What has happened to the time here? it seems like just weeks ago I boarded the plane in Minneapolis to fly to New Zealand, meeting YWAMers along the way, feeling the excitement continue to grow as our weariness from travel competed. Now it's been three months, and we are set to leave tomorrow morning for Outreach.
All three medical teams are going to The Philippines, and mine is going to the island of Mindoro. All three teams will fly in the capital, Manila, and stay for a few days. Then my team will leave to Mindoro, one team will stay, and one team will go to Tacloban.
In Mindoro we are going to the Ruel Foundation. (http://www.ruelfoundation.com/) The Ruel Foundation takes in abandoned and/or malnourished children and nurses them back to health, and those who don't have a family to go back to, finds families for them. They also perform surgeries on children with cleft lip and palate, club feet, and other physical deformities. In The Philippines, most families wouldn't have the money to get these operations done, and those who have deformities have a hard time finding jobs or even being accepted in society. The Ruel Foundation has already done surgeries on many children, giving them a better chance at life.
After three weeks at Ruel, we will go to Mercy Link. There are numerous things we could end up doing there. Prison ministry, Bible study with youth and adults, kid's ministry, hospital visits, tribal visits, medical clinic, and anything else they throw at us. We really won't know until we get there!
A cocktail of emotions are running through me right now. Obviously, excitement for the great things God is going to do on the outreach. Nervousness because we don't always know what we are doing. Stressed, because I still have many things to do. Sadness, because some of my best friends here are not on my outreach team. I'm sure this time will go by fast, and who knows how it will change each of us? I'm trusting in God that this is where I'm supposed to be, even if a part of my heart is still at home.
This is my last blog post until I come back to NZ. I'll be posting just one more time with info for a blog post that one of our team members are doing, so stay posted!
Thanks for all of your prayers and support from back home! I could not have done this without you. <3 And I am so excited to see you all back home on the 8th of June at my grad party!! Everyone is invited. :) Love you all!
p.s. I didn't have time to finish this until 12 hours later, so now our flight is leaving in 12 hours! And now I have a new blog post to give you all : http://calapancalling.blogspot.co.nz/
Again, love you all!
