Pray for these people.

Sometimes I wonder why God has chosen to bless me with my country, my home, car, food, and friends and family who will never let me go hungry. When there are those who have so little, and then when all of that is taken away who will they turn to?

Last week there was a fire in a squatter village only a couple of miles away from Faith. Over 280 homes were destroyed. Thankfully no one was killed, but some were injured and hundreds have lost everything.

Please pray for these people, pray that the community would pull together and help each other out. That they would be able to rebuild their homes, and that they would be able to provide for their families. And most importantly please pray that during this time of overwhelming loss, they would turn to the Lord for strength and peace. I can only imagine what it feels like to lose everything.

Here are a few pictures our campus pastor, Don MacKay took on his last visit.

The view from my condominium the night of the fire.

Faith is now taking up donations, if you'd like to help please contact me or send it to First Love, and label Philippines Fire. Thank you so much for your prayers and support.

Lessons from a 4th grader.

In my class right now we're going through these safety lessons, and while some of the curriculum is really corny and out dated it's started some really great conversations in my class.

On Monday we were talking about bullies. What makes a bully, are we bullies, and how should I respond to a bully? In fourth grade everyone has had something to do with a bully or someone they just don't like, and it's a subject that some kids can get either really sensitive about or get really involved in so everyone had their own stories.

When I called on one of my sweet boys he told the class about a boy who had been picking on him for a few years. Things like taking his lunch, pushing him around and just intimidating him. I asked my student what was his response was and how did he handle the situation, he told me everyday he would come home and pray with his mom for this boy, that his heart would be changed, and that he would be able to show this kid love.

I was taken aback. This fourth grader was practicing something I was still learning. There are times when I am so hurt, and instead of wallowing in my own pity or feeling sorry for myself I need to be going straight to prayer.

Please remember me this week in your prayers. I think recently I've been missing home, and thinking about all the changes that I have been making as well as the changes that are yet to come. I know God is my constant and that He is always there for me, but today I think I need Him more than yesterday or the day before.

Welcome to Faith Academy, Philippines

I'm so blessed to be able to work here. enjoy

A 4th grader's story...

Every once in awhile on of my kids writes a humerous story, and I thought it would be fun to share one. This week's belongs to one of my boys... he's an ELL student so please pardon the broken english.

Lego War

Long time ago in 2050 there was a great war between Penciland and penland. Penciland was made because penland shot ink at them. So they had a war. But penciland cant win the war they asked helped to Sumo, ninja and christian world. Also penland got help from soldier planet. So they had a fair war. Sumo, ninja throwed srikens and sword. Christian world shot pray power. And our country shot pencil misiles. Everything broke in there country but penland are solider land didn't give up they shot ink at us. So we sorry each outher and we became friend.

The End

Just thought it was a cute/funny little story. When I asked him why he called it lego war he said he forgot he named it that...haha I also love the long time ago in 2050...?

It's when I read a paper like this I'm so happy I teach fourth grade!

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.