Somedays I forget my skin is still a novelty to many around here. I'll catch someone staring and automatically wipe my nose just in case I have a booger hanging out. Then I stroke my hair to make sure it's not crazy. When all is good I suddenly remember I'm "puti" aka white. Directly in Juagdsan they are so used to it because there are three of us around all the time. We met another single white lady who has been living in Panglao for 10 years. She came to stay for a few days and didn't know we were there until later because we were away the first part of her visit. When we finally met her commemt was, "I wondered why they weren't staring at me around here. Now I know why!"
I'm contemplating this right now because I'm currently returning to Juagdan after a visit to Cebu to extend my tourist visa for what I hope is the last time (I should have the missionary one before this expires) and just caught a young man staring at me. Then I realized several of the women were too. The funny thing is now it just makes me smile or even laugh when I realize it is happening.
As stated above I had to renew again because my name has not appeared on the approved list yet. Please be praying with me that it does show up in the next month. (If not I'm not sure what the next step is going to be.) I will say that I've renewed enough times that it seems like a smooth process and this was the quickest one yet. Only 2 1/2 hours! It just means I might get home before dark this time. 😀
Classes are now 7 weeks down and I'm definitely in a routine. Although I will admit this past week was a bit rough because my routine was thrown off more than once. One day when I was supposed to be doing a one on one tutoring session I was called away to meet someone for lunch. (Thankfully the student understood and we just moved it to the next day) Then Saturday we had a scheduled brownout. That means no power from 6am to 6pm. I wasn't told until almost 10pm the night before and didn't think about the fact that I had not printed enough worksheets for all my classes! Yep, we still had classes even with no power. 😅 The first two classes it's no big deal because the daylight is enough. But the sun disappears shortly after 5pm and my last class is from 5-7pm. Well we improvised. The girls who are the most faithful showed up at 4pm and asked about class. I was ready so we started early and only met for 1 1/2 hour instead of 2 hours.
Around here being flexible is a must. Most days I'm good with it, but man did this past week suck it out of me! I'm so exhausted and because of this trip I'm behind on both laundry and lesson planning so I don't know what I'm going to do!
It's okay I'll come up with something...hey "Do the laundry" is one of the things we introduced this past week!
Update: Three days later... I did make it home before dark and had dinner with the family😁 Laundry was more than usual, but still done by noon along with lesson plans. Laundry was even dry by bedtime! But last night I forgot about Bible study...oops.
Friday, March 15, 2019
Wednesday, February 13, 2019
About Valentine’s Day and Love
So this post isn’t really about my ministry or life here. This is just my thoughts so I’m sorry if you disagree.
Really it’s just another day of the week today. What is Valentines Day anyway? Celebrate love with chocolate, flowers, and cards? No, love is so much more than that stuff. It isn’t all sweets and roses. Love is hard and it hurts. People say you can’t choose who you love and that it’s all a heart thing. I disagree. I know love is a choice. We either choose to love or not love. Now I don’t think it’s either love or hate, but it’s to love or not to love.
Really it’s just another day of the week today. What is Valentines Day anyway? Celebrate love with chocolate, flowers, and cards? No, love is so much more than that stuff. It isn’t all sweets and roses. Love is hard and it hurts. People say you can’t choose who you love and that it’s all a heart thing. I disagree. I know love is a choice. We either choose to love or not love. Now I don’t think it’s either love or hate, but it’s to love or not to love.
I mean someone comes up to you and proclaims, “I love you!” What happens? Either way you have to make a decision cyision. You might already know the person and have thought the same but never proclaimed it. At which point you would likely decide to really let yourself go to them and love them with everything because you now know it’s a returned love. Or perhaps you think, “Ew, gross. No way.” In which case you have already decided to not love them. The third choice is that either your had not thought about it yet or do not know them. In this case you will either decide you don’t want to love them or you will decide you can “give it a go.”
In that last scenario I would highly caution you no matter which decision is made. Love has a price that ultimately costs your life. It is something to not be taken lightly. If you choose to love the person your lives will never be the same again. If you choose to not love them and they really do love you their life will never be the same again.
Once you love someone, even if not romantically, they become a part of your story. Now I’m not talking about adolescent lusting after that hot guy or gorgeous girl. I’m talking about the people you truly love and let into your life.
Check out 1 Corinthians 13. It talks all about love and what it is and does. For example, love keeps no record of wrongs. The thing you have to realise is that it describes perfect love so really only God lives up to that standard. However, it doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try to live up to that standard. Not living up to that standard is why love hurts so much. To really be able to not keep a record of wrongs is not an easy task. To always persevere is also not an easy task. Sometimes they just really irritate you and you want to shake them! What we need to remember is that it goes both ways. God expresses perfect love to us I mean he literally sacrificed his flesh and blood for us to have eternal life. So, what does that mean for us? It means we can’t say, “God, do you remember that time I didn’t covet my neighbour’s spouse? Can I have some grace and get away with wishing my own spouse was like them?” That’s just trading one wrong with another. Still not perfect love. It should be more like, “Hey God, you remember that time you helped me forgive my spouse for lusting after my neighbour’s spouse? Can you help me through this next battle because I can’t live with out you.”
I let myself romantically love someone once. Looking back it really was love because if it was just lust I would have let it go and moved on much quicker. But here I am 15 years later and it still hurts to think about that time in my life. I was of marrying age, we had similar backgrounds, he was a Christian, I was physically attracted to him, and his family had accepted me as one of their own. He had responded with, “Okay, let’s give it a go.” Then after a few months he must have decided either he didn’t love me or at least he didn’t want to keep loving me. Thankfully I am still on speaking terms with his family because they are one of my supporters and they are wonderful people. But I still feel awkward when around him or his now wife. I still love him it’s just as a sibling in Christ rather than romantically. But I am a different person because of him and that love. I approach romantic love much more hesitantly and perhaps that is playing it too safe, but I have saved much heartbreak for myself because of it. I’d like to have a romantic love for a man again someday, but it scares me just thinking about it.
Lord, I think you have some man you are preparing for me, but I don’t know who or where he is. Will you give us both the strength to respond in love when your time is right? I’m sorry if I’ve been too hesitant and wasted our potential time together. Please help him to be patient with me if I am not ready when he asks. Please help me be patient until you reveal him to me and help me be ready for his heart when he offers it. Help me understand that love crosses all barriers, but remind me so does lust. Give me the grace, wisdom, and knowledge to tell the difference.
Amen and amen
Friday, January 18, 2019
Happy 2019!
December was so crazy as you can see I forgot to post the update I did write!
As said, the pageant went good. Travel to Negros was good as well. It was their annual conference, but this year was a special celebration of their 50th year. All the pastors and wives were recognized as well as the missionaries. I even received an official certificate of ordination as a missionary in their denomination. It was exciting and exhausting all at the same time.
The last two weeks have now been focused on two major things:
#1. Official 9G missionary visa application
#2. Planning the first classes
Neither of these tasks are without frustration or complication, but the Lord is in control.
The 9G application has been submitted, return trip for interview is done, and now I wait for my name to show on the approved list. In the mean time I just need to keep my tourist visa up to date.
Planning classes doesn't require the travel that visa does, but I'm still anxious. I ask that you be in prayer with me over this. I think I am almost ready which is good because they start in 24 hours! My big concerns are their high expectation of me and the potential mixed level of students within any one class. Both are expected and I can handle it, I'm just nervous about getting things started. I'm hopeful it is just that "first day of class" jitters. I'm sure come Monday I will be even more exhausted than normal, but it's what I'm here for 😀
Hopefully next month I will have photo updates from all these events and joys to share about these first days of teaching and learning. Be blessed and thank you for your support!
As said, the pageant went good. Travel to Negros was good as well. It was their annual conference, but this year was a special celebration of their 50th year. All the pastors and wives were recognized as well as the missionaries. I even received an official certificate of ordination as a missionary in their denomination. It was exciting and exhausting all at the same time.
The last two weeks have now been focused on two major things:
#1. Official 9G missionary visa application
#2. Planning the first classes
Neither of these tasks are without frustration or complication, but the Lord is in control.
The 9G application has been submitted, return trip for interview is done, and now I wait for my name to show on the approved list. In the mean time I just need to keep my tourist visa up to date.
Planning classes doesn't require the travel that visa does, but I'm still anxious. I ask that you be in prayer with me over this. I think I am almost ready which is good because they start in 24 hours! My big concerns are their high expectation of me and the potential mixed level of students within any one class. Both are expected and I can handle it, I'm just nervous about getting things started. I'm hopeful it is just that "first day of class" jitters. I'm sure come Monday I will be even more exhausted than normal, but it's what I'm here for 😀
Hopefully next month I will have photo updates from all these events and joys to share about these first days of teaching and learning. Be blessed and thank you for your support!
December Update
Hello Friends! This is an update I wrote in December, but failed to post. New one coming in the next week or so!
Life is always interestinteresting here. I find plans change quickly and without notice. Also they seem to usually run later than expected except on rare occasions when it is an early morning activity such as 6 am departures ;) The sun is already at full brightness by 6:00 so it's actually not that hard to be up and ready to go. I'm already naturally waking up before then most days since I'm usually so exhausted and heading to bed by 8 or 8:30pm. I have found that December is just as busy here as it is back in the US. Ate Jess (one of the other local missionaries) leads the Sunday school program and decided to try a Christmas Pagaent for the first time ever. It was a lot of work but so worth it!
I also had a visitor this month which was a blast experiencing some new sight with her. This is such a beautiful island and has so much to offer despite its small size. We saw white sand beaches, rocky beaches, the Chocolate Hills, and tarsiers. We held a python, a baby aligator, a bearcat, and a Philippine eagle. We rode ATVs and ferries. I think my highlight was warm showers as we don't I water heaters here in Juagdan. :)
Next week is yet a new adventure as we will be traveling all day on Christmas. The local church denomination is having their annual conference two islands over and it's their jubilee year. I've been to one of these conferences in the past, but I've been promised this will be more celebration than business! It will be an overwhelming experience for me due to many things: a new location, multiple addtional languages, large crowds, lots of people I've met before but don't necessarily remember, and it sounds like I will be introduced with all the pastors and the other missionary family.
I can honestly say that sometimes I pray for a boring day to come. It hasn't happened yet!
Thanks for your prayers, love, and financial support. Blessings,
Christine Davenport
Juagdan, Bohol, Philippines
Life is always interestinteresting here. I find plans change quickly and without notice. Also they seem to usually run later than expected except on rare occasions when it is an early morning activity such as 6 am departures ;) The sun is already at full brightness by 6:00 so it's actually not that hard to be up and ready to go. I'm already naturally waking up before then most days since I'm usually so exhausted and heading to bed by 8 or 8:30pm. I have found that December is just as busy here as it is back in the US. Ate Jess (one of the other local missionaries) leads the Sunday school program and decided to try a Christmas Pagaent for the first time ever. It was a lot of work but so worth it!
I also had a visitor this month which was a blast experiencing some new sight with her. This is such a beautiful island and has so much to offer despite its small size. We saw white sand beaches, rocky beaches, the Chocolate Hills, and tarsiers. We held a python, a baby aligator, a bearcat, and a Philippine eagle. We rode ATVs and ferries. I think my highlight was warm showers as we don't I water heaters here in Juagdan. :)
Next week is yet a new adventure as we will be traveling all day on Christmas. The local church denomination is having their annual conference two islands over and it's their jubilee year. I've been to one of these conferences in the past, but I've been promised this will be more celebration than business! It will be an overwhelming experience for me due to many things: a new location, multiple addtional languages, large crowds, lots of people I've met before but don't necessarily remember, and it sounds like I will be introduced with all the pastors and the other missionary family.
I can honestly say that sometimes I pray for a boring day to come. It hasn't happened yet!
Thanks for your prayers, love, and financial support. Blessings,
Christine Davenport
Juagdan, Bohol, Philippines
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 😉
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 😉
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