Jesus Worldwide: Swaziland

From Katie: I met Greg my first week at work when he walked into his office and I was sitting behind his desk. This week he’s taking us to Swaziland, the last standing kingdom in Africa, where he has his family served for two years. As always, if you’ve got a story to tell, I’d love to hear it. KatieAxelson[at]gmail[dot]com. <>< Katie

Swaziland

Swaziland is a small kingdom in southern Africa ruled by King Mswati III who is considered one of the top ten worst rules in the world. Really he’s a fairly decent guy who rules by Swazi culture. For example, he rules a highly impoverished country but bought 13 Mercedes. Polygamy is legal and according to Swazi culture, what he does for one wife he has to do for all of them, so when one wife is given a Mercedes, all 13 (at the time) must be given Mercedes.

Swaziland is about the size of Connecticut with a population of 1.1 million people and proportionally the highest HIV/AIDS percentage rating in the world. When we began our work there in 2005, the life expectancy was 55. When we left two years later it had dropped to the mid-30s due to the number of babies and young people dying from AIDS.

Part of Swazi culture is to have funerals on the weekends. It’s a family event and all of Swaziland is invited but typically only local people come. When they come, the family feeds them. It’s an all-night vigil where the people stay up to visit with the family and pray to the ancestors. Well, there were so many deaths that the Swazi nation decided they couldn’t keep up with all of the funerals and they had to change their culture. They buried adults on the weekends and children during the week, going from a week-long funeral to just the overnight vigil because there were so many deaths.

What we learned had happened was that Swaziland, being a third world country, did not have a lot of jobs. Western culture invaded Africa and the people wanted money, so they went to South Africa to work in the mines. The men did inappropriate things, caught the disease, and took it home to their families, and that’s how it spread.

What we found was that there were 26 Baptist churches that wanted to reach out into the community but weren’t sure how to do it. As a human needs coordinator, my job was to help the churches come up with strategies to reach lost and dying communities. I tried not to take American preconceptions as to what works here but rather let them determine what works. It took them through the process of learning what a five-year plan is because they previously had no concept of long-range planning. They hold the mindset that they may not be alive tomorrow so why plan next week?

As we started talking about what to do to reach out to the community, we saw the biggest need was to feed and give clean drinking water to the orphans and widows. Most of the widows were what they call “Go-Gos” or grandmothers, older women caring for babies. To provide food, the church would take a plot of land and create a garden. For water, they’d install a well. While we were there we put in three large gardens and two wells.

Some of the churches got sewing machines and would sew uniforms for AIDS orphans to go to school. Each school has a different uniform. The churches felt they could provide uniforms for the orphans, and they could make extra to sell in order to buy more material and make more uniforms. That was quite successful. In Swaziland you have to pay to go to school, and school fees for children range anywhere from $50-$1,000/year. When you think of somebody who might make 10 cents a day, $50/year is impossible. The government says they’ll pay for schooling for orphans but logistically that doesn’t happen. Orphans get kicked out of school first, and teachers have no mercy towards them.

When we moved over, the government said they didn’t have a problem with orphans or AIDS because people don’t die from AIDS. AIDS weakens their immune system but they die from tuberculosis, the flu, or something else. They’ve come to realize that they do have a problem, and they’re seeking ways to change culture but what they’re doing isn’t very effective.

We kept saying that we have a cure for AIDS. They were all excited about that until we told them our cure for AIDS is abstinence. Our message fell upon deaf ears. There were a lot of young people who did buy into the message, and church youth groups were growing quite a bit. Originally churches had been working a lot with adults, trying to get this message to adults.  Well, that was ineffective. Soon they started working with the youth, and they had more success but not a lot. So they started working with the children feeling if they can train up a responsible generation then they can change culture. True Love Waits actually began in that area of Africa and comes in every six months or so.

Christianity in Swaziland

About 95 percent of the people consider themselves Christian. Baptist studies showed the really about 3 percent are evangelical Christian. There’s an animistic religion (ancestor worship), so it’s very easy for them to incorporate Jesus as just another ancestor and label themselves Christians. We found a lot of people claiming to be Christian because they realized they could get something from it.

It’s the same with Islam. When we left, Islam was the fastest-growing religion in Swaziland. They were building mosques everywhere and were offering families free health care and free education if one family member converted to Islam. People were converting in droves for the education and health care. That’s the wrong reason to convert but their motive was no different than ours. They’ve got the right idea: offer to people what they need the most and then they’ll be willing to hear your spiritual message. That was the reason we took the job we did, that was our goal. The Muslims were doing it so much better because they had more influence and more resources.

Christian churches in Swaziland are fairly strong. We lose a lot of pastors. Some die of AIDS, others go to South Africa or somewhere else for employment because there’s not a lot of money. There always has to be a new crop of pastors being trained up. I would venture to say that the average age of a pastor is between 20 and 30. They were young, what we could consider college kids or youth. A lot of youth led churches.

The people are the most gracious, loving people you’ll ever meet. They will do anything in the world for you. It would upset us when we went to someone’s poor home and they offered us the only seat, the only plate, the only food, or the only spoon and we couldn’t turn it down. Here we are, we have more than we need, and they’re giving us all that they have. They knew God was going to provide the next meal for them. It’s an amazing, life-changing experience to sit down in front of somebody who has absolutely nothing yet he’s one of the happiest people you’ll ever meet.

There’s joy in simplicity, there truly is. We saw that so much. It’s definitely something we can learn from them. We can learn humility and relationships. Their whole culture is based on relationships with one another. They know how heavily they rely on other people and they know that’s why God created them, to be in a relationship not only with God but with other people. As Americans, we are so disconnected from other people. We can learn how to be in relationships with other people, how to give generously, how to pray, how to worship. They truly lay everything before God, and they communicate with God in such a beautiful way. Their prayers are powerful in that they’re heartfelt and sincere. When they’re giving thanks or a blessing for food, they know it was through God’s hands. He provided not their paycheck or the grocery store, it was God. When they worship, it’s a sense of genuine, heartfelt connection to God. A good part of their worship service is testimony. They’ll sing songs and people go up as they feel led to tell about what God is doing in their life that week and what they’re learning from God.

For us, God broke us completely while we were there. He taught us how important it was to be connected with other people in order to truly see God in community. Together we are the hands and feet as different people have different gifts and abilities. He taught us how to serve, not that we were serving but in how they served us. He showed us examples of that daily. He taught us faith that He is in control of everything and all things do come to good to fulfill His purposes. We broke down after a couple of months of being there. It was just so hard. I remember standing in the shower crying because I hated it there and at the point in time I said, “Ok, You want us here so You’re going to have to take control” and He did. From that point on, it was wonderful. He taught us that we have to give Him control even though we think we know what’s right; we don’t, we have to rely on Him for that guidance and judgment.

Pray for Swaziland

Pray for their spiritual healing. Pray for a change in culture because that’s the only way society is going to live. They would be considered the first country to become extinct because of a disease. We know the only way that’s going to change is through a heartfelt relationship with Jesus. They’re going to have to practice abstinence. We need to pray that they can wait, that the young people will wait so that when they’re married, they’re both HIV-free and can live in a monogamous relationship without having to worry about disease.

Jesus Worldwide: Nicaragua

From Katie: This week we're headed to one of my favorite places in the world: Nicaragua. We are blessed to be able to do it through the eyes and camera lens of my friend Jessica. <>< Katie

In early March a team of 30 college students (mostly nursing majors) and three leaders journeyed to Jinotega, Nicaragua. The main focus of our spring break mission trip was to do vision screenings and distribute eye glasses. This allowed us to care for the needs of many Nicaraguans and open doors for further spiritual conversations to happen.

Our team put on three days worth of vision screenings in the areas surrounding Jinotega. Stations were set up for blood pressure and check-in, testing each person’s prescription, fitting them with their new glasses, getting new clothing or shoes, and the prayer room. Each member played an important role in the day.

We had so many first time overseas travelers and first time mission trip participants. It was very cool to be part of them experiencing culture shock and so many new situations throughout the week. The Lord was faithful to meld our team together and help us to work together as one unit.

One experience that impacted me very strongly was two afternoons that I got to spend with some families from the city’s landfill. I’ve been to dump communities before and seen poverty across the world. This time was not terribly different. There were people living on very little in very tough conditions. The thing that was so dumbfounding was the spirit of hope that existed in the believers. They had so few things to their name but they were beyond wealthy in the hope and joy that penetrated all the stinky, dusty, dirty clothes they wore. I was encouraged and challenged by their spirit. If they can be so wealthy with what few things they do have, what excuse do I have not to praise the Lord every day of my life?

I was absolutely blessed beyond belief to be back in Jinotega. I was able to continue many of the friendships that I had begun last year and gained many more brothers and sisters in Christ!

"The church means a lot to me. It is a place where I can find God more, a place I respect very much, and a holy place. Please pray that the church does not fall and that it will be blessed." - Nelson, Jinotega native

Jesus Worldwide: Guatemala

From Katie: I love how every post in this series has been different because everyone has a different story about how God works. Do you have one? I'd love to hear it! (KatieAxelson[at]gmail[dot]com). Thanks.

This week's post is from Amber, a fellow Young Adult Volunteer at the LCMS National Youth Gathering last summer.
<>< Katie

When I left on March 6^th to fly to Guatemala with the Guatemala Healing Hands Foundation, I didn’t know what to expect. I’ve done local mission work before, but it was always through a church and our focus was always on outreach. This time was different. Not only was I traveling to a different country, but I was going with a somewhat different purpose. The Guatemala Healing Hands Foundation focuses on improving the health care in Guatemala through education, therapy, and surgery, with a special focus on pediatric congenital and hand injuries.

I applied to go on this trip as one of my occupational therapy fieldwork rotations. One of my professors is actively involved with the organization, and so she is able to take two students with her for every mission. To be selected, I had to write a series of seven essays explaining why I should go on this trip. In my application, I wrote, “My philosophy of service comes from the beliefs I have in the Bible and the servant heart it frequently discusses. This is the heart that inspires me in my pursuit to become an occupational therapist, and it inspires me as I am applying to go on this trip. First John 3:17 says, ‘But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brothers in needs, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him?’ My philosophy of service comes in showing God’s love by sharing my talents. God gave me the gift to be a strong student. He gave me the desire to help others. He helped point me in the direction of becoming an occupational therapist. My desire to go on this trip can be seen in the above verse – if I have the world’s goods, if I have the skill set to help someone out, and he or she is in need, then it is my desire to help them out in whatever way I can…in doing that, I serve not only others, but I also serve God.”

In the days leading up to the trip, I prayed that God would give me a servant heart and attitude as I journeyed into the unknown. When I stepped foot in Guatemala, I was able to quickly see a lifestyle much different than our own. It was as if time stopped while I was there, and I was able to appreciate the beauty of the world around me. I was able to take my time and form relationships with people. I became thankful for everything that I own. Each day, I felt more and more overwhelmed with thanks to God for all the great things he has provided me with.

We started our mission by team building in Antigua for two days. My favorite thing about Antigua has to be the cross that overlooks the city. Our tour guide told us that every city has a cross looking over it from the north. How powerful is that!? We also were able to go shopping at various markets and spend an afternoon on Lake Atitlan. We also went zip lining and were able to visit a macadamia nut farm. During these two days, I felt very immersed into the Guatemalan culture. First, I saw so much beauty around me, especially when I was zip lining. On anticipating the excursion to go zip lining, I was pretty nervous because heights aren’t my thing, but when I got there I felt so calm. My fears were gone and I was able to take in God’s creation.

The next big thing our team did before we began the surgical mission was spend a day in Chichoy Alto, a small Mayan village with about 750 people living in it. The Guatemala Healing Hands Foundation has helped sponsor stove and latrine building projects in the village in the past, and this year the foundation did even more. Children in this village stop going to school after the 6^th grade because of financial reasons. The foundation sponsored students to continue into the 7^th grade next year. Additionally, the foundation provided the money for the village to prepare a whole meal for the day we came so that we could have a celebration with them. The village people spend a few days working on preparing for our meal, and it was a special treat for them to have meat (they usually never get meat). The foundation also paid to build additional stoves and latrines this year. The whole team helped start the building project on Saturday, and the family members of the surgeons and therapists continued during the week.

I’ve never felt so overwhelmed with emotion as when we stepped off the bus in Chichoy Alto. The people were so excited to see us and welcomed us like we were family. While we were in the village, we were able to take the time to play with the children and bring smiles to their hearts. It was while I was in the village that I really wished I knew more Spanish so that I could really connect and relate to these children and their families. In the center of the village, there were two churches, and I felt joy in knowing that they had access to the house of our Savior. While some might look at these people and wonder how they could be content and happy with so little, maybe that’s why they’re so happy. I realized when I was there how distracted I am day-to-day, and how much the fast paced world never lets me rest. The Bible tells us that our money and possessions are nothing. They won’t go with us when we die. What’s important is our relationship with Christ. Not the desire for objects, not having objects, not greed, not wealth. God is what matters. When I was in Chichoy Alto, I was strongly reminded of that, and it made me think again about what my real focuses are in life and what they really should be.

The remainder of our mission was spent working with children with congenital and hand injuries, as well as educating therapists at Guatemala City hospitals on how to treat certain injuries using best practice techniques. Our headquarters was through a Christian organization based out of Nashville, The Shalom Foundation. Shalom is Hebrew meaning peace, wholeness, completeness, harmony, healthy, safety, and soundness; a powerful blessing. A powerful blessing indeed. The Shalom Foundation is an amazing foundation that seems strongly connected with what I wrote about when I applied to come on this trip.

When someone is in need, including medically, we will help them, just as Christ has loved us and helped us. The foundation sponsors one mission every month and all are surgically or medically related. Our team performed about 15 surgeries a day for five days on children with problems such as trigger fingers, burn contractures, syndactyly, and complications associated with cerebral palsy. Going on rounds the morning after surgery, I saw a lot of smiles, much to my surprise. The families were beyond grateful for what our team offered medically, and I’m thankful that we were at the Shalom Foundation where a spiritual offering could be given to the families as well. The Shalom Foundation’s hospital is not located in the best neighborhood, but behind the doors of the hospital, you could feel love and thanksgiving. The walls were beautifully decorated and scripture verses could be found painted into murals. God is love, and that love could be seen throughout this mission.

Each day, I asked God to give me a servant heart. He did. Each day I asked God to pour out His blessings on everyone we encountered. He did. While this wasn’t an evangelism mission, I think we were able to touch the lives of the people in Guatemala. Christ asked us to humble ourselves and serve others. That’s what this very mission did. When people ask about the trip, I tell them it was humbling. You realize quickly how much we have as Americans. You realize quickly how distracting that can be, and you start to see God a little more in things it was easy to overlook before. At the end of the day, if I impacted nobody (which I know is not really the case) during my time in Guatemala, I felt Christ’s fire burning inside of me and reconnecting me with the passion to always have a servant heart and to see God speaking through everything, in everything, always.

Jesus Worldwide: Canada

From Katie: Ministry looks different in every part of the world. This week my friend Adam's giving us a glimpse at what it looks like in Calgary, Canada. As always, if you have a story to tell or want to be interviewed, I'd love to hear from you. KatieAxelson[at]gmail[dot]com. Thanks! <>< Katie

The Missio Dei in Calgary, Alberta, Canada

The city of Calgary, with nearly 1.3 million people bursting the seams of the city limits into the limited remains of the “New West” and the “Final Frontier,” is a place of booming economics, industry, natural and civic beauty, and opportunities for just about everything you could imagine. For the last fifteen years, the population has been steadily growing at around 90 persons per day. This drastic growth, led by the powerful banking and oil industry, has provided ample amounts of prospects for other businesses, namely construction, food, education, and sports to flourish alongside of them.

With such wonderful prospects surrounding the city of Calgary, it is no wonder that so many people are flocking to it. There are numerous world renowned sports teams, several top-of-the-line university and technical schools, a diverse array of cultures, the world’s largest fair/rodeo (Stampede), the beautiful scenery, and notions of every season. Calgary has its own shopping marts, complete with doctors’ offices, schools, and sporting facilities in every newly developed neighborhood. It is the ideal location for aspiring young singles, newly forming families, established ones, or even the individual looking for a place to relax and retire. Simply put, Calgary is the perfect city and has everything—except hearts that are broken for the Lord.

Some of the most recent reports show that far less than 10 percent of all Calgarians are saved, professing the name of Jesus Christ and being actively involved with a local congregation. With the setting of Calgary, it is honestly easy to understand. As most communities provide individuals with all needed provisions, there just seems to be no place for the Christian church. Truth be told, there are more churches within just about any one single city’s church organization than in all of Canada combined. Being the case, Calgarians are forced to make long treks just to find a church, provided they even desire to go to one.

And it is not like a group can simply build a new church. One acre of land (just the land alone) is priced at just over $1 million within city limits. That, unfortunately, is something that many Christian groups just cannot afford. Being the case, a new initiative has begun—home groups and community church plants. We have discovered that we must bring the church to the people and portray to them the power and blessing of having Christ in their lives, not to mention the need for His salvation, redemption from sin, and restoration to the God who created them. Thus the struggle begins though, as most show no signs for need. They have the job; they have the money; they have all of the “things” they could want; they have the family; they have the friends; and they have the vacations. What more could they possibly want?

One group that has settled to face this act of service is Southtrails Network, a movement of church plants along the southern most expanses of Calgary. Their aim: to provide a church opportunity in each and every community throughout Calgary. Let it be known that this is first and foremost God’s work; something that He began, something that He is maintaining, and something that only He can fulfill. Let it be fully established that aside from the presence of the powerful Mormon Church, and a few spiritualist groups, no formal sense of religion is present. On the contrary, most Calgarians hold fast to a very post-modern and pluralist mindset, more than not desiring religion but truly being turned off by the notion of it. The slim few minorities that are seeking it are unfortunately quickly drawn into the Mormon Church, the only establishment that has the means to build a $2.5 million facility.

So, Southtrails Network begins their own initiative, going directly to the people and beginning their service of impact the city one family at a time. The basis of their service is community engagement, formulating relationships and building trust with any and all individuals. Be it as small a thing as always getting gas from the local station and getting to know the cashier, to working part-time at the community center, to hosting block parties and various camps, the aim in building these relationships is to relate to them the import of a relationship with Jesus Christ. It is a slow work, but it is a progressive one that is having colossal effects.

At the turn of the century when Southtrails first began its work in south Calgary, the availability was very limited. Individuals offering time of service where restricted to the back corners of community centers, only allowed to provide the blessing of yard work and painting. Though their efforts where much appreciated by the locals, the implications of having a church group on site created an out-of-sight out-of-mind mentality. The popular thought of the day was that “If we keep them in the back corners, hidden from anyone who may pass by, we can limit and control their effect.” Little did they know that God has already breaking the hearts of many.

As the years progressed, and as individuals were faithful in service and prayer, their impact began to grow. The groups that were once cutting limbs and weed-eating around the fence line slowly moved up to the foreground, volunteering as organizers and planners of large community events and even being allowed to host their own events. Before they knew it, Southtrails network was the leading force in the community. Everyone knew their simple red tee-shirts with the church logo on the front, and everyone trusted them.

This trust continued to grow as further events were held. Before too long, parents were bringing their children in flocks to the camps being hosted by Southtrails, completely comfortable with the leadership and governance of the church. Though not everyone knew of Southtrails, those that did quickly became advocates and supporters of their efforts, pushing new comers to register as early as possible for their events. It became apparent that even though no literal building was in place, the Christian church was being established and growing. It was not confined to the walls of a building on Sunday morning but had grown to reach the soccer fields, the tee-ball diamonds, and the local ice rinks.

Allow me to share one specific example of how this trust has grown. In 2005 a young family of four moved to south Calgary from England. With two little girls ages 3 and 5, the parents were quickly searching out ways to get involved in the community, and Southtrails provided just that opportunity. This family, definitely not one that would be considered Christian, did not come to church, did not attend a Bible study, never made a single mention of God, yet began attending every community event hosted by Southtrails. They, actually, grew to be the biggest supporters across the town. The impact did not stop their though.

During each of the camps, Southtrails’ leaders would present short “devotions” to the children and parents, typically focused around topics such as honestly, truth, love, forgiveness, etc. It was evident that these lessons were sticking as the parents would often return days later speaking of how, when a fight would break out in the house, it was the children who would step forward to provide guidance, a sense of wisdom and insight, and remind the parents of the lessons learned during camp. People may not have been showing up regularly on Sunday mornings, yet they were receiving the message of the Gospel, complete with examples from Scripture and prayers to go along.

The relationship with this British family grew to a paramount level. Still focused upon obtaining more money and possessions, never showing up at church, and definitely not bringing up direct conversations about God, they were nonetheless advocating and supporting every work of the church. Beyond this, the trust that they had with the church workers around their daughters grew too. It was not uncommon for them to use the church workers as babysitters, for the trust had been established. When a birthday would roll around, whom else but the church members would be invited. And when a long summer of camps would come to a close, this family would flood the houses of several church members, providing them with mounds of thank-you cards, personally drawn pictures and letters, baked goods, and enough hugs to keep you warm through the long winter months that Calgary has to offer. Again, it was evident that the church, not that which is held on Sunday mornings around a pulpit but one lived amongst the people, had been established. Community had been established, trust had been formed, and lives were being shared together—all in the name of Christ.

Never let it be forsaken the power that comes with community. Again, this British family may not have been attending church yet, and may not have even made a clear confession of faith, yet they were actively engaged in every conversation, were actively participating in every event, and were growing as a family unit. They had joined the efforts of the church, were openly advocating all of the efforts of Southtrails, and were even beginning to offer up their own service for the community.

In recognizing all of these blessings, the truth of Exodus 3:12 could not be more evident. Just as God promised Moses prior to the Israelites’ exodus from Egypt, so has God promised the people of south Calgary: “When you have brought the people out, you will serve and worship God on this mountain.” This movement of Southtrails Network is not only making an impact among the community, but is completely revitalizing the characteristics of what a Christian church is meant to be. At no point is it there for its own gain or glory but rather only exists to provide hope and guidance in a lost world, glorifying God the entire time.

Writing, Family, Fudge

The conversation went something like this:

Katie: I'm really struggling in writing the family relationships in this piece.
Joe: Will you write a guest post on how to write family relationships?

In case you missed it, I talked about fudge yesterday in my guest post at The Write Practice yesterday.

Check it out. Let's hear about your family. If I could have included a free fudge sample, I would have.

Enjoy!

<>< Katie

Jesus Worldwide: Philippines

From Katie: Summer 2010 my then-roommate Jennifer got to spend eight days in the Philippines visiting Jamsell, the child she sponsors through Compassion International. These are her photos and stories as she told them to me. Her biggest regret is not journaling more, but she can't wait to go back in a few years when Jam is older. <>< Katie

No matter how many photos or videos you see, you don't realize how real poverty is until you get there. I returned to the States asking, "Why do I have this? I don't need it." The first day we learned about how Compassion is combating poverty in Jesus' name.

On the second day we visited a church partner of Compassion's. Our team split into groups of five to visit homes and pray with families. Five people lived in the walk-in-closet-size home we visited. They had one flat futon-sized bed where all four children slept and the parents slept on the floor with no cushions and minimal blankets. Their front door was made of a cloth, a bowl served as the sink, and they had an outdoor bathroom. However, there was a plastic drawer set and in those drawers were the cherished letters from the child's sponsor.

The third day was the hardest. We visited a larger (though still small) church and child development center. We were welcomed by children chanting and singing.

Every sponsored child has a folder with all of his/her information, letters exchanged, photos, report cards, etc.

We then visited an above ground cemetery that was filled with trash and homes. People were living in a place that should be reserved for the dead. The cemetery was surrounded by a wall that also had tombs in it, then there was a walkway barely wide enough for one person before another wall. People live in the small space between the second wall and a nearby creek that regularly floods the cemetery (and homes).

Between the second wall and the creek is the home of Princess. She wants to grow up to be a nurse and be able to move her family out of the flood plain. Right now their home serves as the cemetery market. At 5'5", I had to duck in order to enter it. They have bunkbeds with a board, tarp-plastic for sheets, and a pillow. They are lucky enough to have a tv that plays movies, but they only have one movie. Their house also contains trinkets and things they've found.

We sprayed Princess's family's home for cockroaches, left, returned, and prayed for them. While we were praying a dead cockroach fell on my head. When we left the area, children followed us out, surrounded us, held up "I love you" on their hands, and chased the bus as we drove away.

On day four we visisted another church and split into groups (each containing one guy) and lived with a family for the day. My family lived in a neighborhood with houses almost on top of each other it was so hard to move.

Our family had both a fridge and a tv. They are Christians and spoke openly about God's blessings. The mom painted fingernails for a living. Each manicure costs one dollar, and she typically did four a day. She made four dollars a day. The trip leader got a mani-pedi and paid extra for it; it was soooooo appreciated!

We rode a jeepney, a WWII bus-like transportation, that costs only seven cents but most people cannot afford it. It took us to a school on the mountain just to visit. It was small and packed with people. They loved to have their pictures taken and asked for autographs.

They color live chicks and sell them in order to make money.

The Philippines is ranked fourth in the world for the number of child prosititutes. This problem comes from pimps trying to have sex with children and parents selling their children due to poverty.

Day five we spent sitting in on classes at a school. We went over Bible verses, sang, and danced. For snack we had a choice between cheese or cookies and cream ice cream. I had the cheese ice cream. The students also made a craft book about themselves, and all of the girls gave their books to me.

Cheese ice cream tastes like graham crackers.

A lot of people are jealous of the Compassion children. Compassion supports as many children as possible but parents must put them into the program.

Day six was the best day ever! *squeal* It was the day we were all waiting for because we got to meet our sponsored children! Our sponsored children and their parents were standing on the steps with their project leader (translator) when we arrived and everyone recognized each other. We went to an aquarium in Manila and a huge mall/play area. At age 6, Jamsell understands English but does not really speak it. She was very quiet, but we began bonding over a silly game, laughing, and simple math problems. When we watched a movie, Jam fell asleep in my lap.

Their teeth were rotted out which shows poverty. Jam's mom Rowena told me (in English) about their family's hardships: they live with Jam's grandparents who don't want them but they can't move out due to financial challenges. I got to pray over the family.

We ate lunch at a McDonalds-like restaurant. I gave Jamsell a backpack full of school supplies, bracelets, and gifts including a picture frame that now has our picture in it and an umbrella that had been a gift from a friend at home. When they left, Rowena and Jamsell were still using their old umbrella because they did not want to get the new one dirty. I wish I would have included a Bible in the bag.

Our last day (day seven) we visited a church where it was so hot my camera lens fogged up. The children danced and sang in English. After the farewell dinner, children shared their testimonies.

They talked about how bad childhood had been but how it was a blessing because it meant they could be sponsored. If it had not been for Compassion, many of them said they would not be Christians. They said they could not wait to grow up and sponsor children of their own.