugh.

Making children smile is one of the most rewarding things in the world. I will forever remember their names, their unique personalities, their amazing smiles. I have a ton of pictures and even more memories.

One little girl whose face sticks with me is Princess, the little toddler at the orphanage. My heart goes out to her because she was starting to get more attached to me when we were able to leave. She is such a sweetheart and she really is a little princess, and more than anything, it's my prayer that she is able to go to a family who loves her and she can one day know her Heavenly Father. I miss her so much.

One of the songs the kids at Redemptio sang today was:

It's about you, it's about me

It's about the truth that sets us free

It's about L-O-V-E, love

From the Father up above

It's about hope, it's about life

It's about the love of Jesus Christ

It's about everlasting, never-failing love

It almost made me cry to see kids who grow up with literally nothing sing about God's love for them. Some of them don't have parents who take care of them, daily meals, electricity or running water, toys, etc and some have never left the squatter community they live in. But they were singing about God's love and how God loves them unfailingly. He treasures each one of them. He knows their names and He has the best plan in mind for them. He loves them more than I or anyone on earth could and I trust Him with each of their lives. 

Father, watch over each one of them and draw them close to You. 

I've had a wonderful time getting to stay with the Nichols family and work at Redemptio and see various other ministries. I love this country and I love the children I got to meet, and it has been incredible to see God work and to be used by Him. Missions and working with children is dear to my heart, and I am forever thankful for the past two weeks. I have so many great memories bottled up inside me, and I'm excited to fly home and see you all.

Love,

Amanda

Day 12 - The Day I Got Lice and Other Prayer Requests

Hi friends and family,

Today has been a pretty crazy day. I woke up and had suspicions I had lice which Ellie later confirmed, so I had to do a shampoo treatment today. Yet I don't regret a single thing. I don't regret loving the children and holding them in my lap and giving them hugs and playing with them, and lice is a small price to pay for being able to love them this week. So I don't feel too stressed about it.

Also please keep Redemptio and the Nichols in your prayers. They are in the process of building another school in Floodway, but there's a bit of difficulty with the contractor who hasn't started building as planned. In addition, they are about to sign the papers for another school property in Antipolo near another squatter community, and they hope to begin the process of renovating and cleaning up the building so they can expand Redemptio. Please keep the school in your prayers as they continue to expand and share God's love with the poorest of the poor. Pray for the process, that everything would go smoothly and that God will continue to provide.

Today I had the opportunity to visit a street girls camp briefly, and hearing about the girls really was impactful. They usually stay for two nights, and the first night they arrive they're usually high on drugs. They get fed and sleep until the next morning. Then the second day they usually have a program of some sort and they leave the third day. We arrived midday and got to talk to some of the girls for a little while before meeting the Booker family who runs that ministry. One girl in particular, Mae Mae, was super sweet and showed us around the camp and was very eager to talk to us.

Please pray for that ministry as well, that God would touch lives with the kindness and grace poured out upon some of the world's neediest teens. Pray for the missionaries who serve there, that God would grant them patience and wisdom.

The next two days I'm spending at Redemptio and I'm so excited to see the kids again and be able to interact with them.

Amanda

Day 11 - More Thoughts from my Journal

Dear friends and family,

Today I had breakfast with Ellie and a few of her friends and I also got to spend time in the kinder class at Redemptio. People ask if I'm ready to go home, and I think I have mixed emotions about it. I love Manila and I love the Philippines, and I think the culture and sense of community seen here is lacking in the States. So while I don't necessarily miss the physical environment back home, I do miss the people, my friends and family. I'm not sure if that's a definite no or yes but my heart tugs me both ways.

One verse from a song I've been meditating on reads:

How rare and beautiful it is to even exist

It amazes me that today I have the gift of life. Life is such a precious gift I take for granted, and also my relationship with my Father. He delights in us. He pursues us. He loves us. And I'm overwhelmed, overjoyed, delighted, radiant in who He is because this life is truly a miracle, a token of love I do not deserve. 

It is a beautiful thing to wake up in disbelief at the Lord's goodness. 

In the Philippines, I guess it's a little easier to be spiritually minded, to recognize God's presence and care each day. But I have to remind myself I serve the same God back at home, and I should feel the same awe and love and disbelief at what He is doing in my life and in my community in the States. 

I want to take home with me this awe and this amazement. I want to wake up each morning amazed at my very existence and at God's provision and grace. I want to wake up each morning to fall in love with my Creator as if I had never heard of His good news or of His love. 

Maybe Jesus said that's why the kingdom belongs to the children, because of their innocence and awe and appreciation for every little thing. They can see the same magic trick or hear the same story or watch the same cartoon daily and not get bored or lose that sense of awe. 

According to G.K. Chesterton:

Now, to put the matter in a popular phrase, it might be true that the sun rises regularly because he never gets tired of rising. His routine might be due, not to a lifelessness, but to a rush of life. The thing I mean can be seen, for instance, in children, when they find some game or joke that they specially enjoy. A child kicks his legs rhythmically through excess, not absence, of life. Because children have abounding vitality, because they are in spirit fierce and free, therefore they want things repeated and unchanged. They always say, “Do it again”; and the grown-up person does it again until he is nearly dead. For grown-up people are not strong enough to exult in monotony. But perhaps God is strong enough to exult in monotony. It is possible that God says every morning, “Do it again” to the sun; and every evening, “Do it again” to the moon. It may not be automatic necessity that makes all daisies alike; it may be that God makes every daisy separately, but has never got tired of making them. It may be that He has the eternal appetite of infancy; for we have sinned and grown old, and our Father is younger than we. The repetition in Nature may not be a mere recurrence; it may be a theatrical ENCORE. 

IIIhope that I will never grow

to  tired of seeing God's creation but also life in general. I want to live with a sense of awe and gratitude at how wonderful the world and its Creator is. It's my prayer that this sense of amazement stay with me long after I return to the States.

Amanda

Day 10 - Thoughts from my Journal

Dear friends and family,

Today was a wonderful day of fellowship and shopping and relaxation. I am so blessed to know the Nichols family, and I've really enjoyed getting to spend time with them these past ten days. Looking ahead, I'm mainly going to be helping in Redemptio before I leave on Thursday, and on Tuesday, I'm visiting the street girls' camp for half a day.

I can't believe my time here has gone by so quickly. On one hand, I miss you all back at home, but on the other hand, I know I'll really miss this place. Whether it's the colorful jeepneys or the friendly honking during traffic or the little cockroaches and mosquitoes (mosquitoes 15: me 2) or the vibrantly painted buildings or the little kittens on the street or the fried chicken and rice or just the friendliness and respect of the culture here, I know the Philippines will always be dear to my heart.

Even today, while we were in the car, we passed a group of teens who live on the streets under a bridge at night. Only a few feet away sat a tall SM, which is basically a mall/shopping complex. Here I see the poorest of the poor living among the wealthy, and I think I'm learning more that on one hand, it's okay not to feel guilty for what I have and to glorify God with my possessions while also learning to balance being open and willing to give sacrificially. But it really is heartbreaking to see people living with so little but having so much joy.

One issue God has really been putting on my heart is the command to be still and to wait before Him.

Psalm 40:1

I waited patiently for the Lord; He inclined to me and heard my cry.

Psalm 46:10

He says, "Be still, and know that I am God; 

I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."

Today, while I was journaling, I was asking myself: How can I be still when people are suffering, when the world is broken and hurting? How can I be still in an uncertain world when I have hopes and dreams not yet fulfilled? How can I be still when there's so much to fear and worry about and there's so much in the world that is dark and evil and painful?

And then this question popped into my mind: If I live with worry and doubt, not living as if God is sovereign and He holds my life in His hands, if I don't truly live as if God is enough for me, then I won't be still. Too often I live life wanting to make my own plans, not wanting to be patient or wait but wanting to make my own friends, find my own future, plan my own dreams. But I am reminded that maybe I just need to wait and let God move, let God work and change my heart and bring things to pass instead of taking matters into my own hands.

These past ten days I've seen God work. I've seen Him use men and women to reach children and communities, men and women suffering from physical illnesses or financial needs or emotional struggles. I've heard testimonies of God changing and shaping lives, and I've seen God provide financially and spiritually. Not only has He been active all around me, but He's also shown Himself trustworthy in my own life, providing for my physical and spiritual needs during this whole time.

And seeing God move and work really makes me long to be still and wait before God. I now feel a deep desire to trust God more, to wait for Him, to be still before Him. We have a God who is the Starmaker, who created the universe, who plans everything, every event, every timing, every day perfectly. I don't need to worry or stress or try to take control of my own life, but I can wait for Him who is my Storywriter because He is a God who is mighty and who acts on our behalf for His glory and our good. 

I'm excited to learn more how to be still, how to wait. God is doing wonderful things in the lives of His children, and this trip has deepened my trust for Him and also increased my desire to trust and depend on Him more. He is trustworthy. He is faithful. He doesn't need us to try and act on our own accord or to try and figure out our lives. He will act for us. 

Psalm 126:3

The Lord has done great things for us; we are glad

Day 7, 8, and 9 - Home of Joy Orphanage

Dear friends and family,

The last couple days have been tiring but also really good for me, and I'm excited to share with you!! Thankfully my stomach virus was gone just in time for our trip to the orphanage (praise God),  and I'm so thankful for that.

On Thursday morning, Ellie and I took a very adrenaline packed 3 hour car ride to the Home of Joy orphanage in a province outside of Manila. When we arrived, the staff had a two hour long prayer meeting and luncheon that we were invited to participate in, and afterwards we got some groceries at an SM (supermarket/mall) close by. We were also shown a little guest house which was cute and rustic right across from the orphanage, and we got our stuff settled.

By that time Ellie and I were pretty excited to finally see the kids. There were three babies, three toddlers at around 2, two girls with some disabilities, and one six-year-old boy Francis who is getting adopted in the fall. Princess is the sweetest little girl ever, and although she's one of the most independent toddlers I've seen, she really warmed up to us near the end and gave us a hug before we left. Prince and Moses are also really cute and affectionate, and the babies are really adorable. It was a huge privilege to be able to spend time with them all and show them God's love.

We got to spend most of our time on Friday with the kids. They wake up at 6am, so we were up early on Friday morning to spend time with them. Another family was visiting briefly and they brought toys and candy for all the kids, which was special. Francis is learning English so I enjoyed getting to talk to him and teach him how to write words like "cat" and "car". Mostly we just played with the children with their toys, carried them around and let them sit in our laps, and  helped them color and eat meals. During the afternoon, they take a short nap, so Ellie and I were able to rest up.

I'll be honest and say that the time at the orphanage was probably the most draining part of my trip so far, just because we had to be fully present and engaged with the children to make sure they didn't hurt themselves or the other kids and to show care and gentleness to them all. We also had to be patient with them if they were whiny or tired, which was physically tiring. But today it was hard to say goodbye and to give last hugs and kisses to each child. The children are so sweet and even though it wasn't easy to help in the orphanage, God gave me His strength and love for the children. I'll miss them all so much, and I really hope I'll get to see them some day.

Please pray with me for their adoption and for Francis as he transitions to a new family in the fall. Pray that these little ones will someday get to know Jesus and to love Him. Pray also for them physically as some of them suffer from seizures that the Lord would keep them safe.

While writing this, God is reminding me about how beautiful adoption is. How we spiritually were once orphans, without a family. But God, being rich in mercy, has adopted us into His family and we can know call Him Abba Father, our closest Friend. And that to me is just wonderful and mindblowing. That I was able to physically love children without families who care for them in an imperfect way of how God loves us. I pray one day Princess, Prince, Moses, April, Gian, JM, Francis, Dorcas, and Honey will be able to call God their Heavenly Father and recognize the wonderful family they have in Christ.

Adoption is a wonderful thing and I am reminded of how blessed I am to have the God who created the stars and who has written each of our life stories as my Abba Father and to be part of His family. This trip stretched me and taught me to depend on God and to fall more in love with His design of adoption, and I'm glad I was able to share this experience with Ellie and to share stories and life lessons and laugh and serve together. It's been a real blessing and I'm learning more and growing closer to the Lord each day, and I'm so full of memories made and thankfulness for what Christ is doing in me and in the Philippines.

Amanda

Day 6 - Sorting Books and Spa Day

Dear friends and family,

PRAYER REQUEST - I have a little stomach bug from something I ate. Pray it will go away so I can still visit the orphanage this weekend, God willing.

I'm not really an emotional person but today I almost broke down. We were at Pastor Bong's church in Floodway near Redemptio, and they have a daily feeding for 50-60 kids who are malnourished in the community. Once they get on the list, they are regularly evaluated until they reach a healthy weight before taken off the feeding program.

Anyway, they have a worship session where the kids sing with hand motions, and you should've heard dozens of kids shouting of God's love for them and how they want to live for Him. Again these are the very poorest of the poor and to hear them shout, literally shout, of their love for God, it just broke me emotionally because it was so powerful.

Many have little to no food, clothes, running water, electricity. Many of them have never left the squatter community and some come from broken families where siblings as young as 6 or 7 take care of their baby siblings. They live in shacks with tin roofs and sides, and they really have nothing compared to what we have back at home. Yet their smiles when they were singing, their excitement, it just was contagious. I know back at home, once kids get older and reach a certain age, they don't really want to sing and do hand motions, but these kids were just unashamedly belting their hearts out and they knew all the lyrics and all the motions. Their excitement and passion for God was just tangible.

I was trying not to break down just because in that moment, I not only saw but felt God moving and working and drawing that community close to His heart. It was just so apparent though the smile of each child and the wonderful program in the church that God is using that church to bless the community and change lives. Through the church and Redemptio, God is bringing His people to Him in mighty ways, and it was humbling and encouraging to see their worship.

Today I also sorted books at Redemptio since school was cancelled and I was treated to a foot massage and pedicure. Tomorrow Ellie and I are heading to the orphanage for two nights. It's about half a day's drive away. Pray for us as neither of us have been there before and have no idea what to expect. Pray that we can be a blessing to whomever we meet and that God will go before us and give us peace.

Being here makes me excited to pursue long term missions, God willing, and it has really helped me trust God when I see tangibly what He is doing. I can see with my own eyes that God is good and sovereign, and not only that, but He cares and answers prayer. I'm thankful that I have a relationship with a God who is near to me and who is faithful throughout every emotional and physical up and down of my life, and being here makes me excited to serve Him.

God is so good.

Blessings,
Amanda

Day 5 - Second Day at Redemptio

Dear family and friends,

Today was such a special day. I used some of the money from Living Hope to buy Happy Meals for all 40 of the kids at Redemptio and you should've seen their faces when they opened up the boxes and saw fried chicken and rice and gravy. Their faces literally lit up, and the teachers said that for some of the students, they had never had McDonlds before.

I had such a great time today, serving them food, watching them open their Happy Meal toys, helping  them make their craft which they loved, reading them stories, and playing "tag" and catch with them. The kids are so precious and so sweet. It's impossible not to smile when you're with them because they each have such beautiful smiles and it really is heartwarming to spend time with them. Even though I'm very excited to see the other ministries here, I will miss them all so much. Time really flies while I'm there! The teachers there (Teacher Lisa and Teacher Olive) are doing a phenomenal job loving and teaching the pre-k and kinder students. Please keep the students at Redemptio in our prayers as well as the staff!!

Tomorrow the president announced a national holiday due to Ramadan, I believe, so there won't be school. I might help resort books at Redemptio and spend a relaxing afternoon with some of the girls here. On Thursday through Saturday, I will be staying at an orphanage 3-4 hours from here, and on Monday-Tuesday, I will be staying at a street girls camp. I think out of everything,

I could use the most prayer for the street girls' camp just because the girls will be older, in their teens. It's a lot easier  to work with little ones and make them laugh, but it's a little harder to reach across the language barrier to those who are slightly older. Please pray that God will give me the right words to say when I'm with them, and that I will be able to share God's love with them, despite a little apprehension. I am excited though to see what God is doing through both ministries, and I am thankful to be here.

Happy 4th to those back home,
Amanda

Day 4 - First Day at Redemptio

Dear family and friends,

I promise you that even if you don't like kids, you will fall in love with the children at Redemptio. They are so precious and so adorable and so funny and so cheerful, and they keep talking to me in Tagalog and I have no idea what they're saying but it's the sweetest thing ever. The little girls have cute little plaid skirts to go with their white blouses, and the boys have shorts and a white shirt, and they are so so cute.

Redemptio has three sessions, two pre-k classes and one kindergarten class in the afternoon that Teacher Lisa and Teacher Olive teach throughout the day. There are 40 kids in total. They start class with a pledge of allegiance to the flag of the Philippines, the Christian flag, and the Bible, and the kindergarteners also recite Scripture before singing two songs. It is the most adorable thing ever to hear twenty little four and five-year-olds shouting "Jesus You're my number one!" They also are learning phonetics and vowel sounds and simple English words. Afterwards, they also have a small snack/meal provided by the parents of the children that go to Redemptio.

In the States I had bought little gummy candies that look like hamburgers, and we gave them out to all the kids and the teachers today and the kids LOVED them. Tomorrow we are planning to use some of the money provided by Living Hope and other generous supporters to buy Happy Meals for all the kids and the teachers as a special treat for their snack time. These are kids who have probably never been to McDonald's in their lifetime, imagine that. Ellie and I also are planning a craft (basically a moon cut out of a paper plate that the kids can hang up) to go along with the children's story "Goodnight Moon."

The children at Redemptio are literally so sweet, I can go on and on about them. They'll listen  to me read books, even though I'm pretty sure they have no idea what I'm reading, but they'll be super engaged and point out things like "bird," "dog," or "flower" in the pictures.

Other than that, I had a wonderful time meeting and getting to spend time with various other missionaries and Christians, hearing from one young lady who taught inner city kindergarteners back in the States and getting to spend Fourth of July with other believers. I had a great time as well as great food. Even though how we celebrate Fourth of July at home is different, I'm thankful I got to be here and spend today with really hospitable families.

Please continue to pray for Redemptio and the teachers who work there each day, as well as each individual child, that they might one day come to know the Lord. These children come from the poorest of the poor in the Floodway community in Taytay, which is basically a squatter community where people live in shacks built from tin. Many don't have running water or electricity. Pray for the families the children live in, as some families are battling health issues or th loss of parents. And please pray for the Nichols family as they are in the process of expanding Redemptio into a new building in Floodway and for the lengthy and complex battle of trying to work around the red tape.

So far I've barely had much jetlag (praise God) and am doing well health-wise. I think being here really confirms my passion for working with kids and my desire to go into missions someday. Continue to pray for me as I continue to venture out of my comfort zone, whether it's by meeting new people or by trying to interact with kids despite a language barrier. God is really drawing me closer to Him, and for that I am thankful! Being here is such a privilege and I am constantly reminded of that.

Goodnight,
Amanda

Day 2 and 3 - Tondo and Sunday

Dear friends and family,

Last night I was too exhausted to blog, so I'm typing this on a beautiful Sunday morning. 85 degrees already at 7am. So excuse me if I'm still kind of groggy.

Yesterday we woke up with the sun for the feeding at Tondo. I got to ride a trike for the first time, which is basically a motorcycle attached to a little cart/carriage, and it was a cool experience! We started off by handing out hard candies to the children around the church, sorting piles of rags turned into little pot holders into stacks, and talking and praying with Pastor Ramilo. Please continue to pray for his battle with cancer and for his amazing ministry there in Tondo. They have feedings there 3 times a week and a school and church there as well. He has a huge heart for the poorest of the poor, and God is doing amazing things through his ministry!

We hiked up Smokey Mountain, a "mountain" made by years of landfill and waste. I thought it was beautiful how among the scraps of plastic and bits of glass in the soil, there were leafy banana plants growing, almost as a reminder how God can bring life to even the most impoverished of places. It is unbelievable how the Christian workers there serve, loving the children with such big hearts and serving with so much sacrifice.

There are a hundred or two hundred individuals living on top of Smokey Mountain, without running water, electricity, and daily meals. They have literally nothing except the tattered clothes on their backs, and even then, many of them showed up half-naked or completely naked. Yet the children there, probably among the world's poorest, are the most precious kids I've seen with their large eyes and beautiful smiles. They are so joyful and welcoming and happy, despite the conditions they live in. It really is humbling and provides a perspective on joy and contentment, and it was a privilege to love them and to help Pastor Ramilo's ministry and to see how God is using him.

We were able to fill about 100 bowls with rice, spam, and banana ketchup, which is "ketchup" made from bananas and dyed red with food coloring. A week ago, some short term missionaries brought metal bowls for each of the kids, and so it was neat to see all the kids holding up their individual metal bowls!  It was also one of the older ladies' 65th birthday, and it was pretty neat to see a group of youth celebrating and singing on top of Smokey Mountain.

After Smokey Mountain, we went back to the Nichols' and rested before dinner. We were invited by a  sweet couple who ministers to missionaries  to one of the cutest and most amazing restaurants I have ever been in! The owner of the restaurant was a humble, sweet, and welcoming Christian lady who also has the most amazing, crystal-clear voice and she sang a few songs for us. The food was amazing (liquid chocolate for dessert), and it was nice to fellowship with other missionaries and Christian families living in Manila.

The main question running through my mind is: If God is good and if He is sovereign here in such poverty, isn't He also good and sovereign in my own life as well? To be perfectly honest, the last six months to a year have been really hard for me with a lot of friendship/relationship issues, but yet here I see that God truly is sovereign and He is present and working in this community for our good and His glory, changing lives and hearts. And if He is good and sovereign despite challenges like Pastor Ramilo's cancer and extreme poverty, if He is working and using these difficulties to bring others closer to Him, then He is also good and active and working in my own life as well, using trials and difficulties for my good. Even though my own struggles are so small compared to the weight of what I've seen, I give thanks, for I know the God I serve loves me and does indeed have a good plan in mind for me. He is good and does good, and this trip is a beautiful reminder of that.

Today the plan is for me to attend the Nichols' church and maybe visit Shalom Birthing Clinic. Ellie and I are also leading a craft/story time at Redemptio on Tuesday or Wednesday, so we'll be getting supplies for our craft too.

Thank you,
Amanda

Day 1: I'M IN MANLA

Dear friends and family,

I cannot describe the emotions I felt when I looked out of the window from my plane and I could see Manila with its maroon-ish cloud of smog and pollution hovering above, the tin roofs glistening up at me, the turquoise and salmon colored houses/shacks, the rivers interlacing the city, and the abundance of traffic and cars and jeepneys and people. I don't think I stopped smiling from then on until my plane landed to be perfectly honest. I am so so happy to be here!

I love it here, and while visiting Manila for the first time two years ago was exciting and wonderful, getting to come back here really is even better. Everything is familiar in a way, but exhilaratingly new and fresh and ready for me to explore and fall in love with all over again. The Philippines is such a warm, friendly, inviting country, and everyone here is so full of smiles and laughter. Even the men at customs were kind and warm and friendly, and wow, I just keep discovering more new things to love about this city. From the decorative jeepneys to the cutest kids at the side of the road, this country just blows my mind.

My flights were super uneventful, and I was able to find everything okay! One thing that really jumped out at me was one moment during my flight to Manila. The gentleman next to me had just woken me up for the complimentary lunch, and I was still kind of groggy and half-asleep. Then I looked out the window and I saw the most perfect, vivid, intense rainbow I had ever seen. I wish I'm able to upload pictures, otherwise I would, but what a reminder and what an encouragement! To know that God is faithful and that He will be with me, each step of the way. I'm pretty positive that it wasn't a coincidence, but that the Lord sent it to encourage me and give me peace, and I know I'll remember it throughout this trip.

But other than that, I spent a lovely 4-5 hours in.traffic traveling about 18 miles, but  I really enjoyed getting to fellowship with the Nichols family and friends! You will not believe the incredible view I have here from their house and their hospitality is a blessing. I'm surprisingly not tired at all, which is probably because I'm so excited and thrilled to be here and I want to absorb everything around me and take in all the sights and smells and sounds that I've missed.

Tomorrow I'm waking up before 6am for the feeding at Tondo, one of the largest slums in Manila and in the world, I believe. Keep me and the Nichols family in your prayers, as well as the children who will receive food and Pastor Ramilo, who leads the feeding program in Tondo.

Again, if you can't tell already, I am so so so excited to be here. I love this country more and more, and it is such a huge blessing and a privilege to be able to come back here.

Much love,
Amanda