7/22 - Las Nieves

Got up at 7:30am, had oatmeal for breakfast at 8:30am. At 9:30am, a few of the Team went to talk to the Barangay Captain about possibly setting up a Tuli Day (the first here in Tinucoran) for next week.  He was gone, but they were given permission...now for dates...

Me and Kayla in Jordan's awesome hammock.....we have lots of stories me and Kayla with this hammock....like the time that I fell out of it when I tried to join her (found myself looking up at the sky with her holding my wrist...the only thing that kept me from breaking something!!), when there'd been no problem doing it vice-versa! (scared the guys really bad on that one)....from then on, for some odd reason, the guys always held it when we did doubles, and even singles were eyed at....I wonder why...???? LOL

At 10am, Lissa, Angela and I went to conduct a prenatal on the teacher. I was able to give Lissa practice palpating, as she hadn't yesterday, and everything went well. As I mentioned yesterday, there is a big difference between working at the clinic and being here. God has definitely been opening my eyes while here in the Philippines, showing me what the important things to learn are...and there is SO much to learn!! On our way back, we stopped by the Sari-Sari store for shampoo, as I accidentally brought conditioner with me!!

The guys and Sylvette got back at 12:30pm exactly, just in time for lunch, bringing the head supervisor for all Northern Mindanao - Eric with them. At 2pm, we went to Las Nieves (a neighboring town) for the "Gathering of the Disabled" where Jordan (with Bong translating) spoke out of Mark 2:1-12 about the paralytic man that Jesus healed. Jordan drew in illustration in our minds of imagining that the community gym we were in was packed full, the ceiling was a little lower, and we're all listening intently to Jesus, when all of a sudden, the tiles at the top open up, dumping dust onto the crowd below, and a bed is lowered through the whole!!!! How quiet it would get...everyone wondering what is going to happen...and what a perfect time it is for Jesus to share from His heart who He really is, why He is really there, and then heal this man--both of his sins and of his paralysis!!! 

Since we arrived at the tail end of the Gathering, there was a lot less people than originally.

We were honored to have a table, and treated to coke and cookies!!

It was amazing, because when Jordan did all this, I actually felt like I was back in time, in the room with Jesus, and was seeing it all happen...I felt like a little child again, in awe of this incomprehensible ungraspable reality...How amazing is our God??? We serve an Awesome God.

Angela doing a B/P, while Belle recorded and Lissa "supervised" ;)

The Waiting Line (Thanks Melyn for the pictures!)

Cleft Lip

Our Team, Officials, and some Participants:
Back Row: Officials, Participants, Bong, Lissa, me and Jordan
Front Row: Participant, Melyn, Angela, Belle, Sylvette, Arlin, Heather, Kayla, and Eric

Afterwards, we gave free vital checks to anyone who wanted them, and then went to the "Government Office" and stayed for a bit, chatting with the Government Staff, etc. before walking back home.

Kayla and Sylvette...had to much fun I think!!! :D

Bong, Arlin, Angela, and Belle at the Official's Office

Melyn, Bong, Eric, Arlin, Angela, Belle, and Jordan

Sylvette, Melyn, and Lissa

Though older than me by 2 years, Melyn is my 'baby' (she's also Lissa's baby)...now how does all that work???

Since we weren't sure how long the Gathering would take, we didn't schedule any Bible Studies for the afternoon, so everyone was able to relax a bit, which was nice. Eric and I had a really good discussion on our backgrounds...growing up, etc. and somehow, we got on the conversation of Creation, Fall and the God-Given Roles of men and women. It was really neat, because Jordan joined in, and the 3 of us all had our Bibles out, having mini Bible Study...for HOURS!!!  It was so invigorating and refreshing to be able to talk about deep subjects, without biases, or putting the other gender down (the Fall especially), and really delve into the deep subjects.... I only wished for my concordance!!!

How good it was to meet other people who are really wanting to know what the truth is, and not just what believe what is 'taught'...so good to meet others who believe the same on our Roles as Men and Women too......

We had dinner at 7pm-rice, pancit, Backpack Spaghetti and Beef Stew. Right before we were going to eat, the Electricity went out, so we ate by Flashlight ...... how romantic!! (NOT! ;p)

The best part was that we were almost done with Team Time, and were in the middle of praying for each other (who needs light then??), when the electricity came BACK on!!!!! Oh bother!!! LOL We were in bed by 10pm.

WHAT I LEARNED:
- What a refreshment it is to be able to have deep down Bible Studies with like-minded believers.
- How invigorating it is to know what the Truth is about our Roles as Men and Women.
- How God is there for us no matter what!!!!

Some Filipino friends started texted little nuggets of truth to me, starting today...here is today's:
You are better off to have a friend than to be alone....If you fall, your friend can help you up....But if you fall without having a friend nearby, you are really in trouble.  ~ Ecclesiastes 4:9-10
Your  heart will always be where your treasure is...  ~ Matthew 6:21


These were a real blessing today, because we weren't sure if we were going to be able to go to Casiklan at all...something I really wanted to be able to do....and so God sent these messages to me to encourage me.