Goodbyes

The last two days FLEW! On Friday we had our Mass Wedding. This was a wedding for 11 couples in our Bible studies. Weddings here cost a lot of money by themselves, not even including the paperwork and missing birth certificates of some people. So most are not really married here but just live together--BUT after a Bible study on the importance of marriage- many couples expressed a desire to get married before God. So Zoe Ministry's (the Kenney's organization) sponsored a Mass Wedding so all the couples could get married! Thanks to my sponsors and God's provision- I got to help two brides rent a wedding dress ($14) and one bride to get all new teeth ($100)! :) I was given a very filipino dress to wear at the wedding (my original dress wasn't colorful enough for their tastes ;)) so no laughing at my purple dress! :) I was also given the honor of lighting the candles at the wedding and laying the wedding cords on one of the couples (a traditional filipino thing). 

Ate Juning and Kuya Wilson  

The alter we decorated :)

Breakfast with the volleyballers

On my last day in the Philippines- I got to go play 3 hours of volleyball with my motorcycle volleyball gang and breakfast with them. Then helped with some more of the hut building, a farewell party thrown  by one of the filipino families who adopted me as "whitney binder-dagoldol" :), and have a bonfire with smores on the beach. I'd say it was a perfect ending! 

The farewell party: This was the sweetest thing ever. The Dagoldol's decided to have a going away party for me that was so well planned that it even had a program to organize it :) Many people gave testimonies as to how I affected their lives, some sang goodbye songs, the men even gave me a goodbye hula dance, and the Kenneys performed a skit. Somehow I was asked to dance by Mimay and she held me in a close, slow-dance grip and just cried, then Ivey stepped in and did the same thing, and then 5 more women. Of course I teared up then too- sheesh. :) What an incredible blessing to have known these brothers and sisters in Christ!!! 

On my way home: I am now on my way home and am at the third airport of six that I will visit on my way home. Traveling to the Philippines is no easy task! I took a four hour bus ride to Cagayan, then a flight to Manila (stayed the night), another 4 flights today for a total of 2.5 days of traveling! I definitely got some lovely lice while in the Philippines so I've treated that, and I am pretty sure I attained some parasites that I'll have to take care of when I get home, have a couple blisters, feet that need a serious pedicure, and several bug bites that I'm not sure what kind of bugs they are--- ALL IN ALL- God's grace covered me this whole trip and I am coming home healthy and more in love with my God and thankful for all I have and don't have! He is so good! 

I wish I could end this blog with some real wisdom-but I just can't. It's an odd feeling come home from such an experience. I want to be able to express all that it was and all that it did to me, but I can't find the words that are adequate enough. I guess all I can say is that if God calls you to missions, even for a short 3 monther like me, answer that call. Don't hesitate. It it the most edifying, rewarding, peaceful experience. 

View of our living room with all the kids! 

Hut Building Project

Now that I am on my way home, I have plenty of time to blog- so I wanted to take the time to do a beginning to end of the hut building project for ate juning and kuya wilson's family.

Quick Recap: I asked God to use me however He wanted to while in the Philippines. He directed me to a family living in the baraguay next to us. This is a family of 6 people who live in a house the size of our American walk-in closets. They are from the mountain (which means that is where all of their family is and they speak a tribal language different than Visaya) but had to move to Gingoog to be closer to the hospital. Their youngest son has a severe breathing problem. In the mountain, Kuya Wilson was a pastor, but now that they live in Gingoog- Wilson had to find work in a plywood company. Ate Juning also sells fish and their oldest son works as well. But their income is not enough to feed all six of them and afford their son's medical bills. They are also made fun of in Pandan because they are from the mountain (considered lower status). God provided the funds to build them a new hut- one they can all fit in! This was all God's doing and I take none of the credit but I do want to say thank you to my sponsors who helped make this possible! 

Current Home. Being held up with sticks and tarps. 

Mixing the cement to build a sturdy foundation. Filipino style- no shoes and tons of kids watching

Teamwork to get the framework done. 

Everything is done by hand and no power tools

Framework done and roof up! 

Putting up the bamboo walls! 

Putting down bamboo flooring and sawing it even

Shaving down the bamboo splits for the flooring (5 blisters from that machete!)

The Kitchen. On the left is where the dirty kitchen will be (where they cook with fire), on the left is the sink area. 

Bedrooms. One for the parents and one will be for the kids with bunkbeds

new house on left and old one on right (blue tarp)

Doors and shutters complete!

Ate Juning and Kuya Wilsun with two of their kids (the others are at work)

Front view of the house. Still have to build the porch and bridge leading to the house! 

Not Done Yet: We completed the house while I was there in 1.5 weeks! BUT we are not finished! I left funds to build a porch, build in the beds & shelves, and left money to stock them with food. We also built two sturdy tables for them and stocked them with clothes!! Imagine that- a complete bamboo hut to fit 6 people with a porch, furniture, clothes, and food with a total cost of just over $1100 (including labor of my wonderful filipino crew)! Praise the Lord! 

Letters from the family: 

"Dear Whitney,

We're so thankful to God that He used you, Whitney and the other people to help us. As for me and my family, our joy is overflowing because God give us a wonderful house. It is true in the Bible that He will not abandon His children, especially when we serve Him.Whitney, even though I can't understand your language, the Lord understands it. In Galatians 6:2, God will be happy when we obey His law. Whitney, when you're already in your home, we will never forget you. We pray that God gives you a man that can help your activities in Christ. Thank you. Thank you and your sponsors so much. 

Your brother in Christ, 

Wilsun-Juning Batonglinao"

(translated from Visaya to English- it doesn't translate exactly:))

"Dear Wiatney,

I would like to thanks to all that you can offer to the families of Batonglinao. I hope God is help and give the things that you like because you also give the important things to people like us. You careful in your trip and God is help to you, and God bless you! Thank you so much.. Happy trip. I hope it is not ending to our see! 

-Junel (oldest son of the family)"

(He wrote this himself in English from what he is learning in school! It's his first time in an English school and he is doing really well!!! :)) 

Thank you to all of my supporters for praying for this project and supporting it! I loved getting to see the body of Christ come together to care for one another. That is what we are supposed to do right? Even though you don't know these brothers and sisters in Christ (the Batonglinao's), you came to their aid. When one part of the body rejoices, we all rejoice! :) Thank you and let's rejoice!!! 

Progress

Progress Progress Progress

Day 6 is underway on the house and it is looking like a real home! :) Praise the Lord!

God is so good. When we started this whole project, I had budgeted for $350 based on Mimay's house we just completed (which already had a foundation set). Money came in and in and I ended up with $1,100 for the house! I even emailed some people back and told them we didn't need any more money- but God knew better than me. We are already up to $845.87 on the house and still going to look into electricity. God is so good and He provides regardless of my intentions ;) So thank you all!!

Good and bad news:

Bad News: baby Elroy (the son of my filipino momma- Alma) is in the hospital with an amoeba! :(

Good news: Ate Alma and her husband asked me to be Elroy's godmother :)

End of day 4

Putting up the bamboo weave walls (amakan)

My favorite job :)

Shaving down the bamboo flooring (kawayan)

Preparing the bamboo flooring... 5 blisters from this job!

Dont' look too close or you will notice how i'm still very american in that i sweat so bad here ;)

Teamwork all around :)

Upcoming Events

Mass wedding is today! Been running around like crazy today- bt the whole town is pulling together ot help! we will get to celebrate the marriage of 11 couples today! five pigs were killed and roasted last night (til 3 am- i could still hear them squealing- it was awful).

Dagoldol Family Party: The Dagoldol's are a family here in Pandan that have really taken me in. They make up about half of this town ;) They are so precious. They have taken me in as a daughter (even refer to me as whithney binder dagoldol ;)) Yes, they spell my name like that too ;) Anyways, they planned a going away party for me today. It is so formal! They made a program for it and are preforming dances and singing songs for me! Then they all are giving testimonies about my time here- and i have to give a short talk. how incredibly precious is that?! I am definitely leaving part of my heart in Pandan! 

A Good Catch & Only in the Phlippines

A Good Catch

We had another day with a good catch of fish this week! I always know when these days hit because I am awakened at 5am with kids yelling and laughing, women chattering, men yelling commands at each other and oversized trucks trying to fit in our small Pandan "roads." I love it! I grab my coffee and head down to the waiting shed to participate in the excitement! 

The wives dehead and clean the fish (called "tamban")

Cleaning out the net for the catch.. notice all the fish on the sand below!

I didn't realize they were about to shake the net.. i got sprayed with fish juice and i screamed :) gave the whole town a good laugh! These guys are completely covered in scales and other grossness when they are done

Everyone helps with the collecting of the fish! 

A Panorama view of the boxes for a good catch. the waiting shed is on the right and the boats are slowly coming in!

Only in the Philippines

A pig in the kitchen.. actually right next to the stove

tons of naked brown kids making sand balls as entertainment

never been more proud of a perfect sand ball :) who needs snowmen?!

One guitar for 25 boys singing super off key at the top of their lungs "Feliz na-bo-dai" at our Saturday night bonfire. i love when they don't know the english but think they do :) i guess that's not english, but you get what i mean :) 

Using a machete to handle the fire :) 

15 kids in one bamboo living room playing with toys.. none of their parents know where they are.. but that just isn't a question around here

When you find a snail the size of your hand, why not let it crawl on your foot?

Look mom, no hands!!

Who doesn't enjoy a nice hard boiled egg on the floor of a bamboo hut right in front of the fan to cool down because it is cultural to wear jean in the tropic weather ;) 

I made my first ever mango float to enjoy with this Dagoldol family! :) They are the ones teaching me visaya! 

Building the House!

I am so sorry that i have not done an update on the new house building project!!! God heard our cries, and provided for the building of a house for this family from the mountain!!!! He spoke to me so much last week, and made it very apparent to me that I am going to get to be a vessel for His plans for this family! The money came in, the building crew was hired (will also help give people jobs :)), wood has been purchased and the house is going up!!! I am continually having to remind myself that this money is not mine, nor are these plans.. I even write on my hand every morning, "This is not yours." So that anytime a problem comes up in the building or logistics, i look at my hand and realize that this is God's thing and i need to trust Him.

We had originally planned for a house that would be 20ft x 20ft including the dirty kitchen (where they cook). Because this family is from the mountain, they do not own the land that their house is currently on so we had to get permission from the owner of the land to build them a new house in a new area. like i said before, their neighbors were not christians and would yell profanities and drink and gamble to excess. not a great surrounding for their kids. so we got the permission to build the new house, and started digging holes. the next day the owner of the land saw our holes and told us the house was too big. so we had a whole new discussion over sizes of the house. he originally said it coudln't be bigger than 10 x 10. this would mean two 5x5 rooms and one 5x10 room for 6 people!!! i was obviously a little confused so i asked him to draw it out on the sand.. after 15 minutes of discussion, we finally realized that he meant "meters" and not "feet." HAHAHA. wow! what a relief!

Okay, i'm going to try to let the pictures speak for themselves.. but sometimes i might need to add comments because i just want everyone to get to partake in this adventure!!!

BIG SIDE NOTE: REMEMBER THAT THIS WHOLE THING WILL BE BUILT BY HAND WITH NO ELECTRIC TOOL. HOW AMAZING IS THAT?!

This is the original house. 

Original house- size of some of our walk-in closets 

the location of the new house : ) 

Yes, it takes 15 of us :) 

Helping to build a table for them

This is our main builder (ate mimay's husband). I gave him those flip flops because he was building with no shoes on the first day. Also- notice he is spreading the concrete with his hands.. professional :) 

Mixing the cement. I love that everything here is entertainment for the community

My building crew! It's all about teamwork... the posts weren't lining up, so standing on it to force it down was the only viable option ;) 

The framework is finished! 

notice how much i am helping... just giving high fives to kids ;)

oh wait, i can help a little :)

ate Juning is on left- she is the momma of the mountain family. ate grace is on the right (my filipino sister ;))

Tomorrow we put down the floor and add the roof :) we will be adding a front deck as a porch and a side deck for washing clothes and the kitchen will be added on the back of the house!