No matter where I am I have friends who are half a world away. I want to stay connected and keep my supporters informed. Some times I will be very busy and only update once in a while. Other times I might bore you with how much I have to say :) Just check back once in a while when you are thinking of me and see what I'm up to!

Tuesday, November 20, 2018

Another month half gone.

Well, in the day to day stuff it seems like I haven't been here that long and things aren't moving forward.  Then I look at the calendar and I'm amazed!  This week marks 2 months in Juagdan.  I can't say I have loved EVERY moment, but I haven't hated any either :)

It turns out visa is a little more complex than I first thought.  I had the initial 29 day and was easily able to renew for an additional 30 in Cebu.  Kuya Jonah had found out I could do one more 30 day, then 60 days, then another 60 days, and finally 6 months.  Well, it turns out they want me to apply for the missionary visa instead, but they extended for 60 days instead of just 30!  I have the next 60 days to gather a few letters and some official SEC paperwork from the church, but once I get that accomplished I will be valid for a full year.  It's great news, just a little more complex than I expected.

Work on the mission house is moving forward, but in small steps.  This week I have started moving some things into the cabinets and trying to clean and organize some stuff.  The hope is this week the new flooring can get laid out as well as the plumbing and lighting getting finished.  I will hopefully move in next week or at the latest next weekend!

Language studies are moving just as slowly if not slower.  I'm thinking once I'm in my own space I should designate a certain space and time for regular study.

On another note I'm going to try to use kalabasa (Filipino squash) to make "pumpkin" pie for our American Thanksgiving.  If I understand correctly the main dish is going to be pork kabobs.  We will also have mashed potatoes and a couple Filipino dishes.  I'll try to remember to take pictures 😉

Tuesday, October 23, 2018

Amigo, Amiga, Ug Mga Amigas

Amigo, amiga, ug mga amigas.  Until about a month ago I would have said they are all friends.  Dili na lang! Not any more! Friend, friend, and enemy. Okay, so not exactly.

Just like Espanol, amigo or amiga express the singular form of friend depending on the person's gender.  Mga amigas on the other hand does not mean multiple female friends. It means multiple ants. Normally ants wouldn't be a big deal, except it turns out I'm allergic to the red ant bites and there are daghan kaayo mga amigas (a lot of ants!).  Thankfully it is not anaphylactic shock bad, but puffy for hours and "I want to scratch my skin off" for days bad. I thankfully have access to antihistamines so the itch doesn't last so long but most days I still end up with at least 2 new bites.

I've been here enough times and long enough this time that I can say I have daghan kaayo mga amigo, pero I hope mga amigas go away!  I just don't think that is happening any time soon.

Six weeks and two Visayan lessons complete.  I'm feeling more confident, but there is still a long way to go yet.  Here's to living the life!

Monday, October 8, 2018

Photo Bomb Part Two!

Take two!

Here are some photos of where I am staying.  And in no particular order...

This is the pump area.  I wash my laundry here.  In the mornings the kids take their baths here.  The building is the pump house that has the electric pump that fills the two tanks which supplies four (hopefully soon to be 5) buildings with their running water.  At least it is a shaded area on the side of the house so it is sort of private and blocked by from the sun. 
This is the Cajigas' kitchen.  The sink has running water, but no hot available.  The stove/oven is propane gas run.  It is difficult to really get it low, but high works great!


This is the rice container.  I asked Ate Jess and we determined they use 50 kilos about every 6 weeks.  No wonder it's such a bit bin!  That also helps feed the dogs too though.

These two are lovers... for real.  On the right is Lexi and she has had puppies a couple of times.  Here most recent batch was fathered by Big Jake on the left.  Pretty sure he is full German Shepard that they acquired from some Americans in a neighboring area.

This is Ollie.  He is one of Lexi's babies from a previous brood of pups.  He is a year old now.  Both he and mommy love this chair on the front porch.

This should look familiar.  It is the orphanage as see from the Cajigas's balcony.  Mommy Jean is growing vegetables out front to help supplement the food budget.  If you look closely on the top-ish left is the end of the basketball court.
This is the back of the church as seen from the Cajigas's balcony.  The big shoe shape in the middle is a slide on the playground.  Here you can also see more of the basketball court from this vantage point.


In case you can't tell this balcony is a good place to see a lot of the area.  On the far left is Papa Oman and Ate Amy's house.  They are just outside the gate.  The black truck is the Cajigas family vehicle.  The white truck is the water delivery truck.  The little bit of building on the far right is the church.


Photo Bomb!

It is a balmy Monday afternoon here.  I have no idea what the weather is because I can't understand the news stations so I don't watch and there isn't a thermometer sitting out for me to just check real quick.  I might try to find on sometime...  However, it feels like it is only about 80ish degree, but lots of moisture in the air so it is quite sticky feeling.  It hasn't rained yet today so my laundry from this morning is actually almost dry!

Because it isn't raining we seem to be having some really good internet connections so I am going to try to upload some pictures I have been snapping....

Faith Joy and I have had some fun playing with Wiki Sticks I brought with me.

The mechanics make house calls here.  It seems like they are needed about every other week.

Marah, Mickella, and Jeanne sporting their pillowcase dresses sent from a group back in the states :)

Drew and Jeanne hanging out at the front door of the shelter.  This is a regular occurrence when it rains. 
We took a morning trip out to Bohol Dairy to have some ChocoBao.  It is chocolate milk and ice cream made from Carabao (water buffalo) instead of regular cow's milk.


Sorry I didn't get the whole carabao n the picture, but here are the kids taking a photo op on the patio.
(Mark, Drew, Mickella, and Faith)
I will post this now, just in hopes of it uploading today!  I will also prep another one just incase it is successful!

Tuesday, September 25, 2018

Transitioning

It felt like forever getting here. It was a quick trip from Denver to LAX.  I had time to relax and slowly find my gate because I had a few hours before the next flight.  From LAX to Hong Kong might have been 15 hours but I filled it with sleep and Marvel movies so it went fast.  Then I had 9 hours in Hong Kong.  That was rough because I wasn't sure I'd get to leave on time due to a super typhoon.  The time came and they let us go.  It was a bumpy flight which included an audible gasp across the plane at one point.  Relief!  I was on solid ground again.  Due to the typhoon the Cajigas family couldn't leave Bohol to meet me in Cebu, but Pastor Iglee and another man I know met me at the Cebu Airport.  We stayed overnight at a hotel so I slept pretty good, but I was still exhausted so the 7 hour wait at the Port the next afternoon had me slumped over my bags sleeping again.  Thankfully the Philippine Coast Guard did lift the hold on ferries and we were off by 8 pm.  Ate Jess and Kuya Jonah met us at the Port in Tubigon around 10 pm which is nearly the other side of the island.  I think we finally made it home by 1 am.  Oh yeah, I left Denver at 8 pm CST on Wednesday and that would be 1 pm CST on Friday that I finally made it to my new home.  Talk about long travel!

Now I am in Juagdan and things feel normal here.  I have visited often enough and right now I'm staying with close friends.  Kids argue, fuss, and fight no matter where you are so that is no different here.

I think the most difficult thing right now is actually the humidity!  I know I grew up in Florida and had plenty there, but we had Central air-conditioning.  Here it is just a small wall unit in the bedroom.  I mean it is great and I actually got cold last night, but other things are affected by the humidity.

For example, most foods are acquired in small batches because there is only so much space in the refrigerator.  Flour and dry oats are among the things I would normally leave out but can't here.  Spices clump quickly.  Laundry takes days to dry because we don't have a machine to do it for us.  It is rainy season so the ground is almost always wet and therefore muddy.  I have to be careful to not wipe out on that!  There are also certain areas I have learned to walk with my hand in front of my face because the laundry lines hang low and are almost invisible when no clothes are on them.

Overall, life is good.  I'm getting over a cold which has slowed me down, but each day I learn something new.  I have a lot to learn before classes begin in January though!

Until next time... A word from the Lord for you...
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid, do not be discouraged for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.  Joshua 1:9 NIV

Sunday, August 26, 2018

Countdown Mode

I'm in the final countdown.

In seven days I leave Arizona to go on my last family vacation for a long while.  I will not return to my parents' house before leaving the country.  In some ways this is good because then my true last week will be low stress and time spent with my family instead of trying to get last minute things accomplished.  It also gives me a bit of time to still realize what I might be forgetting and acquire it in Denver because my actual departure from the country isn't until 12 days later.

Yes, in seventeen (17) days I will be leaving my country of origin to spend two years in my "second" country.  It is second only because I was not born there.  It will be a sort of home coming because I know so many people where I am heading.  Several visits have happened, but this will be different than any other time because it's not temporary.  I am establishing a home there.  It is very exciting, but also very nerve wracking.  I know they love me and will be forgiving.  However, mistakes will be made and I will offend many just because I didn't grow up there.  The hope is that they are willing to share not just their language, but their culture willingly.

Seven Days To Test Launch:
7. Worship in the house of my Lord and start to pack the last box to be shipped.
6. Work on a birthday project for my niece and nephew and do a few errands with my mom.
5. Finish the project, complete the packing of the box, and verify some last minute paperwork/record keeping.
4. Sort what is going with me and run a test "packing" of my luggage.
3. Deliver box to Sari Sari store for shipment.
2. Freak out and walk in circles around the house double checking everything is done.
1. Do my last load of laundry, actually pack my luggage, and load the van.
0. Flight departs at 7 am.

Understandably, there are a lot of things on my mind.  I simply ask that you keep me in your prayers this week as I try to remember to thank and praise God during this countdown.  I am extremely grateful for those who have partnered with me in this endeavor and I pray regularly for you as well.  Apart from the Lord, my God, I can do nothing.  Without my supporters I can do very little.  You are my lifeline.

Praise God and Amen!

Friday, July 20, 2018

Special Goal

Over the past year I have had many individuals and families financially supporting the
ministry. A number of you are those amazing people with which God has blessed me.
As the time comes closer to leave I am asking if you would be willing to commit to a regular
monthly donation for two years.  I know some of you have said you want to support me but
perhaps you don't know what could benefit the ministry.

Let me help with that, even $5 a month is helpful!  To put this into perspective, one $25
a month pledge could completely cover either my personal care items, my language tutor,
or basic household needs. One donor at $50 a month could cover my groceries, classroom
supplies, transportation needs, or my utilities.  Below you will see the goal of 35 committed
monthly partnerships I would like to have by the time I leave. As of today I am only a third
of the way toward this goal. Please let me know if you are willing to fill in one (or multiple!)
of the slots. Thank you and God bless!

$100
$100
$100
$100
$15
$50
$50
$50
$50
$15
$50
$50
$50
$50
$15
$25
$25
$25
$25
$10
$25
$25
$25
$25
$10
$25
$25
$25
$25
$10
$20
$20
$20
$20
$10
(The highlighted boxes represent current partnerships!)

Don't know where to start?  Think about these facts:

According to thesimpledollar.com, the average American spends $12.75 per meal eaten
outside of the home. Considering the average is 18 meals a month this comes to over $230.
Eat at home one day a month more often and you can support me at $10 a month per
person and spend more time with your precious family.

ABCNews.com estimates that the average working person spends $1,100 a year on coffee
not including homebrewed cups.  That makes it about $20 a week spent on coffee out
somewhere. Brew your morning coffee at home one extra day a week and you can support
me with $20 a month.

Still not convinced?  Think of it this way, you as an individual might be giving up a meal or
coffee out, but in turn the support from 35 partnerships will allow me to serve over twice that
amount!  Giving up a few amenities for a couple of years is worth it to change the lives of
100s of people forever 💖

Friday, July 6, 2018

Transitions

June has been a very busy month.

Unfortunately, it's started out with a great loss.  My best friend lost her husband suddenly at the young age of 42.  It was just 3 weeks ago and I'm still at a loss for what to say.  I know her life will never be the same, but she has hope in that he believed in Christ as his savior.  Thankfully my job was willing to give me a few days off last minute to go and stay with her and as I am in transition I have been able to stay with her for additional chunks at a time.  I think it is a double blessing.  I was able to be there so she was not alone, even if I didn't know what to say, and I have been able to spend some quality time with her before I leave.

Amidst this time of grief, I have also been sorting out and packing up my life.  Two days ago, we had 4 big boxes picked up to be shipped out to the Philippines.  Two of those boxes were filled with donations for the Cajigas family and the Children's Shelter. The other two were filled with textbooks and classroom supplies.  In the next week, I will have two more boxes filled with specialty items and things to start setting up my living space.  I have also made multiple trips to drop off donations at the thrift store and sharing items with friends who live locally.

I have had many transitions over the years and generally have done well with the chaos.  I also feel like I usually handle mental and emotional chaos fairly well for short periods of time.  However, the sheer scale of this transition has caused me some anxiety.  I think some of it has to do with the grief added to the mix and knowing I am not just transitioning once but twice in the next several months.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Once again I started a post and didn't have a chance to finish it right away.  Here I am another week later and so it has been a month since my friend passed, we celebrated our nation's birthday, I shipped the 2 more boxes, and the rest of my life is packed in boxes and bags.

Tonight I am having dinner with my 3 closest friends and we are going to camp out and make s'mores over the fire.  Girls night!  I am super excited about it, but it is also sort of sad to realize we won't be able to do it again for several years.  I'd say welcome to being an adult, but really it is welcome to the life of a missionary!  I am very thankful to have technology that will allow us to all see each other even if we can't physically hug one another.

On a side note, people are already asking me where I will live when I come back and I have to admit it's frustrating.  I'm not even 100% sure where I will be living in 6 months!  It seems crazy to think about where God will have me in 2-5 years.  I'm focusing on the next 2-5 days!  After hanging out with friends for the weekend my best friend and I are taking a road trip to Arizona.  So, 5 days from now we will likely be visiting the Grand Canyon and marveling at God's creative hand :)

Thank you for checking in and keeping my ministry in your prayers!

HALLELUJAH PRAISES TO THE KING ETERNAL:
*Start-up funding is at 98%
*I'm still gaining monthly partnerships
*Packing and sorting life is finished (for the moment)

WE APPROACH GOD'S THRONE ROOM TOGETHER:
*Travel over the next week driving to Arizona
*Safe arrival of the boxes being shipped (probably won't arrive until Sept)
*Anxiety as things are rolling forward

Friday, May 11, 2018

Just another spring day

Today is the first garage sale of the season!  I have collected some donations and emptied out my excess.  A week ago when I chose today how's the day it was supposed to be 60 + degrees.  At 7:30 a.m. it was only 35 degrees.  But we are all set up and starting to get some business :)

This past month I finished with my master's degree and it's time for the next stages...

I started this post two weeks ago.  Isn't that how life goes sometimes? The garage sale was a success and raised about $200.  I don't know for sure but I hope to have another one on May 26th.  This past weekend my parents came for a visit as I walked across the stage and got hooded in my Master's commencement ceremony.

Isn't it amazing how when you complete something in education they call it commencement?  It is as if they understand that you have a journey ahead. Instead of focusing on ending your education it is proclaimed that you are now beginning anew.  I have known for many months that the goal is to leave the US in the fall of 2018. It was not until this weekend when my parents visited and others said "So, when are you leaving?" that it really hit me how soon this is happening.  Don't get too excited, I still don't know when I am actually leaving. Fundraising is still going well, but I have a ways to go before I can actually leave.

For now the focus is finishing life in Michigan and preparing to move back with my parents for the remaining months.  I hope life in Michigan doesn't really finish, but this particular chapter is closing.  It is really difficult now when people ask me, "where are you from?"  Do I say Florida because that is where I was born and learned would it meant to be a follower of Christ? Or do I say Michigan because this is where I received the call and prepared for this wonderful Journey? Do I say Arizona because that is what the United States will recognize as my home? Or do I say Bohol because that is as much home as any other place on Earth?

In all honesty, I think I'll need to start saying, "God in heaven above only knows that answer." It helps me so much better to understand what Paul must have been feeling when he wrote Philippians 3, "But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body."

Right now I'm anxiously awaiting the next steps. Although it is not all waiting because everyday I am doing something that gets me closer.  Some days it is as little as trying to remember to write thank you notes, but other days it's as big as triple and quadruple checking my budget or determining what needs to get shipped and when.

It is no surprise that as I prepare for the Philippines the book of Philippians is strongly on my mind...Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God (Phil 4)... I am regularly in prayer and asking others to do the same on my behalf. I have been graciously blessed with family and friends as well as strangers who are fervently praying for this journey. I am thankful to God for this opportunity, I know he is continuing to equip me, and I know that no matter what he is by my side if not carrying me through it all.

I leave you with this:

May the Lord cause you to flourish,
    both you and your children.
15 May you be blessed by the Lord,
    the Maker of heaven and earth.
Psalm 115

Amen and AMEN!

Tuesday, February 20, 2018

Changes

Life is full of changes.  Some of them come easy and naturally while others take a toll and require a lot of work.  I am reminded daily that following God has both sides of this continuum.  As some of you know I had started a second term teaching with AmeriCorps in the fall, but the changes that happened in the program as well as my life were significant enough that it didn't work out.  It was not an easy decision to leave, but it lead to a change.  I went back to working in food service which has lead to my stress level being much lower and higher income.  I was just feeling distant to ESL work.  In the last month I had another change that was a super easy decision to take a volunteer teaching position one night a week.  This has been one of the easy and natural changes that has brought energy and life back into my step :)
Now I am sitting waiting the obligatory time in line to renew my license and registration.  While it is easy, it is taking a toll on me as I sit here for what will likely be 3 hours and I should have thought ahead to bring things to work on.  I am thinking of all the things I could be doing on this day off work.  Which brings me to another change... I have gotten the additional hours at work, but it is exhausting to keep up with my schedule now!  I don't know how my sister does it with 4 kids!
On a super positive note the Filipino Feast went really well last week and I raised over $500 due to the event :)  Thanks to all those who came and or sent in support during this time.  We were also able to fill another box so I now have two ready for shipment next month.
The last change I want to share is in regards to food.  Last month I did the Whole30 challenge and it was a challenge.  I didn't feel different except really craving the foods I wasn't allowed to have.  Now I am reintroducing food and realize what a difference it made.  I will likely have to go through this process again this summer to verify, but I'm pretty sure both soy and corn are issues as well as liquid dairy.  I still haven't added gluten so that cpuld be another issue.  You really don't know how something affects you untill you live with out it for a while then reintroduce it!
Anyway, here's to another month done... who know how many to go.  (Hopefully only 4, but only God knows!)

Wednesday, January 17, 2018

Welcome to 2018!

Wow!  December disappeared quickly and January is following that trend :)  December brought many things including the end of my regular 7-week classes so I am left with the 14-week practicum!  I had the chance to head to Colorado for a week with my family.  We packed up and sealed another donation box to be shipped to the Philippines.  I definitely determined I will be focusing on the Oxford series for my curriculum. And last, but not least, with your help, I hit the 50% mark for raising start-up funds :)

January is already half over and a few things are going on now.  I officially started my practicum and have the first unit complete.  I learned how to drive a manual shift car and almost got one, but it needs major repairs so I backed off.  I just finished planning a small fundraiser event called: "A Filipino Feast" and will be sending out invitations this week. And I am working on an elimination food plan that will slowly reintroduce potentially problematic foods into my diet so I am prepared when I go overseas to know if there are things I need to avoid.

What will the next few months bring?  Only God knows for sure!  I really hope to boost my monthly pledges and get some more hours working.  I'm just plugging along at life and doing my best to enjoy every day as it comes.  Thank you for continued support and I hope to hear from you soon!

Contact me: 616-259-5040; juagdanenglish@gmail.com
Donate to the ministry: call- 1-800-872-5404 (M-F, 8-4 CST), mail- Commission to Every Nation PO Box 291307 Kerrville, TX 708291307; oneline- https://cten.org/christinedavenport/

Me and my brother's munchkins over Christmas break:)

The whole Davenport Clan at a holiday light show in the botanical gardens.

The grandparents with the grandkids after Christmas Eve service

The Davenport Clan: Colorado Chapter ;)

This is what I am doing to help learn about my food sensitivities and prepare for the new foods I will be eating in the Philippines.  Basically, I'm taking out all processed foods and most of the common allergy foods then I will reintroduce them slowly after 30 days without.