Wow What a Week...Shewwee!

So... this post is going to be slightly different than those of mine in the past...I'm going to update everyone using the facebook conversation between me and my sweet Momma!! I had so much to tell her about and update everyone about... that I just haven't found the energy to tell anyone else... I've simply copied and pasted this conversation in about 4 different emails and now to my blog. Enjoy reading about my crazy hectic week.. and I must say that this isn't even all of it, there were some happenings that I'm just not at liberty to share, but here are the details that I'm able to share.. Enjoy.. I hope you get a few laughs out of them..I did. (It gets to the point you either laugh or cry... I choose laugh ... most days.)

B - Hey momma!
M - hey sweetie!!!
how are you?
B -I'm good.. grinning from ear to ear cuz the first thing i see as soon as i open facebook is your status at the very top
heheB
:D
M - hahah...that's what I"m doing right now, too!!! as soon as i heard the 'pop' and saw your name !!! and, too, while i was posting my status!!! :)
B - oh my momma... it has been a crazy past 2 days...
hang on.. let me read 2 emails and then i'll start the whole story
or stories
lol
M - ok
B - ok so...
M - ok...
i'm listening!!!
B - lets go back to monday... i spent the whole day preparing for L (a girl who is coming to work at GH for several months) to get here... well.. we go to the airport... and we show up early... flight gets in at 10:10, and we get there like before 9... so we wait... and then it gets to 10 and we go to the place where the ppl come out.. and we wait... and wait ... and wait.. 1 hour after her flight should arrive.. no lacey
2 hours... no lacey...
so at 1 am.. we decide she's not coming out... we don't know what else to do but go home
i'm SO SO SO TIRED... remember mon-wed. i have to get up at 4:45 am to get the kids ready for school and am on duty those days...
we couldn't figure out y she wasn't there.. ate kept telling me she got in on aug 2, and i had asked lacey what time her flight came in at and which airport... .. but still no lacey
so i get home and go check my fbook to see the message.... thats when i read lacey's message clearly... 'I get in tuesday night at 10:10 pm'
do u see the problem there????
M - yep, you went on monday
B - yep! exactly,...so.. i tell teody and louie and nico who went with me... well we have to go again tomorrow night
M - hmm, bet they liked that one?
B - so i go to my room and am ready to CRASH its like 1:30 1:45 .. something like that now... ugh.. i have to get up in less than 3 hours.. i'm in bed... when.. crap i have to use the cr... sigh..ok.. up and out of my bed again (i'm on the top bunk)
so i climb down and am using cr drowsily when i turn around to go for the toilet paper... there is cockroach behind me.. now staring me in the eyes since i'm turned around... oh brother!
M - haha..were you awake then? hahahah
B - anyway.. so i'm like... crap.. i can't actually go and rest soundly knowing there is a cockroach out and about right here.. when my bed is right outside the cr.. (there is a cr in our room)
so.. i wait.. but he's like inside the toilet paper roll now
M - ugh
B - so.. i nudge the roll... trying to get him to come out.. and so i can hit him with the flipflop i've attained when he's not on the toilet paper roll... cuz i don't know about you.. but i do not want to be using toilet paper that has cockroach guts all over it...sorry but no thanks.. so i'm really trying to salvage the tp...
M - yep, i understand!!!
B - so i keep nudging it.. and each time he comes up.. peaks his head out.. looks at me and then goes back in...so finally i'm like... its nearly 2 am.. screw the tp.. we can get more in the morning ... so i hit it the next time he come up.. but he gets away by going around to the back of the toilet... well nuts.. now the stubborn momma part in me comes out.. i started it, now i have to finish it (kinda like i have to finish what i start when the toddlers throw tantrums... gotta stick with it and not give in)
so i see him... he's behind the toilet down by the piping of the toilet, and he's on the wall... so i'm ok.. lets get this over with.. i aim and go in for it...
....
M - AND????
B - ... when the edge of the flipflop i have barely BARELY touches the piping... the piping busts, like comes complete off the fixture that is hooked to the water....
WATER GOES EVERYWHERE!!!
like a fountain on full blast
and i think.. O DANG.. WHERE DID THE COCKROACK GO NOW??
M - you're flooding the bathroom, but yet worried about the roach???
B - so.. i have to ignore the water going crazy spraying everywhere.. and i have to find and kill the cockroach ... the cockroach makes a quick run for it.. and i smash him.. dead.. now i have to go fix the water going EVERYWHERE
spraying.. no SHOOTING out ... so i'm trying to fix it... getting soaked in the process, when i realize.. crap .. it didn't come unscrewed or anything... it BROKE.. no quick fix.. no putting it back.. so i try to turn the thing to turn the water off to the toilet... nothing.. won't budge..
so now i'm thinking crap.. i'm gonna have to go wake up nico and louie and get them to help.. so i turn to go out..
when i spot this little nob under the sink.. like its just a nob sticking out in the randomest of places.. nothing around it.. so i decide to turn it...
turns out.. it shuts off the water!!!
M - YAY!!!
B - so.. i was ok.. i got the fountain to stop!!! YAY!!! GO MEE!!!.. at PAST 2 AM...
then i realize, i have to get up before jouvelin (my roommate) .. so i have to make her a note saying don't use the CR.. its broke
lol
M - haha...ya know...this really sounds like a story plot for the ...I LOVE LUCY SHOW
B - so.. then tuesday happens... this is another story
... i'm watching the kids.. and jr tells me he has to poop!!!
M - HAHAHA
B - well JR has cerebral palsey and can't go to the CR by himself., he's actually been wearing diapers for the longest time.. but he can tell us when he has to go.. so there NO point in it... so now he tells us and I take him
but this is slightly new..
M - oh nooooooo!!!!
B - so we are in the cr.. i'm holding him up on hte seat and he starts singing a song (this little boy is HILARIOUS!! an absolute sweetheart of a joy to be around) but ... he is a boy... so this is his song...
POOP POOP! POOP POOP! I WENT POOP POOP! I WENT POOP POOP! POOP POOP! I WENT POOP POOP! I WENT POOP POOP!
...and i'm trying to keep my composure here.. since I am holding him while he is doing all this pooping after all
M - hahahahha...that is priceless!!!
B - and i say 'yes jr.. you did go poop and you did such a good job!! Good job JR!!'
he goes and slightly sings... "GOOD JOB FOR ME!! GOOD JOB FOR YOU!!"
i said yes.. we both did a good job! HAHAHHAHAHAHAHA
M - hahah
B - so.. thats my story for that day...
then... tuesday night comes
M - oh yea, back to the airport...right?
B - we r about to go get lacey but this time.. instead of just me, nico, louie and teody.. Kuya Jerome, William (patrick's dad who's helping with the construction of our new building), kuya Jing, Emil, Amboy... and i think thats it
so many ppl come.. good news is .. she arrives and is there...
M - wow.... a party yeah!!
B - so today is her first day here...
now lets start on the stories of today....
M - uh-oh!
B - yea...so it starts off at 4:45 for me .. again.. (didn't get into bed till after midnight nearly 1 am i think)...so my first thoughts on waking are ... SLEEP!!!! lol
well i walk downstairs and normally I go in check on them make sure no major issues and then wait about 5 minutes before getting the school girls up .. then the school boys up and i try and let the others sleep as long as possible.. the more sleep the better i think.. since i can't really watch them when they r up if i'm still getting the school kids ready... well i walk in the room and ALL THE NON-SCHOOL KIDS R WIDE AWAKE!!!! staring at me, like they've been up for a while...
i went Hoy! y r u awake? its still like a copule minutes BEFORE 5 AM...
they just stare... so i'm like.. ugh.. go back to sleep.. but i know its no use.. they are up
so i go to wake the school kids up.. and they wake up so easily.. so.. they weren't actually sleeping either (normally.. they r tough to wake up.. not today)
so i texted ate.. THEY R ALL AWAKE! ah...i'm not ready for this day..
so.. since they r awake.. naturally.. they soon start to bicker a little.. and then.. i hear it..
"ATE BRITTANY!! come here .. the water won't stop!!!"
I run in there and sure enough the faucet just doesn't work anymore.. you turn it to turn the water off.. and the water is still goin full blast...
so again.. not really sure what to do.. but getting wet in the process since the full blast stream is splashing everywhere
I run in there and sure enough the faucet just doesn't work anymore.. you turn it to turn the water off.. and the water is still goin full blast...
so again.. not really sure what to do.. but getting wet in the process since the full blast stream is splashing everywhere
then i remembered something.. i yanked the garbage can in the corner out of the way... well where it was almsot floating now lol.. and there was the random little nob all by itself.. i started turning and had to shut the water off
but this time.. i still have several kids who still have to bathe, they use a big garbage can size bucket to put the water in and they have a dipper to pour it over them with..but... now i have to keep going in there and turning the water on and then shutting it back off .. over and over and over
and every batch of kids do the same thing.. they try the faucet .. then they freak out.. ATE BRITTANY WALA TUBIG WALA TUBIG (NO WATER NO WATER) ...sigh
so i tell Ateabout all of it,.. she knew from tuesday about my cr now another one.. its ok tho.. she says the plumber is coming today
great!.. i think... quick fix.
well.. the plumber gets there and jing goes with him to our cr and i assume they start working, lacey comes down to visit with the kids and the kids want to go to the 3rd floor.. ate is working on the 1st floor but says we can take them up, she's up and down between 1st and 3rd floor
so we go up stairs
then L has to take the boys to get haircuts..then i'm goin to go pick up kids from school...
well we've been upstairs for a while now.. when i go downstairs.. angel and cherrylyn are a little ahead of me and glenda coming down.. when angel comes running Ate Brittany WATER WATER.. lots of WATER
oh crap.. so i take off running.. sure enough someone has turned the water on... and it is coming out full blast.. and water is everywhere.. flooding out into the bedrooms
boys bedroom - cr - girls room
thats how the layout is...
so i turn it off .. thinking how in the world..
cuz nobody wouldve been down there the kids were all with us upstairs...then I remember
kim uses the cr there... and she saw me shut the water off today earlier
UGH... so i just start cleaning it up .. thinking how i'm going to email kim's m about this fun little thing.
well.. i can't do too much, cuz i have to get ready to go get the kids, but someone had put the bucket over the drain.. so all i could do was move the bucket and let the FLOOD.. like literally over my toes EVERYWHERE in the CR .. go down the drain..

so... i get the kids set to eat lunch, and i head to take a shower.. on the 3rd floor since my cr is still out of commission
i go get my stuff and they aren't working on it anymore.. but it still not working.. ok i guess they took a break?? ok..
so i go get my shower.. oh and i'm out of clothes.. i have 2 full loads ready for the washer.. but the washer has been going nonstop... so.. i have to keep waiting .. and now i'm out of clothes.. so a skirt it is.. my blue skirt with flowers and a royal blue shirt...what a choice..
so.. i head downstairs to find teody to go get the kids.. teody has already gone...GREAT... i just got into a skirt.. and now i'm going nowhere.. back down to the kids to finish my shift i guess (ate imelda was going to watch the kids while i went to get the kids)
so i go to check the flood in the kids' cr that's when i realize just how much water flooded into the bedrooms... its sitting on the floor.. under the beds... CRAP.. so there i go freshly clean, curling damp hair in my skirt.. taking towels and mopping up the water.. wringing out the towels.. mopping and wringing out.. almost falling on nearly every step on the wet tile
so i'm cleaning and i realize i'm goin to have to move the beds.. the water is standing under there.. i can't leave it.. that'll mold in no time..
so there i am shoving bunk beds all over the place...
i get the girls room pretty much done and am starting on the boys'... the boys'.. is MUCH worse...crap.. more water than the girls' i need to go get a fan.. so i do..bring it down.. and like pretty much everyone has noticed..
so i've been cleaning for a long time now.. when L says something about going to check on our cr.. she had been up there earlier and said the light was off, i guess the door was closed, but it was making a sound.. i was like 'well then he must've fixed it, cuz the light was on last time i was in there'
so she goes to check.. a minute later Brittany!!! It's bad!! It's really bad.. there's water everywhere.. its flooded'
WHAT!! so i race up there and sure enough someone has turned the water on.. using the little nob.. and just left it.. our shower is now a pool.. our shampoo, conditioner, and face wash are all floating around like pool rafts in the cr.... its leaking out into our room.. WHAT??
then it hits me.. the only person that could've done this.. it had to have been the 'plumber'.. had to
so i'm like What in the world.. where is this guy?? where's ate?? that's ridiculous.. u don't just leave the water running a fountain spewing everywhere...
so i head upstairs as ate is coming down i tell her and she says i'll deal with it now...
apparently the guy isn't an actual plumber...
M - Oh my!
B - oh.. and I make the connection... the flooding in both areas came from the same problem.. someone turning the water on.. water that i had shut off.. they had to have turned it on and left it
THE PLUMBER!!
i realize .. it WASN'T KIM.. it was the plumber for both of them!!!
M - oooooo...that was not good
B - Kim repeats... but she never repeated the water.. i kept wondering y she hadn't tried to turn it on again.. its cuz it wasn't her
so i tell ate that.. so thats y she's so furious.. he left several floods
M - i bet her bp was out the roof!
B - so then i check on the kids eating lunch.. balong has gotten the ketchup bottle and completely finished it off with just him and jr... a TON of ketchup.. ugh.. balong.. u r no longer allowed to touch the ketchup.. u ask an ate next time.. i tell him
so i'm in the middle of cleaning that up.. not 2 minutes after i have left the flood..
so.. my shift is now over.. well it was supposed to be over 20 minutes ago.. but the next caregiver was late coming in.. but she finally makes it and i head to see the damage to my room
the plumber is there.. to fix the problem.. again
M - uh-oh...
B - so i head upstairs and eat lunch.. after lunch the plumber is no longer in my room but .. there is still water in the floor of the room.. thanks for cleaning the mess u made sir.. no problem, tho.. i've been cleaning floods all day.. whats another one
so i start cleaning...
then i realize... well.. its under our bed too.. so i go to move our bed.. our bed is bigger than the toddlers...
so i finally get it all cleaned up and then L helps me put the bed back again
then we have to head to sm the mall and get some errands for ate, so we do that and the rest of the day goes by..

At this point in our conversation, my Momma had to leave to run some errands, so I email her the rest of the day.. here's the email:

.. so we ended the day by just hanging out upstairs for a long time, I had to go downstairs and get my phone and as I was getting closer to our door, I slipped and almost fell.. I looked to see what I slipped on... water?? where is that comin.. oh crap! I flung open our door to see our WHOLE ROOM covered in about an inch of water!! The toilet had started a full blast fountain again, and this time we didn't catch it.. the water was everywhere.. i rushed to shut the water off AGAIN and ran upstairs to tell Ate.. some of the guys and the monsters came down and helped us clean everything up.. it was quite an ordeal as there was SO MUCH WATER!! so.. for now.. the toilet is staying shut off.. the sink and the shower work, and we can use the toilet, just have to wash it using a pail of water.

So.. that was the story on Wednesday... and this week has had several other factors added in also. Just to finish the story, some of GH's own 'plumbers' were able to fix our CR and we've had no further issues with major flooding. Then today the concrete was poured for GH's second floor of the building expansion. This is a true miracle and gift from God. Ate has been praying for the land and the building for years!!! And today the 2nd floor concrete was poured...we watched a prayer being answered as the workers are pouring and smoothing it out! That's amazing! We are also renovating the kitchen of GH on the first floor and Ate tiled it this evening!! Oh, and this afternoon we had 25 filipino college students here that are going to start a music program with our kids at GH!! So exciting.. but also so many people = a little bit of chaos! But the kids had so much fun and really enjoyed everything.. besides ... what fun would life be without a little bit of chaos???

~ To God Be the Glory!!!

Ms A!

Abegail... my oh my.. where to start the next post in the series?? Ate C had gotten Abegail 2 days before my team and I arrived at GH last summer in June 2009. I remember when I first saw her... she was sitting in the exersaucer and was this tiny little thing, but her blank look was what I remember most. She just stared and watched the other kids...she was so not used to these surroundings. The life she was used to was quiet and little attention, little nourishment... she was used to being neglected, now with all of these other little kids running around, she didn't know really what to do. She was so weak, she was 16 months old and couldn't sit up. Whenever I or anyone else would pick her up, she would spread out her arms and legs and hold on for dear life. She was starved of attention.

And now for the ... "Today" section... TADA....

"Thank you.. thank you.. please... keep it coming!" haha!

This little girl, AbbyGirl, as I have nicknamed her, has the most spirit I've ever seen. She is mischevious, bold, sneaky, smart, cuddly, bullying, adorable, loving, sweet, loud, stubborn, and throwing a fit... all within the first 10 minutes of waking up! She is an absolute handful, but she is an absolute blessing at the same time!

Can't you just see the mischief in her eyes??

She, as many of them, never ceases to make me laugh every day! She has so much life in her, its miraculous how food, water and love will transform a child...who'd have thought?? (Please note the extreme sarcasm.)

However, with all that life in her also comes a bit of a drama queen, and we are currently in the process of reigning in the temper tantrums (you have to love working on a daily basis 9 babies that are all in their 'terrible two's'...) and she is actually doing very well, she's starting to really get that she is not allowed to turn into a fish and start flopping on the ground when she doesn't get her way.. oh and those little kicking of the legs when she gets mad... that is stopping too. But one thing that I'm really coming to realize is that its through the disciplining in the midst of a temper tantrum and then seeing her come through it and being able to love on her and say, "Ok, now that that is over, let's go play." and seeing her learn.. seeing her eyes ponder whether or not to go for the ground flopping like a fish.. or to just go play when something doesn't go her way... to see her thinking through it and then watching her run off and play...that is why I'm here! To love her, to SHOW her that God loves her, and to possibly help mold her in the direction of becoming a Godly young woman. And its during those battles of wills, when she decides to throw tantrum after tantrum after tantrum after tantrum in one day... that's where the bonds are being made. I love her, and all the kids, so much, I love them enough to stick through the tantrums and to demand that they behave better than that... and they see it...that's why my legs get ambushed whenever I walk into the Toddlers' room... and I love every minute of it!

Here are a few more pictures of my adorable AbbyGirl! Enjoy!

Still a CuddleBug!

Isn't she adorable??? How could you not LOVE that smile??

I love the LIFE in her eyes!!

Dear LORD, I thank you so much for Abegail's precious life. I thank you for Ate C and Gentle Hands, that she was rescued and given a second chance at life. I thank you for allowing her to thrive at GH and grow to be an absolutely beautiful child! LORD God, please continue to watch over her life. I know that You have a plan for her, I pray that you would raise up now a forever family for this precious child, that she would be raised in a family that she knows without a doubt that she is loved by her family, and by You her Creator and Savior! I thank you for the abundace of blessings you pour on me each day through Abegail and the other children at Gentle Hands. Thank you LORD! Amen.

~ To God Be the Glory!

Hey...

So, every day when I go down to the Toddlers and see them and they swarm my legs and yell "Hiya!!" or "HIIII!!" or whatever they want to say as a greeting for that day, I most always respond to each of them either "Hi (name of child)!" or more often "Hi baby!"

Well this past week, I walked down through the play area and Augustine, oh my precious little boy that is starting to love talking, looks at my from where he's playing and with a smirk and about as much game that can come from an almost-3-year-old says, "Hey baby.."

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! Have I mentioned that I love these kids!?!?! They make my heart so happy! I love watching them grow and discover new words and phrases!!

~ To God Be the Glory!

Ms. J

Ok, so next up in the series, Ms Jonalyn! I remember the night before we got Jonalyn, we were gathered in devotions at Gentle Hands and Ate told us about a little girl in Malabon that was going to die if we didn't get her soon. They had been trying for months to get her, the social services knew about the case but wouldn't force the removal of the child.. although the child was obviously going to die if not removed from the home. We had a special night of prayer that night, we didn't even know the little girl's name. We prayed that God would rescue her, that He would allow us to get the little girl, that He would be glorified through all. We prayed, we prayed with faith, but in the back of our minds.. we knew it might take this little innocent life dying to make the community wake up the treatment of their children.. we prayed that her life wouldn't be needed for that realization to hit home.

We went the next morning to Malabon for our weekly outreach...and, as Ate was walking through the windings of Malabon, the father walks up and hands the baby to Ate, "Here.. take her."

If that is not a miracle, if that is not the workings of prayer then I don't know what is!!

When we rescued Jonalyn, she was 15 months old and weighed a whopping 9 lbs. She had tb, worms, and was stained in dirt and was so weak she could barely sit up.

Today... she is absolutely beautiful! She has a cute little round tummy, just as a precious sometimes mischevious 2-year old should. Just the other day, last week I believe, she learned a new word... bahot, which means stinky in Tagalog. Well her and Augustine were both learning this word and had fun informing me that Raphael was bahot (had a poopy diaper.. thanks guys), so I'm trying to tell them to be nice and not call others bahot, when Jonalyn (who is in the process of potty training) looks at me with the saddest most innocent eyes and says slowly, "Ate... bahot." as she points to herself. I quickly told her it was ok as I scooped her up and ran to the CR (bathroom)... we were a little late.. but it was so adorable to see her look up at me almost embarassed and point to herself.. bahot. Too cute!

Jonalyn is currently learning new words and just enjoying life as a sweet lovable toddler! Every morning I look forward to her big snuggly hugs and kisses, she is such a sweetheart, especially with the rough start she had in life. Her and Abegail are best buds, and as I call them, my Double Trouble Duo. They are both so so silly, adorable and 'slightly' mischevious, always together.

I love this picture of the 2 (or 3, with Augustine in the background) of them. It so catches their personalities. Jonalyn and Abegail always together, but always with Abegail leading and in charge and Jonalyn just kinda going with it and saying, "Ok Abegail.. sure.. let's go for it. Might as well.." With Abegail the whole time yelling, "AHHHH!!! Ready or Not...HERE WE COME!!!!"

Oh how I love these kids!

Dear LORD, I thank you for the miracle that is Jonalyn's life. I thank You for how You worked so evidently to rescue her a year ago. I am awed at how You have renewed her and brought her from a dying lifeless baby, to a beautiful bouncing toddler. Continue to watch over her Father, continue to guide her and lead her till one day she can understand the immense love that You have for her. I pray for the day that she would realize who You are, that You are her Savior, that You are her Guide, her Rescuer, her true and loving Father!

~ To God Be the Glory!

Mr. A!

So, things have settled down a little bit here at GH. Ate is home, lifting much stress off my shoulders, visiting teams have gone home, the kids are in school during the day, settling into a fairly steady daily routine. So, as my last posts have shown, my blogging inspiration is coming straight from the mouth of my kids that I work with every day. So I figured I'd start a series of posts letting you all have the wonderful pleasure of getting to know the darling children that God uses to bless me every single day!

Since I've been working with our toddlers for the longest, I'm going to start with them and who else to start with other than Mr. Augustine!

Oh.. where to begin with Augustine. When I first met this little guy back in summer 2009, we called him our little old man, because he acted so old. He would stare at you, studying your face, taking everything about you in...in a way judging you to see if you would meet the requirments to be his buddy... everybody always passed as his heart is HUGE, he loves everyone! Last summer, he never spoke.. even when you asked him a question, he would never answer... he would simply point. That was his trademark, ask him a question and he looks at you and up goes the arm with his index finger looking you straight in the eye! Adorable!

But in the last 7 1/2 months... he has hit his talking stage! What a delight to witness him during this precious time! He knows my name, and delights in calling me "Bittneey" ... quite bold since all the other kids and other caregivers refer to me as 'Ate Brittany' (Ate is a term for respect meaning older sister). The caregivers have been trying for weeks to get him to say Ate saying 'no, that is ATE Brittany.' ... Each time he looks at me and says, "Bittneey" ... and laughs, melting my heart!

Quick Story: This afternoon I was on duty with the Big Kids (ages 4 and up) and had to run in the Toddlers' Room for something. I walk in and they all start yelling, "Hi!" "Hey!!!" "Ate!" and then there's Augustine's voice, "Bittneey!!", I say Hi to my babies as I go to achieve my mission of, I believe I was grabbing the thermometer, and am headed back out.. but the whole time, as the others have calmed down, "Bittneey... Bittneey! Bittney.. Bittneey.. Bittneey!" is continued to be yelled out as he is following me around the room and as if with some urgency, so as I'm reaching the door to go out, I turn to him and answer his repeated beckoning, "What sweatheart?" He looks at me, gives me an adorable little smile and says softly, "Hi..." AWWW!! I then left.. after getting a kiss and hug from him of course!

Oh my sweet boy, I love you more than you will ever know! May God continue to watch over you and protect your path through this life! I know He has big plans for you, as He has already brought you through so many obstacles in your young life! I pray He reveals Himself to you in His timing and that you come to depend on Him for everything in this life! I love you Augustine!!

~ To God Be the Glory!

Conversations with kids...#1 (I'm sure there will be many more to come)

Me and G - Taygaytay - Jan 2010

So, I've been meaning to blog about this for a while now, and am just now getting around to it. About a week or so ago, I was on shift downstairs with the 'big kids' but with 5 in public school and 2 pairs of 2 in school here at GH, the morning shift is pretty laid back with not much excitement, which is great because it allows me to talk and spend some good one on one time with the few kids that I'm in charge of in the mornings.

One of those kids is G, pictured above and at the top of my blog. G is about 7 years old I believe and loves asking questions. There was music playing one particular morning that me and G were sitting on the couch in the play area and talking and I wasn't really listening to what song was playing when G looks at me and asks, "What's sin?"

Oh boy.. ok .. so.. I try my best to explain what sin is... "Sin is when we disappoint God or go against what He wants. Its like when we are bad or do bad things." I go on thinking about how to put it so that she will understand the weight of sin and the weight of what Jesus did, because you can't very well explain sin without explaining that Jesus paid the price for our sin...so.. "But Jesus came and took our sin. Like... it's kinda like when we are bad.. like say you do something really bad and you should get a spanking.." She interupts me rigth there smiling as she's thinking about all of this and she asks, "Wait....who's giving me the spanking??" "Well, that's not really the point, the thing is, you've done something really bad, and you need to get a spanking as a punishment for what you did.. but Jesus, Jesus came and took your spanking, he took your punishment. That's what Jesus did when He came and died on the cross, He took our punishment for things that we did." Again, I'm trying to put this on a child's level so she can grasp the weight of it all.

I'm kinda holding my breath, wondering what the next question would be. I wasn't expecting, her looking at me, seeing the wheels turning in her head, she cocks her head and says, "So... Jesus gots a spanking??" (Didn't see that one coming...HAHAHA!) Umm... well, "Well, sorta,.. kinda... in a way, yes. But Jesus got much more than a spanking, He came and He died for us. Jesus was the only person to ever live that didn't sin. Everyone else has sinned, we all have sin in our lives. But Jesus came and He took our sins, He came and took the punishment for our sin."

She looks at me and I see the questions forming, not knowing what they will be, I see them coming, "You? You have sin Ate Brittany??"

"Oh yes Sweetie, I have lots of sin."

She still looks as if she's trying to take it all in, "What about Ate Jordan,.. and Ate Kyla? Do they have sin?"

"Yes, they have sin as well. We all have sin, everyone has sinned."

"Even Ate Char?? What about Kuya Evan??"

"Yes, even Ate Char and Kuya Evan have sinned."

At this point, she was still thinking and taking it all in, when our one on one time had to end. I'm looking forward to this next week, when I get to talk to G some more! Who knows what questions will come next!

~ To God Be the Glory!

Whew... ok... now where were we?

So the past month has been insane! Mid-May I picked up my good friend Jordan from the airport! Me and Jordan met last summer in the Philippines when we were both paired to work on the same team at GH, along with Kyla and Courtney. I was thrilled and looking foward to being able to reunite with Jordan and Kyla this summer! (Courtney was called to stay home and do missions in the US this summer.) June started off with me, along with Jordan this time, heading back to the airport to pick up Kyla. A few days later, we were heading back to the airport again to pick up our first team of the summer, a team of 21 from Americans stationed in Japan. The team was wonderful and helped out alot at GH, but anytime you are partly responsible for a team, it gets a tad stressful, and 21 is alot of people. Team Japan was to stay 10 days, and a few days before they left, we welcomed our second team, a team of 9 from TX. The two teams overlapped for a couple days, so there for a while we were hosting 30 people. Transporting 30 people, along with our people, the staff, the guys, the white girls, the monsters...etc, takes alot of coordination, a packed jeepney, a packed Kia, a packed Crosswind, and a packed Frontier, basically 4 very big vehicles packed. Team Japan headed out and Team TX finished out their 10 days. All in all, the teams faced some very unexpected circumstances, multiple breakdowns, vehicles getting stuck, outreaches in monsoons, etc., but the teams did so good!! They accomplished so much and were part of the planting of so many seeds for God's Glory! A few days before the TX Team headed out, Ate headed out as well, out of the country, for a couple weeks.



And within the next few days, 12 of our kids and 2 of our older kids (both age 17) started public school, which means, girls getting up at 4:30 to be at GH and ready to work by 5. Kyla getting the kids awake and dressed for school, Me getting 14 lunches ready, and Jordan accompanying 12 kids to school. Getting up at 4:30 AM makes for a very very long day!



To say my head has been spinning, would be an understatement. There have been so many ups and downs, yet ... no major crisis! Praise the LORD!!



LORD, Thank you so much that You are faithful! You are faithful to give us everything we need, exactly when we need it! You give us energy; You give us strength; You give us wisdom; You give us life; You give us a reason to live. You are faithful, even when we are faithless. Thank you LORD!!

~ To God Be the Glory!