Goodbyes.

Early morning on the beach. Camp Agape. Translation team devotions. Fun on the beach. Last of the interviews. Head home to Manila.

Okay, I've done pretty well at keeping these two singular moments for each day. But, for this day I will deviate from my pattern and will share two...okay three. But they will be short, I promise. :)

Standout moment(s) from the day...

My morning with my camera.
All throughout this week I've enjoyed the moments I've been able be behind my camera. I find myself talking to the Lord asking that He give me the ability to see moments and emotions to share with others in photos I take. I've loved being able to do that this week.

This morning we went out to the beach where the fishing boats were getting prepared to go out. There was something about standing in the rushing water with my camera taking notice of these little moments in the lives of the people there. People lining the shore -- men and women working incredibly hard. Others getting a more relaxed start to their day. Tousled hair guy drinking his morning cup of coffee while watching the young guys carry in the night's catch. Two sisters playing in the water - splashing each other in the face. Three kids making little sand pies.

I know that these are just tiny,tiny moments in their lives. Insignificant to them probably. But to me, it was incredibly joy-filled.

Devotions.
The translation team gathers together for devotions at 8 in the morning. They let us join them so we could take some photos and video of their time together.

I enjoyed seeing them gather together in this way. The team of four who have led a lot of the efforts in translating the scriptures and getting them to the people in Antique -- gathered in prayer, sharing and singing. As I watched and listened to them sing together hymns in Kinaray-a, I thought about the group, the weekend they just had... and thought what a bittersweet moment.

Here after 7 years of working together, they have reached an exciting milestone. Work will continue in this community ... now the Kinaray-a HAVE the New Testament ... in a way it's just beginning. But, what does God have planned for these individuals? I overheard one of them praying -- praying for what's next for each one. I have to believe that God has some pretty equally great things ahead for them as they walk with Him in faith and obedience as they have been.


I love the beach.
Have I mentioned how much I love being out in God's creation? If you've missed that... I love it ... I crave it.

The last thing that had to be done at Camp Agape before heading out was getting some final statements from Ate Bea (lead translator and consultant). The video crew took Ate Bea out to the beach (just a short walk from the camp!). I couldn't resist. I let them do what needed to be done... and I went and played in the water. I couldn't REALLY, REALLY play since we were going to board a plane a few hours later. But, I got to pick up more stones, get the sand in between my toes, soak up the sun, and splash around in the water a little.

I loved it. It was nice to just end a long, activity-packed week with a little fun. [BIG SMILE!]

For the last week I have been in Antique, Philippines.

During this week we celebrated with people from all over the world, the launching of the New Testament in the Kinaray-a language. We met so many people who so generously gave of themselves to share with us their stories of God at work in their lives. The week was filled with awesome experiences.
So much to share. So much to process.

The day that we gathered and joyously celebrated and gave thanks for the New Testament in the Kinaray-a language, rains were falling over Manila.

Flooding came quickly and was disastrous.

That night, I received a text from my cousin's wife asking for prayer for my cousin. He was stranded in flood waters overnight -- on the roof of his car.
We learned that homes of my friends and family were flooded -- some up to 5 ft. high -- forcing people to the second floor of their homes. Many left without food and drinking water.

It was an incredible JOY being in Antique and being able to be a witness to the lives of faithfulness and love for the Lord. But at the same time while were there, I felt sadness and concern.

It was easy to not fully realize the gravity of the situation back here in Manila. Now that I'm back, I'm starting to learn more about what's been going on with friends and family. But even still, I know that I don't really get how bad it is.

Soooooo much to process.

Direction. Hope. Acceptance.

Interviews with Nanay Joysisima. Lunch at the beach. Ocean-wet pants to go to the high school! High school visit. Visit to Pastor Tandog's jail ministry.

So, this will reveal how I am so very much hungry for attention and acceptance. :) But, it was a moment that really just touched me and it is my ...

Standout moment from the day...
I think the last time I got a note passed to me was... in high school?? Nope. I take that back. I did have a note passed to me once during a comm class I had in Weimer Hall. Anyway... it's been a loooonnnngggg time.

This afternoon we visited a high school where one of the local pastors teaches a values course using the Kinaray-a language and the scriptures. While Pastor Tandog was outside of the class with the video crew, I was inside snapping photos of the class. I made a comment and could tell right away that I was entertaining them with my "accent." Hahaha. I asked them to guess where I was from... Korea, Japan, Thailand... Australia even!

When the class was dismissed they came out and found me... asked me lots of fun questions and took me to the playground to let me take pictures of them. They danced and sang for me. It was fun. As I left them to go back up to join the rest of the team, one of the girls passed me a note "as a remembrance." Awwww....

A little while later our team was sitting in (what i think was) the cafeteria (or snack room?). The group of girls were standing in the doorway and were being shy to come in. Pastor Tandog said that they wanted to give me something "as a remembrance." And so I was handed TWO MORE notes!

How sweet! It was cute... little notes with drawings and their names... telling me they think I'm beautiful and that they miss me. Awwww... sweet! :)

Yes, I'll take what I can get... love notes from groups of high school girls. Hehehe!
Love it...so sweet!!!

Dedication.

4:30 AM call time for the team. Trompa ministry. Early morning rain. Interviews with Pastor Larry and Bimbim. Visit with Mrs. Alentajan and her class. Mrs. Autajay and her Bible study. Visit Bimbim's house and family. Interviews with Dondon, and Bimbim's mom and brother.

I keep finding it hard to select a single standout moment from the day. Each day held so many moments -- some tiny moments in time -- that God used to encourage, challenge or convict me. But, I started this pattern -- so here's to consistency! I'll come back and revisit other moments in other posts :) HA!

Standout moment from the day...

This afternoon we got to visit the home of the Autajays. Mrs. Autajay is a retired school superintendent. She is dedicated to the people ... to their learning. Each week at her home she has a Bible study where they use the Scriptures in Kinaray-a. Because many of the women who are a part of the study are mothers, she welcomes them to bring their children because she knows that it's the only way they can come.

The group sang some songs together, listened to some teaching from Mrs. Autajay and then she had them break into smaller groups to work on some learning together. This was by far one of my favorite moments from the day -- watching these small groups work together, searching through the Scriptures together. What I loved about this moment -- there was this unmatched eagerness and whole-hearted participation in each of the participants. It was different from any other group I've observed before. Each group had a group leader who had a worksheet that was to be completed. Each person though flipped through the pages of their Scriptures looking for answers.

Ah... for that eagerness to search through God's Word for His Truth and instruction to continue on in their lives! (... in my own for that matter!)


Ok... just a word about another standout moment. I woke up at 4:00 AM so that we could catch Pastor Larry give his morning message over the trompa as he does every morning. Pastor Larry wakes up every morning at 3 AM to prepare for his trompa ministry. Each day he brings the sound equipment from a safe, secure place and sets it up in the shelter he uses from the trompa ministry. He prepares a message that he delivers around 5 AM. As he was preparing, I caught just a moment when he was quietly sitting... waiting... praying. As I snapped a few shots of him there I thought, what a life of dedication and vision. Sigh.

What's a trompa?
High up, secured to a bamboo tree are three BIG megaphone like speakers. Attached to it are wires and cables that connect to an ampliphier and sound system housed in a shelter. This set up allows for the pastor to play music, share scriptures, and give some teaching to those in ears' reach of the trompa.

This trompa ministry concept is used pretty thoroughly in the Antique area. The sound from the trompa carries pretty far. Pastor Larry's reaches about 5 different barangay. He times his so that it doesn't clash with the trompa of a neighboring pastor's.

Worship.

Sunday school in Igbonglo. Service in Igbonglo. Stop to see rice planting. Service and church dedication in Alangan. Bible study in Pantao. Interviews throughout the day. Sweet fellowship of the body all day. Fresh buco!

Standout moment from the day...
Throughout the day we got to be among groups of people gathered together to worship God.

There was a moment at Pastor Larry's church when from behind my camera I took notice -- voices were singing out to God.

As I've had opportunities to visit with people who love the Lord in different parts of the world, there is nothing sweeter to me than hearing and seeing hearts lifted to God in prayer and praise and worship. Moments like that remind me -- this is why I am doing what I'm doing.

The worship of God in the lives of people.

Motorcade. Dedication celebration. Interview with Antique's, Governor Sally.
Joy. Celebration. God's faithfulness. God's Glory.

Standout moment from the day...

Early in the morning an older woman sits in the Town Plaza. She goes there regularly for dawn watch - a time spent in prayer for her community. Usually she sits alone. Sometimes she sits with the grandson she brings along with her.

This day though, a crowd was beginning to gather in the plaza around the flag pole. A flag is in her wrinkly, weathered hands. She furls and unfurls the flag, "Launching of the Kinaray-a New Testament - September 26, 2009." As she does that her mouth moves. I move closer and her her uttering soft prayers of praise and thanks to God for the New Testament in Kinaray-a.

I quietly approached her and asked her how she felt. She told me that she was just there and just now heard about this New Testament. After a few minutes I left her to grab a copy of the New Testament. I handed it to her to show her how it looked. She flipped through the pages with her fingers gently running over the words. She seemed amazed in a way to see the words in Kinaray-a. She pulled out a Bible that she says she carries with her. A Bible... in English. Now, after all the years, she says she can read it in her own language.

As we talked, the crowd grew. Motorbikes, tricycles, vans, jeepneys, cars were getting decked out with flags and balloons. In the front of the motorcade... a high school band playing from a double-decker pick up truck. Through the streets of the town proper, the motorcade was joyously announcing the launching of the Kinaray-a New Testament.

As we did that, this woman was on her way home... to announce the good news to others in her barangay.

Full day at the translation center, "Camp Agape." Interview lead translator and consulant, Ate Bea. Interview daughter, Jane. Fellowship at the camp for guests. Interviews with various people there. Interview Ms. G. Inteview Manong Gaps.

Standout moment from the day...
Is it weird to have a favorite neighborhood kid when you're just a visitor to the community? Heheh.

The last time I came to Antique I stayed at Camp Agape. As we'd talk with people and take photos, some of the neighborhood kids would come around in the background and flash me a big smile. I saw one of the kids several times during that visit and his smile just drew me in. He became my favorite little kid there. :)

On Friday we got to spend a little time with the kids in the neighborhood. Seeing his little face again...a moment that was so sweet for me. Nothing really significant about it. Just a familiar face that made me smile.

We're Here!

We all met at T3 in Manila -- by 2:30 AM -- and were on our way!
Our team landed in Iloilo shortly after 5:30 AM and after getting everyone loaded in our vans, stopping at Jollibee for breakfast (napping along the way) we arrived in Antique around 9:30 AM.

It was nice to get in early enough to have some time to nap, rest and take it easy. Today was mostly about getting everyone here, settled in and finalizing our schedule for the week (as much as week can do that :) )

Tomorrow will begin our VERY full days.

Our hotel doesn't have WiFi... but Smokey's -- the little hot dog store downstairs -- does. So, with the purchase of an iced coffee, a hot dog, or some other snack... I am connected!! Woo-hoo!!!

I don't expect that I'll be able to get on much while we're here. But, at least I know that there's a way that I can get online. :)

my co-workers, Oliver and Ann, will pick me up in a taxi.
Yes, you did the math right. It's a 2:00 AM pick up.

Bleh.

We're heading to the airport to meet the rest of the Monsoon team to make a 4:45 AM flight to Iloilo. After landing in Iloilo we'll travel another 2-3 hours by van to San Jose, Antique.

I can't believe it... in just FOUR hours we'll be on our way.

Our team is going to Antique for two reasons...
1 - the Antique community will be celebrating and dedicating the Kinaray-a New Testament. We will have the privilege of being able to celebrate together with them!
2 - we want to tell the stories of the people of Antique. We want to gather video footage, interviews and photos of the Kinaray-a people and their stories of the things that are happening in their community and individual lives.

We have been working hard on setting up different opportunities throughout the community. We have plans to visit churches, Bible studies, homes, a high school, the governor, a jail and of course... the dedication celebration!

I am a person of order. I like making plans. I like having schedules. I have files and files of daily schedules with the different appointments we've scheduled.

Who knows what the week will actually look like! Again, learning and needing to be reminded that I'm NOT in control and don't need to be.

Pray for flexibility.

My heart is that God would be glorified in and through the lives of the people of Antique and the stories they have to tell. My heart is that our team would bring God glory in the work that we do over this week, in the way we work together as a team, and as we give the people of the Kinaray-a community voice to tell their stories potentially to people around the world.

Pray that our eyes and hearts would be open to the opportunities God has in store for us.
Pray that I, with all my control issues ... won't get in the way. :)

And most especially... pray for the Kinaray-a people. The New Testament will be available for the first time in their own language! Pray for the lives of the people Antique to be changed as they experience God's Truth and Love.


*It's still rainy season here in the Philippines. It's been raining pretty consistently in Antique. Pray for good weather while we are there -- especially for the celebration on the 26th.

*Our team will be working in Antique September 24th - October 1. Would very much appreciate your prayers during our trip!!!!

"CHRISTMAS!!!"

Seriously. Here in the Philippines, the "...BER" months start the beginning of the Christmas season. My parents used to tell me about that growing up. I pretty much thought that they were just exaggerating. Now I know.

September 5th I was in two different malls ... and both malls showed signs of the start of the season. One mall had Christmas trees out and the other was playing Christmas music throughout the mall. I'm enjoying it. I like hearing the songs (although at times it does spark of feelings of homesickness and missing seasons) and I've been watching movies that are set in the holiday season. Fun. :)

A lot of times things seem to move so fast during the Christmas season that I often don't get to fully enjoy the Christmas music and the lights and everything. OR I get so carried away and focused on the decor and stuff that I get distracted from focusing on the REAL heart of Christmas. Maybe now that it's starting in September I'll get to soak it ALL in.

I just got back from my cousin's daughter's FIRST birthday party.
It was a fun birthday complete with a magic show, games for the kids... and delicious desserts.

It's always fun to get to see family. I wish I could see them more often.

HAAAPPY BIRTHDAY, REESE!!!

Today I woke up early (for a Saturday!!), hopped into a taxi, and arrived at my destination by 9 AM. I then spent pretty much the next 8 hours doing one thing.

Sitting in a room at the offices of TAP (Translators Association of the Philippines), I flipped through all 764 pages of the Kinaray-a New Testament... over and over and over again. :)

Next Saturday in Antique, Philippines there will be a dedication and celebration of the Kinaray-a New Testament being available to the Kinaray-a people for the first time!! Today, I joined a group of people who were checking out the New Testaments before they started their journey to Antique. We went through each copy checking for missing pages, illegible printing, torn pages, and things like that.

8 hours is a long time to do something so repetitive ... and honestly pretty boring. But, every once in a while as I would turn a page, the realization of what I was doing would hit me.
"WOW! Someone is going to get THIS book next week! For the first time ever, they will be holding in their hands a New Testament in THEIR language!"

So, yes... today I spent 8 hours... flipping through pages of a book. And yes... every second was worth it!

It actually was a pretty fun day. I enjoyed the company of the others who were also there. And I was encouraged by the group of youth from a church who came out to help.