Finally!

I have been back in Arizona for 3 weeks now.  I am finally starting to feel a little like normal.  I still struggle to get up and start my day because no on is around all day long to motivate me into getting up, but I think I am finally jet lag free.  I have been struggling to keep up with my current class, but this past week was a "break" so we didn't have anything due.  That gave me the opportunity to get a little caught up in other areas.

Today I am going to the post office to mail 20 envelopes with pictures and cards.  I wish I had enough energy to do more, but over the course of the next couple of months I am hoping to design a newsletter and start sending them quarterly.  If you would like to receive these, please let me know.  I already have a list that I will send my initial newsletters to, but I would love to add more!

I'd like to share a little more about the second half of my visit so here it goes.  The last update ended with us having returned to Bohol after an extended stay on neighboring island Negros.  We had arrived back to Juagdan very early in the morning on Friday (3:00 am).  Thankfully I didn't have any particular thing to do that day so I was able to sleep in a bit and got a decent 6 hours of sleep.  Some of the others on the other hand had to host a Christmas party for the local young people, they had a rough day.  Then Saturday there was a mix of parties and gatherings that happened at the church and it ended with a great fireworks presentation to bring in the New Year!  In the Philippines it is legal to set off the big shooting fireworks and at least 2 sets of them were purchased and a lot of people gathered to watch them.

The last three weeks sort of blend together because there were no specific events aside from my last three days.  Life just went on as usual.  There were two typhoons that caused a lot of rain and wind and school was off for a couple of days.  I did my laundry and often watched Mama Bebee cooking to see if I could figure it out.  The two guys who work the water business live in the house and so they each took a turn cooking.  Ogeke is still learning, so he didn't do much, but it was good.  Junrey can cook for me anytime because he makes great seafood!

I was able to meet with Mama Anging and talk about a lot of the plans.  She really likes where I am heading for the program and had a few suggestions to add.  They would like me to get involved with the young people's group as this covers from teenagers until you get married (and I'm not married).  They would also like me to preach occasionally.  On the first point I wholeheartedly agree.  I will get involved in the young peoples group because they will likely be my students and friends :)  On the second point I told her that is not how it works for Americans so it will take me a while to get used to the idea of preaching.  I told her I would need at least 6 months, maybe a year, before I would feel comfortable preaching, but I would work on it since that is how it works in the Philippines.

After proposing my ideas and getting questions answered with Mama Anging, she wanted me to meet  with the church leaders and tell them about it.  She said she shared some of the idea, but wanted me to tell them in my words and see if they had any questions.  I was a little nervous, because I only knew about half of the people.  But I knew most of them understand a fair amount of English so that was easier.  When I asked if there were any questions Kuya Romeo said, "No, it's clear."  They did end up asking a few questions and really seemed to like the idea and are anxious to get it started.  Their prayer is that I can come sooner, but I told them the soonest would be 1 year (Jan/Feb 2018).

I did a lot of observation of people and how things work for day to day life and feel pretty ready to make this work.  I also took note of prices on certain things when at the markets and shops to know what a budget will likely be.  I am nervous about the initial start up cost, and even a bit about the necessary monthly pledges.  However, I know it is all in God's timing and he will make happen what needs to happen.

My last three days were very eventful, but as this is already long I will wait and post that another time with a lot of pictures.  I'm still sorting through and making a detailed slide show.  Perhaps in another three weeks I will have that done and post it!

Thank you for your support!