Day 11

Well with the trip pretty much over and just two flights to get home we were all very relaxed and surprised with how smooth the whole trip had been.  As if on cue I started the worst bout of uncontrollable vomiting every seen on Royal Brunei Airlines, this was very strange as I have travelled many times and never experienced this phenomenon.  

This sickness required myself and my very supportive team to forcibly visit the medical quarantine centre in Brunei for treatment.  In true Australian fashion the team refused to board the plane until I was cleared for the next flight.  In this situation you really appreciate your team and their kindness and compassion.

We eventually got on to the next flight which fortunately was almost empty and enabled myself and a few others to sleep and make it back to Perth.  So we made it back with some in better condition than others, but we were all praising God for his daily provisions of travelling mercies, workplace safety and amazing experiences.

Thank you to everyone who was involved in the support of this trip, the overwhelming donations of clothing, childcare products, hand made products, personal finances, time and prayer support made more difference than you can imagine.  Words and pictures alone cannot express the difference your contribution was able to make to disadvantaged children and adults in the Philippines.

Specifically I would like to thank Kerry and Peter Westlake for their efforts in organising the donated items and fundraising events.  The Byford Baptist Members and leadership for the support of this project and those who were able to post encouragement messages on the blog.  

God Bless

Paul

Day 10

Well after working hard for just over a week with limited sleep another early start was required at 2:15-am.  This just gave us enough time time pack up all our clothes, equipment and supplies to head back to Manila to start heading home.  The trip from Malaybalay down to Cagayan de Oro was very smooth with very little traffic and only a few hazards from the previous days heavy rainfall.  

The Cebu Pacific flight was also very smooth, possibly because of the absence of Chris who has decided to stay another week in Malaybalay to complete the electrical wiring of the new buildings and train the local electrician.  This is a big decision for Chris and we all congratulate him for making such a commitment to this project.

After arriving in Manila we were picked up by our faithful driver Rollie who took us straight to McDonalds in Makati the business district of Manila and the Philippines.  A quick breakfast of hotcakes and coffee (surprisingly no rice or eggs except for B1 who clearly didn't eat enough rice during his time in Malaybalay)and we were off to the market style shopping complex of GreenHills.

The group then divided up to purchase the various presents they had to buy for family and friends and most used Felicity's keen bargaining experience to purchase freshwater pearl jewelry.  B2 at this stage commented to the group that several purchases of this kind might increase his possibilities of returning to the Philippines next year, lets hope so B2.

After about an hour of shopping (about as much as the average guy can handle) we walked over to American chain restaurant Chilli's for lunch.  During lunch we met up with Jeff Long and K.I.M. board member Ted who thanked the group for their work and introduced us to a touring Clown troop, who were headed down to Malaybalay to visit the children's home and the campers.

Eventually after finishing an enormous lunch Rollie took the group to a day spa for some much needed and deserved R&R.  This involved sitting in a heated spa pool and a body massage, I'm not sure about the ladies but all you could hear from the men's massage room was snoring as for most of the group this was the first opportunity to relax in along time.

This was the last of our time in the Philippines and we headed to the airport with mixed emotions, we all missed home but we had seen so much and met so many people who were now part of our lives.  At this point we said goodbye to Rollie and Felicity.  Felicity had been our guide through Malaybalay and her knowledge, experience and love for the Filipino people was a great example for us and helped make the trip a success.

So with great sorrow, but the desire to return home to see family and friends we boarded the plane to head home.

God Bless

Paul  

  

Day 9

Last night we enjoyed sharing dinner with the kids from the home, watching a video on the story of Joseph then indulging in a cheesecake kindly provided by Jeremy & Sarah.

This morning we were up and ready for our last brekkie of scrambled eggs, mango, pineapple and bread. Wow!
After devotions, off we went to work - today's short day included building door frames, cleaning up the work site and sorting donated items.

After 10am Mariana time, we were driven and accompanied by local Christian Pastor Larry and Renay to a very poor Muslim community to distribute our gift bags.

After the men lugged heavy bags up a slippery muddy hill, crowded both sides with ricketty shanty-style dwellings, we sang songs and Pastor Keith gave a word. After this spiritual input, we gave out the bags of food etc. These were eagerly received.

The utter poverty, huge number of children, squalid living conditions, hopeless cycle of despair and poverty, beautiful smiles of gratitude and the radiance of local Pastors all left an indelible impression on the whole team. 'There but for the grace of God go I.'

To take part in this ministry was a most humbling privilege and a fitting end to the official activities.

We were also able to say thank you to our local co-workers on the building site by leaving boots and clothing for them. These were received with delight as each of us had been previously eyed off for sizing!

Our time here is rapidly coming to an end. Please pray for safety tomorrow as we leave here at 2.30am on slippery roads!

God bless

Julie & the Team (Chris is not with us tonight, so I am safe!!)

Day 8

We had a leisurely start to Sunday, with breakfast at about 7:30. The scrambled eggs coffee and mangos are still delicious. In fact if any of you really enjoy mangos, we can send you a photo of us eating some...We visited a Christ Commission Fellowship church and heard a sermon on becoming like Christ. Sounds easy eh? Lunch was at a nice little restaurant. The chilli and tamarind soup was very tasty, and the iced tea served there is the best in the world. After lunch we drove down to a marketplace and did some serious shopping. 250 kg of rice, boxes of tuna, washing soap, coffee, hair shampoo, and noodles. Then it was back to the Ayala's place to pack the goodies into 200 shopping bags. We had a big production line going, and the pace was furious. I don't think Bryan has ever had to work so hard in all his life. We were rushing to get to the hilltop tralala before the rain arrived for the afternoon. (This is a poor community at the southern end of Malaybalay.) The rain arrived at the same moment that we did, so we decided to try again early tomorrow. The plan is to share a testimony with the people, and a short gospel message, and to bless them with a practical gift. Anyway, since the rain has set in for the day we are kicking back with some bananas (deep fried and coated in sugar) and Coke 66 cents for a 1L glass bottle. We're talking, laughing, and thinking of all you wonderful folks back in OZ. Dinner will be with the kids from the children's home, and with Jeremy and Sara Moody.

buy Chris (going cheap)

Day 7

Wow what a day we have had today! Breakfast at 6.30am as usual with mangos, bananas rolls and a good ole cuppa. The kids at the camp were leaving at 9am for home so it was an all in photo shoot. Our team, Philippino construction workers, camp kids, the orphans all the Pastors and Group leaders. It was sad to see the campers and leavers go.

Then it was into the work. While most of us got stuck into finishing off the interior walls on the ground floor and others starting on walls on the second floor Julie ran a First Aid class for all the leaders and Pastors of the camp before they left for home. Those attending Julie's class loved it and were great actors as they participated in the lessons. Praise the Lord we completed our task of the interior walls on the ground floor by about 1pm.

After lunch an outing to a nearby National park had been arranged where we were to walk to see three water falls. The transport to the park was in a Jeepnee. It was a great experience driving along in one of these weird vehicles. Just as we arrived it started to rain but that did not deter us. We set out on the 2 km return walking trek getting thoroughly soaked to the skin. Thunder and lightning didn't stop our walk and nor did the two bamboo suspension bridges we had to cross there and back. The waterfalls were amazing but due to the rain we couldn't take too many photos. We all went home soaking wet but happy and enjoying the break from the hard work we have been doing. Most were able to have warm or hot showers when we got back to the home but most of the guys had cold showers.

Tonight we went to Jolli Bee again for take away after Julie, Rob and Margaret did some shopping for gifts to bring back to Australia.

We are all well although carrying some working scars and sore muscles. The time has gone quickly and it's difficult to believe that we have only three days left. God bless to all. Keith

Day 6

Woke to ever increacing foggy morning that was cool and crisp and by 10.00 was clear and sunny. After a scrambled eggs & flatjacks for breakfast, we had study and pray time to start the day, then actions stations, work continued on both stories with building the internal walls. The workers where busy making up the metal form work, which sits the 10 course of bocks, forming the lintal beam. We then poured buy bucket chain the concrete into the lintals, then layed 3/4 more layers of blocks up to the ceiling. Julie trained first aid life skills with the orphanage works after lunch in the bamboo hut. Keith repaired on got running the emergency generator, which had not be running for some time. He also work on the mission cars listing the job required and making minor repaires. Hit the showers at six and out for tea to have a banquet of food including sweets and our usual mango shakes.

From Rob on behalf of the team

Day 5

hi and hello to everyone Im b1 {brian with an i} your correspondent. Bryan Jefferies is b2. Everyone is still high in spirit and full of fun and laughter. Work is on schedule me thinks ?The meals {lunches } are great. We are spoilt . Tonites dining out we had a rare moment of an armed escort. Something we are not quiet use to. Other than that nothing major. Very impressed with the dishes and cuisine on offer. Thumbs up. Lastly, if there are any aches and bumps we are doing a good job of masking any concerns, thanking you for all your prayers and love.


From the team in Malaybalay

Day 4

Sorry everyone buy todays post is very short. Julie had written an awesome post but Chris G decided to play with the computer transformer and lost all of Julie's hard work. After offering to re write the post he logged on to the wrong blogspot full of inappropriate photos, we had to go back to the campsite and organise Pastor Keith to deal with him. The important news is that we are all well and working hard.

God Bless

Paul

A sample of Julie's work

We awoke this morning to the sounds of 80 kids getting together to start the day of the vacation Bible school. This was before 5.30am!! So, full of enthusiasm, we quickly devoured our delicious srambled eggs for brekkie then got stuck into the day's work. Keith was seconded to help with the singing with all the kids, then was further elected to help with cutting down the posts on a verandah to enable some kind of safety barrier to be erected. The rest of the workers quickly settled in to a very full and active day of building internal walls. Mindful of telephone and electrical conduits, overhead slops (colouring Margaret & Julie's hair nicely with concrete), many other co-builders legs (and the rest of their bodies!), string (demarking the next course of bricks), buckets of 'mud'

Day 3

Will you kindly turn that light off? It's pitch black outside and I feel like I only just got to sleep. It's 2am you say? So I did only just go to sleep. What? We're leaving now? Whose mad idea was that?

So began day 3. It's not all bad though. There's nothing like hooning through Manila in the wee hours without any headlights on your vehicle. The new airport is a fantastic improvement on the old domestic terminal, and we were on our way to Mindanao well before sun-up.

The eastern sky turned a brilliant red as the sun rose, and we landed soon after. A couple of complete strangers decided to jump into a group photo on the runway, proving that Cagayan De Oro really is "The City of Golden Friendship". Then it was off to the Australian Embassy for some McMuffins and strong coffee. The drive up to Malaybalay was a pleasant one, and this time no-one had to inspect the inside of a paper bag. The locals are very friendly here in the Philippines, with lots of people honking and waving at the westeners taking in the sights.

We arrived at the campsite/ orphanage mid-morning, and it has changed a lot in the 9 months since the author's last visit.

Jeff has big plans for the team to finish installing the block walls in units 3 & 4, and to get the wiring finished in the same. No pressure guys. Oh, you've never done a bricklaying apprenticeship? Well it can't be that hard. The team spent some of the afternoon looking after the kids while Jeff had a meeting with various people who are involved in the Mindanao kid

s home, and then got stuck into building the first wall. It's kinda straight.

After a gruelling afternoons work it was off to a favourite restaurant for chicken on a stick. It tastes great, and the best thing is that if it has wings, you know it's not a dog.

Monday 13th April - day 2

We woke this morning reasonably refreshed from our travels yesterday. After breakfast we were given opportunity to take a walk around the district of Quatro which is the area which KIM ministers. We were able to see the New Faith Family Children's Home and walk through the living areas of the people to the Quatro Community Centre. Both these centre's show the valuable contribution of KIM to the local people. The Children's Home takes in orphans from the community that then affords these children an opportunity in life. The Community Centre is a three story building, built by volunteers that houses the school for both the orphanage and some 50 local children that have been given a great opportunity to receive an education and therefore have a chance in life. The top story of the building is a basketball court , used by the school but which is also thrown open to the local community to use. In a basketball crazy country as the Philippines this is a great opportunity to reach out to the community. The walk throught the district has opened the eyes of us to the plight of these people and the huge disparity between our living standards and those of these people. To give you a litle idea - we in Australia take for granted running, fresh water but these people have to rely on the kindness of KIM that supplied a tap at the Orphanage to give them clean water that they had to bucket to their homes. Some of the more fortunate people can afford to get water trucked in and have their water tanks filled.
Whilst most of the team was enjoying our walk in the morning, Julie Ware commenced her First Aid classes with the staff of the Orphanage. We are blessed to have Julie trained in this area and the staff enjoyed and learnt a great deal from the lessons. Initially there was some shyness as they were instructed in CPR on the manicans which Julie was able to get supplies by the St Johns kind donation.
Paul had also arranged for the team to get the opportunity to visit the prison for a couple of hours. The team approached this visit with a little apprehension as most have not had the opportunity in this type of ministry. We went into the prison with the idea of bring ministry in song with Keith playing his ukelele then having a time of sharing and giving the prisoners a number of old basketballs that were donated by the Lakeside Baptist Sports Centre. Arriving at the prison we were met by a lot of smiling faces of prisoners who appeared genuinly glad to see us. Paul, Chris and Rob were elected to play a game of 3 on 3 basketball with some of the prisoners. They had a great time of fellowship with the prisoners even though it was very hot and humid and without shade. Keith and the 2 Brian/Bryan went inside the steel walls and sang a couple of chorus and songs before Keith brought a message of hope and challenge to those prisoners who had gathered to listen. The men then had a tour of the 6 cells which made up the mens home. This was a great eye opener and a humbling experience to all. To see an average of 110 men crowded in very tiny cells with approx. 15 to 20 doubledecker beds that these men had to sleep on. The toilets consist of 2 buckets per cell. Even in these conditions the prisoners could still smile and make us feel welcome and talking with us. The inmates were very thankful for Pastor Keith to prayer for each cell we visited. The 2 ladies that came with our team, Margaret and Felicity were taken to the womens section and enjoyed agreat time of fellowship, song and just talking with the women. The conditions that the women endured were not as crowded as the men's section but none the less very hard. Could you all pray for these prisoners that Keiths challenge was heard and that Gods word will find a home in some of these people's heart.
All in all a fantastic insight into some of the lives of the Philippine people and the work that has to be done still to reach this needy people.
Bed early tonight for we are to leave KIM centre to continue our travels. Pray for safe travelling mercies as it will be a long day tomorrow.
Logging off for now - Yours in Christ Bryan

Day 1

Eight of us: Paul, Keith, Julie, Bryan, Brian,Chris, Rob and Margaret met at Perth Airport at about 8am today, Easter Sunday, to head off to the Philippines to be about our Father's business. We had a lovely group to farewell us: parents, spouses, children and friends. It was good to get through the luggage check with all sixteen pieces of luggage. The five hour flight from Perth to Brunei began with a rather rough take-off but then was fine. Everyone appeared to do justice to the plane food and drinks (non al, of course!) Most of us slept a bit at times, read, did crosswords and our esteemed pastor won a game of canasta. Over three hours was spent in the airport at Brunei. Chris had a snooze looking quite fetching in his citrone green mask. Then we flew for about two hours to Manila.

What a different world! The first thing that assailed us was the third world odour of open drains and rubbish being burnt for cooking. Then the air's warmth, humid but not unbearable at this time of the night, ten o'clock. We were met by Kirk and Colene and taken at a good speed by a people mover driven expertly by Kirk, via three lane roads with traffic going in a rather haphazard manner, toYunjin Ministry Centre where we were made very welcome, shown to our comfortable rooms having all facilities. We are keen to see more tomorrow as the city is fascinating, all types of buildings, large, small, slums, different vehicles, strange jeepneys which are a type of crowded small bus almost reminiscent of a well lit merry-go-round.

The only mishap so far, that we know of, is that half Chris's bodywash went through Julie's bag.
God bless.
Margaret