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Tuesday, 26 February 2008

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Thursday, 08 June 2006

Home!

I have arrived safely at home! Thank you for all your prayers, support, and encouragement as I wrapped up things at Faith. It was a bit hard to say goodbye, but it's good to be home for sure

I look forward to catching up with you all! Thanks again!

Sunday, 21 May 2006

the end!

I am sitting here wondering how on earth i'm about to start my last week of school at faith academy. it just doesn't seem like it's possible!

it also doesn't seem like it's going to happen. i have so much to do in these next four days, ending the school year now doesn't seem physically possible! I have to direct the 5th grade band at our last elementary chapel, and then my high school group is singing at graduation. i am just ready for the responsibilities to be lightened/put on hold for a bit

i return on june 5th, about 2 weeks from now!

Please keep all of us here at faith academy in your prayers. I have started saying my goodbyes to random friends and students and im realizing it's going to be quite a difficult time. it's quite awkward ministering with people for a year and getting to know them decently well, and then having to say goodbye to them until (????)

despite the difficulty of preparing to leave the philippines, i have been having quite a rough time here recently. If i haven't been struggling with physical pain from various "incidents" i have had, then i've been coping with emotional and spiritual pain from other various "incidents." really, im fine b/c my God still sits on the throne. but it has been aggrivating watching Satan trying to get footholds into my life at a very vulnerable point in time.

also, please pray for faith academy as they are trying to finalize their personnel for next year. i know they don't have anyone to cover my position next year as well as some other rather important courses!

well, here i go again! One more week of teaching! look forward to hearing from all of you real soon! pictures to come when the load lightens...

Wednesday, 10 May 2006

San Roque Park

Today was a great day in the park! I borrowed a friends car and even drove there myself! A CAR! I am so used to the motor-bike i'm using that a car feels so....foreign. Imagine that! Feeling foreign...

Well, the park was so great today for many reaons. First of all, I love giving the kids my attention....especially when the ask for it. Yes, sometimes I get so tired, tired of coming home with my shirt 3 times as big from them hanging on me....or just being plain exhausted. But I love the feeling of making the kids smile and getting to know them and just giving them my time. That's all i really have to give....my time.

Well, the Weimer's have a team visiting from Grace College and they came to the park today to make door to door visits. Their main objective is to take a survey for a business class and to see where it would lead them from there. It kind of reminded that there is still so much more I can be doing. Also, I was reminded of the friendliness of the Filipinos. We walked by a house, saw some women sitting around, and as soon as we made eye contact, they invited us in and gave up their chairs for us to sit in. We stayed and talked with them for most of the time. It was really refreshing to have them interested in me and to be interested in them. This will be a good opportunity to go back and visit and follow-up.

On our way back, I saw large amounts of smoke coming from where the park is. I was quite concerned, but when I started getting closer and seeing my little friends, I knew things were ok. Apparently some houses caught on fire. Doni said that the flames were incredible!

Well, I just wanted to let you know some other things that are happening here and some other ways you can pray for the ministry team here!

Tuesday, 09 May 2006

ALMOST THE END!
I sit here and write and wonder how in the world this past semester flew by as fast as it did! I only have 12 days left of school! I cannot believe it!

I especially can't believe all that must happen within those 12 days! I am excited, but of course, REALLY anxious!

Things to pray for:
- High school concert on thursday night. My small ensemble will be singing some tough pieces.
- Final weeks of planning and teaching-I am not so sure how to wrap everything up since I have never done it before. I just want to make sure I' ve got everything right and i'm not missing anything...
- Graduation-It will be a tough time for everyone i think. Perhaps the MK's are "used to it" and maybe even the missionaries who have been here for a long time; but I know it will be a sad time for me. I just can't believe all the goodbyes these seniors have to say! Anyway, my group is ALSO singing for the graduation ceremony. Please keep them in your prayers too!
- I will be directing the 5th grade band in a couple of pieces which they will perform for our last Elementary Chapel. I will then have to gather all their rented instruments and music and pack them all away in one day! As you can see, there are a lot of performance venues headed my way. These ALWAYS stress me out...but it's a good thing I know the God of peace and comfort, huh?
- My final preparations in leaving. I have a lot to pack up and a lot of goodbye's to say as well. These are the ones that are hardest i think. You spend one year trying to get to know one another, and right as you feel like you did it, you have to turn around and say goodbye.....for.......ever?!? You never know on the mission field i guess.
- And one last request: All the Lord has told me is that I'm coming home June 5th and that I'm supposed to teach this next year (at least I think that's what He's saying). Well, I still don't have my teaching license for Ohio (have to wait until I can come home and take a test), and I don't know of too many job leads close to columbus. As I see it, i feel like the Lord is calling me to stay in Ohio and teach so I can earn/save money to pay off the large sum of debt I have accumulated while obtaining an education. I know He has many other plans for me this next year, and that if this is His plan for me, He has all the details worked out....but I guess I'm just so anxious and I feel.....unprepared...and irresponsible for not having anything lined up....
Thank you so much for your continued prayers! Please enjoy the following photos....a picture is worth far more than MY words

This was way back in February when we celebrated and studied the Philippines! We had a group of students come in and show the kids some traditional songs and dances....and how to fight with sticks apparently. This is the oh-so-famous first grade. One of my favorite classes!

This is one of the groups I taught during student teaching. They sang the "Planting Rice" song for the elementary celebrations.

Allow me to introduce Tinikling to you! From what I understand, this originated while the Philippines were under the reign of the Spaniards. They would make them dance in and out of the sticks while they closed them quickly together every 3rd beat. The kids told me that they used to have thorns on the sticks....so, watch out or lose a limb!

well, that's all for now...and i know they're from months ago, but hopefully you still enjoyed!

Mark