Day Nine: Working in the Cuatro Community

Today we spent our time carrying bags of gravel and sand, mixing cement and pouring floors. The three teams rotated between construction and spending time at the Children’s home. The Blue and Red team spent the morning doing building together and then Red and Yellow switched, which left the Blue team spending the afternoon at the children’s home. Some teams even spent time in the nursery with the adorable babies and toddlers.

In the afternoon we all headed across to Cuatro Christian School next door to the ministry centre. We rounded up a mixed team among our students who were supposed to play against the Cuatro basketball team, however when the school team didn’t show up we competed against the local street kids.  Our students and Mr Ryall managed to keep it a close game with the Filipino kids winning it in the end. After the game we blew up balloons and handed them out to the kids. It is amazing how something as simple as a balloon can bring so much joy and fascination among the children. The smile that fills their faces then in result brings so much joy to us.

After dinner when we were updated about the current typhoon affecting the south of the Philippines, we spent some time in prayer, for the lives that are being affected and thanking the Lord for our safety (hint: Don’t worry we are all fine!). We then headed to the JAZ (Josie’s Angel’s Zone) home where we spent time with these teenage girls singing praise and worship and getting to know each other. Emily then had the opportunity to share a devotion with the girls about how God has a purpose and calling for all our lives.

When we returned home, we had a debrief about the days activities including things that challenged us and highlights we had and then spent more time in prayer after receiving an update on the typhoon from missionaries working with K.I.M (Kids International Ministries) in Tacloban.

Tonight’s blog was brought to you by the Smurfs (Blue Team).