Day Six: Packed like Sardines

This blog is coming from a bruised and battered blue team. Emily and Beccy were both hit down with tonsillitis but with constant prayer and Nurse Smoker’s attention, they are making a speedy recovery. This morning we broke up into two groups. The yellow group headed off to Agono to do a feeding with Mr Martens and the blue and red groups worked on the construction site. As usual, the feeding consisted of handing out food, balloon animals, pipe cleaner toys and loom bands. There weren’t as many people there as was expected, but the team focused their love and attention on the kids that did come.  Due to this, some amazing friendships were formed. The construction work today was physically challenging as we mixed, poured and carried cement for the second storey floor/first storey roof of one of the houses we are working on.

After cleaning up and having lunch, we all walked over to the Cuatro Christian School and presented the principal with the money raised from the soccer tournament. The impact of that money in that school will be significant, and made the team realise the worth of the work we do. Even something like a soccer tournament can have such a long lasting impact on the community we are serving. We headed back to YMC and prepared to shop for supplies for Christmas hampers to be given to a trash mountain society. The money for this shopping was gained from the Reho Food Tech Street Food stalls and the silent auction at the quiz night. Also we were challenged to donation from our own spending money. From the nineteen kids attending the trip, a whopping $720 was raised and used to purchase more supplies. The team all felt ecstatic to be seeing the money, earned over the past year due to our hard work and time, being used to change these people’s lives.

After collecting the money we headed out to a bulk and buy store where we bought enough supplies for 150 families in the community. These supplies consisted of food, toiletries, cleaning products and containers. This will support these families that live on less that a dollar a week. After we bought these supplies we had to pack it in the bus and also get us in to the bus as well. Once again we were stuck in another sardine ride. It was exciting to get to cram into the bus with all the supplies and know that what we bought was so much and that, which would impact a community for Christmas. Later on in the night after the devotions, games of chasey and hide-and-seek at the children’s home; we sorted the supplies into Christmas hampers and are to be handed out this Friday afternoon to the families in the Trash Mountain community called San Mateo and the kids from Journey for Hope tomorrow night. A long, hot night of sorting, re-sorting and re-re-sorting followed, but ended in lots of very good looking hampers!

Shopping List
9 x 50kg Rice Bags (450 kg)
30 x 1kg Brown Sugar (30 kg)
750 x 25g packet of Coffee + sugar + creamer (18.75 kg)
300 x 155g tin of Sardines (46.5 kg)
150 x 1kg packet of Spaghetti (150 kg)
150 x 1kg Tomatos Pasta Sauce (150 kg)
150 x 10 packets of Tiger Biscuits (sweet biscuits) (31.5kg)
150 x 90g Toothpaste (13.5kg)
300 x Toothbrush
150 x 200ml Vinegar  (30L)
150 x 200ml Soy Sauce (30L)
150 x 400g Laundry Soap Bar (60kg)
150 x 90ml Shampoo (13.5L)
300 x bars of Soap (16.5kg)
100 x round Laundry Bucket
350 x large ziplock bags
200 x sandwich ziplock bags
Totalling over 2 tonne

A SHOUT out to our family and friends

Hey mum(and whoever else that reads this concerning me)!! First off, it is absolutely beautiful over here, both in our surroundings and the people. The kids at the orphanage as well as the kids out on the streets are so gorgeous, everyone is very friendly and seem to love my light skin and interesting hair - I've been asked for pictures all around!! The construction is hard work but very rewarding, seeing things forming right in front of our eyes is awesome. The food is mouthwatering, even Matt couldn't complain! I love it so much... Don't be suprised if I don't end up coming home!! Lots of love, Rach

Hi Mum, Dad, Ben (and anyone else that my be reading this). I'm having a fantastic time over here. We're all working hard, 6 days in and I'm exhausted but excited and ready to do more. I hope your all doing well. Love Nate.

Hey mum and dad (and whoever else that is reading this). So far its been so exciting and thrilling working with the team. Everybody is working to their full potential. The Youth Ministry Centre is taking care of us so well and we're looking forward to what God has for us for the next 6 days. I hope you guys are having a good holiday as well. Love, Enoch.

Aloha guys! Having an awesome time here, really loving getting to know the culture and especially the kids at the orphanage- met a girl called Jocelyn so that was pretty cool! Pretty keen for the next few days, can't wait to see what God's got in store for us. Try not to miss me too much! Love you, Jos.

Hey Mum and Dad and Nan and Grancha! Hope you guys are going good and not missing me and Jess too much. We are having a ball and watching Jess' face is priceless. He's made a little buddy at the children's home named Roger and is loving the construction. As for me it's awesome to be back and hanging with Jesso. Love you guys heaps and say hi to the puppies and dot for us.
P.S. Jesse said he's homesick and I asked him about what and he said he misses the puppies hahaha :D we both miss you guys though! and this is jetty! Love you guys heaps and I really love it here. Thanks so much for everything that you guys put in to this trip. I've had some times were i've missed home and the comforts of home. It was only today that I was thinking about the Philippines and thanking God for being so blessed to be in Australia. Like Ben said, I made a little buddy called Roger. I think he's about 3-4 years old and last night when we were reading stories to the kids he almost fell asleep. miss you guys! Love Jess (ooooh duit) P.s I tought the kids choogs and miss smoker got a little upset ;) haha but she was cool. Cya soon and please pray for the flight home.

Hey Mum, Dad, Oma, Pa, Nanna, Poppy and the rest of the clan/whoever else is going to read this in the family!
I  hope you guys are all not still missing us "hehe". Im having a great time finding it a bit challenging but thats what its for, its going great, getting along with people better then i thought + with jaydens friends as well. I've did feeding this morning and i went to do a bible study with some mums which was great! I hope everyone is well over there and going good. God bless xx Kirsten (KriKri)

G'day my dearest family. This is your youngest son speaking. I'm having a an amazing time here. But at the same time I'm missing you all so much. Thinking about all of you all the time. I love you all very much and God bless Mum, Dad, Tom&Aimee, Ben&Bec, Alex, Sam and all my Gorgeous nieces and nephews. Your loving son, Matt C.

Hey mum and dad, missing you guys a lot but having an amazing time here in the Philippines! Got to revisit some things from last years trip and also have some experiences (even going to a filipino hospital). Love you guys to the moon and back, from Emily xo

Hey mum,siz,bro and rest of the family.Honestly we are having good time here and i hope you'll doing great .All i can ask is to keep praying for this team .Take good care of yourselves .A.k.A Young whizzy.(Sharon Birech)

HEY MEMS, PAPA, SAMMY J AND BEY! miss your faces like no other. no truly. there are no black people over here haha, and i hope you're all doing super well over there - not missing me too much. I'm doing alright, and my ulcer thing has sorta almost dissolved-ish. don't worry too much bout me, I'm fine. BTW we made it over using malaysian airlines dad, woooooo! - alright, massive love to all of you. OX - ruthpep.

Heyy Ellery family! Miss you guys so much! as you probably already know i did get tonsillitis, you know with my weak immune system and accident prone self i got sick only a few days in. Mum you can say you told me so! I'm actually missing you guys so much especially being sick n all i miss mums hugs, ( cos i'm not 18..) Hope you guys are doing fine and having a quiet time without me! Philippines is amazing! It's such a life changing experience, thank you! Love you lots- Becky

Hi Mum, Dad, Cody and everyone else! Hope you guys are all fine and not missing me too much. The trip so far has been emotionally and physically challenging but it has been an amazing experience. The Filipino kids are so cute and open, and I have loved spending time with them. This experience has been a great opportunity to encourage and be encouraged by others on our Christian walks. I'm thinking of you all heaps and I love you lots! - Cassia xo

Hi Mum, Dad and Cal. Having a great time in the Philippines, everything is going well. I've had only one head ache so far but I've been ok since. It's really hot here but I'm getting used to it. I hope you guys are doing ok. Lots of love- Matt N

Hi Erispe family! I miss you guys a lot and hope that you are all keeping well. Things are going well over here and I am really enjoying myself. It has definitely been tiring, especially the construction, but I am having lots of fun. I have loved getting to know the children and seeing their smiling faces. Will see you soon, love Cathy.

Hey family, friends, followers and fans. I hope you guys are all going marvellous. So far I've been fine health wise. The humidity here kills but I'm pretty much used to it now as long as it's not too sunny as well. The food is almost as good as mum's. I can't complain but sometimes I still do, life's been good to me so far. Lots of love Jayden.

Hey hey Pleysier peoples, we are having a sick time, I'm not dead so all is good. besides sore muscles, everyone is going great, no one has been too sick. its been hot and rainy as usual, we have worked super duper hard and nothing goes to plan as usual in the Philippines so everything we do has been full of surprises. love you lots and lots, jesse.

Hey there Stringers (and honorary Stringers following this blog) friends and other hooligans. I am having a flipping amazing time. I am a turkey, I have a strapped knee, busted back, but more importantly a burning desire to do more and more, and not stop until everything is finished. Hope you hooligans are doing well and not getting into too many fights poop. Lots of love from J String! xXxXXXXOOoOoOOoooOoXoxOXOxxoXOXOxOOXOXXxoXOXOXx

Hey Vivians Things are going well and having lots of fun. Seeing some really amazing things, as well as some pretty sad stuff. Have not done anything really stupid.... yet! My muscles are sore, but the construction we do for the people over here is important, so I come back for more. Will be seeing you guys soon! Love T

Hi to all of the Rehoboth teachers and students. I am having a great time, drinking coffee (which makes me a nicer person) and having lots of laughs. Hi Mum, I am taking care of myself. Hi Dad, I lifted a 40kg bag of concrete and carried it 100m and have photographic evidence, will show you when I get home. Charlotte, the kids are loving your loom bands, we have almost run out, they are very popular.
To all of my family: This is my last will and testimony. Should I die in the Philippines or on my way home, you each get 7 sticky notes to select something in my house that you would like and the rest is to be sold and the money put in trust for my nephew and nieces. (all the dried mango goes to Mr Ryall) ;) Love you all.

Day Five: Taal Lake and Volcano

It was an early morning start as we woke up at 4:30 for a 5:30 coach trip that lasted for about 5 hours. Many of us got to catch some Z’s (sleep), whilst others did not. As the coach we were to go down the windy road, he had the opportunity for our first ride in a Jeepney, which is like a small bus, and is a traditional Filipino transport vehicle, converted from the jeeps left by American army in World War II. Upon arriving at our destination, we caught traditional Filipino fishing boats across Taal Lake, which lead us to the volcanic island. It was an intense 40 minute hike up the volcano and many of us found it challenging. When we finally reached the top, there was an incredible scenic view of water inside the caldera of the volcano, as well as an island inside this body of water. On one side of the volcano the water is hot and considered to be therapeutic because of the chemicals from the active volcano, however the other side of the lake is not as hot, much cooler.

After we caught our breath for a few minutes, we hiked back down to the bottom of the island and drank local grown coffee. It was life changing for coffee lovers. On the way back, the waters were raging and many of us ended up drenched, although it was a fun experience. What was super exciting was riding in jeepneys, back up to the coach. At this point we were very hungry, because we hadn’t eaten in about 9 hours. 

We had a late traditional Filipino lunch at 5:00pm, which comprised of many interesting Filipino delicacies, including Pork Sisig: pork meat and pig ears, fried fish, beef marrow soup and garlic rice. The view at the restaurant was breathtaking and provided us with a great team photo opportunity. We thoroughly enjoyed our lunch, and everyone was willing to try the food.

It was then back to the bus for the long journey back to YMC. On the way we stopped at Starbucks, enjoying our frappuccinos and coffees. On the bus we passed time with a game of charades and other work games, whilst others slept or chatted away. All of a sudden, our bus broke down and we ended up having to change buses amidst the hectic Filipino traffic.  We arrived home looking forward to a pleasant night’s rest, after a long day.

Day Four: Food for Thought

Today we again split up into our three teams and rotated between three activities- construction, feedings and the children’s home. The red team left at 9:30 for Tent City, carrying big plastic tubs of a rice-based soy protein meal (Lugaw) while the blue and yellow teams headed off to construction, where we were laying a cement floor in a house just outside the children’s home. After two, hour and a half sessions of construction we headed back to the Ministry Centre for a hot lunch. The red team arrived at a similar time and after eating we all headed back to either the children’s home or the construction site.

While the yellow and blue teams built, the red team played with the kids in the children’s home, blowing bubbles, playing soccer and just getting to know them. After another hour and a half of construction the yellow team headed back to the Ministry Centre to quickly shower and returned to the children’s home while the blue team continued building. The red team then headed off to the feeding after lunch, and returned around 4:30 to meet the blue and yellow teams back at the Ministry Centre.

We then went on a short walking tour with Jeff Long’s (founder of Kids International Ministries) wife Colleen of the area surrounding the Ministry Centre called Cuatro. She showed us past team’s completed construction sites, the dental and birthing clinics, and Cuatro Christian School. After dinner we headed off to the children’s home where the red team ran a practical devotion with mentos in a coke bottle explaining God’s overflowing love for us.

Today involved a mixture of experiences and emotions for the different teams, as although the yellow team did only construction and the children’s home, the blue and red teams went on feedings and faced challenging sights. Members of the group were quite struck by the poverty of those at the feedings and struggled with telling kids ‘no,’ whether it is to a lack of food or pipe cleaner toys and balloon animals. Watching children clothed in only rags walk away empty handed after being told ‘sorry, there’s no more’ was extremely confronting, while the sight of a little girl with a disfiguring hair-lip was the most challenging for some.

During a talk and debrief with Jeff Long, it was relieving to hear that he would immediately look into the little girl’s situation and see what he could do. Although today was tough and emotional for some, during our time of debriefing and sharing we were reminded of the impact we can make with our actions, however small, and were encouraged to live out our team verse, and ‘do everything without grumbling or arguing’ so that ‘we may shine like stars in the sky as we hold firmly to the word of life.’ (Philippians 2:14-17)

Day Three: Soccer Tournament

Another 7am rise and shine, to a once again phenomenal brekkie cooked by Marilou. With most of the team excited for the day’s activity being an all day soccer carnival, we once again crammed 23 people into 2 cars. Luckily the sardine ride didn’t last for long. Once we arrived at Faith Academy, it was such a blessing to see the excitement on these kid’s faces and the unity brought by our shared love of sport that bridged the language barrier.

The 2nd Annual Rehoboth Christian College Soccer Tournament was played from 9:30am until 4pm. With three divisions: 6 teams of Boys under 12’s, 10 teams of Boys under 17’s and 5 teams of Girls under 17’s, we all played and round robin on a full soccer pitch, divided into three. Rehoboth had a team in the Boys under 17’s and the girls under 17’s.

The day consisted of the boys doing good as usual, and the girls blowing everyone’s mind, with actually playing in the Grand Final and placing second.  The first, second and third placing for each division of the competition each received a trophy and a soccer ball, so our girl’s team asked the winning team, La Salle, to sign their ball and our girls signed a ball and they exchanged them. We felt like sports stars as many of the team wanted photos with us and to get us to sign their soccer ball.

The referees challenged our boys to a scratch match at the end of the tournament. The game was hotly contested with the referees taking out the match by two goals.

While the day consisted of many blessings, such as minimal injuries, beautiful weather, and the chance to increase our companionship and understanding of the Filipino people, we faced some challenges and difficulties such as; teams rocking up late, teams not rocking up late (because they didn’t rock up at all) and having to turn away some teams as they didn’t have a formal coach or any pesos to register. Some creative and quick rescheduling was needed, without a printer, we had to write everything out by hand for each of the 21 teams.

After such a physically taxing day we spend the night relaxing by the pool, going down the slide, and jumping off the diving platform.  Miss Smoker surprised us with Yellow Cab pizza and a coke for supper.

The Smurf family is super keen for some more construction tomorrow, and all the blessings and challenges it will bring.

Today’s blog was brought to you, by the Smurf family (the blue team)

Papa Smurf – Josh

Mama Smurf – Emily

Dumpling Smurf- Cassia

Pop Tart Smurf  - Tyler

Sausage Smurf – Jesse Stafford

Smurfette – Becky

Daily Motto: “You only live once, so go nuts…” – Abraham Lincoln

Day Two: Mixing it Up

Today we all worked hard. We built a house, or what felt like a house. We prepare for and poured a concrete floored slabs for the second story floor,first storey room, of two houses within the community of Cuatro (just across from the Children's home). The girls did the back breaking work of spinning the wire to reinforce the slap, before we began mixing the concrete. The boys laboured, doing muscly stuff to get the move bags of sand, blue metal gravel and concrete down an uneven dirt path of 60m which was slippery and sludgy due to rain. In the end we realised lots of the girls are stronger than the boys.

 We rotated in our three groups, with two doing the construction while the other team got to slack off (not really, it was actually intense) with the kids from the children's home, playing soccer, blowing bubbles, giving piggy back rides and going up to the nursery to cuddle and look after the toddlers.A break for lunch meant more of Marilou and the other wonderful ladies in the kitchen's deliciously scrumptiously fabulous lunch, which "was better than any if my Mum's cooking ever - Jesse Pleysier", although I am sure he meant no offence to his mum.

After a short rest, we continued construction while one of the team took the Children's Home kids to the pool for a swim. With only one pour left to finish the slaps the Red and Blue team dug in for their 4th hour on construction, to finish the job. It gave us so much satisfaction to look at the final slab when we had finished.

With the work completed we came back to the YMC to shower and some jump in the pool (from the 3rd storey) and enjoyed the new slide into the pool. It was lots of super duper fun. Dinner... Dinner was was like no other - hallelujah - it was amazingly good especially the much loved sweet bread. If you hadn't got it already, we are loving the food!!!

After dinner we managed to get through the crazy Filipino traffic with Smoke Dog (Miss Smoker) and Ryallsies (Mr Ryall) top notch driving. We went to TayTay, which is the local mall and each team was given 500 pesos (approx $12) to buy snacks for merienda (morning and afternoon tea) for the whole team for 3 days. The red group (who are writing this blog) got the best food which is a box full (approx 10 litres) of super awesome cookies and some MARTYs crackling, this stuff is the best.

After finishing off the night with some well deserved Starbucks, we piled back into the car only to realise that one of the cars would not start, Oh dear!! While Miss Smoker and Mr Ryall was trying to sort out how to get things going, Mini Staffy (Jesse Stafford) and Josh prayed over the cars engine. Jesse managed to touch the hot radiator hose and he was laying hands on the car, however quick reflexed ensure no damage. In short, after a lot of stress talking to the shopping centre security we eventually go home by piling 22 of the team into a 15 seater van. With some prayer and a bit of singing we managed to work hard, fight through the stress and be happy.

Today was awesome. So long farewell, we hate to say goodbye...
PS Sorry Mrs Erispe
PPS Cathy and Miss Smoker edited this
PPPS The weather was rainy and hot and muggy