We Bid Each Other Farewell...

I always get emotional on the last day of a trip, and today is no exception. I am doing my final 'musing in Manila' from the Marriott, where I am tucked away in a gorgeous executive suite (thank you Accenture!), which feels like an odd juxtaposition to the things I saw earlier this week. The room is exactly what I would expect from a sleek Asian hotel - I hit a button on the wall in the bathroom earlier, and the wall between my bathroom and my bedroom vanished, leaving only glass to separate the two rooms. I think the best part of the night has been the access to the executive lounge - you'd better believe I ventured in for some free snacks (cheese and dried fruit, yes please!).

Today began on a very relaxed note. I set my alarm for 8:30 with good intentions of waking up to journal and let my thoughts marinade. After about 10 snoozes of my alarm, I finally rolled out of bed and went through to the living room to join Pip and Rob. I ate breakfast, while the others leisurely began to appear. We headed out to the Rockwell Center in hopes of finding a bigger Topman and Zara than the ones nearby the apartment. The boys had a very successful shopping trip, while Georgie and I didn't find anything we liked. We headed back to the Greenbelt for lunch at California Pizza Kitchen. It felt strange being at a CPK 1) in the Philippines and 2) for a nonbirthday event. In college, we went for everyone's birthdays, so it brings back wonderful memories :) After a quick nip into Nike Women for crossfit shoes for Georgie, we went back to the apartment to pack up our belongings. Around 4pm, we congregated in the living room for a debriefing session, during which we shared our prayers, thoughts, high/low points, and "action items" going forward. Josh read Isaiah 41 to us, which a young boy shared with him on Thursday during one of our visits. Two of the most moving verses are 10 and 17. The first reads, "Don't be afraid, for I am with you. Don't be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious hand." The latter of the two verses reads, "When the poor and needy search for water and there is none, and their tongues are parched from thirst, then I, the Lord, will answer them. I, the God of Israel, will never abandon them." What hope; what inspiration! I love them.

I am so glad that I was able to come to Manila this week. I have been so touched and inspired by those around me, from Ruth at CCT to the rest of "Team Tyndale." Josh, Georgie, Rob, Tim and Philippa have been so encouraging over the week. Even our drivers, our "guide" (Pastor Rei), and our maid (Ruth) have been so wonderful to us over the past six days.

I hope that I continue to process everything that I've experienced over the past few days. There is so much depravity in the world, but there is so much hope and joy and love. Luke 12:48 says, "From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked." I pray that God will show us all how we are able to give to others; how we can impact their life in a positive way and share the promises that God has given us. Romans 6:23 says, "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus."

What a journey!

With so much love,
Ailee

The Library Tour

The guide for this week, Pastor Rei, has been one of the greatest blessings of this trip. He is honestly one of the most helpful, kind men that God has placed on this earth. Pip had multiple people to meet with today, so the "young adults" went to Anateo de Manila University to talk to local students about their Christian leadership programs. We were warmly greeted, and received a good overview of the university, before being whisked away to their new library building. We got a proper tour of the library, which lead to much laughter later on in the day. To think that I've wandered around a university library in Manila but not in Austin is quite bizarre. It's the smell of those books! The worst!

The afternoon was very laid back -- we went to Pho Hoa for lunch, then shopped for awhile without getting much. Georgie and I stuck it out for awhile longer than the guys could handle, and eventually found ourselves in the Nike store, where we bought some merchandise. We headed back to the apartment around 4:30, then went to the gym after sorting through a few pictures. I've taken about 450 so far... I'm literally the paparazzi.

After the gym, Tim and I went to dinner at Barcinos, which is near the apartment. We listened to some incredible live music - a nice mix of Eric Clapton, Alanis Morrisette, and Jason Mraz :) After another trip to Qoola for froyo, we came back to the apartment, where I unfortunately had to take care of some work. 

Tomorrow is the last full day in the city. So crazy how quickly time flies by! We are going to have a much slower day - hopefully this will leave time for reflection on the events/experiences from this week. 


With tons and tons of love,
Ailee

Superman

A bunch of bleary eyed individuals piled into the van this morning at 6am and began what turned out to be my favorite day of the trip. We drove to Laguna, which is about 2 hours away from Makati City, where we are staying. As we neared our arrival, a very pale Josh asked for us to pull over because he wasn't feeling very well. Sadly, he was sick, possibly due to the Filipino-Mexican meal from last night. We let him recuperate at Jollibee, which is the Asian equivalent of McDonalds. I felt slightly sick myself, as I witnessed individuals around me chowing down on rice, eggs, and hotdogs at 7:30 in the morning.

Josh was a trooper and quickly got a smile on his face, so we headed to the Rose of Sharon Boarding School, where we were warmly greeted and ushered into a big, open room, filled with the most precious children you've ever seen. I instantly fell in love with a little girl sitting in the front row - she was just the sweetest thing I'd ever seen. The kids performed two songs for us - one was about how God is their Superman, and it was adorable. I tried to get as much on my camera as possible, because I never want to forget these touching moments. Two kids gave their testimonies afterwards, then Josh prayed over the group. One little boy was eager to get into his prayer position, and luckily, I snapped a shot of him. It's definitely one of my favorite pictures from the trip. 

After doing a tour of the facility, we headed to another school for young boys, where we learned about the different classes and programs offered. The kids all flock to Rob due to his height - it's quite endearing. Josh, Tim and Rob played some basketball with the guys - the Filipinos are obsessed with this sport. I had no idea before arriving here.

Around lunchtime, we said goodbye to our new friends and got in the van, en route for a very serene lunch spot which had little floating islands with tables. The food was sort of like a buffet/tapas style, and I had some delicious steamed eggplant and the tastiest mango fruit drink. I must have eaten 6 mangos since arriving just a few days ago - they are so fresh here. Ruth (from CCT) joined us for the meal. She is such a talkative person, and the best part is that we all hang onto every word she says since she is so full of wisdom. Her prayer at the end of the meal was incredible - I wish I was half as eloquent and passionate as her. 

The next car journey was up to the top of the volcanic mountains of Tagatay. I fell fast asleep during the ride, which was much needed after a numerous nights of little sleep. I woke up when we arrived, and I was instantly taken aback by the splendor of the new CCT training facility. The views were magnificent, and the buildings were equally impressive. The facility will host a variety of events, including the CCT wedding that is being hosted in November. We left after a 30-45 minute tour, then stopped briefly to take pictures at the top of the mountain. The scenery of this country is so diverse and is definitely not lacking in beauty.

Back at the apartment, some hit the sauna, then we freshened up and went to dinner around 9pm at the huge shopping area nearby. After browsing multiple menus, we ended up at Mr. Jones, which was a great choice. After a good discussion on financial giving over the meal, we split ways, with Tim, Pip, and myself choosing to try the local froyo at Qoola. I got dulce de leche, white chocolate macadamia nut and mountain blackberry - the combination sounds bizarre, but it was delicious. We wandered back home, showered, and are headed to bed - today has been exhausting. 
Tomorrow is our last day of planned activities, and I want to be well rested so that I can make the most out of the experience. 


With love and hugs from Manila,
Ailee

A Born-Again Belieber

We got to sleep in later today than usual, as our driver didn't arrive until 10am. The morning felt a lot more relaxed, and I think the group was more rested and ready for the day ahead when we finally got into the van. We picked up David at his hotel, then went to the new TSPI headquarters, where we were ushered into a beautiful boardroom. We met some of the TSPI executive team and were given a presentation about their microfinancing programs and future goals/projects. The information was really interesting and helped the group get a better grasp around how microfinancing really works. Lunch was provided during the presentation -- I was really intrigued with the Asian ketchup, as the number one ingredient was bananas? Definitely not your typical Heinz tomato sauce.

We left around 1pm, and headed towards a TSPI office in Valenzuela, where we met the loan officers and learned a bit about how the operations. We then jumped back in the van and rode to a community meeting and were introduced to the recipients. These women (and one male!) are so grateful for the loans they receive - it's very encouraging to witness such appreciation. Georgie did a video interview, then we packed up and headed back to the apartment. In the car ride, I professed my love for Justin Bieber (and his movie), which got lots of snickers from the group. I believe (or should I say "Belieb") that Josh got some good footage on his iPhone. After an hour of gym/sauna/rest (varying activities), we met Ziggie (from WTRC) and went to Agave for dinner. Trust me, I would not have picked Mexican food in the Philippines coming from Texas, but Josh was craving it, et voila. The boys all got bottomless margaritas, while Georgie and I split a bottle of really good Chilean red wine.

The night was capped off with karaoke. We were told that tourists simply cannot leave Manila without belting out a few tunes, and who were we to disagree? Ziggie took us (and a Bruno-Mars-sound-a-like AB from CCT) to Centerstage, where we got a private room and sung classics all night long. AB is the most incredible singer - his Jason Mraz and Maroon 5 is mesmerizing. However, my rendition of "One Time" (Bieber hit) was obviously unmatched (ha).

We have an early 6am start tomorrow, so off to sleep now. Looking forward to tomorrow - hoping we will all be able to sleep for the 2 hour drive we have in store for us.

With tons of love,
Ailee

"So, so small..."

There is no better word to describe the feelings I experienced today other than convicting. I walked through the poorest area I'd ever seen - an overcrowded slum, which not only smelled rancid but was also covered in filth. In these sorts of living conditions, you would expect the people to be hopeless and depressed, but I can sincerely say this was not the case. We encountered some of the most joyous, excited young children as we walked through the shacks and marketplaces, and met with a CCT loan recipient who literally radiated with happiness, actively living out Philippians 4:4, which says, "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: rejoice!" 

As anyone who knows me is aware, it is a rare occurrence that I be at a loss for words, but this was the reality for most of this morning. When you are faced with such intense poverty and squalor, it is hard to process your emotions clearly. As we walked through a seemingly never-ending marketplace, filled with raw fish and vegetables displayed on small wooden tables, I began to feel sick and claustrophobic, as I could not see where the tents ended and the daylight began again. When I shared this sentiment in the van as we left the site, Rob noted that this is very symbolic of these peoples' lives. They are stuck in decrepit living conditions, with almost no way of escaping this life. Nevertheless, there are some individuals who are doing things to make a change, such as the loan recipient we met in the marketplace. This inspiring woman has been saving up since her eldest daughter was young so that she could send her to university, where she will study to be a doctor. We even blessed to be able to meet her four children, as she excitedly welcomed us into her home. What she said as we were leaving will stay with me forever: "So, so small... but so, so happy." And I promise you she meant it.

It felt like we drove all around the city today, mainly because the monsoon rains caused traffic to come to almost a standstill. Before visiting the loan recipients, we went to a CCT location where they are currently building another water purification center. For lunch we went to Wholistic Transformation Resource Center (WTRC) with David Bussau and his team, where we were treated a lovely buffet of traditional Filipino food. We listened to Ziggie (one of the team members) present information on Waterhope, which is WTRC's clean water initiative. The organization is honestly doing such incredible things to help this nation's poor - I can't quit express how blessed I feel to be participating in this trip.

Around 3pm, the group went back to the apartment, where we were treated to massages by three lovely Filipino women. Georgie, ever-the-befriender, had a good conversation with her masseuse, who works long hours/weeks/months to provide for her child. We have encountered so many hard working women on this trip who dedicate their lives to supplying food and shelter to their kids. They are honestly so inspirational.

For dinner, we met David, Mark Daniels (Opportunity International's Marketing Director for Asia Pacific) and his wife at a restaurant near the apartment called Sala Restaurant. The meal was delicious; the conversation, equally delightful. I got to know Georgie better, as we were grouped together at one end of the table. Josh and Georgie know Francis Chan through the Passion Conference/Awakening and are going to stay with him in San Francisco this fall - I'm incredibly jealous. Perhaps I'll send along a copy of Crazy Love to get signed!

I returned to the apartment with a heap of work emails to reply to... it appears that the ENABLE Program has not slowed down despite my absence. I'm off to bed now, looking forward to another day in Manila tomorrow. So much to learn!


In His name,
Ailee

Philippa Tyndale, Family & Friends

After an hour and a half break this afternoon, we were refreshed and ready to go to a celebratory dinner at CCT's main office in Manila. The meal was to honor Philippa (Tim's mum) and her team (Tim, Josh, Georgie, Rob, and myself). We arrived to a group of natives dressed in gorgeous bright colors, ready to welcome us with their traditional song and dance numbers.

We met the leadership from CCT, including Ruth Callanta, who is an incredibly inspirational woman. Afterwards, we listened to the CCT choir sing, and the CCT dance group perform two traditional Filipino dances. Then we ate dinner, while being serenaded by a young Filipino male who sounded just like Bruno Mars. I couldn't eat as I was mesmerized by his voice. Oh, how I wish I could carry a tune!

After dinner, we were presented with gift bags, which was so kind of CCT. I got a huge Starbucks Philippines mug and a Filipino t-shirt. We were all so pleased with the dinner and the local customs. It was a fantastic way to round off an eye-opening first day in Manila.

Back at the apartment, we hit the gym for about an hour, then came back and drank wine and chatted until we were all ready to call it a night. Another early start tomorrow, so off to bed for me.

With tons of love from thousands of miles away,
Ailee

Gate 57

My alarm went off at 6:50, and I jumped out of bed, eager to get started on my first full day in Manila. We left the apartment at 8am, heading to the Kaibigan Community Center to meet some Center for Community Transformation (CCT) leaders. We started the trip with a look at the center's water bottling program, then moved to the main building where we joined in at the end of discipleship. We listened to some of the individuals' testimonies, which were incredibly moving (God is so good). 


Afterwards, we watched a CCT video, then met a male whose story was featured in the documentary. We ended the visit with a look at the food preparation, then jumped in the van to deliver the lunches. We drove for about 10 minutes, then arrived in a park where a group of "street-dwellers" were gathered, ready to hear the word of God. The sermon was preached in Tagalog, with some verses spoken in English. The meals were then handed out afterwards, and the people were so joyous to be given food. 

With the storm about to break, our group headed to a restaurant nearby called "The Pancake House," which made Georgie's eyes light up (she loves pancakes). After lunch, we drove to a slum in an area called Parola, where we got out and adventured through the tiny, crowded walkways to a CCT center. We went through Gate 57, which was one of many dark entrances, filled with little stores and people everywhere. The children flocked to us, intrigued by our cameras. We got lots of photos of the sweet, innocence youth - who really moved me. I love kids, and it's so heartbreaking to see them living in such poverty.  

Our final stop for the day was another CCT center, which had a small church area with chairs set up. On our tour, Josh took notice of a kid playing badminton outside and ran out to join. Tim was up next, and I think the local children loved the interaction - although I'm sure Tim and Josh enjoyed it more. 

We headed back to the apartment for a rest and an opportunity to freshen up. What an incredible day so far. God is opening up my eyes to poverty I've never seen before. These people have such little, but they love the Lord so much. I cannot wait to learn more.