Emmanuel- God it with us

What to say, what to say.

I feel really mixed emotions this week. I’m really happy to go home for Christmas and see friends and family. I’m also looking forward to getting back to work. But leaving the friends I’ve made a Faith is really hard.

I’ve been thinking a lot about how God puts some people in our lives just for a season. I’ve been only know the guys here for 4 months yet the time we’ve spent together has been kind of intense. I feel like I’ve become really close to them, especially my room mate Meg. She is so great and I’m really going to miss her. It really sucks that I’m not going to see them all on a regular basis anymore. But I know that we have a choice when we meet people for a short time. We can either not bother to invest in them and keep our guards up, or we can let out guard down and really make friends. This makes it harder when you leave but in the long run you spent a great time together, learnt a lot from each other and have another great friend (and a great place to stay in the US!!)

With Sharon and Meg, these girls are awesome

All the elementary staff

Me and wonderful Meg

So having thought this over I’m so glad I invested in friendships here. But that doesn’t make it easy to have to leave them. I’ve been thinking over the Christmas story again this year and am struck with the name Jesus is given ‘Emmanuel’ which means God is with us. I love this because it applies to that stable 2000 years ago and today in the Philippines. God is with me and has been with me. When it’s hard and I have to say difficult goodbyes he is with me. When I have to travel half way across the world he is with me. When I continue with my life back in Nottingham he is with me. I praise him for he is with me, he watches over my coming and going, both now and forever.

It's nearly time to go

Hi guys, it's been forever since I blogged and there is so much to say so I thought I'd give some brief highlights of the last couple of weeks and then add plenty of photo's to fill in the gaps.

A few weeks ago we visited a place called Taal which is the smallest active volcano in the world (apparently). The day was pretty epic and invloved a boat trip in the rain (again), a hike up a very steep hill with steaming rocks on each side, a lot of horse poo (you could ride up on a horse if you wanted), and a great but very wet view from the top. Looking down into the crater of the volcano was cool, you could see the water bubbling and smell the sulphur, kind of crazy!

Taal volcano

Me, Helena and Tamara on the boat ride across

We all made it to the top!

A volcanic crater

Me and Karen looking out

Me and Meg love Volcanoes!!


Last weekend me and Meg visited an orphanage to help out as the workers prepared for the kids Christmas party. This was a weird experince. The kids were super cute, but also clearly had a lot of baggage. I think the emotional damage of being in an orphanage, even a christian one must be massive. I enjoyed being a human climbing frame for 3 hours, it was great to show the kids a little bit of love and affection. I pray that God will have his hand on those kids, and guide and protect them as they grow up, even though their situation seems tough I know that nothing is impossible with God.

I know my eyes look weird but I had to use this picture because she is so cute!!

4 little angels!

This has been my last teaching week at Faith. On Tuesday I taught grade 2 about Christmas in England. The kids were facinated with Christmas crackers and the tradition of putting money in the Christmas pudding. The best part though was making Christingles with them. They really enjoyed it and then we went to sing for grade 1 which was really cute, although I think we nearly had a couple of kids set on fire. I think they must have been asleep during their talk on fire safety!

Christingle

They all really wanted to eat the sweets!

Paul with his Christingle

Grade 2 on fire!

Procession

Josh is second in from the left. Look at his face, I think he just tried to set himslef alight!

Silent night, holy night, all is calm, all is bright

This morning I woke up feeling kind of sad. It's only 1 week until I leave the Phils and I'm really going to miss it here. I've made some really great friends and have loved working in the Faith Academy team. All the staff and students are great. Good byes are always tough but I pray that as I am preparing to leave I will know God's hand with me. While it's sad, I also feel ready to go back home and see family and friends and get back to work.

I would really appraciate your prayers as I prepare to leave and as I travel home. I have a really long journey as the airline changed my flight time. I leave the Philippines ar 7:20 am and arrive in Brunei at 9:30am. I don't leave Brunei until 8:50pm. This would be bad enough but Brunei airport is so small its practically non-existent, there is literally nothing to do there. Then after this I still have a 14 hour journey to London via Dubai. Please pray that this journey will not be too terrible and I will meet some like minded people I can talk too. Also just for patience for myself and safety as I travel. I think I might update one for time before I leave. If not I can't wait to see you all in person and celebrate Christmas with you, hopefully with some snow (I know you guys have been greedy and had extra while i've been away!!)