Life Obedient - Christie Nicole Albaugh

Introducing... Pauleen

Sat, 13 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

And the kid of the week is.... Pauleen!

Actually, her full name is "Queen Pauleen" but usually she is referred to as "Pau Pau" (sounds like "pow pow"). Pauleen is five years old and is absolutely adorable! She came to the NFFCH about two years ago along with the other Marikina Orphanage group (Aira, Jerald, Jaypee, Jessica, and Jan Andrei). She was only three years old when she first came, and spent the first chunk of her time here in the nursery.

At four years old she moved to be with the "big kids" and has pretty much held her own since. And the main reason would definitely be her brother Jan Andrei. Big brother Jan looks out for his sister Pauleen! I don't think there is a sibling set in the whole children's home closer than these two! Jan and Pauleen love to spend time together and are always looking out for one another! One of my favorite memories of Pauleen comes from my first month here in Manila. Her brother Jan was being punished and she kept coming into the room with her hands on her hips, exclaiming in her tiny little voice "Where's Jan?!" She just wanted to make sure he was okay!

Pauleen is in kindergarten at our community school and is working hard to practice her speech, which she struggles with. Her sentences don't always come together correctly (in English or Tagalog) and often says words that sound similar to the actual word she's wanting to say, but are just a little off. It took me a long time to even notice this, because she doesn't talk very much to begin with. Pauleen likes to play! She's always running around the home, dripping sweat, with no time to slow down and have a conversation.

I guess the best word I could use to describe Pauleen is sweet. She just has a precious face, with an adorable little voice, a darling smile, and a cute little giggle. She is as cute as a button and a joy to have at the children's home.

Please keep little Pau Pau in your prayers this week. Pray for her speech development, pray for her physical, mental, and spiritual development, and pray that she and her brother would be blessed by a family that loves them and cares for them and calls them their own. And of course that Pauleen would grow to understand the message of Christ and have a relationship with Him.

Enjoy the video and God bless!

Special Note about the Video: Since Pauleen doesn't speak very much, along with her shy nature, she wasn't really into the whole answering questions thing I usually do. So instead, the video is mostly pictures and some clips of her playing. I hope you still enjoy!

Introducing... Gerald

Sat, 6 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Meet Gerald!

Gerald is 9 years old and is part of the largest family at the NFFCH: Aira (Jeralyn), Jessica, and Jaypee. As mentioned before, this family has been living at an orphanage for a very long time (at least 6 years!), the last 2 of which have been at NFFCH. Along with his older sister Aira, Gerald is a first grade student at our community school... and he is a very diligent, hard working student! I might even go so far as to say that Gerald is my "best student." What I mean by that, is that he always works hard, always follows the rules, never complains, never tries to sneak in extra computer games, and does very well at typing lessons. He is a pleasure to have in class!

Gerald is a very quiet kid. At the home and at the school, I rarely hear him talking. I think he prefers to express himself through other means: a smile, a belly laugh, or crying... those are Gerald's top three emotions! Whenever I spot Gerald I wait and stare at him until we've made eye-contact. And soon as that happens, he flashes me his big, front-teeth missing grin! I know I can always count on him for a nice big smile!

Gerald always obeys the staff and volunteers. He listens well and helps whenever needed. It's the other kids that he tends to have a problem with! It is a daily occurance to see Gerald scrunched up in a corner crying about one of the other kids. Whenever someone takes a toy, beats him in basketball, doesn't let him join playing, or rubs him the wrong way... there will be Gerald crying!

Please keep Gerald in your prayers throughout the week. Pray for him and his family at the home. Pray for his development physically, mentally, and spiritually. And most importantly, pray that Gerald would understand and accept Jesus in his heart. Thank you!

Introducing... Alex

Sat, 27 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

And here is Alex! (Alexandra technically but I don't think I've ever called her that).

Alex is 8 years old and the oldest of two other siblings: Tyra (3) and Chris John (2). In other words, she is part of one of my *cough* favorite *cough* families around. As I mentioned in Tyra's blog, I was in Manila visiting the day that these three came to the New Faith Family Children's Home just over a year ago. Tyra was a little scared but also too young to completely understand what was going on and little Chris was completely oblivious. But Alex understood. And I will never forget when I saw her sitting backwards on the couch, peeking over the other side. I thought she was playing with one of the babies, who was trying to wiggle their way into this small space. But she wasn't playing, she was quietly crying to herself, trapped in a room full of people, devastated at what had just happened. She understood her mother had just dropped them off and said goodbye.

Alex spent the first few weeks staying pretty close to her siblings, who were both in the nursery. She would come up every chance she got, rather than spend a lot of time with the other older kids. But over time, she has adjusted pretty well. She loves playing with the other girls her age, but she also loves her siblings, and this is apparent as you watch her hug and kiss them every chance she gets, and is always helping Tyra on the swings, running around outside, or helping to feed her at meal time. Alex is a very loving and caring Ate (older sister).

Alex also has another characteristic you might notice quite easily... *** ** ** **ubborn as a mule! Once Alex has set her mind to something, she will stick to it regardless of the consequences. If she is fighting over a toy with one of the other kids... good luck prying that toy out of her hands! The consequences rarely convince her to give up either; she would just rather be right than give up the argument (and avoid the punishment that accompanies).

Alex is also working hard to advance academically in our community school. She was probably not educated (or not very well) before coming to K.I.M., so she is currently still in kindergarten class; though with her hard work ethic, we expect her to move up to first grade in no time at all!

Please be praying for Alex this week. Pray for her hard work to pay off in school, pray for quality time with her siblings, pray for healing from all the wounds in her past, pray for her sometimes stubborn attitude!, and pray for her heart to be open to the message of Jesus Christ. And also be praying for a wonderful family to come into the lives of these three blessings: Alex, Tyra, and Chris. They deserve a loving, caring, and Godly family.

Thank you and enjoy the video!

Introducing... Florence

Sun, 21 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Introducing... Florence!!

I know, I know... I've said this several times before... but man is this boy gwapo! (handsome) He just has one of those faces that allow him him to get away with things... all it takes is one look at that face and you melt just enough to say it's okay, you're not in trouble, just don't do it again...

Florence is nine years old and is the youngest of three siblings. He has an older sister Roseanne (13) and an older brother Fritz (10). Florence is also a first grader at our community school.

Florence is one of the children at the home that I still feel like I haven't gotten to know very well. It's not that Florence isn't friendly, just that he prefers to spend his time with his peers, rather than the volunteers. On any given day, you can spot Florence running around the home with the other younger boys, playing tag or basketball, climbing trees, and doing other things that little boys like to do!

If you stick around long enough, you might be so lucky to see the Florence "pouty face" ...when things aren't going his way, and he gets a little grumpy, the bottom lip goes out, the eyelids come down, and his arms fold across his chest. I call it the Florence pouty face. The only problem is... he still looks so gwapo even when he's mad!

For the month of November, along with his two siblings and another child from our home, Florence participated in a "camp" where he spent 3 weeks in Southern California. The trip of a lifetime for such a small boy from the Philippines. Other than traveling to our sister children's home in Mindanao, it was his first time really traveling! We were all very excited for him to have such a neat adventure and expand his view of the world!

This week I am asking that you keep Florence in your prayers! Pray that God would provide a family for this sweet boy and his siblings. Pray that he would be growing physically, mentally, and spiritually. Pray that he always feels loved and cared for. Pray for his family, wherever they might be. And as always, pray that Florence would know Christ as his personal Saviour.

But What Can I Do

Wed, 17 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

I live at the Yun Jin Lyso Ministry Center (YMC for short). I live ten minutes from the nearest mall and nearest starbucks. There's a mini stop convenient store less than a mile from my door, and several "sari sari" convenient stores less than 30 yards away. The movies, malls, bowling centers, spas, and grocery stores are all within a short driving distance from where I call home. I live in a city and access to "things" is pretty easy.

Which sometimes makes it hard to remember what else is right outside the door. I live in the Cuatro Community, named so for the location alongside the 4th hole of a neighboring golf course. Cuatro is home to 5,000 people (and no, it's not that big of an area.) Those 5,000 people live in about 800ish homes, packed in to little shanty houses like sardines. They live in the dirt, they sleep in the dirt, and they don't have three hot meals waiting for them throughout the day.

This morning, Manny, a young boy that has heavily weighed on my heart since I came here, was found wandering around by one of our teachers at the school, when he himself was supposed to be in class up at the CCC, our other school location. We brought him inside and asked him why he wasn't at school. One of the common excuses we hear from students-- his uniform was dirty, so he couldn't go to class.

Manny is 7 years old. And as I look into his story more and more, it feels as though it keeps getting more and more hopeless. Manny is the eldest of his siblings. He has a 6 year old sister and a 3 year old brother. Either both his parents are dead, or the the mother is dead and the father leaves Monday through Friday to go to work in another province, we have heard both stories and are not sure which is the truth yet. Regardless, this little boy is 7 years old, trying to take care of his siblings, trying to be the man in the family, while only just a little boy himself. He collects paper and plastic at the school each day to turn into the recycling center for money. A large bag will get him 10 pesos, or about a quarter. He told us he needed to get money to buy rice for the family.

My heart breaks for this boy. I want more for him than how he is living right now. I want him to be a kid and for an adult to do the providing and the caring. I want him to continue going to school, to learn English, continue on to college, and go places in this life! I want him to come to church and bible class on Sundays, to learn about God the Father, who is the Father figure he has never known but always needed, the Father that won't let him down and will always be there for him. I want him to have three meals a day, vitamins to keep him healthy, strong and sturdy teeth, and a place that he can feel safe each night.

What can I do for Manny? Or Angela? Sunshine and Sanjie and their family? For Pin? These are just a few of the many kids that need help. What can I do to help them? How can I help to break them out of this cycle that they are in?

When my time in Manila has come to an end, and I go back to my home in California, Manny WILL NOT be in the exact same place as when I came. Though at times I feel helpless, and the situation feels hopeless, something will change. It has to.

Introducing... Aira

Sat, 13 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

This week, meet Aira!

Aira is a very sweet ten year old girl, who is currently in grade one at our community school. She performs very well academically and other than fairly recently, doesn't tend to have many attitude problems either. I personally have enjoyed having her in computers; I don't think I've ever had any problems with her in class.

Aira is the oldest of three other siblings: Gerald (9), Jessica (7), and Jaypee (6). (The family does kind of have a "J" theme, Aira included-- her real name is Jeralyn!) These four siblings have lived at an orphanage for at least six years, although I am not sure of exactly how long. Before coming to live at NFFCH, they lived at another children's home nearby. Aira and Jessica are extremely close sisters, and as I mentioned in Jessica's blog, even prefer sleeping in a twin bed together rather than have their own beds. They are always looking out for each other too; whenever the kids are given snack, candy, etc... Aira always makes sure Jessica gets some and vice-versa.

During play-time at the children's home, Aira can usually be seen playing with Angelica and Jessica. She enjoys playing hopscotch, jacks, reading books, and running around being silly. This may sound strange... but I would say that Aira is one of our quietest and loudest kids at the home. Although she seems quiet and reserved at first, and has her moments being that way... she also has an abnormally loud voice (for such a tiny body), and usually needs to be reminded to talk a little quieter.

Aira is a very generous, helpful, and sweet young girl. She is always a pleasure to have around and could sit on your lap for hours asking questions about every topic under the sun! She also has a great sense of humor and can keep me laughing pretty good!

Keep Aira in your prayers this week. Pray for her and all her siblings, and that God would provide a family for the four of them, despite the hard odds of 4 siblings being adopted. Pray for her development and progression into the preteen years. And most importantly, pray that she would hear, understand, and accept the message of the Gospel in her heart.

Introducing... Michael

Sun, 7 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

And this week I get to introduce you to.... Michael!

Michael is actually the first child who came to be a part of the NFFCH, over four years ago. Like many children here, I don't know Michael's full story, but I know he came from a difficult background. Now Michael is 7 years old and is in grade one at our community school. In fact, we were just recently told that Michael is the smartest student in his class! And it came to no surprise to us, because Michael really is an extremely intelligent kid! In addition to academics, Michael also does well in typing class and piano lessons. At his young age he has already learned how to read music!

Michael is a pretty independent kid as well. For the most part, Michael is pretty content playing by himself rather than the other boys. Every now and then he joins in with the other kids his age, but usually you will see him by himself at the home. He likes to climb trees, play basketball, play with toy cars, practice his writing, read books, and eat candy. He also has become quite close to our nurse and volunteer Marilyn, and enjoys spending time with her at the home as well. It takes a while to get to know MIcheal, because he doesn't just trust anyone that walks into this place. Michael likes to keep his distance while getting to know people. But once you've passed the test, you will quickly see that Michael is a sweet and tender-hearted boy.

Please remember to spend some time praying for Michael this week. Pray for continued healing from his hurtful past, pray for opportunities to exercise his musical talent and academic skills, pray that Michael would feel loved and cared for by the volunteers and staff, pray that he would know Christ as his personal Saviour, and pray that God would provide a family for this awesome young boy.

Introducing... Rene

Sat, 30 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Meet Rene!

Rene is a very intelligent young man. At fifteen years old (just had his birthday yesterday the 29th), Rene is our oldest boy in the home. He is also our most advanced student in the school, about to finish his 5th grade year and move on to 6th grade.

Rene has a lot of things he's interested in. Rene likes to play basketball of course. He's always out on the court with the other boys! And has recently begun lifting weights with one of our male volunteers here and has enjoyed that as well. He also likes to help out with our maintenance workers at times, digging, laying cement, and other hard work. Rene, like many teenage boys, also likes to sleep-- and would sleep in pretty late if we let him! And Rene has also expressed a great interest in engineering/architecture. He is extremely smart, with his favorite subjects being math and science, and would be very good in that line of work!

Rene tends to be pretty quiet. It's not that he is shy; just that he chooses not to talk as much, depending on who he is around. While in his element, hanging out with the boys, Rene opens up a lot more and likes to play around with them. But when he gets in a larger crowd, or with the many volunteers who come to visit K.I.M, Rene pretty much keeps to himself. Rarely will you see him hanging out with visitors; he just keeps doing his thing... playing basketball and hanging out with his boys.

Rene is only 3 years from officially becoming an adult and moving on into the world to start a career/trade and become more and more self-sufficient. Please pray for Rene as he begins to look forward to that time. Pray that he would have patience and contentment with where he is now, but feel guidance for the future. Pray for Rene as he soon begins the 6th grade and will soon be on his way to high school! (grades 7-10 here). Pray for protection for Rene from the negative influences that loom just outside the gate of the home, and pray for Spiritual understanding and discernment as Rene has struggled to understand Christianity, right vs. wrong, sin, and a handful of other Christian concepts. Pray that the Lord would speak to him and that he would have a true relationship of Christ as his Saviour.

Thank you and enjoy the video!

Introducing... Vanessa (with video now!!)

Sat, 23 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT

And this week you get to meet another girl that has become quite special to me during my time here... Vanessa!

Vanessa is the oldest of the girls, 14 years old, and is definitely the most mature as well. When at the children's home, you will rarely see Vanessa playing around with the rest of the kids. It's not that she is being rude or doesn't enjoy them, she is just more mature now. She isn't into "playing around" anymore. She prefers more teenage/adult activities. Sitting around chatting, listening to music, walking around with the other older girls, helping with the babies, etc. And she is extremely helpful, always helping whenever asked (or on her own initiative) and without any complaints!

Vanessa came to the home about three years ago along with her cousin Maria Fe. Before coming, she lived with her aunt or grandmother for most of her life, rarely spending any time with her mother or father, who separated when she was very young. I'm not a psychologist by any means, but if I had to assess Vanessa, I would say that this girl has it together! Based on the time that I have spent with her, I would say that Vanessa is an emotionally, physically, and spiritually healthy young woman! She is a self-professing Christian and constantly seeks to grow in her faith.

However, despite her "having it all together", there are still struggles that come with living at an orphanage. It seems at times that though Vanessa would love nothing more than to spread her wings and conquer the world, that living at an orphanage often restricts her in doing so. She is ready to grow up and move on in the world, finding what she loves to do, and living her life to the fullest! I have no doubt in my mind that as time progresses, this girl will do some pretty awesome things!

Please keep Vanessa in your prayers this week. Pray for opportunities for new experiences, and for direction into what area she might pursue once she is a little older. Pray for peace in Vanessa's heart, that God is with her in the difficult times as well as the not-so-difficult, and that He will be guiding her throughout her entire life. Pray that Vanessa's confidence would be in Christ, and not in trying to live up to other people's expectations. And pray that if it is in God's will, that Vanessa, though 14 years old already, would be placed in a family that loves her and cares for her, and helps her in pursuing all of her dreams. That is one of my my biggest prayers for Vanessa; that she would be blessed with a family to give her the love and one on one attention that that she desires and deserves.

A Franciscan Benediction

Mon, 18 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT

May God bless you with discomfort
At easy answers, half-truths, and superficial relationships
So that you may live deep within your heart

May God bless you with anger
At injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people
So that you may work for justice, freedom, and peace

May God bless you with tears
To shed for those who suffer pain, rejection, hunger, and war,
So that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and
To turn their pain into Joy

And may God bless you with enough foolishness
To believe that you can make a difference in the world,
So that you can do what others claim cannot be done
To bring justice and kindness to all our children and the poor.

Amen.

Introducing... Jaypee

Sat, 16 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT

This week's kid of the week is.... Jaypee!

I would love to start by telling you that the spelling of his name is a mistake; unfortunately, instead of naming the poor kid J.P. he was given the spelling Jaypee... kinda silly if you ask me! But silly is actually quite fitting, because if I had to choose one word to describe this boy, silly would be it! Coming in a close second would be crazy. Jaypee is a bit of a terror at the children's home. I rarely ever see Jaypee walk anywhere; he prefers to run and scream instead!

Jaypee came to be a part of the NFFCH about two years ago. Before that, he lived at another children's home with his three older siblings (Aira, Gerald, and Jessica). He has been at an orphanage since he was only a couple months old, and has had the same main caregiver the whole time, Nanay Yoly (Nanay means "mom"). And that's exactly who she is to Jaypee; he completely views her as his mother... and he just so happens to be a momma's boy!

Jaypee is only 6 years old and so he definitely still acts like it. He climbs trees, runs around the yard, plays basketball, and eats as much sugar and candy as possible. In fact, Jaypee has had two holes in place of front teeth for almost the entire time I've known him. His baby teeth rotted away from too much sugar as a child (extremely common in the philippines), and his adult teeth haven't grown in yet. Hopefully we can get him on a better path when they do come in!

Jaypee is in our preschool class at our community school, and attends classes for only two and a half hours each morning. Up until a few months ago, Jaypee was the "baby" of the children's home, which often meant a lot of attention from caregivers and visitors. Then about two months ago Danilo came to the home, who is only 4 years old. Jaypee is still trying to come to terms with this, which has recently meant bullying little Danilo.

Please keep Jaypee in your prayers this week. Pray for his transition into being one of the big boys (and no longer the baby), pray for his educational development, pray that he would always feel loved and cared for at the home, and pray that if it is in God's will, that there would be a family out there to adopt Jaypee and his three siblings.

I hope you enjoy the video!

The Missing Puzzle Piece

Mon, 11 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT

When I went home to visit last October, I brought back a puzzle with me to work on with the girls I disciple. One of my girls, Vanessa, mentioned that she really likes puzzles, so I bought a 1,000 piece puzzle of a picture of a winter scene (since they always talk about how they want to see snow), and I also bought some puzzle glue, so that when we finish, we can hang it up in their room.

Turns out that 1,000 piece puzzles take a LONG time! We've already put in a good two hours and all we have done is the border! We originally started working on it in my room on a table I have. The table ended up being a bit too small though, so I ended up moving it onto a big piece of cardboard. Well a few days before Christmas someone came to clean my room. I didn't think to put a note or tell her to work around the puzzle; I guess I just assumed she would. I came back to my room hours later to find the cardboard folded in half on my bed. I dropped my bag and rushed to the bed, slowly peeking inside the cardboard, naively hoping that somehow it would still be in-tact. It of course was mixed up and moved around, no signs of a finished border at all. So I decided to move the puzzle once again to the trundle beneath my bed where it could stay safe in one piece. After moving the cardboard I decided I should put the pieces back together so that the girls wouldn't have to do it all over again.

That's when I realized there was a piece missing!! 999 out of a thousand may seem like a pretty good percentage, but when we're talking puzzles, 100% is the only acceptable percentage! Especially when the plan is to glue together and hang on the wall. I was pretty distraught....for a week I kept my little secret from the girls, hoping to find it before they wanted to work on it next....

Almost two weeks later I was in my room stretching. It was also a rough morning, where I was worrying about the future... where will i go to school, what if i don't have the money, what if i have to go by myself, where do i even begin, etc. It was a Sunday morning and in a few hours I was going to church. I prayed silently to myself, telling God that this morning I needed an obvious, specific, encouraging word from Him. I told him I needed it this morning and I emphasized the making it obvious, so that I wouldn't miss it.

Not less than a minute later, as I began pondering how God would speak to me through the message, God gave me my instant answer to prayer right there in my room. I was doing a wide-leg, bent over hamstring stretch, so my face was pretty low to the ground. My eyes immediately caught sight of something across the room on the floor. "No way" I thought to myself, even though I already knew what it was. I walked over and picked up the missing puzzle piece. I pulled out the trundle and placed the piece in the missing spot.

Perfect fit. Completing the border. And right away it clicked. This was God's answer, God's encouragement for me that morning! God will be the one to put the pieces together. My life is an unfinished puzzle. And I can't finish it because I don't even have all the pieces! But they aren't missing, they aren't lost forever.... God will give me the necessary pieces, one tiny piece at a time. It was God's neat way of saying to me: stop worrying, stop trying to force the future today... just work with what I've given you and I'll give you the next piece when it's time.

Introducing... Noel

Sun, 10 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT

This week I get to introduce you to a very special boy... meet Noel.

Noel came to be a part of the NFFCH only a little over a year ago. He came in speaking no English at all, and a year later, is doing very well. Noel is 9 years old and is in our special education class at our community school. But please do not be misled by this... Noel is an extremely smart young man! He simply needs extra attention and can sometimes take longer to do things. But he is very smart!

Noel is like most of our other younger boys, who likes to do things that little boys do: basketball, tag, soccer, marbles, climb anything and everything in sight, etc. Noel is actually a very good climber! On one side of the children's home we have an empty lot that is a big overgrown grassy area. Between us and that empty lot is a cement fence that is about six feet high, with a chain link fence extending even higher, with barbed wire looping the top. One day, in my first month of being here, I remember looking over and seeing a head pop up on the other side of that fence. And wouldn't you know it... it was Noel! I still have no idea how he got over that fence; just that his ball got thrown over and he determinedly followed it over to get to it, and then couldn't seem to find his way back. So I had to walk around to the other side of the empty lot and bring him back.

Because Noel is a little slower, he prefers to spend his time with those a little younger than him, who aren't as harsh on him like the older boys tend to be. He also likes to play with the toddlers, loves to carry them around, and spends many afternoons pushing Heartlyn around in a toy car. He also likes to spend time with Marilyn, one of our foreign caregivers at the home (she's Canadian), who he's formed a special bond with.

Noel is often looking for affirmation and encouragement from those around him. He loves to shoot around at the basketball hoop and have someone watch him and cheer for him when he makes it in. Just recently I have begun doing typing lessons with Noel as well and he has caught on very fast! Now whenever I see him he says "Tita, computers!" and makes a typing hand-motion with a big smile on his face, to which I respond, "yeah Noel you are doing so well!"

This week, please pray for Noel. Pray for his continued learning of the English language, pray for his social development, his education at the school, and his interaction with the other kids. Pray that he would feel loved and cared for at the children's home by the caregivers and volunteers, and also pray for his teeth to straighten out quickly (we recently put braces on him). And of course, pray for a deeper understanding of what it means to be a Christian, and that he would desire to have Jesus in his heart.

The Secret Language of Christians

Tue, 5 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT

I've been training the last 8 weeks for a half marathon that I am running this upcoming Sunday. I always wanted to participate in a race, but after my knees started having problems a little over a year ago, I thought it wouldn't be possible anymore. But with lots of time spent stretching, icing, and doing some rehab exercises, I've been able to get back into it pretty well. And I've really been enjoying being back!

Although I was replacing running with other forms of exercises, there's just something special about waking up and starting the day with a morning run. Because of my busy schedule and the hot and humid weather in the Philippines, I usually do my jogging at 545am, most mornings I even have a front-row view of the sunrise!

There aren't many people out on the roads with me at 545am. I usually see a few cars later on in my run, a handful of people sitting on the side of the road, I see the tricycle drivers lining up to bring people to work, and then I see a few other people who are out there exercising right alongside me.

This is how I came to realize that runners have their own special language! Sometimes it expresses itself in words: "goodmorning"/ "hello," sometimes it's a friendly wave, and other times it's as simple as some eye-contact and a smile.... but within each of those there is more going on that just meets the eye.... beneath each form of "contact" what we are really saying is "good job"/ "way to get out there this morning" / and most importantly, "i can relate to you"/ "we share something *important* in common/ "we're not all that different from each other" etc... In the 5 second interaction we share in passing, there is actually a lot being communicated! Running reaches across the cultural barrier, because when I acknowledge another runner and give a smile and a nod, we are actually connecting on deeper levels because of our shared passion for running.

And this is actually true for several other passions/hobbies/activities. When Harley motorcyclists pass each other on the road, they make the sign-language hand-sign for the letter "H" to each other. It's a sign of comraderie and shared passion; it may just seem like a simple hand motion to you and I, but to them, it's an identity and signifies something of importance. It's the reason why gangs get matching tattoos, why "clicks" in high school can be identified by their clothing, why little girls around the world are making and wearing "friendship bracelets", and why high school football teams shave their heads together the night before a big game....

So the question that I've been pondering is ... what about Christians? Do we have a secret language? When I'm walking on the street can I identify another Christian by the way they look/walk/talk/act? Or better yet, can people tell that I'm a Christian? The bible says it should be that way.

"By this, all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

John 13:35

"I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world."

John 17:14

"Then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose."

Philippians 2:2

To be honest, most of the time I feel like Christians enjoy competing more than anything else. Instead of the church working together, being ONE body with ONE mind and ONE love, we worry more about MY denomination, MY numbers in church, MY message, MY worship being BETTER than the church next door.

Maybe one day we will learn from the Harley motorcyclists, the gangs, the preteen girls, the high school clicks, the bicyclists and the runners... until then, maybe we should all wear the same shirt or something, or maybe a bright red bandana on our heads... otherwise I might just pass a Christian brother or sister and never even notice...

Introducing... Joan

Sat, 2 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT

This week I get to introduce you to one of the girls I spend a lot of my time with here in the Philippines, because she is one of the four girls I disciple at the children's home. Meet Joan.

Joan is 11 years old and is currently in grade one at our community school, though we expect her to move up to grade two very soon. She is behind in her schoolwork because she did not attend school for many years as a child; she was supposedly "home schooled" by her step mother, though the education she received was not nearly up to par. Yet she has done very well since coming to live at NFFCH only a little over a year ago, and has done especially well in learning and speaking English.

One of the first things you might notice about Joan is that she likes to ask a lot of questions, sometimes having to do with the topic at hand, and other times it may feel like the question is coming out of left field. It seems to me that the wheels in Joan's mind are always spinning, considering, contemplating, and figuring things out. So out of that comes a lot of questions!

Joan truly is a great girl. She is always smiling and laughing and likes to spend as much time as possible with friends, classmates, visitors... really just people in general! She is very poiite as well, always saying thank you and asking permission before doing something. The past few months she has taken up learning piano and is doing very well at it. She also likes to play basketball, listen to music, and hang out with the other older girls.

Joan comes from an extremely complicated background; one that even I do not completely understand, yet have seen that it can often blur the lines of right vs. wrong in her mind. But as one of my main focuses of ministry, it is my prayer that Joan would be able to be healed from the hurts in her past. This is one of my greatest prayers for Joan and ask that you would join me in praying for her emotional healing, as well as a greater spiritual understanding of what it means to truly be a Christian. Please also pray for her transition into her teenage/adult years, her continuing education in the school, and for opportunities for me to share my love for Christ with her.

Enjoy the video!

Introducing... Maricel

Sat, 26 Dec 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Today I would like you to all meet Maricel.

Maricel is one of kids in the home who require special attention. Although I don't know the full story behind Maricel's past, I know that she lived on the street for years before coming to live at NFFCH and has the physical, emotional, and mental scars to show for it.

At just about five feet tall, she is one of our smallest kids in the home; but dental records place Maricel as sixteen years old-our oldest female. Developmentally, however, she is much much younger. To be honest, at first appearances, she seems like a completely normal child. Most visitors estimate her to be about twelve years old and think that she doesn't speak very much English. When in reality, she is sixteen years old, and she doesn't really speak at all.

When I first came to NFFCH two years ago, I don't remember Maricel talking at all, with the exception of nodding and shaking her head to answer questions. Oh, and laughing. Maricel loves to laugh! A year later, when I came to visit in October 2008, I was so encouraged by her progress, as I noticed her using "yes" and "no" to answer questions, as well as a few other words as well. Fast forward another year to now, and Maricel is doing awesome! She uses a lot more words, answers questions with more than just a "yes" or "no," and can often be heard talking with some of our younger kids. And she still loves to laugh!

Maricel is in our special education class at our community school. She loves to participate and does well with her peers in that class. At the home, she enjoys sticking close to volunteers, sitting near them and laughing with them. She also does extremely well with our toddlers, especially Tyra, who like to laugh and play together. She is also one of the best helpers in the home... often choosing to participate in chores even when it isn't her turn.

We fully expect that Maricel will be with the NFFCH for her entire life. With less than two years until she is considered an "adult," along with the fact that she carries special circumstances, it would be highly unlikely that she would be adopted out. Knowing her circumstances, and her needs, whether she is considered a "child" or an "adult," we at K.I.M. have every intention of walking through life together with Maricel. She will always have a home at NFFCH and we feel blessed to have her here.

Please spend some time praying for Maricel this week. Pray for her development, pray for healing of her emotional and mental scars, and pray that we would always know how to best care for her. Please pray that no matter what, she knows the love of a Savior.

Enjoy this week's video of Maricel. She tends to get camera-shy, but hopefully you are able to get a glimpse into her loveable and genuine personality.

Oh Night Divine, the Night when Christ was Born

Mon, 21 Dec 2009 00:00:00 GMT

One of my favorite parts of the holiday season is the Christmas music. I just love Christmas carols! In all honesty, without Christmas carols, I don't think it would feel very much like Christmas to me at all. It's kind of a package deal!

So for over a month I've been listening to and thinking about some popular Christmas songs. Other than a few I had to cut out of my playlist this year (I'll be home for Christmas, Home for the Holidays, etc) I've been enjoying some of the classics, such as: Silent Night, Jingle Bell Rock, Santa Clause is Coming to Town, Hark the Herald Angel Sing, and many other favorites.

And today I was looking at the words a little more closely than usual. I think people often don't even realize what they are singing when it comes to Christmas music. Because let's be honest... if they did, they probably wouldn't be singing it! Most of the popular Christmas Carols are about JESUS. What a concept! Christmas music about Christ?!? Check out some of the words below from some popular Christmas Carols. Notice the words in green from each song... notice a trend?

Away in a Manger: "Away in a manger, no crib for his bed, the little Lord Jesus lay down his sweet head..."

Mary's Boy Child: "...and in a manger cold and dark, Mary's little boy was born..."

What Child is this?: "Why lies he in such a mean estate, where ox and ass are feeding?

Gentle Mary Laid her Child: "Gentle Mary laid her child, lowly in a manger..."

Do you Hear what I Hear?: "A Child, a Child, shivers in the cold..."

This Christmas is my first Christmas away from family, which can be a little sad at times (hence the banning of certain Christmas songs)... but it does me good to stop and think of these songs. We celebrate Christmas because it is the day that Christ came into the world. But the first Christmas, the honored guest (Christ) was in a cold, dark, lowly manger suitable for the animals.... not very honorable at all!

This Christmas, I am thankful for those that I do get to spend Christmas with. I'm thankful for the kids, who don't get to spend ANY day with their families, let alone Christmas! I'm thankful that they are my family in Christ, and that we can celebrate his birth together. And I'm thankful for the other volunteers here at K.I.M. who are spending their Christmas with the kids as well.

Wherever you are this Christmas, and whoever you are with this Christmas, I pray that our minds would be focused on the perfect, holy, gracious Christ... who came into this frustrating, dirty, sin-infested world to be born into a cold, dirty, smelly manger, so that one day you and I could have HOPE, JOY, and a FUTURE. Remember this as you enjoy some lovely Christmas carols this season!

OH HOLY NIGHT:

Oh Holy night! The stars are brightly shining,
It is the night of the dear Saviour's birth.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining.
Till He appeared and the Spirit felt its worth.
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.
Fall on your knees! Oh, hear the angel voices!
O night divine, the night when Christ was born;
O night, O holy night, O night divine!
O night, O holy night, O night divine!

Introducing... Jomel

Sun, 20 Dec 2009 00:00:00 GMT

World, meet Jomel-in my personal opinion-one of the coolest kids you might ever meet.

To be honest, I don't really know much about Jomel's past... where he came from or even how long he has been here, although I know it has been at least two years. I also know that he is twelve years old and has no siblings.

Jomel often finds himself smack in the middle of the "older boys" and the "younger boys" groups, changing his demeanor depending on who he is with. While with the younger boys, goofy, fun-loving Jomel comes out. When with the older boys, he tends try and fit-in more, which usually translates into a bit of attitude, a dash of egotism, and a handful of defiance. But behind the cool-kid exterior is the same sweet Jomel, who just wants to fit in a bit.

Jomel has one of the best smiles I have ever seen. He tries hard not to, but eventually he gives in and the huge grin comes out, often followed by a great giggle/laugh that tends to be pretty contagious!

Although he eats about the same as the other boys his age, Jomel doesn't have an ounce of fat on his body! Skinny is a rail, he's always pulling up on his pants so they don't fall down while running around. He loves to play basketball with the rest of the boys, and also loves to watch basketball games, one of the few who really focuses and understands what is going on.

Jomel is a smart boy, currently in grade two at our community school. From what I can tell, Jomel is a thinker... he rarely speaks before thoroughly thinking out his answers-you can see the wheels spinning in his head as he contemplates his response. He tends to be analytical and logical in his responses and actions, rarely acting out of passion or emotion. He also tends to be a very go-with-the-flow, laid back personality.

This week, please keep Jomel in your prayers. Pray for him as he is gradually becoming his own person, independent of the people he spends his time with. Pray that God would already be preparing a home for Jomel with two parents that love him, and pray that Jomel would grow closer to God with a greater understanding of who He is.

Enjoy the video!

Kaibigan Ko

Sat, 19 Dec 2009 00:00:00 GMT

"Kaibigan Ko" translates to "my friend." And whenever I see this young man I greet him with these words!

His name is Manny, and he lives in Cuatro, the squatters area right outside our door. I've never been to his home, but through talking to Manny and to others, I've been able to find out some information about him and his family. Manny lives at home with his father and his older sister-- technically speaking. In all reality, he is his own caregiver. His mother left the family, his father is rarely around (and usually drunk when he is there), and his older sister isn't much help either.

Manny lives on the street. He wears grungy, dirty, ripped clothes. He has no place to shower. He has no one looking out for him. He stays out late at night. And he only eats when given food from others.

Thankfully, Manny has found love and care through a local church which we call the JCCV (Jesus Christ Church in the Valley). This church, which is next door to our guest house, a partner in ministry with K.I.M., and location of our elementary school (CCS), has stepped up and done exactly what the church is called to do-- help those in need!

Manny has been enrolled in our CCS school in the preschool class (a morning program). And in the afternoons, he comes to the elementary school and hangs out there. He also comes to church and attends Sunday school every week. And can often be seen visiting the YMC guesthouse many days of the week.

Manny's story is not a rare one. There are hundreds, even thousands of kids in the Cuatro community and surrounding areas that live life just like Manny... kids with parents who don't do their job as parents, eating one meal a day, no toothbrush, no showers, no shoes, and worst of all-- no one to show them love.

What a wonderful opportunity and blessing we have been given to reach out to little ones like Manny. As the church, as individuals, as members of the body of Christ.... who else could we be reaching out to today in the name of Jesus?

"let the little ones come unto me..."

Matthew 19:14

Introducing... Jessica

Sat, 12 Dec 2009 00:00:00 GMT

After a little bit of a hiatus, I'm back with the latest kid of the week...

Meet Jessica! Like a few of the other children, I was actually here visiting Manila when Jessica came to be a part of the New Faith Family Children's Home. It was actually just about two years ago, when I was here with the World Race. The week we were leaving, I remember them telling us a group of new kids were coming to the home from a different orphanage. I don't remember much of the kids as individuals. I remember one of the kids was named "Queen," I remember there was a bunch of siblings, and I remember Jessica. Sweet and quiet Jessica.

Fast forward a year to October 2008. It took me all of five minutes to realize that either my previous assessment was a bit off or Jessica had changed a lot in a year! Don't get me wrong, I love Jessica! But "sweet" and "quiet" are not words usually used to describe her. Instead you might use words like crazy, hyper, loud, outgoing, energetic, etc..

Other notables of Jessica: she is 7 years old, is in kindergarten at our community school, loves to eat snacks and sweets, is very inquisitive, has a short attention span, and loves to sing worship music.

Jessica has no problem being the center of attention. In fact, she seems to like it a lot. Her voice alone demands attention, usually yelling her words instead of talking at what would be considered a normal volume. She has a loud and attention-grabbing laugh as well, and is currently going through a phase where she thinks it's funny to burp every few minutes. Jessica is a little firecracker. Don't let her angelic face and small body fool you... she can stand her ground with just about any of the older kids.

Jessica likes to play with the other girls her age, and can usually be seen playing with her older sister Aira (9). These sisters are very close and even prefer sleeping in the same twin-sized bed, instead of on their own mattresses right next to each other. Along with Aira, Jessica has two other siblings at the home: Gerald (8), and JP (6).

Please be praying for Jessica this week. Adoption with more than one sibling is very difficult, so the chances of being adopted with 3 siblings decreases drastically. But as we all know, God is capable of the impossible, and God willing, He has a special family picked out for these special kids. Pray for Jessica's schooling, for her mother (as requested), that she would know how much she is loved inside of the home, and most importantly, that she would understand what it means to have a relationship with Christ and would comet to know Him in a personal way.

The Biggest Turkey

Thu, 10 Dec 2009 00:00:00 GMT

We at K.I.M have so much to be thankful for that we couldn't help but have a nice big "family" Thanksgiving Dinner!

So on December 1st (better late than never), families and individual missionaries from around Manila spent hours in the kitchen preparing food for over fifty people! Over 40lbs of potatoes were peeled, cooked, mashed and mixed. Four big bowls of sweet potatoes were made. 2 big pots of stuffing were prepared. Gravy overflowed. A green bean casserole graced the table. Cranberries and rolls filled in the cracks. And 7 pumpkin pies, 2 apple pies, brownies, ice cream, chocolate cake, cherry coffee cake, and whipped cream made the meal complete.

And of course, no thanksgiving would be complete--or even count as Thanksgiving--without THE TURKEY! So in preparation for this day, Jeff and myself sought out the perfect turkeys, weeks in advance. While each visiting the states in early November, Jeff Long (director of K.I.M) and I did the unthinkable... we loaded a frozen turkey into our carry-ons and brought Thanksgiving dinner back to the Philippines!

I was the first to bring a turkey back. I was told to bring the biggest I could find. I ended up with a 21 pound turkey. It was a long travel day carrying that turkey from Los Angeles to Taiwan to Manila, but we made it safe and sound! A couple weeks later, it was Jeff's turn. Before going he told me that he would beat my 21 pound turkey and take home the biggest turkey crown. Though he claims no responsibility for the choosing of the turkey (or sharing of the contest details with others), he was given a 22 pound turkey to bring back to the Philippines from a supporting team in Minnesota.

Therefore, it is only fair to admit (in a public setting) that Jeff Long has won the crown of the biggest turkey. Congratulations!

And a Happy (belated) Thanksgiving to Everyone!

Trip to America: California and the Future

Thu, 26 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Continued from "Trip to America: Nashville and Georgia" ...

Coming back to California was great as well! My first day I actually spent the day at home alone.... Some might consider this "sad" (I know my mom who tried to get work off did!). But it actually ended up being quite amazing! There's something amazing about being in a big house alone by yourself... it's not the same as being in a room by yourself. It ended up being exactly what I needed and the perfect way to start off my time at home!

So the rest of my two weeks (ish) at home were spent mostly visiting friends and family, as well as more relaxing time at home, along with simply enjoying the "normal" perks that America has to offer... turkey, carpet, cooler weather, clean feet, a non-dusty/dirt-filled room, salads and other healthy foods, target, walmart, and Costco, ridiculously hot/high-pressure showers, driving inside lanes, with seatbelts, without ridiculous amounts of traffic, frozen yogurt, unlimited communication with stateside friends, speaking the same language, and hundreds of other silly things I take for granted back at home!

Time spent with family and friends was of course wonderful as well! I spent several lunches, dinners, and in-betweens re-connecting with some friends from college over starbucks, panera, chipolte, frozen yogurt, and more!

It was also a huge blessing to attend my home church. Olive Branch has been my biggest supporter and it was so encouraging to witness the support firsthand, as several people greeted me by name-who I had never met before!

I was also able to spend some time connecting with an organization which we at K.I.M have been working with the past few months, called Christian International Adoptions. When I met Lorean (one of their field workers) in Manila, I found out that they are based in Southern California, only 30 minutes from where I live. So when I found out I was going to be visiting home, I decided I would stop by and see Lorean as well, and see how their organization operates on a day to day basis.

To be honest, I found myself quite intrigued with Lorean's job from the beginning, even before I went to see her in California. She works to adopt overseas kids into homes in America, runs 3-week long camps where they bring kids over to the states to experience America and hopefully be adopted by host families, she travels overseas to meet, interview, and evaluate different children who are ready for adoption, and she gets to work with the families who are wanting to adopt, preparing and equipping them throughout the journey.

In a word: WOW. Something about all this just kinda had my heart beating a little faster. So when I went to check it out in California, I was just as captivated (if not more!). I went back a week later to meet families who were going to be host parents for several kids coming from the Philippines for three week camps-including four of our own kids from NFFCH! And wouldn't you know it, I was continually amazed by the whole thing, loving what they were doing!

Throughout the rest of my time in California, I felt God confirming to me that the field of social work is something in my future.... Even before all of this He had been placing a desire in my heart to return to grad school and get my masters. At the time I didn't know what for, but I felt strongly that God was guiding me that direction.... And a couple months later, the Lord is beginning to connect the pieces!

Another cool God-thing: while at church one morning talking to supporters and parents of another missionary, I was told about grants that could help me get my masters.... This fellow church member is now actually doing research and helping me find and apply for grants to pay for a huge chunk of getting my M.S.W-Masters of Social Work! And to top it all off, while in the states, I found out that one of my good friends is actually planning on getting her masters degree in the same field, at the same time as me... prompting conversations of us possibly attending school together, to be able to live together and have the fellowship and community that I desire and know I need as well!

Please know that I don't plan on leaving the Philippines anytime soon! I will definitely finish out my commitment through August of 2010, with a possibility (really no idea on this) of staying a bit longer, since I wouldn't be starting the program till Fall of 2011, which would give me some time to get back adjusted to the states, and also work and save some money before starting school.

Do I have everything figured out? Not at all! Could God flip this all upside down on me tomorrow? Unfortunately yes. (scary thing!) But for now, I feel confident that God is guiding me towards returning to school and getting my Masters in Social Work, an area that I never would have imagined had I not come to the Philippines in the first place, met these people and seen international adoption firsthand. It is so awesome how God uses our experiences and our journeys to put us right where He wants us, all in His timing!

It is a new experience for me to actually be planning ahead and seeing a glimpse into God's plans for my future... these last few years I have gotten used to last-minute directions from God. Please keep me in your prayers as I desire to stay completely focused here while still being excited and beginning to plan for the future....

and...

Happy Thanksgiving!! !

Trip to America: Nashville and Georgia

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

After six months of full-time ministry in Manila, I really needed a break! Which is why it was perfect timing that my good friend Brandon got married in mid-October... allowing me the opportunity to see him get married and to get a three-week vacation at the same time!

To be concise, my trip home was GREAT! It was exactly what I needed. It was the perfect amount of time, at the perfect moment in time, and was everything I had hoped it would be... and more!!

I flew home on October 16^tharound 10pm, and because of the time change, I arrived on October 16^th around 8pm. (Talk about saving time!) My mom and sister picked me up from the airport along with a sack dinner of the number one thing I miss here in Manila.... A stacked turkey sandwich! Turkey, avocado, tomato, onion, and lettuce. Perfect!

We arrived at the house around 11pm and I got to work on unpacking and repacking, this time for cooler weather. Between the packing and the visiting, I got to bed at 2am. I then woke up at 4am to make it to my next flight to Tennessee.

By 2pm (TN time) I was in Nashville with my good friends Laine and Amber, who I actually spent two months of the summer with in Manila. It was absolutely wonderful to be with them again! I grew really close to these two girls, and to be able to see them again was a huge blessing. Laine took us to some of her favorite places, we went to Target (I really miss that while in Manila too!), jogged in the early morning in the freezing cold, stood in line for 45minutes outside waiting to eat pancakes, her mom cooked an amazing homecooked dinner (steak!), and I was finally able to bundle up in some warm clothes for Autumn weather! (Among other fun things too!)

On Friday I met up with some other greatly missed friends... Sarah, Mark, and Jackie from the world race. I hitched a ride with them and we drove down to Georgia for Brandon's wedding. From Friday night to Sunday morning I was able to enjoy a short but appreciated time with my racer teammates. Thankfully almost all of the Seven:Eleven team made it (We missed you Haley!) and I was really happy that I was able to see Brandon and meet his new wife.... It would be too weird/sad to have missed out on that big day! Before leaving, we were even able to squeeze in a early Sunday morning Seven:Eleven breakfast before we all parted ways again. It was SO good to see you guys!

Sunday afternoon I headed back up to Nashville, getting a ride with Sarah and Mark again. It was sad of course to say goodbye after such a short visit, but for even one hour with them I am always greatful... they are my brothers and sisters and I love them to death!!

I spent another 30 or so hours in Nashville before I headed back home. Laine's parents took us out to eat downtown and showed us some of the touristy sights as well. It was so much fun and I am SO glad I was able to see them.

My time in Nashville and Georgia was a whirlwind, but it was so much fun and I am really glad I was able to go.

Monday evening I headed back to California....

Introducing... Alvin

Sun, 8 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

This is Alvin.

Alvin came to live at the children's home with his younger brother Emmanuel (Man Man) soon after their home was burnt down. (Read that story here). Now at nine years old, Alvin is doing very well; and is currently in grade 2 at our community school.

I know I've probably said this before... but when I think about Alvin, the word "gwapo" always comes to mind, or in other words, handsome! There's no denying it, Alvin is one good looking kid! When he flashes that winning smile, it takes all my strength just to keep from melting and becoming puddy in his little nine year old hands! But that's not all he has going for him... Alvin has one of the most pleasant personalities as well! Alvin has charisma. He's got charm. He's got one of those personalities that people are drawn to!

There's a few things that tend to stick out when people meet Alvin. First is his love of basketball. Most of the boys really enjoy playing basketball, and spend a majority of their free time on the basketball court; but if I had to choose the number one fan, it would definitely be Alvin! Nothing can keep this kid away from the court! I've seen him play with a very deep open wound on his foot, with a bump the size of a lemon on his head; he plays in the rain, in the miserable heat, at school, at home, in the morning, after dark, and any other time he can get his hands on a ball.... he absolutely loves basketball!

Some other things that stick out about Alvin... he sweats more than any of the other boys, he really enjoys (and is good at) typing, he hates to shower, likes to play pool, and has a very nurturing/older brother qualities. You can always see Alvin looking out for those younger than him, including his younger brother! Alvin is also a little comedian. He loves to make people laugh, and usually ends up making himself laugh in the process, which ends up being pretty contagious, so he usually succeeds in getting a good laugh or two from others.

I hope that you spend some time this week in prayer for Alvin. Like many of our children, Alvin is still going through the legal process that will allow him and his younger brother Man Man to be available for adoption. It is often more difficult for older kids, as well as sibling sets, to be adopted. Please pray that the legal process would happen quickly and that God would be preparing, against the odds, a family to adopt Alvin and his brother... two absolutely wonderful and beautiful boys, inside and out! Also pray for Alvin's growth into an adult, as he is currently in the in-between area of the younger and older boys, quickly approaching the teen years! Pray that he would have a good, godly influence in his life, helping to keep him on the straight and narrow during that difficult time.

Enjoy the video!

Introducing... Andrew

Sat, 31 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

This is Andrew. Two and a half years old, though he often talks like a 3 or 4 year old! Andrew came to the home when he was a young baby, a couple of months old. Andrew is one of the first kids I ever remember meeting at the home. It was almost two years ago now, November of 2007, when I came here for the World Race. I remember we arrived at night sometime, because it was already dark outside. The 26 of us world racers, along with our big packs and our smaller daypacks piled into the YMC (the building that I now currently call home). We stacked our bags in the corners of the room and we made a circle around the large big room. In one corner of that room was a bunch of younger women in their 20s holding babies. It caught my attention because, well, babies always catch my attention. One of those babies was this young man, Andrew, who was less than 6 months old at the time.

We stayed at the YMC for several days before we headed out to different locations around the Philippines. I spent most of my days trying to get as much Andrew time as I could. Since the babies were located at the same building we were living and sleeping at (unlike now where they live up at the children's home), I was always on the lookout for baby Andrew. Anytime I would see him, I would try to hold him and love on him as much as I could. In fact, I think that time was more for my benefit than it was for him... since it had been 3 months since I spent time in my church nursery, I was missing out on some quality baby time!

A year later, I came back to visit Manila for one month, in October 2008. It was so great to see Andrew and see how big he had gotten! I was able to look at pictures of him from each time and compare them. The first time I came he was just a baby, but now, he was a toddler!

Fast forward another year to now: October 2009. In my eyes he's barely even a toddler anymore (though in age he still is)... he's becoming his own little person! Andrew loves cars. To be specific, he loves the car that Marilyn and I share. He kind of thinks it's his, and gets a little jealous/angry whenever I take it somewhere.He loves to eat crackers and sweets, and doesn't like vegetables at all. He is a big boy, and has recently been growing so much in height that he is thinning out a lot too! Andrew loves to dance and sing, and one of his favorite songs is "Hallelujah," which he really just loves singing that one word over and over again. Andrew is very expressive and his face can often say a lot more than his words ever do, whether it be his eyebrows curling in in anger, his eyes widening in curiosity, or his lips curling into a huge smile of excitement! Andrew is very advanced in his English speaking ability, thanks in large part to his best friend.

Andrew's best friend is Marilyn. And Marilyn's best friend is Andrew (or Doo-Doo as she affectionately refers to him). Andrew has had Marilyn in his life, as far back as he can remember. Marilyn came to Manila just shortly after Andrew arrived. From the beginning, these two had a special bond, and still have it to this very day! Andrew loves to spend as much time as he can with Marilyn, and Marilyn spends as much time as she can with him as well.

Which is why it is bittersweet to now share that Andrew is also one of our kids in the final stages of international adoption. His family has been selected, and he will be going to live with them over the next 2-4 months. We praise God for providing a Christian family for Andrew, but as with all of our kids who move on to other places, we selfishly mourn over the loss of them in our own lives. Andrew is a special young boy, and he will be missed here at the NFFCH. Please pray for him during this transition. Pray for his new family. Pray for his old family (us), and pray for Andrew, that he might be given all that he needs and placed in the right home that he may come to know God in an authentic way as he grows into a young man. And please pray for his health and his safety as well. Thank you, and I hope you enjoy the video.

How YOU Can Help Manila

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Many people might be wondering how they can help Manila right now through the disaster that was left from the typhoon... Below is a list of medical supplies we need in order to help and care for those left needing medical attention. If you want to donate supplies, please get them to me in one of the following ways:

1. Bring to Olive Branch Community Church THIS Sunday, November 1st

2. Bring to Olive Branch Community Church ANY TIME and get to Kim Stocking

3. Get to me before I leave to go back to Manila on the 7th of November

4. Take up a big donation, contact me, and I will tell you how to send a BIG box over to Manila (about 45 dollars but unlimited weight)

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU on behalf of all the people in the Philippines and Kids International Ministries...

VITAMINS- adult, child, and prenatal (our BIGGEST need-- we give out 500 easily in a day)

Hyd. Peroxide
Pain relievers ands fever reducers for kids & adults, ( suppositories for infants) liquid and pill form ( Tylenol, Advil, Alieve, acetaminophen, ibuprofen etc.
Coated aspirin
Cough & cold liquid for children & adults
Vit. C & E
bengay
eye drops, ear drops
ointment for burns
Decongestants
Antibiotic's... eg.amoxicillim,
Ampicllium
ascorbic acid
Benylin
calamine lotion
Vitamins for kids & adults
exam gloves
,masks
hand wipes/ sanitizer
Erythromycin
Synthroid( 100mcg\s)
oral hydration
Ancids
robaxail;robaxsial
Iodine (lotion)
Lamisil
Cephalexin
diaper rash cream
fungi cream
antibotic ointment
multivit syrup for infants 0 to 2 yrs
Anti amenic pills (ferrous Sulfate)
Bactrium
bandaids
bandages
surgical tape
Echinacea
Iodine
anti itch cream
worm pills (Albendazole)
any form of diabetic or hypertensive meds
diretics ( lasix)
Antihstamine (s)

Introducing... Tyra

Sat, 24 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

This, is my girl. Meet the beautiful, the sweet, the precious... Tyra!

I was visiting last October when this little girl came to be a part of the NFFCH. Tyra, who was just over 2 years old at the time, came along with her younger brother Chris John and her older sister, Alex. I vividly remember the scene when these 3 kids came into the nursery. All of the other kids were trying to see the new ones, trying to peek into the room and find out who they were. Chris John was just a baby, and actually, a pretty happy baby. But Alex and Tyra were old enough to be scared about what was going on. Alex was old enough to know what was going on; she sat upstairs in the nursery with her younger siblings, crying quietly in a chair, facing a wall so nobody could see her. Tyra, I'm not sure if she completely understood what was going on, but I think she had an idea. But she didn't cry like her older sister. She didn't do much of anything. She didn't want to walk (though she could), talk, sit, eat, drink, play... anything! She stood near the couch with a blank expression on her face, her jet black eyes staring off into space.... absolutely no emotion evident.

Tyra when she came last October

The first day, Benjie was in the room with us, and he told her in Tagalog, that I was going to eat her. Being the punk that he can often be, he never did correct himself, and needless to say, Tyra was quite scared of the weird white girl who apparently, was going to eat her. It actually took her a good couple weeks to warm up to me at all! But for me, it didn't take me weeks at all to fall in love with this little angel. The day she came, was the day that something in my heart just jumped for her. My heart aches for the pain that this innocent little girl has experienced in her first two years of life. It makes me absolutely sick to my stomach to think of what she has had to endure. It takes absolutely all of my strength and then some just to restrain myself from wishing bad things upon the people who hurt her. It is hard to let God be in control and know that this is not my battle.

But what I can do, is to show this beautiful young girl what it means to be loved and cared for. To show her that I love her, I think about her, I want to take care of her needs, and have fun with her. When I think about the call of God, to care for orphans and widows (James 1:27), I can think of no better example than this young girl. Tyra is an orphan that came from a terrible situation, and now we have the opportunity to CARE for her. And it is my joy to care for Tyra each and every day, whether it be pushing her on the swings, stopping by the nursery for a quick hug, getting her dressed in clean clothes with her hair done up nice and neat, talking with her about monkeys (one of her favorite animals), or reading a book with her in the nursery... in all that I do, I hope and pray that Tyra can know what it means to be cared for and loved, in the way that every 3 year old should.

Tyra and her siblings have been at the home for just about a year now. They are doing great and despite many battles along the way, are healthy as well. Tyra just recently turned 3 years old, and is beginning to talk a lot more. I ask that you would pray for Tyra's emotional health, which although it is hard to tell with her young age, has the likelihood of being damaged from her troubled past. Pray that this beautiful young girl would be healed from the wounds of her past; that she would be able to know what is right and wrong behavior as she gets older. Pray for her as she is beginning to talk more and more, pray for her hopefully beginning to potty-train soon. Pray for her development, for her heart, for her mind... pray that she would know that there is a God who loves her and wants to take care of her, way more than any of us volunteers at K.I.M ever could. As you can probably tell, I feel pretty passionate about this one in particular. Although I would be sad if she weren't at NFFCH, I also ask that you would pray that Tyra, Chris John, and Alex would be adopted into a loving, caring home. And that they would be able to be a family with two parents that love them, like it should have been all along.

Typhoon Relief Video

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Introducing... Fritz

Sun, 18 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

This week, meet Fritz! Ten years old and sweet as can be, this is one great kid! I'm not exactly sure why, but I have always felt that his name was very fitting (though I've never met anyone else with that name before). I think I've narrowed it down to two reasons: First of all, his hair. It just kinda sticks up in the air, something like one of those Chia Pets from the 90s... Secondly, just like his name, Fritz is unique!

Fritz is most characterized by his very gentle and tenderhearted personality. He is extremely polite and softspoken, and always willing to lend a helping hand! He is probably one of our most well-rounded kids as well.... He loves to be with the boys playing basketball and soccer; but he also loves to play piano, draw, sing, and tap into his more creative, artsy side. He has been taking piano lessons the past month and is one of the best students!

Fritz is one of five kids; two of which live with him at the children's home. He has an older sister named Roseanne (13) and a younger brother named Florence (7), who just happens to look like a mini version of Fritz. Roseanne, Fritz, and Florence are actually three of our four kids who will be traveling to the States in about a month to take part in a camp in California. Through the International Christian Adoption organization, these three siblings will live with a family for a month, experiencing what life in America is like. As the organization's title suggests, there is a possibility of adoption as well.

Please pray for Fritz this week. Pray for him (and his siblings) as they prepare to head off to a culture so completely different than anything they have ever seen for the month of November. Pray for the possibility of adoption, and pray that God would protect his heart, his hopes, and his dreams throughout the whole process. Fritz also asked that we pray for the rest of his family, who are living in another area of the Philippines. Thank you for your prayers!

Typhoon Ondoy

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Here is a short video I made for someone's church about Typhoon Ondoy and what we are trying to do to aid in the relief efforts.....