I arrived in Tampa, Florida on Sunday, December 20th -- 5:20 PM, EST.
It was a trip that started when I left my apartment on Sunday, December 20th -- 2:30 AM, Manila time.
Yes, that was over 24 hours.

But, the trip went really well so I'm not complaining. :) I got an aisle seat ... with an EMPTY seat next to me for the entire flight from Manila to Nagoya and from Nagoya to Detroit. I landed in Detroit, had a yummy chocolatey treat and then got on my last flight -- where I was seated in first class!!

At the baggage claim of the Tampa Airport were my brother, sister-in-law and nephew waiting for me.

It's been good being here with them -- I've been wrapping presents, watching Christmas movies (yay for Hallmark, ABC Family, Lifetime cheese!!), eating well, sleeping A LOT, playing Trouble and thumb war, and having lots of hugs, kisses, snuggles and tickles.

It's really cold here in Tampa. REALLY cold.

Tomorrow some time my parents and sister should be arriving from Pennsylvania. Praying for good travel for them as they're driving down here. My mom is bringing with her a suitcase of winter clothes. I asked her to pack some stuff for me because on Christmas Day I head to URBANA!!!

YES!! URBANA 09!!!
That's how I got to be here for Christmas.

I'm so excited to be there. URBANA was one of the key experiences that God used to move me closer to getting more involved in the work of Wycliffe and moving me to Asia. I'm looking forward to how God will use the week again -- in the lives of participants that we get to interact with AND in my own life personally.

I've got two more days... then I take off for St. Louis!

Until then... sweet, precious family time celebrating Christmas. So very grateful for this.

When I'm up late and see Channel 2 sign off for the night, I get to see the Christmas season station ID -- the song, Star Ng Pasko. The song points to Jesus being the star of Christmas.

LSS (Last Song Syndrome -- a new term I learned from my friends here... hehehe) --- EVERY time I hear it, it sticks with me the rest of the day. It's a fun and catchy tune so really, I don't mind.

I finally Googled the lyrics -- no, I couldn't catch all the lyrics AND also understand it on my own.
And now that I have, I enjoy the song even more! Remembering that just a few months ago the country was devastated by typhoons, the lyrics take on even greater significance.

I've been enjoying my first Christmas season in the Philippines. This song is one thing I've especially loved!

Now, here for YOU... the Star Ng Pasko video with English subtitles. ENJOY!!!
(In this video you will see the "stars" of ABS-CBN, other celebrities, and "common folks.")

My job isn't the kind of job where I get up from the desk where I've sat for the last 8 hours and see a completed, finished, tangible something. Sometimes at the end of the day I think... what did I actually accomplish??

I think this is why I write lots of "THINGS TO DO" lists with even the tiniest of tasks written down.
Update team calendar. Reply to email. Register for training class.
I do a lot of email writing. Thinking. Reading. Planning. Writing plans. Making timelines.
In my job where I might not see a finished "product" for months, seeing check marks next to even tiny tasks at the end of the day helps me to feel like I've been productive.

Hmmm... so, what HAVE I been doing this week?

• I've been connecting with partners about an upcoming dedication of the first set of Bible stories in ONE of the Sign Languages used here in Asia.
• I reviewed videos that were produced as a result of work we did at the Kinaray-a Bible dedication.
• I worked with our production partner on plans for making some revisions to those videos.
• I helped fulfill some photo requests.
• I worked on making plans for my trip to the States.
• I got my fingerprints done. Hehehe!
  
• I did some follow up work on some stuff from my trips to South Asia last month.

Sometimes I get discouraged. Sometimes it feels like I have nothing to "show" for my work. This is the nature of the kind of work I do. So, I have to be okay with that. Simply putting a check mark by "Send email to So-and-So" sometimes is the most important and most productive accomplishment. And, I just need to trust that in the end it contributes to something greater.

The week isn't over yet... so, here's to more check marks! Ha!
(I know... I'm so task, performance-oriented!... God's working on that in me!)

Our team is starting to use a new online, shared calendar. I'm so excited. I love being organized and knowing what's coming up -- not just for me, but for our whole team.

I'm starting to put dates down in the calendar. I've blocked out time at the beginning of January when I'll be in the States. I've put down trips to South Asia at the end of January, end of March, and for sometime in August/September. I've blocked out time in February / March when my parents will be in town. I've penciled in the dates that my friend, Cheeryl, will be in Manila.

Busy already! And these are only the things that I know about -- right now.

Working with so many organizations throughout this huge region of Asia and the Pacific, there are so many opportunities!! But, there's only so much time. I'm anticipating that each of our calendars will be packed throughout the year.

There are lots of things that we are working on now to improve ourselves as a team and what we can offer to our partner organizations.
Photo-sharing website. Monsoon website. File-sharing network, Monsoon Central. Processes.

We're already working on some things with people in the area.
Branding. Communications strategy plans. Websites. Videos. Sooo many other projects.

We have some new team members joining us in the early part of the year.
Welcome, Rachel and Eric!

And we have some exciting ideas that we're pursuing.
Vision trip. Traveling training workshops. Journalism team.

I have a feeling...
2010 is going to be a great year.
Will pray for it. Will believe it!

The instructions were to bring...

"A reused, reduced, recycled gift --- yes, we'll have an exchange gift BUT with no price tags attached.
Meaning, you cannot buy anything. Be creative --- create something new with whatever you have around your house or office. Something Christmasy, something meaningful, something you!"

So, this morning at 7 AM (YES!! 7 AM!!) we met at Starbucks for our combo Christmas / Birthday Celebration. (Two of our teammates have birthdays this month. Yay for Cathy and Oliver!)

We enjoyed some breakfast, prayer for the birthday celebrants, sharing about our Christmas traditions... and our Christmas gift exchange!

I got a fun, fun gift that Dawn gave.
The card on the package read, "Enjoy this ready-when-you-are gift to go. Merry Christmas!"
It was a perfect combo of travel goodies! There were headphones (compliments of Thai Airways), toiletries (compliments of various hotels in Asia) in a little cosmetics bag (compliments of Singapore Airlines), tissues (a necessity on the road!), and socks (hmmm.. couldn't identify the airline on that one... I'm thinking it's the Delta blue). To round the whole package out perfectly she included the book, Around the World in 80 Days!

Oh, you can never have too many travel goodies... especially doing this job!

It's so fun working with our team. I find the people on our team to be...

• fun.
• creative.
• enjoyable.
• thoughtful.
• Christ-lovers.

Paperwork is in process for my visa here in the Philippines to be renewed.
I went today to get fingerprinted for my residency card.
Next week my passport should be ready ... and in it should be my new one-year visa!!

I really hope that it will be ready! I'm supposed to leave for the States next Sunday. Kind of need my passport for that. Ha! (Oh yes, that reminds me!! MORE ON THAT LATER!!!)

Sam and I shared a taxi to the Bureau of Immigration. I had to laugh when he reached back to put his seat belt on. Can you see why??

When we arrived, Kuya Jun was already there with all my paperwork in hand. All I had to do was follow him to the finger stamping lady. It took Sam and I about an hour and half to travel there... and took me less than 5 minutes to finish what needed to be done.
But, I'm definitely NOT complaining! It's great to have colleagues who take care of so much work on behalf of those of us who work in the area and help us know how to best go through these processes. "Yay!" for my friends in Visa Travel Services who track when when I need to renew my visa and help to make sure it all gets done right! (... and so many more other things!) Don't know what I'd do without their help!!

RANDOM: Tomorrow is our team's Christmas Party (7 IN THE MORNING!!! at Starbucks). We're supposed to bring an exchange gift ... reused, recycled -- nothing new or bought. I made theses magazine trees. Kind of fun. I didn't bring much crafty stuff with me and I haven't accumulated much in my house yet. So I was glad to find this fun idea online.

I've been missing having "Christmas" in my house. I don't have any Christmas lights up. I don't have a tree. I have no decorations.

I've been wanting to dress up my place for Christmas, but honestly I'm just too lazy and there are other things that NEED to be done. So, buying or making decorations is at the bottom of my priority list.

I came into the office today and was sooo HAPPY!!!
Decorations!!
I spend most of my awake time in the office, so seeing decorations hanging up around my desk made me smile.
I have Christmas music loaded on my iPod so it makes for a fun and festive work environment.

Thanks to Kuya Noel for making it merry on the 3rd floor!



Favorite Christmas Albums to listen to this year:

• Where God Wants to Be - Northland Church
• Elf: The Soundtrack
• When Harry Met Sally: The Soundtrack

This past weekend I got to spend time with some family. It's been a long while since I last saw them (September?).

I think that is one of my big disappointments of my first year in Manila.
When I was preparing to move here I was so excited at the thought of being able to spend time and get to know family here. Growing up in the States, I didn't even meet most of my family here in the Philippines until after I graduated college. I'm really thankful that I've had the chance to meet most of my cousins during different visits to the Philippines. Now that I'm living in the Philippines it's my hope to spend time with them and get to know them.

Unfortunately, in this past year I haven't been able to spend a lot of time visiting with family. In this past year it's felt like I've traveled a lot. And, when I've not been traveling I find that I take my weekends to just veg out -- meaning... stay at home and have movie marathons while wearing my PJs. Hehehe.

I have loved when I've been able to spend time with family. Hopefully, I'll be able to do more of it in the upcoming year!!!
Rivera connections. Starbucks. Brothers Burgers. Yum treat of Crepes and Cream. Nieces and nephews sleep over. George Foreman "toaster." CCF. Day at Podium. Non stop eating and drinking. Heavenly Mary Grace Cheesecake. Pizza and Pasta Dinner. Hearing the testimony of God's faithfulness. Free WiFi Fun.

Ann and Oliver work with Monsoon. I spent most of the day today with them and their 3 girls.

We took the morning to take some photos of their family and followed their photo session with some fun. We had free donuts at Krispy Kreme, lunch at Trellis, grocery shopping at Metro, and browsing at Fully Booked.

We went to one of my favorite places here -- the Serendra, Market! Market!, High Street area. It was so fun to have "family time" there with them. I enjoyed watching the girls play hide-and-seek. I liked having lunch with a full table with a family around it. It was fun seeing the different personalities of the kids and see which parent they seemed most like. It was a fun day.

I love being able to take photos of people for them. When I was in South Asia, there were some kids who wanted me to take their pictures and asked me to send copies to them. (Eek! I still have to do that!) I want to improve on taking photos so I can give more / better to people. I enjoy doing it. Capturing moments. Sharing images.

Hoping to actually do something about this desire in 2010!

The Philippines does Christmas season... BIG TIME!
The season started in September (during the "...ber" months)!
Christmas music was being played, stores had their Christmas displays up, and we were already getting notices about our office Christmas party!

Tonight felt like the "official" kick-off of the Christmas season here in Ortigas.

"Christmas of Hope" -- the celebratory lighting of 2 huge Christmas trees in the center of the city.
A local band kicked off the celebration playing Christmas carols and other fun tunes. After a few words from local officials, the Christmas lights were switched on, music was played, free food was given out and FIREWORKS were set off!

It was a lot of fun! Kind of made me wish I'd be here for Christmas... but there's always next year! (more about my Christmas plans ... later!)

As always, the challenge this time of year is enjoying the festive mood and celebrations... while remembering and staying focused on the One we're celebrating.

Happy December!
Blessed Advent...

Ok, a pretty horribly taken video off my little camera... but just to give you an idea of what the night was like in Ortigas.

I just got back from a great Thanksgiving dinner at Dawn and Nate's house.
Even though they just got back from a trip out of the country, they invited the whole bunch of us over for Thanksgiving dinner. What great people, huh?? :)

The dinner was DELICIOUS... turkey, dressing, broccoli salad, jello salad, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, green beans, gravy, cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie, and cherry pie. EVERYTHING was absolutely DELICIOUS!!

But honestly, the greatness of the evening wasn't so much in the food (while it was GREAT!!!) as much as it was in everything that the night communicated to me...

The blessings of...

• family
• friends
• home
• home away from home
• generosity
• hospitality
• provision
• friendship
• self-sacrifice
• joy in serving others
• laughter
• the gift of time

Nate read to us a portion of George Washington's Thanksgiving Day proclamation.
It talks about having "a day of public thanksgiving and prayer, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God..."

That is Thanksgiving -- recognizing and acknowledging our Almighty and Gracious God.
We went around the room and people shared one thing that they were thankful for this past year. I have a lot that I'm thankful for -- especially looking back on this past year. For some reason I didn't share anything. Don't know why... but I'll share now...

I think the biggest thing I am thankful for in this past year is ... I'm never alone.
I find it kind of odd that I'd choose to say that because that truth has been probably the truth I've struggled with most in this past year. That is the thing that God has continued to challenge me with and encourage me in.

Now, believe me... there are a lot of times when I feel alone. There are a lot of times when I even WANT to FEEL alone and throw myself a little pity party.

But, God has in this past year has really been working in me the truth that I'm never alone -- He is always with me and in truth, there is great confidence and joy in that.

He is with me in the hope, promises and truths in His Word.
He is with me in comfort and presence.

And, in His grace... He expresses His love and presence through His people that He surrounds me with. They extend His love graciously in their friendship and their walking with me in life.

God is good.
His love is perfect, unfailing and forever faithful.

Happy Thanksgiving, friends!

The Valley of Vision:
A collection of Puritan Prayer and Devotions (p. 15)

O my God,
Thou fairest, greatest, first of all objects,
my heart admires, adores, loves thee,
for my little vessel is as full as it can be,
and I would pour out all that fullness before thee in ceaseless flow.

When I think upon and converse with thee
ten thousand delightful thoughts spring up,
ten thousand sources of pleasure are unsealed,
ten thousand refreshing joys spread over my heart,
crowding into every moment of happiness.

I bless the for the soul thou hast created,

for adorning it, sanctifying it, though it is fixed in barren soil;
for the body thou has given me,
for preserving its strength and vigour,
for providing senses to enjoy delights,
for the ease and freedom of my limbs,
for hands, eyes, ears that do thy bidding;
for thy royal bounty providing my daily support,
for a full table and overflowing cup,
for appetite, taste, sweetness,
for social joys of relatives and friends,
for ability to serve others,
for a heart that feels sorrows and necessities,
for a mind to care for my fellow-men,
for opportunities of spreading happiness around,
for loved ones in the joys of heaven,
for my own expectation of seeing thee clearly.

I love thee above the powers of language to express, for what thou art to thy creatures.

Increase my love, O my God, through time and eternity.

Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth.
Serve the Lord with gladness;
Come before Him with joyful singing.
Know that the Lord Himself is God;
It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;
We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.
Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise.
Give thanks to Him, bless His name.
For the Lord is good;
His lovingkindness is everlasting
And His faithfulness to all generations.

- Psalm 100

Oh, today was a VERY, VERY FUN day at work!!!!

It was Dawn's birthday on Monday. Kenji's birthday was last month while he was away.
So, today we celebrated the two of them with a surprise birthday party.
Balloons, party hats, food and CAKE! It was a fun lunch time celebration.

After lunch I had a meeting, did some work... and then a call from downstairs!
"Come down, we're having cake, homemade hot fudge and ice cream!"
Two of our colleagues are heading home this Friday and won't be back until after the New Year. They treated us to afternoon merienda as an early Christmas celebration. Oh their homemade hot fudge is INCREDIBLE!!!

I headed back upstairs for a few more hours of work. And then I got distracted... the Christmas lights were turned on outside on the city streets. And, it was beautiful! I took some pictures from out of the window and then decided that the view from up top would probably be better.

So, Rexey and I asked our so friendly and helpful building staff if we could get on the 4th floor. Not only did we get to go to the 4th floor, but Kuya also let us climb up to the upper roof. The view from there was BEAUTIFUL!!! All around us were the buildings and the twinkling city lights. ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL!!

Okay, honestly...I almost missed out on seeing it.

When we got to the 4th floor Kuya pointed to the metal ladder that leads up to the upper roof and said it's better from up there. No problem, I thought. So, I stepped up and started to climb and then all of a sudden started to get fearful. So I stepped down, back to the ground and said never mind.

Rexey was so quick. She got up on the ladder and just made her way up. And when she got to the top I heard her expression -- one that made me feel ... "Oh! I don't want to miss out on that!"

And so... I put down cellphone, my keys, and my camera. I decided I'd get back up on that ladder, climb all the way up -- and see the view for myself. Oh and it was worth the few minutes of nervousness!!! It was beautiful!

Kuya and Rexey were so good at encouraging me when I decided that I would go up (and when I was having a hard time getting back on the ladder to go back down! HAHAH!). I was so glad that they were there to encourage me -- not to push me or force me -- but to sweetly encourage me to not miss out on something great.

I'm thankful that in my life God has put people alongside me and has challenged me with moments like that.
Moments when I have the chance to look at the opportunities, recognize feelings of fear and uncomfortableness, and have the opportunity to choose to move forward or stay stuck.

A fun day.

Living in the U.S. I would regularly be asked the questions... "What are you?" "Where are you from?"... the questioner obviously trying to find out my ethnic heritage. Usually I'd make it difficult for them and answer the question with, "I'm a student." or "I was born in Connecticut."

Hahaha! I know... I'm such a meanie!

I grew up with getting those questions constantly. I got used to and came to expect to be asked the question shortly after meeting people. Usually when I was young, people would tell me with insistence, "Oh, you're Chinese." When I'd correct them, they'd still insist because I think during those days, that was all that people were familiar with. OR, they'd give me one of my favorite responses... "Oh, well... you all look alike." (Which... in all fairness, with the diversity of people throughout Asia, it is hard to know where people are from!)

I thought that when I moved to the Asia area, that I'd stop getting asked that question. I'm finding however... I still get asked that question. :)

Today I got into an FX. The driver asked me where I was going and I replied IN TAGALOG.
We exchanged a few other sentences in Tagalog after which he asked, "Where are you from?"
I giggled. I figured it was my Tagalog that prompted that question. It usually is.
I told him that I was born and raised in the States, but that I live here now. And I told him, that I'm Filipino -- my parents were from here in the Philippines.
"Oh! I thought that maybe you're from Singapore or Taiwan."
Hmmm... so it wasn't just my Tagalog, it was my look too??
"Why? Don't I look Filipino??"
"Uh. Well... maybe," he said looking back through his rearview mirror.
I turned and looked at him in the mirror so he could see my face. At which he then said, "Ah. Yes! Ilong Pinoy."

Haha!!!
He basically told me that yes, I did look Filipino because I had the nose of a Filipino.
HAHAH!!!! Oh, my nose!!!!

You have to understand. My brother and I were the only Filipinos in our elementary school -- probably the only Asians. Our neighborhood had families of Italian, Jewish, and other European descents. There just weren't that many Asian families around. I was teased once getting off the school bus because of how I looked.

As a very sensitive young girl I just wanted to be seen as pretty and I wondered if I would ever be seen that way when I looked SOO different from everyone else. Honestly, my nose was a sore-spot for me. I remember trying to use clothes pins to make it taller, narrower. I remember being told not to make certain faces because it would make my nose bigger. While I never really would have done it, I imagined what it would be like to have a nose job. THAT is how self-conscious I was about my nose.

Ah, but today!!! Being told that I have the nose of a Filipino -- there was a sense of pride in my heart when that driver told me that. There was a feeling of belonging. There was a feeling that YES! something to identify me with my heritage!

I get asked pretty frequently what it is like being here in Manila as a Filipino American. I don't really know how to answer that question. I don't have anything to compare it with. Being a Filipino American is just who I am.

But, I do know this. I love being here. I am appreciating the opportunities I have to see how God weaves every bit of me together...my Filipino heritage, my life in America, my citizenship in Heaven ... He uses it all in the formation of who I am. And, I hope to recognize it all, appreciate it all...and glorify God with every bit of me.

So, I've been mistaken for being...
Korean, Thai, Chinese, Indonesian, ... you name it, I've probably been mistaken for it. I actually kind of like it. It kind of makes me feel like I'm "one with" wherever I go.

If you didn't know me... what would your guess be?? :)

One of the big things that God is continuing to work on in my life is my tendency to be stubbornly independent. In the last couple of years God has been revealing to me over and over again my stubborn independence. I'm not talking about the good, healthy, respectable independent. I'm talking about the attitude of "I will do this on my own," "I don't need anyone to do this," -- that kind of independence.

This past weekend I realized that God has blessed me with lots of people who take good care of me. And, I found... it was a blessing.

• While we were traveling, Dawn and I stayed at a hotel that was around the corner from where we had our meetings. Each night someone would have the duty of walking us safely to our place. What a blessing.
• When I stayed at my friend's house and got sick, she so kindly fed me just what I needed... even getting me just the right fruit. What a blessing.
• When I needed to get to a camera shop to unexpectedly replace a piece of equipment... friends took time out of their busy schedule to travel in busy traffic to accompany me to get everything I needed. What a blessing.
  
• I hopped into an FX this morning to go to church. I was the only one in the FX so I had a nice chat with the driver. When we got to the place where I was going to get off, instead of pulling to the side of the road he made a left turn."Ummm... this is where I'll get off," I reminded him."Yes," the driver replied, "I'll just take you all the way. That way you don't have a hard time walking. I'll just drop you there by the church." What a blessing.
  
• At church, Nanay Lucy kind of took me under her wing introducing me to pretty much all the ladies in the church. One by one she'd take me over to them and introduce me. And when it was time for me to go, she walked me to the door of the church and gave me the "Now, you be careful," talk.What a blessing.
  

Nice. It IS nice to have someone(s) to watch over me.
I don't think that I always resp0nd with such gratitude. So, it gives me hope that I'm finding these as blessings ... I do believe that God is working in me.

I think that in my family growing up there were some twists in some of the menus for traditional American holidays. I think that mostly on holidays we thought of food we wanted to eat and had that. I remember one Christmas we had lobster. Not exactly the traditional holiday fare. :)

But I think that as we each got more and more exposed to what some of the foods other American families would traditionally have on their tables, we started to enjoy adding them to our holiday meals. Things like... sweet potatoes with marshmallows, green bean casserole, dressing, and... cranberry sauce.

Growing up I don't ever remember having cranberry sauce on our Thanksgiving table. Some time after I graduated from college I went home to spend Thanksgiving with my family. I was surprised when I heard that we HAD to have cranberry sauce --- with the ridges. Wow! Since when?? Apparently at some point we (I think initiated by my sister) added cranberry sauce to our Thanksgiving Day menu.

I went to the grocery store today. There on the shelf was a can of Ocean Spray Whole Berry Cranberry Sauce -- ridges and all. I picked it up and tossed it into my cart. I have no idea what I'll eat with it. I won't be cooking a Thanksgiving meal for myself :) But I'll enjoy some ridged cranberry sauce, think of my family, and give thanks for them and all the other many, many blessings God has showered on me.

If you're wondering... there will be no paper turkeys, no pilgrim hats, no deep-fried turkeys, no Macy's parade, no black-Friday shopping craziness, and NO DAYS OFF here in the Philippines. (Hehehe... Pilgrims didn't land over here :))
BUT... there will be the giving of thanks!
And, I will get to enjoy a Thanksgiving Day meal -- I'll join some others at the guest house where we'll share in a holiday meal together (one that I don't have to cook!)

Hope you all have a wonderful HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

I haven't had a REAL day off in a while.
There was the day while I was away when I was sick... but even that day I did work from home.
So, today I planned to take a REAL day off.

I started out the day packing up a bag to take around with me for the day.
I packed up my computer, my journal, my Bible, my iPod and my little notebook... my little notebook with my list of things to do.

This morning I had updated my little notebook organizing all my tasks into new lists. I ended up with SIX pages of lists organized by clients, miscellaneous work tasks, personal stuff and personal ministry stuff.

I grabbed my bag and headed to my destination -- a nearby hotel where I planned to just getaway. I arrived and found the beautiful spot where I wanted to sit ... unoccupied and in the SHADE! YAY!!!!!

I sat, pulled out my journal and my Bible... and found myself preoccupied with my lists. I pulled out my iPod and stuffed the buds in my ears, blasted some music and tried to drown out my thoughts with the music. It kind of helped.

Maybe if I had left my computer and my little notebook behind it would have been easier to not think about work stuff. DUH! The thing is -- I really do enjoy my work. I really do want to see the things on my list done.

But, my life isn't just work. I need times to REST, to RELAX, to HAVE FUN. I need to just let things go! :)

So, I tried to read more. I journaled some more. After a while, I decided to leave that spot and head to the mall. I went to the bookstore and picked up a new book. I sat and read leisurely as I had my lunch.

After some time I left that mall and went to another mall where I was going to meet my mom's cousin ( I call him my uncle) and his son (I call him my cousin). We sat in a coffee shop and chatted for a while. While my uncle went for a reunion with old coworkers, my cousin and I wandered the mall. We had dinner together (Yay pizza! Oh how I missed you the last few weeks!!), circled the mall a few times and had a fun photo shoot at the movie theater. No, we didn't actually WATCH a movie, just had fun with the posters. Ha!

It ended up being an enjoyable day. A few thoughts that resulted from today...
1 - It shouldn't be so hard to turn OFF the work switch. Why do I find it so difficult?
2 - As much as I liked the little spot of beauty I retreated to today, I miss spreading out on the grass. Guess I'm still looking for my favorite perfect spot here. :(
3 - God is sooo patient with me and all my silliness :)

(NOTE: My fellow photo shoot model is Daryle, son of my Tito Edmond and Tita Knel. The last time I saw him was on my very first trip to the Philippines in 1999. After that trip I prayed that I'd have the chance to return to the Philippines for a long period of time. Thankful for the sweet ways God fulfills our desires in His timing and in His ways.)

Today was a work-out-of-the-office day. I enjoy days like this every once in a while. Sometimes it just helps me to be in a different environment. Sometimes it helps me to work away from everything and everyone so I can just focus and tune everything out but what I'm working on.

I had an appointment this morning over at another office that pretty much kept me busy until lunch time.
I went straight from my appointment over to the mall where I had lunch and did some work.
I have a whole list of things that I need to get to as a result of the trips that I just came back from.
It's the kind of list where I look at it and I'm not exactly sure where to start.

There are some things that are more important and critical. But, they also take a lot of brain power and more time. When I sat down to work today, I just couldn't get myself to start on anything that required ANY brain power. So, I decided to do some work on sorting through photos I took on the trip.

I opened up my folders of images and did some tossing of photos and some tweaking of photos.

I just enjoyed reliving my experiences as I looked through the photos. I laughed a little bit looking at the faces of the cute little kids. I thought about the words they tried to teach me to say and how they laughed at me when I'd say them. I got a little sad as I looked at the photo of the father and son -- and thought of how they are in the midst of a faith battle as the father goes through cancer treatment. I smiled as I looked at the group of siblings that came to the center for worship. I smiled bigger as I remembered when the young brother ran away from us and returned on a bike asking me to take a snap -- full shot -- of him and the bike. Sweet little moments that I got to relive as I opened up each photo.

I was sitting outside of the shop with my iPod buds in my ears and my peppermint mocha frappucino in hand. On the other side of the glass -- pretty much directly across from me -- there was a man eating his lunch. There were a couple of times when I noticed he was facing my way and it seemed like he was trying to figure me out.
Ha! I wonder what he thought I was up to as my facial expressions probably changed every minute or so.

A little bit of me wanted to turn my computer around and face it to him so that I could show off my new friends. But I didn't. He could care less.

I find it's one of the hard things about experiencing things alone. It's hard to try to share about those experiences with others in a way meaningful to me... AND to the those I'm sharing with. And to realize that likely no one will fully appreciate or care about all the details as I do...and that that's okay.

Still learning how to do it well. :)

Me. My iPod (set to the "As the Deer" Genius playlist). My journal. My Bible. My Lord.

The setting? The Cheesecake, etc. restaurant in The Podium -- dressed up for the Christmas season!

After trips I usually need about a day to mentally and emotionally process my time away. I need concentrated time to think back at what happened, journal, read, pray.

I was gone a long time. I worked pretty much non-stop while I was gone. I got to experience so much. I met a lot of people. I heard a lot of things that were challenging to me. There's a lot to process. :)

I slept in today. It was wonderful.
(Except for that I didn't get to call my parents as I had planned. Sorry, Mommy and Daddy!) After finally waking up and getting ready, I took a couple of hours today to spend some time alone before going into the office for a meeting. I've just skimmed the surface so far.

There are some immediate things that I have to do for work as follow ups from my trips. So, I'll go to work tomorrow and Thursday to complete those things.

Today was good. I was really glad that I got to spend a little time journaling. And, it was great getting to see my friends in the office again.

I'm hoping to take Friday off to finish catching up with myself (and also with my prayer and ministry partners!)

...get stuck at the airport in Singapore!

I got off the plane and headed to the TRANSFER E counter where I was to check in and get my boarding pass for my flight back home to Manila. I had traveled overnight and was asleep pretty much until the lights came on and passengers flew up to get their bags.

Read that as... I'm tired, it's been a long trip ... and I'm ready to be home.

So, there I was at TRANSFER E. A tourist group was gathered at the ticket counter getting all checked in. With their matching red bags, they were a fun and lively group. After they all went through, it was finally my turn to check in.

The nice airline lady greeted me "Good Morning!" in Tagalog. It was so nice to hear it. Made me excited to be back home. She click clicked away on the keyboard and had me checked in.

...But, she couldn't print my boarding pass.
She apologized, but said that the computer system was not allowing her to print my boarding pass. I couldn't fly back to Manila without a ticket out of Manila.

"Huh?"
If you've been following my updates, you know that I've done enough travel in and out of Manila this past year -- it's never been a problem.

"SIGH. I'm not allowed to go back home," I thought.

After asking more questions to understand the situation and making sure they knew the visa I had to be in country, they were able to make a good case to the manager who had the authority to override the system. 30 minutes later, boarding pass printed -- I'm ready to go home.

As she was working it all out and I was doing my normal catastrophizing -- I thought... worse case... I get stuck in Singapore until it gets sorted out. Ha! It would be like a forced vacation. So, if I'm ever going to get stuck anywhere... let it be here. ;)

I met with a colleague today at a great coffee shop. Very comfy. Cool atmosphere. Free wifi. Great drinks.

We sat and talked for well over two hours. For pretty much the entire time that we were there, they played the song, "Because You Loved Me." I think it was a karaoke CD. It sounded like it was on a cycle of the demo version, the performance track, the performance track with background vocals...and repeat. Regardless... the same song -- over and over and over again.

Probably about an hour into our meeting I joked with my colleague about how they must really love this song. My colleague explained to me that sometimes if the shop doesn't have a lot of variety of music from western culture, they will play what they do have on "repeat." They want to be kind and serve well their visiting customers by playing music that might be familiar to us.

I was touched by that gesture. I mean really, they have to listen to it over and over and over again also! I was also kind of sad (not sure that's the right word) that they felt that they needed to do that... I enjoy listening to music and I would appreciate the chance to hear local music too. But, I guess not all their patrons might feel that way??

*NOTE: not all shops play just one song. I had dinner and dessert one night the other week with friends. One shop had the best mix of Michael Buble-type music and the other had great dance, remix music. :)

I don't THINK that I typically use the "thumbs-up" gesture in my daily life. At least I'm not aware that I do??
I normally think of it as something a greasy-haired, middle-aged, trying-to-be-cool guy does. Usually it seems cheesy looking to me. (At least when I do it I think I probably look cheesy and geeky).
To me, the thumbs up sign doesn't really give off the cool "Fonzie" "Aaay" vibe that it once had.

So then, why do I find myself giving people the thumbs up sign ... in cultures where it's TOTALLY inappropriate and communicates something entirely different?

No, it doesn't say "Aay" or "Alright" or "Okay" or anything positive -- and I've been advised to NOT use it in certain places. You'd think that would not be a problem since I normally don't give people the thumbs up. But of course not... I find myself in those places giving people a cheesy smile and an enthusiastic thumbs up. UGH!

I think the next time I'm here I'll tie a ribbon around my thumb as a reminder. Ha! :)

I think I must be the human equivalent of the mosquito's "Chocolate Buffet."
There is something about my blood that they find incredibly appetizing.

I have shared rooms with people before when I was up all night bothered by the little buggers as they slept soundly. The mosquitos keep me up all night feasting on me and leaving their itchy marks behind. They keep me awake buzzing right into ears.

While I've been here at the Prayer Garden conference center, the room where I'm staying put a sweet little treat under my pillow - a mosquito net. This has been my first time to sleep using one. It's WONDERFUL!!! I've gotten very few bites while I've been here. I am able to sleep without having to pull the covers up over my head and ears to keep those noisy little guys from my ears.

It's pretty handy. They had hooks on the walls so it's all ready to hang. Climbing into bed it makes me feel like I'm a baby in a playpen, I'm like in a death bed (don't know why it makes me feel that way) AND... the image I prefer... a queen in her royal bed. Hahaha!

Tonight, I was standing around talking with a group of girls while waiting for movie night to begin.
I used one of the girls’ names in conversation and all of a sudden it became the “test-Aileen-on-her-name-recall” game.

As I went around the circle, I surprised myself as I remembered each of their names…
“Papri… Tonni… Sika (which I think I’ve been pronouncing correctly as Cheek-ah) … oooh… drawing a blank…”
I tried the whole A…B…C… nothing.
One of her friends stood behind her trying to give me clues to help me out.
Nope. Not triggering anything.

Finally, they splurt her name out for me.
The name I forgot?
SYLVIA.
Yes, go figure! I remember the new names that are unfamiliar to me … and forget good ol’ Sylvia!

During my time in Orlando, there were a few months (maybe even several? – or maybe it just felt that way:) ) when one of my friends, Craig, was working on editing a music video using the then-popular, “I Can Only Imagine,” by Mercy Me.

At that time we both would get to work pretty early. He’d edit in the production room with the door open and he’d have the volume up loud.

There are various stages of love / hate with production music I think. When you find just the right music … love it. As you’re starting to work with it … love it. When you find just the right footage to go at just the right spots … love it. When you have played it – or more phrases of it -- over and over and over and over again … hate it. Okay, maybe it’s not HATE, but you definitely could probably go without ever hearing it again.

After hearing it millions of times over, Craig did a beautiful job with that piece.

Today, I got to watch it with about 200, 18-25 year olds… in South Asia!!

I wasn’t actually in the meeting room when I heard the first opening notes. I was walking towards the cooking area when I heard the first three notes. Immediately I thought … it’s “Only Imagine!” I turned around, ran up the stairs, walked into the room, saw the cloud graphics… and got chills. There was just something about seeing a room full of young people in this country watching a video that was done by one of my friends – clear on the other side of the world. Who knows how God may have or will use that short piece to inspire something new in one of those young students' lives.

As I watched it, it made me think to my days back in Orlando and how grateful I am to have had that time there – and for all the people who were a part of that experience. And, for making my present experiences possible through their example and encouragement… among many other things.

I really like where we're staying for the conference and I'm grateful that there was enough room for me to stay here for the week instead of commuting each day.

The room is very nice and very comfortable. There's AC, a ceiling fan, nice comfortable beds (with mosquito nets!) and private bathrooms. Yes... bathrooms. There are two bathrooms you can choose from!

Behind door one is a bathroom more typical in some of the Asian countries we visit. There is a shower in this bathroom, but there's also a bucket for bucket showers.

Behind door two is a typical western bathroom with toilet and shower.

This is the first time I've been some place with TWO bathrooms in the room!

What I'm especially happy about regarding the bathrooms ... there's HOT WATER. :)

I was supposed to stay at my friend, Catherine's, for the week.
Yesterday, however, I found out that the location of the conference I'm attending is over an hour and a half away.
So, I got a week's worth of clothing from the visitor's closet (Muriel's Closet), ironed it all, got some snacks, packed up my stuff last night and will move over to the conference center housing today. I'll stay there until the end of the conference.

On its own the commute isn't too bad. What makes it difficult to manage? The conference starts EARLY and ends LATE. Meaning...I'd have to go there EVEN EARLIER... and leave from there EVEN LATER. As much as I appreciate my friend's hospitality and enjoy staying at her place... better I stay nearby the conference itself.

What conference am I attending?
The Students Mission Conference! Over 200 students (young adults ages 18-25) will attend this conference where they will get to hear about missions and be challenged to participate themselves. It is one of the first EVER of this size in the country. EXCITING!!!

So, why am I attending?
Well, I'm not really attending. I'll be helping out one of the teams that is organizing this conference. I'll be helping them with taking some photos and working with some volunteers they have. Together we'll interview some of the student participants, speakers, local church leaders, and conference organizers for videos they will produce in the future.

Yay! Exciting!

Another exciting thing??? While I was at the store getting some snacks I found some Tim Tams. YUMMMY!!! Yes, I'm feeling better :)

I arrived at my friend's house at about 5:00 PM Sunday afternoon.
Yes, over 16 hours of travel.
I started to feel a little funny at the airport when we landed.
Surely it was just the need for some sleep and a shower, I thought.

I spent the rest of the afternoon and most of the evening... in the bathroom. SIGH.
Not fun!
You know, if I'm going to be doing all this travel, my stomach better toughen up! (I've always had a sensitive stomach. Missed many classes during college because of eating something bad at a restaurant).
My theory -- I ate something bad on the plane??? I felt fine before I left :)

I woke up this morning and still wasn't feeling great so I decided to stay home to rest. I'm glad I did. I got a lot of sleep, spent more time in the bathroom, started to eat a little bit... and now I'm starting to feel a little better.

I also got to take some time to look through some of the photos from my trip. I think back on the week I had... I feel good about it. One thing I asked people to pray for was that God would be present. That He would inspire our thinking and guide and direct our time together. I totally believe that prayer was answered. I am thankful - so thankful!

At the same time I wish I could have done more. As I looked through photos it made me think... I wish I had talked more with people. I look at the photos and think there's so much more I could learn about them... from them. SIGH - oh well... lesson learned??

I'm posting some photos on my facebook and flickr pages... hope you enjoy them!

The drive from where I was staying to the airport was 4 hours long.
I was picked up around 11:30 PM. Thankfully, I've been gifted with the ability to sleep pretty much anywhere. So, I got into the front passenger seat (on the left side of the car, by the way), buckled the seat belt, and sat back for my four-hour nap. For the most part, the ride was fine.

I could feel the car swerving in and out of traffic. I could feel the quick acceleration and quick stops as the driver would pass trucks and quickly get back in line with the approach of oncoming traffic. Most of the time I slept through it.

I was asleep when I felt the car coming to a FAST stop. My body jerked forward into the seat belt and my eyes snapped open. Right in front of my window hundreds and hundreds of little beady eyes. It took me a minute to wake up and figure out what was happening -- and what I was seeing. A truck loaded with live chicken... and we were driving right into it. I know my eyes must have gotten five times bigger. I imagined us crashing into the truck, the windshield giving way -- and me with hundreds of these little chicken with their little beady eyes squawking in my face.

But, that was just my imagination. Our driver was an expert driver speeding us along through the night traffic. We stopped millimeters away from the back of truck and I got to just watch the little guys from a distance.

... until our driver decided it was ready to pass them and move us along.

to say goodbye.

I'm finishing up my stay here.
In a little over 24 hours I'll be heading back to the airport to take off for my next destination in South Asia.

I've had a great week here.

While I love going to new places, meeting new people and enjoying new experiences, I do find it difficult -- the constant leaving of places. It's almost like I'm distributing myself ... leaving bits and pieces of me along the way. It's kind of a weird feeling spending so much concentrated time in a place with people... and then just up and leaving. When will I come back again? Will I come back again?

I look back at my week here and am grateful for all I got to experience.
I have felt so welcomed and have enjoyed so much getting to know the people here. I have loved their warm hospitality and friendship. I loved getting to "talk" with the kids -- even as they laughed at me trying to learn words in their languages. :)
I absolutely LOVED the weather!! It was so wonderful being able to sit outside in the cool temperatures to enjoy morning and afternoon tea time. I loved walking home at night and looking up in the sky and actually seeing stars.
OH! AND I LOVED THE FOOD!!! While I've had this kind of cuisine stateside, it's totally different experiencing it here.

So much about this trip I've really enjoyed. The greatest joy has been the privilege of meeting men and women from around this nation who are passionate about God...and people. Totally committed. :) I love the thought that now when I'm in Manila, or in PA... I can think and pray for my brothers and sisters in this country... and have faces, names, stories -- flesh, blood and hearts in mind.

So yes, it is difficult going from place to place. It is difficult to feel so distributed at times... but I am thankful that I get to do it. Each time I leave a place, I get to take the experiences and the people with me.

... and hopefully I'm just saying goodbye to this place... for now.

I may not get to see this place as the rest of the world sees it.
There won’t be any trips to tourist spots.
I won’t travel to landmarks or other “must-sees.”

But God, I’m so thankful for how I do get to see it.
You’ve given me the privilege of seeing it…

• around the table each day, eating meals with families and new friends from different parts of this nation
• in the faces of new friends as they tell me their stories of family and faith
• in the friendly guard who greets me good morning as I walk by
• in the sweet, sweet face of baby Ruthie as she hands me a piece of candy
• in walks and talks (walkie-talkie the girls teach me :))
• in learning about the struggles, and hearing about the victories and miracles
• in sitting with the women and rolling out the chapati
• in seeing the hearts and convictions, and hearing the dreams
• in seeing the smiles and hearing the laughter
• in watching the children run and fly their kites
• in the compassion of a son, caring for his father as he undergoes cancer treatment
• in witnessing worship … passionate worship!

God, give me your eyes, ears and heart – to see, hear and love the world and people around me as you do.

My bags are packed. I think I'm ready.
Tomorrow morning I'll head into the office to pick up a few things (including my passport!) and will head to the airport at 9:30 AM.

I'm a bundle of emotions.

I'm incredibly excited.
I'm looking forward to visiting a new place! I'm definitely excited about meeting the people there. I'm excited about experiencing the culture, the food... everything!

I'm nervous.
I'm going to a new place! I'm nervous about finding the connections I'll need to make. I'm nervous about how I'll adjust to the food, the environment... and the people. I'm nervous about how well I'll do with sharing helpful, useful information.

Mostly, in all honesty, I feel like I'm playing a little "out-of-my-league."
But I'm going prepared, ready and willing.
Praying that He will give me all the wisdom, all the ability, all the knowledge as I go.
Praying that as I offer all that I have and all that I can, that He will accept my offering, find it pleasing -- and use it all beyond my limitations, my lackings, and my faults ...

January 28, 2009, my good friends, Emily and Marshall, had their first baby!
My buddy, Alexander, helps me keep track of how long I've been in the Philippines. The day after he was born, I boarded a plane to head to Manila!! Fun!!

Emily does a great job at keeping all her friends and family updated on Alex through their blog. I love it! I get to see how big he's gotten. I get to hear about all the things he's doing. She shares about the things he's learning and all the fun little personality traits he's developing. I love that I can see how he's growing up even though I don't live nearby anymore!!!
Post to post I can visibly see how much he's changed. Look at the cutie!!!

I wish that change, learning and growth would be as clearly recognizable in my life as it is in his! :)

Alex and I are heading to our ONE YEAR mark. ONE YEAR!!
I can quickly see how he's grown and changed in this year.
Unfortunately, I can't as easily see how (if) I've grown and changed in this same amount of time.

For the last week or so I've been having a rough time. I don't know what it is, but I've just had more moments when I've felt more sad, more lonely, more alone (i think that they are different), more homesick, more unsure of how I'm doing at work, more uncertain of if I'm making a difference in anything by being here, more questioning of everything, more aware of how I've not yet learned things I've wanted to learn, more aware of how I've not yet done things I've wanted to do by now, more aware of how disconnected I am from friends and family back home...

I do believe that I have been learning and growing over the past year. Sometimes though, it just doesn't feel that way. At times like this I wish I could see things more clearly... more visibly.

In the meantime, I'll continue to track with my cute, little buddy, Alex -- and enjoy watching and seeing all the little milestones and marks of growth in his life and be encouraged by the little guy. :)

A few months ago I blogged about a special way that God has encouraged me with a little bit of beauty in the middle of the city.

Every morning on my walk into the office I'd look at the bunch of flowers and smile, sigh a little, and just say a little word of thanks to God. Seeing the flowers there was just a sweet little something that reminded me that I'm not alone and that I'm cared for and remembered by a very thoughtful and generous Heavenly Father. To me it's like someone knowing me sooo well and giving me the most perfect gift ever -- everyday!

Last Wednesday I was walking to work and was a little surprised when I turned the corner and saw my love plant. "Wow! So many bright, pink flowers! It's getting so tall! It's so full!! How beautiful!" And I said my little word of thanks to God for that little beautiful, bright spot. And for some reason that day, I said too to Him -- "Sigh, one day they're going to have to get rid of it... but I won't forget. I know that even when these flowers aren't there that it doesn't change anything of what it has helped me to remember. You'll still love me. You're still with me. You're still a great gift giver."

Well... wouldn't you know it. The very next day I turn the corner and GONE! MURDERED I SAY!
My little love plant was cut down. It was no more.

But... there on the sidewalk by where my love plant used to stand -- one lone flower. So, I stooped down as I walked past the spot and picked it up.SIGH. Goodbye love plant.

"The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever." - Isaiah 40:8

"Lord, teach me to listen. The times are noisy and my ears are weary with the thousand raucous sounds which continuously assault them. Give me the spirit of the boy Samuel when he said to Thee, 'Speak, for Thy servant heareth.' Let me hear Thee speaking in my heart. Let me get used to the sound of Thy voice, that its tones may be familiar when the sounds of earth die away and the only sound will be the music of Thy speaking voice. Amen."

- Tozer, A.W., The Pursuit of God (82).

These pictures were taken on the day we left for the WWSE.
The day our flight took off was the day the 2nd typhoon was expected in the area.
The taxi ride from home to the airport was evidence of the dreaded anticipation of the storm's arrival.

These iron grids are usually covered with huge billboards.
When storms are expected they're taken down.
The whole route long very few (if any??) billboards were seen.

While I was away I lost track of what storms came, which ones passed, and where storms actually hit.
I'm living in Manila... and I lost track.

Coming back to Manila and watching some of the local programming I am reminded... the storm's destruction is still very real. People are still putting their lives back together. There are still areas flooded. There are still people in need of food, clothing and shelter. Whole areas have been destroyed and will need to be rebuilt.

I'm living in Manila... Lord, help me to not lose track.

It is good ... soo good to be home.

I arrived in Manila a little after 2 pm yesterday.
When I got back to my apartment I quickly unpacked (yes, I always unpack immediately upon getting home...), cleaned my kitchen (I evidently forgot to take out the kitchen trash before I left -- and my apartment smelled like it) -- and then stayed in bed until this afternoon.

I ended my week at WWSE -- sick. Unfortunately, I started to not feel too well on Thursday evening. I ended up spending the night in the bathroom. I decided to not attend the meetings on Friday and slept pretty much the entire day.

Thankfully, I was already starting to feel better as we journeyed 2 hours by bus to the airport... and then another 4 in the plane. But boy, was I ready to be home!

I am now feeling much better. Back to normal... I think.

Because I've not been feeling well, I haven't done much processing of the week.
I still need to do that.
But a quick thought...

I AM BLESSED.

Blessed...

• by my roommates from this past week who loved on me with their words of encouragement, their prayers, and their feeding me when I was sick.
• by friends here and far away who care about how I'm doing, check in on me, and help me in so many ways.
• with partners in ministry who have made every experience I've had a possibility.
• to have God's Word to turn to at all times.
• to have had a free hour to run around the town during the conference to take photos!
• to have had some time to rest and get better.
• to have a home that is safe, clean, and undamaged to return to...
  

So much from today was incredibly inspiring. I sat in workshops about HIV/AIDS, Scripture in Times of Crisis, and one on Holistic Engagement.

Wow! God is really doing AMAZING things. And He is using incredible people to do these things.
Incredibly, people who are normal, ordinary, day-to-day people!
Inspiring. Motivating. Challenging.

There is so much to say... but this will have to do for now.

OH!! And this...MAGNUM!!

Love it!!!
I told the man at the mini shop here at the conference center that he'll be seeing me everyday so I can have my Magnum bar.
He laughed.
I was serious.

Today was a long day.

The first day of meetings. Very encouraging things.
One thing I'm excited about for the week is the assigned small group I'm in.
I am assigned to Small Group #2. Around our table are hearing and Deaf individuals from all over the world. We have sign language interpreters for Costa Rican Sign Language, Korean, Japanese and American Sign Language. Cool. I'm enjoying learning from and with this group.

I know that throughout this day there were a lot of good things discussed and many things to consider. BUT, all things today were blurred by the news I got during one of the morning sessions.

One of my friends is here at the conference. She told me yesterday that she wanted to talk to me. Today she told me -- a mutual friend of ours is home, in the hospital, sick with cancer -- it's serious and far along. SIGH.

Sometimes I just don't understand. And you know what? I really, really hate cancer. Is it okay for me to say that?

Yes, I know that God uses all things together for good. Yes, I know that God is sovereign. I just don't understand.

But, I guess that's the thing. I can't understand everything. I won't ever.
But, I can focus on understanding God's goodness, His faithfulness, His care, His provision, His everything... and rest on that.

Praying.
Hoping.
Believing.

So, last week I was in Antique, celebrating the launching of the New Testament and gathering stories of how the community has been involved in the work of not just translating the Scriptures, but also seeing the people of the community using, learning from and being transformed by the Scriptures.

The week was action packed. We started our days early in the morning, and worked through the day and into the night. The days were filled with meeting lots of people, taking photos and conducting interviews. We were up and about... and it was fun.

This week I'm ... in meetings.
Usually the word "meetings" drags on me.
I think of ...

• sitting in a room that's way too cold from the AC.
  
• sitting in the same room for eight hours straight.
• smiling and nodding at people who I've met before at other meetings while trying my hardest to remember "who is that again?"
• or worse... being on the other awkward side of that greeting and having to remind people of who I am.
  
• spending 8 hours in meetings and then an additional how many hours post-meetings catching up on "real" work
• being in a new country or city and the whole time just seeing the backs of people's heads and the hotel conference room decor.
  

The meetings don't officially start until tomorrow. So today I got to roam a bit with my new friends from PNG (Senena and Badi) and mentally and emotionally start to switch gears from last week's experience to this week's meetings.

We had a brief opening session this evening.
What I heard and saw has encouraged me and is helping with the gear-switching.
There are over 250 participants gathered here representing 105 different organizations.
Among us we represent 43 nationalities serving in 55 different countries.
And there are 51 people serving on an international or regional level (including me).

We come together this week to network and connect... to learn... to exchange ideas... to be challenged... to be transformed. All those here have a heart and passion for God's Word and wanting to maximize the exposure and engagement of people worldwide with God's Word.

I'm so looking forward to hearing about the ways people are working and seeing the exchange of ideas among the people here.

And personally, I'm eager to be challenged by God this week.
A pastor who prayed for the group said that this really is about each one of US, our relationships and our encounters with the Lord. He asked us to think..."Is the Word of God dwelling in each of US richly as we seek to see it so in others?"

THAT is a question I've been wrestling with over this last week. As I've witnessed the eagerness and excitement of the Kinaray-a as they received His Word in their language, I've been challenged and convicted about my own passion for His Word (or lack of?). SIGH.

Pray for what God has in store this week -- for me personally -- and especially for the group gathered.

Conference Life.

Most anyone serving in this organization who has attended a conference or two could probably relate to this experience.

The oh-too-familiar scene of first meeting the roommates.

Arrived around midnight at the hotel.
Checked in and was told that my friends were already checked in and in the room.

"My friends?" I asked.
"Yes, the two women are already there. They have the keys," replied the friendly check-in guy.

I asked for their names. Neither sounded familiar to me.
So, I figured that they were my assigned roommates for the week so I headed over to the room.
I was hesitant thinking... "Who would open the door at this hour to a stranger?"

I arrived at the room and rang the bell... once... twice... three times.
"Oh this is horrible. They're legitimately asleep ... I don't want to wake them up."

So I went back down to the desk and asked if there was another set of keys that I could have to let myself in.
"We have two sets, ma'am and they were given to the first two parties."
"Great," I thought.

So the man gets the master key and a security man to let me in the room.
We make the walk back to the building, up the escalator to the 3rd floor and over to the room.
Security man rings the bell... once...twice...KNOCK...KNOCK..."Security."

He put the key in the lock, turned the knob... URGH!
Swinging door latch.
Denied.

All I want is a bed and a good night's sleep.
I was starting to picture myself camped out in the lobby for the night.

I reason with the guy -- "Who is going to open the door at this hour?"
But he persisted.
After more knocks... more rings... and more calling out "Security," a set of eyes peeked out of the slit between to door and the door jam.

He tells the woman, "Your friend," and motions in my direction.
Surely she thought the same thing I did, "My friend?" Hahah.

So I stepped in line of view and told her..."Hi. (head down in embarrassment) I'm assigned to stay in this room with you for the WWSE conference."

And with that, the door was shut, the door latch swung open and I got to meet my new friends.

They had no idea that there was going to be a third roommate assigned to the room. So they locked up and went to sleep. And I woke them from their much deserved sleep.
After having travelled overnight from Port Morsby, Papua New Guinea, the last thing they needed was some girl waking them up in the middle of the night to let her in. But, I'm grateful they did wake up ... and they welcomed me so graciously. What kind, gracious, new friends!!!

I'm looking forward to getting to know these new friends from PNG, serving with BTA (Bible Translation Association).

I came home Wednesday night.
I unpacked my Antique stuff, did some laundry, and...packed up my bags again.

In a few hours I'll leave to meet some colleagues at their house and we'll catch a taxi together to head over to the airport to catch our flight out.

I think the hardest thing about my job is the exact same thing I love about my job... the travel.

I love visiting new places. I love meeting people from all over. I love being able to have new experiences. I love getting new glimpses of God from other perspectives and new experiences.

What is hard about it... is leaving. Leaving this place and that. And especially constantly leaving Manila. It's like I'm constantly pressing the "pause" button on life here. Relationships. Church. Community.

I think I feel it most significantly this time around. Flooding happened while I was AWAY in Antique. I came back for just two days. And I'm taking off again. I have this desire to be HERE with people to go through this WITH them -- even if it is being with them waiting for the next storm.

But, I'm boarding a plane this afternoon. And I will remember a word of encouragement from one of our ICC leaders...
"This, today, is where God wants me."

And I'll continue to pray for wisdom to know how to invest well in the relationships, people, places, etc. in this life I live.

So... off to get ready and go! See you on the other side :)

I try to think about things to learn or improve on after each time I take a bunch of photos (or anything really). This trip was PACKED with learning lessons (on not just taking photos... but EVERYTHING!).

Here is just one thing I want to remember and the photographic evidence of it...

PAY ATTENTION TO MY SURROUNDINGS!

Sometimes I get so focused on a photo that I want to capture and I forget to pay attention to what is going on around me or what's available to me around me.

For example...
While at the school I was with a group of girls in the playground area. I wanted to get a shot with the girls' faces circling around me. Unfortunately, I'm pretty much their same height so it was hard to really get enough above the girls faces.

Now, if I had taken time to "pay attention to my surroundings," I would have remembered that there was a bench just a few feet away (see it behind the girls??) and I could have easily gotten them above me and in a perfect circle.

URGH! URGH! URGH!
... and getting in the shot with them would have been a lot easier too!

Oh the lessons to learn! :)

This is another favorite face in Antique.

During my last trip to Antique, Ann and I visited with Pastor and Mrs. Cabaya in their home. With them was Ate Emma.

This woman is so incredibly warm and sweet spirited. During our visit she walked us all the way to the main street in the hot, hot, hot heat so she could shade us with her umbrella. There is something about her that makes me happy. She is full of His JOY.

I was so happy when I saw her again at the dedication and also at church on Sunday. Her smile is sooo filled with love and joy -- it's awesome.

I was flipping through photos on my camera and showed a photo I took of her to Mrs. Alentajan (Pastor Larry's wife). She mentioned that she's always been a single lady.

Ah. A kindred spirit then :) hehehe.

But seriously. I struggle with being single. There -- it's out... the truth.

Yes, I choose to be content. (I try to anyway.)
Yes, I choose to live my life fully without reservation NOW. (I try to anyway.)
Yes, I know God's plan, provision and timing is all perfect. (Although I often have to remind myself of it.)
And yes, I do want to be married and have a family. I leave that to the Lord. (At times I wrestle to let it go, but I try to leave it with Him.)

If it turns out I'm "always a single lady" -- I hope I'm like her. Full of JOY and LOVE -- giving of myself with warmth, a sweet spirit and generosity.

Saturday evening I got a text message from my cousin's wife asking for prayer.
My cousin, Raffy, was stuck in the floods here in Metro-Manila on the roof of his car -- already getting chills and no sign of rescue on its way.

Later, she posted this video on her facebook...

"This was the song my husband kept singing to himself during the flood!"
"Ralph got stranded and he swam to get home. He tried to stay on top of his car but the flood god too high and too strong so he spent the night balancing on a ladder. He just got home yesterday (Sunday)."

Praising God for the safety of my family, friends, and their families. Praying for His comfort and strength for those putting the pieces of life back together -- with the hovering anticipation of another storm on its way. Praying His HOPE, PEACE and PROVISION over their lives.