Day Seven: Sharing our Journey

We’re officially into the second half of the trip and what an amazing time it has been! Today was a bit of a combination day in that in the morning we headed off to Tent City for feeding while in the afternoon we went to Daranak Falls.

We left for Tent City around 9am and arrived around 10. We immediately began ladling out hot lagaw (a rice-based soy protein meal) into bowls, jugs, cups and whatever containers they handed to us. It was outstanding to see some of the older kids helping out their younger siblings get food. After the food ran out we folded balloon animals and pipe-cleaners and gave them out to the kids, which was quite hectic and hot as we had kids climbing all over us! We were also privileged to see the young girl with a harelip be taken back, with her mother, to the YMC for further discussions about her health and wellbeing. As the mother has six kids, she was forced to return to Tent City but will come back to the YMC on Sunday for a meeting with doctors on Monday to hopefully confirm surgery for Tuesday.

After Tent City we drove for around an hour and a half to Daranak Falls.  After a beautiful lunch prepared by Marilou we safely and extremely patiently waited for half an hour for our food to digest so that we could swim. The water was cool and refreshing and while some sat in the cascade nearby others climbed up and jumped off the waterfall. After a few hours at Daranak we headed back to the YMC where we ate and continued on to Journey for Hope.

At Journey for Hope we carried in the 50 Christmas care packages we made up and were given the opportunity to hand them out to the kids, which was an awesome experience. One child arrived late and after being given a bag, sat for a few minutes, stunned, without opening the bag. After eventually opening the bag he beamed and promptly burst into tears. Those reactions were frequent and amazing for us as a team to witness, as although we almost thought of the packages as ‘unexciting’ and ‘boring,’ for children as they contained cooking supplies and hygiene items, nevertheless they brought a contagious joy that was awesome to see. A few members of the team got quite emotional as they really connected with the kids and were surprised to see how much of an impact we had made.

We also gave a devotion about the power of the tongue and Ben lead praise and worship. After spending some time with the kids and getting to know them we headed back to the YMC before going to Jollibee (Filipino version of McDonalds, with rice instead of chips) on tricycles (motorbikes with side carriages attached). While eating at Jollibee several street kids appeared at the windows asking for food and a few girls from the team gave part of their meal to them. Although it seemed like little and perhaps ‘scraps’ to us, it was quite significant to them. After an hour we again headed back to the YMC and will soon head off to bed. Good day had by all.