The Stamp of Glory

I just finished a novel about the American abolition movement called The Stamp of Glory by Tim Stafford. It's a good read.
In the last few pages the main man looks inwardly at himself and declares, "I am too passionate a man, too eager to shout hallelujah, and too quick to discouragement."
I thought that in the feminine form that thought would very well describe me.

I Give You Pictures...

So for the many of you (I'm assuming for my own self-esteem that there are "many of you"), that are bored out of your tree at all the long wordy posts of late, I am giving you a treat! Not just 1 but 2 pictures of me, and the kiddos. In my defense, my camera has been out-of-service for the last month.
As you can see, the last couple weeks have not morphed me into the spitting image of a certain bald celebrity. And far from paparazzi, these pictures actually come from Alex's camera. Here we are seen here at the very exciting 7th birthday bash of a Miss Rose, but she isn't actually in any of the pictures!
And my camera is working now, so this is my promise to you... next week there will be lots of new and exciting pictures!
I am making a little escape from the Big City tomorrow; me and 2 friends will (very safely) head North for the mountains and a chance to breathe air that still has oxygen in it! I am so excited, not just to see something new, but for the peace, quiet and rest that come with it!

Life's Little Wonders

I made a chicken-nugget trip to my local Golden Arches and made some fascinating observations. I had to pull out my receipt and jot them down to be sure I remembered them. I called it: "The Idiosyncrasies of My Local McD's", and here they are:

• the mother-infant room was blaring obnoxious dance tunes - the general restaurant was enjoying peaceful silence,
• the tray paper listed off the many ways the store keeps food prep and service sanitary and safe - but when ordering at Mickey's, who's chief concern is health?
• this store ran their own day camp (it's summer break here), OK, weird already, what if I told you - they teach Catholic prayers and calisthenics?

Onto to other random anecdotes... I caught a ride with the British ambassadors wife this week. She's very nice and dropped me off at the train station so I didn't have to get a cab. I'll leave you wondering... And a Filipino man my age walked up to me today and told me that I am Britney Spears. Obviously you can imagine my surprise! But he assured me, she is his idol, and I look just like her, especially my hair. I actually laughed in his face when he told me this, what is the correct way to respond to the harmless stalker who is nuts, and blind apparently? (I almost felt like I must have switched lives with Chantal!)

Breast is Best!

To those who are interested (as I am) - in breastfeeding... Here's an article about how moms in the Philippines are being tricked into giving their infants formula instead of breastmilk. Each and every commercial break here encourages good parents to give their children some sort of "milk product" that is supposed to make their child smarter and healthier.
The worst offender of all is the Nestle corporation, who not only campaigns their products but also offers free samples to new mothers through health clinics. Only a later moms run out of formula, after their milk has already dried up, and now, like it or not, they're hooked!
Formula feeding depletes the family's resources and increases the occurence of health problems in the infant now and for life! Read this article for a bigger picture, click HERE.

Onward!

Life seems to be characterized by change! It really is the only constant. This weekend I moved, packed my things up one morning, stocked up a taxi, drove across town, and unpacked into my new room at the World Team Guesthouse. I will be living here for the next 3 months (so the plan is), and it is a wonderful spot - a little sanctuary at the end of the day! The house welcomes missionaries and other travellers during their stay in Manila, so new people are always coming through, it should be very interesting to meet so many different people.
I am beginning to volunteer with an organization, The Philippine Christian Foundation, that works to address the root causes of poverty in a couple of the poorest communities in Manila. One of these communities is based on the foot of Smokey Mountain, an infamous garbage dump site, lived on and worked through by whole families. Everyone from the children on up, work there, looking for recyclables and junk that can be sold. Another community is a squatter village located in a public cemetery. PCF is involved in education, health services, livelihood projects, literacy and skills training, social welfare and advocacy.
I really look forward to my time here with PCF, they are in the midst of great need and are doing excellent work on behalf of these communities. The heart is transformation and moving from charity to self-sustaining community life.
In the midst of all the "where" and the "what" changes are the emotional changes. My outlook on the year and on life is different now then when I came out here. I'm adjusting, I'm praying. I so appreciate your prayers. I look forward to entering a new rhythm, and to keeping you up-to-date with more pictures and stories.

Big Change

Forgive me for not posting in an inordinately long time, I've been contemplating a lot and facing a big decision. And all of it has had me quite preoccupied. But now the decision is made and I'm facing big changes.
With a lot of prayer and heart-searching I decided that I won't be finishing my program with the school I'm with. I am still passionate to become a midwife, to serve the poor and especially to care for women and children. But I really feel strongly that this wasn't the right path for me. I am wishing them well, and it is so sad to move away from the family I have been a part of here in Pingkian. I have had some of beautiful experiences in the last couple months, and these people really matter to me. This has been a tough choice.
But now I'm in the process of moving, both from my house and ministry. I will be volunteering here in the Philippines with a Christian development and social work foundation, and I will continue to study midwifery on my own. Later on this year I hope to re-enter midwifery training and ministry, and am really trusting God to lead that and put me in the right place at the right time.
I thank you - my friends for your love, support and prayers for me! This is as unexpected for you as it is for me. But I want you to know that I am trusting God, I feel safe in this choice, and feel like I'm being obedient to what He has put inside me. There is peace and joy!

Mini Eggs

I received a package from my folks yesterday! A very exciting event indeed! And my mother, knowing my great love of Mini Eggs sent me some, just in time for Holy Week.
And amazingly enough they didn't melt in transit. But did I mention that they got a little bit, umm, dented?
Don't worry Mom, I managed to eat them anyway!

Child - Sex - Slaves

"The boss is introduced to me by my local contact as "the chairman" - and half-jokingly "the underworld king". At this, the chairman smiles tightly - and it is hard to tell if he is flattered or angry...
He is disarmingly open about all this - explaining how he lies to the families, buys the girls, and then forces them into brothels....
He agrees to show me round his patch. A maze of dark crowded alleys, throbbing with karaoke music. Young girls hover inside the bars - some smiling, some not....
I met one girl who was 11. And another 14-year-old who believed she had been hired as a waitress, but ended up being raped by a Korean tourist who had paid for sex with a virgin."

Last week I was writing about our local brothel street, but as sad as that is, this story opens up a deeper and sadder reality. This is human trafficking, this is sexual slavery and we are talking about children! Read this article from BBC about sex slavery in the Philippines, but be ready, because it isn't for a moment vague about the world it is describing.
You may not have wanted to know, but I'm sorry I don't think not knowing is any ones' right. Please people - ask God, or examine your conscience, and decide what you can do, what you will do. And then determine to makes steps toward that goal TODAY! To read the article, click HERE.

This is the Day

I was closing in on the second lap of my morning run, when an unbeckoned song popped into my head; that classic Sunday School tune, "This is the Day." The words slipped from my mouth, while I panned the area to make sure no one could over hear, (which really shouldn't matter in a country where karoake is normal behaviour). "This is the day that the LORD has made, we will rejoice and be glad in it..."
So folks this was my day:
We visited Alma and her twins, and Mia did postpartum checkups all round.

One of Alma's beautiful daughters; Samaria, has claimed little Joseph (my favourite), as hers. She's pretty enthralled, and so motherly.
After posing with her boys, Samaria took helm with my camera and caught some shots of her own:
She catches a great smile from Ate Mia...
...while Ate Doris catches a wink and Alex entertains the neighbours...
...and I hold the boy with the greatest hair, so guwapo!
We stopped to visit 3 more recent deliveries - admiring babies, answering questions and doing checkups. As we rounded the bend to home we found some of our neighbour boys taking advantage of a breeze and flying small kites from the top of the garbage heap.
I don't feel like what we're doing here is very BIG, it certainly seems like half of a quarter of a drop in the bucket. And some days that is a real battle in my mind and my heart. But I have wise parents who stand beside me. And I have these good, sweet moments with our moms. And I am reminded that ultimately this is His day, I will rejoice and be glad to be a part of it. This is the day, this is day that LORD has made!

Joyful Moments

In the Philippines you call your elders Ate and Kuya, "big sister" and "big brother". And our Ate Doris is a darling friend who works with us in caring for moms and babes. We work in her community, with her neighbours, friends and family and she faithfully attends births, regularly finds new pregnant women, and translates for us. Her quiet and gentle spirit bless us, she works hard for her family and for the community, she is a sister in Christ and she is very special to us.
Last week, her eldest daughter Diane graduated from high school and we had the joy of giving her a grad gift - a new guitar! One of my deepest thrills is to give gifts, and this one was so meaningful! Diane and her younger sister Dorothy sing and play beautifully, they even win local contests, but previously they had to jam on a borrowed guitar. Now they have one for keeps. It was a beautiful moment for us, and Diane treated us to a mini concert right there!

Ate Doris and Diane.

This little one is my little Andrea Jesusa - she's one month already! Look at those little earings!