Half Way There.

Manila this time of year is wonderful! When I think of where I was this time last year in the cold windy city I am so thankful I wasn't called to Russia or someplace with extreme cold.


I have to apologize for not updating my blog recently, life has been crazy, my computer has been down, and apparently since I moved only a couple floors down in the condominum I can no longer have internet at my house. I've had my fair share of internet troubles, and it seems like I have to give, for at least this year.

I wanted to just quickly update you on what God has done since I last wrote, it seems like so much has changed, friends have left, God has answered prayers, the holidays have come and gone and life goes on. School is back in session and I can't tell you how ready I was. After a long break I was so excited to see my kids again and get back into the classroom.

Over break I was fortunate enough to have found a good deal on a car. It's nothing really fancy, but it gets me from point A to B. I'm so blessed to have been able to afford a car, it allows me independence that not everyone can have in the Philippines. I also moved into a new condo with a new room mate. The place is small, but cozy and now that we're settled in it feels so good coming home to a place that is my own.


For Christmas some of my friends and I went to a small island resort off of the island Cebu. It was a wonderful time with friends, although it wasn't all that I had expected. The island was there specifically for divers, and since I'm not a diver there wasn't a ton to do. The place we were staying at had no air-con, no hot water, and in fact the water that they did have wasn't even fresh.. haha showering in salt water was a new experience I had never had before... I guess I was wrong in assuming there would be fresh running water.

There was also a lack of security, apparently, when one night, as I was getting into bed, I noticed a man's shadow in my window. My bed was right under th window so I got really nervous, and while everyone else was alseep I watched as this man came onto my porch and shut my window and then left... strange.

Last week school started, and my schedule has gotten busy again. Friends have started to announce their decisions of whether they're staying next year or not. This last weekend was kind of a reality check of what next year could be like. Life as a missionary is always filled with good-byes. I'm praying that the Lord would keep me from becoming jaded or closed off.

In light of these announcements this week, I've been really missing my friends from back home who have always been there. If I'm completely honest I'm nervous that things will have changed so much that relationships will change or become awkward. As I was telling someone the other day I've entered this place in my life where I will never be fully satisified in where I am. In the Philippines I will always have a part f me that will want to go back to Seattle, but then when I go home there will always be a part of me that would love to return to the Philippines. As I've been processing this I've been reminded that I will only be fully satisfied through my Savior (psalm 107:9). Thanks for taking the time in reading this blog. I'm encouraged every time I read someone's comment or email back!


Here are some pictures I've been able to take in the last few weeks.

These were some squatter kids who were living on the beach. They came over everyday, and on this day they discovered I love frisbee, so we were having fun playing frisbee and taking jumping pictures. The kids here are taught to beg and ask for money from the tourist, so I was thankful I could give to them in another "non-material" way.

On one of the last nights I kept on hearingthis whimpering and my friends and I found this puppy lost and trying to climb up to our porch... I couldn't help but include this picture, it was such a cute puppy!

Me and the guys... they were real cute.

A huge lizard we found on our ceiling... I've gotten used to finding geckos everywhere, but this guy was a little too big for me. yikes!

My friend Sharon and I on Christmas morning... that's right, in my bathing suit :)

The Manila skyline on New Years... I have never seen anything like this. The sky literally lit up on New Years, there were hundreds of fireworks going off. Faith is on top of the hill so we sat up on the soccer field and enjoyed watching the sights!

My new friends Sarah, and Val.

I thought I should include a picture of my new car... Filipinos are also known for their accessories in their cars, and so the guy before me decked it out with a really nice system.

We joke that my car has tv, but my house doesn't...

My old room mate Ruth on the left and my new room mate Karen on the right. Hopefully I'll be able to visit Ruth one day again, she is such a fun girl!

A Renewed Perspective on Christmas

This last week and a half my kids and I have been reading the book The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson, and it's been such a fun book. The kids love it and it has lead to some great conversations. It's a story about the Herdmans, who are terrible no good kids and are always causing trouble around the town. Well through a turn of events the Herdmans wind up being cast for the major roles in the annual Christmas pageant and everyone is preparing themselves for the worst.
As I was reading the last chapter this afternoon with my class I was overwhelmed with the message of the book. My sweet fourth graders watched as my eyes teared up and we talked about the impact of this little event, which seemed so insignificant and looked like nothing special.
I just wanted to quote a bit of the last chapter, I felt it was a perfect illustration of what I've been thinking about the last few days.

"It suddenly occurred to me that this was just the way it must have been for the real Holy Family, stuck away in a barn by people who didn't care what happened to them. They couldn't have been very neat and tidy either, but more like this Mary and Joseph (Imogene's veil was cockeyed as usual, and Ralph's hair stuck out all around his ears). Imogene had the baby doll but she wasn't carrying it the way she was supposed to, craddled in her arms. She had it slung up over her shoulder, and before she put it in the manger she thumped it twice on the back.
I heard Alice gasp and she poked me. 'I don't think it's very nice to burp the baby Jesus,' she whispered, 'as if he had colic.' Then she poked me again. 'Do you suppose he could have had colic?'
I said. 'I don't know why not,' and I didn't. He could have had colic, or been fussy, or hungry like any other baby. After all, that was the whole point of Jesus- that he didn't come down on a cloud like something out of 'Amazing Comics', but that he was born and lived...a real person."

The story goes on, and it's obvious that the Herdman's have learned the true meaning of Christmas.
This Christmas season I have been thinking alot about how I got here in the Phils, and what had led me to move across the world, away from everyone I love. This small event, which seems so unimportant has had such an impact on our lives. Mary and Joseph were so young, and being forced away from their home, only to be put into a stable or cave when there wasn't any room, and with the knowledge that they were not only raising their first son, but the Messiah, their Savior.
Sometimes I think, why did God have them move so far away from home? Why was it important that He be born in a dirty animal house? But this just shows the humble beginning of a man who was fully God but gave his life for us so that we might live.
This holiday I am having a small humble Christmas (unfortunately not by choice) but none the less it has pushed me to realize the immensity of the gift that we have been given. Emmanual: God is with us, no matter how and where I celebrate the birth of Jesus, He is with me. I am comforted by this fact, that even when I feel so alone and there's no family around He is with me. Emmanuel.

~Merry Christmas~

Love, meg

Thankful even when its hard.

Listening to Christmas music, watching holiday movies, eating way too much food and staying up way too late with friends come to me this time as another reminder of how far away I am from home. My wonderful room-mate and friend is leaving for the UK, my sister is going home without me, and time goes on back in Seattle. There are moments when I find myself feeling so homesick, and wishing I could celebrate this wonderful time of the year with those who I love most.

But then again God has blessed me so much this year, and I can't help but think of all the things that He has blessed me with.

1. A wonderful friend for a room mate. I would not have met her any other way, but she has become a dear friend and even though I will miss her. God has allowed me to meet another sister in Christ and I have learned so much from her. She is a wonderful woman of God, and I am so thankful that God has put her into my life.

2. For the past few months I have been having back pains, sometimes to the point where I feel nauseous. However every morning I wake up and there isn't any pain I am reminded of what a blessing our health is.

3. Today I was feeling homesick, and when I came down to the office the secretary greeted me with a huge smile and said, "Meg, your box has arrived!" when I opened it I was reminded of all those who love and are supporting me back home! I am so thankful for all those who keep me in their prayers.

4. The friends here I have made. We have become family. I miss being part of a family, having a mom and dad to go to with whatever (and that are in the same time zone). But God has blessed me with some really great friends who look out for each other. We have gone on some crazy adventures.

Not sure if anyone reads these things, but I just wanted to write of the joy I am filled with, even when there doesn't seem to be a lot to be happy about. James 1:2-8 says, " consider it pure joy my dear brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish it's work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking in anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord."
Lord thank you for the reminder that I am to come to you when times are good, and when they are hard. Help me never to doubt you. You are an awesome God and thankful for the reminder today to be thankful and filled with joy, even when I am not the "happiest" about my circumstances.

My Recent Adventures...

Life has gotten really busy, and therefore I haven't had time to update the blog. The school semester is wrapping up so that means finishing up projects, closing units, and writing report cards. However I have found time to explore the Philippines a little more.

I feel like everytime we leave the valley we have to prepare ourselves for an adventure. My most recent adventure was to find the volcano Taal, which has been named the smallest active volcano in the world. Since the Phils kind of lacks in the street signs, it was interesting trying to navigate our way there. Everytime we venture out to find a new place God teaches me a little more about patience and flexibility.

When we got to Taal we had the option of taking horses, but trying to save money and exerience all that we can we hiked our way up the rainy mountain side. What an amazing view! During these times I am reminded of what a beautiful country this is.

The group I hiked with.

Ruth and I were happy to make it to the top!

The Harbor where we took off from.

Taal Volcano, the smallest active volcano in all its glory.

This last weekend Ruth and I went to go help out at a local orphanage. It was an experienced filled with so many different feelings. The kids were amazing and yet it was obvious that they had so much baggage already. There was one baby who cried anytime I touched her, and yet she didn't want to be alone. There were numerous kids with slight physical defects, and all of the kids were starved for attention. Anytime I gave one kid a piggy back or tickled someone another one would want the same done and start crying, an overwhelming experience believe me.

I can't help but think what is God's plan for these kids. How does He plan to use them? They have been blessed to be given to a Christian orphanage, but will they ever truly know God's love? They were born into such horrible circumstances. I can't help but pray for these kids and hope for the best. It has been said that there may be up to 250,000 street kids in the Philippines. for me when I see that number it's hard to imagine that each one has a name, they are not lost in God's eyes. Please join me in prayer for these little ones. My heart can't help but to break for them. God has a plan for each and every one of them. Pray that he would bring someone into their lives that would share the gospel and introduce them to the Father in heaven who has invited them to be part of His eternal family.

Some of the little girls, never could figure out their names.

This little girl we called little strange. She walked and looked so much like my japanese grandma! So funny!

This is my grandma's face! I can't believe how much she reminded me of fumiko!

This little guy wasn't an orphan, he belonged to one of the workers, but he was just so dang cute!

As you can see no matter how long I live here I remain as white as the wall! haha but everytime the kids sat on my lap they pinched my skin, rubbed my white knees, and stroked my blonde hair. it never gets old.

A bit of our fourth grade chapel.

Each year every elementary class is responsible for one chapel. This year the elementary is learning about the fruit of the Spirit, and we were in charge of Peace. It was alot of work and by the end I was exhausted, but I'm so thankful for the opportunity.
This clip is just a piece of our chapel. It's adapted from the book Sneetches by Mr. Seuss. But I thought a lot of you back home would love to be able to see my kids in action. They're brilliant actors :) and I was so impressed by all the work that they put into this. We as a class learned alot about Peace and hope that we were able to pass some of that knowledge onto the rest of the school.
Thanks for all your prayers back at home!

Filipiniana Week.

Mabuhay! Welcome to Filipiniana week! The elementary celebrates the Philippines and the Filipino culture every October. It's a week of festivities and filled with cultural experiences.

Monday morning started off with a ceremony where all the classes came up on the stage and the teachers smashed a clay pot (kind of like a pinata).

The kids are excited and ready for the flying candy.

The clay pot. Whacking like it a pinata seems kind of dangerous.

Then the blindfold you... awesome

... and in front of the whole school. I had to turn on my unagi ;)

Whack! I got it on my fourth swing.

The kids went crazy! It was so funny to see them going crazy.

And then for lunch another Filipino school came to join us. The Faith kids brought lunches for the other kids and then they were supposed to show the kids around the playground and teach them their favorite games. It was absolutely amazing to see these kids pour their hearts out to this school. Alot of the kids from this other school were living in an orphanage or were squatter kids and so they've lived hard lives. My 9 and 10 year olds were paired up with some kids who were in 2nd grade but were 12 years old! Seriously though, I have never been so proud of kids before. At the end of the day my class felt so good. They went on and on about how much fun they had with the kids and giving them lunch. It was so fun to see their smiling faces.

It reminded me of a little girl long time ago who took a trip to Mexico with her family. She had never felt so proud of the work she was doing even though all she did was pass out tomatoes to the squatter camps. I think that trip planted a seed which eventually led me to overseas missions. There is nothing like a toothless smile on a kid who has just experienced the love of Jesus Christ. I'm so glad I was able to share that with my class this week.

The kids were a little overwhelmed at first. Faith kids are in blue, the other school is in yellow!

A Prayer.

Why do I doubt? You have always answered my prayers and yet I am always taken aback. I've been asking you for months about a place to live and for someone to share that with. God you are so faithful and you have answered both of these prayers. Thank you for reminding me how wonderful and giving you are.

Lord thank you for friends to get together with. Even though I may not have a family here, and when I miss having siblings around I am blessed with friends to share special occasions with. Please continue to send people into my life to encourage and fellowship with. There is no other time when I feel your love more than when I am with others who love you as I do and are worshipping you with their lives. Please bless the families here in the Philippines for the sacrifices they have made to be here, and the people they have touched.

Please continue to make me into a more devoted servant. I am here to serve you, and I want to touch the lives of my students. Please give me the wisdom to pass on to them, and so I may better serve you. Teach me what it is like to be a disciplined devoted servant. Give me discipline. Show me my weaknesses so that I may better serve you.

You are always faithful Lord and I am learning to depend on you with everything that I have and with my future.

"We're depending on God;

He's everything we need.

What's more, our hearts brim with joy

since we're taken for our own His holy name.

Love us, God, with all you've got-

that's what we're depending on (Psalm 33: 20-22)."

In your precious holy name, Amen.