Right now im in Manila for a few days staying w/ Jan and Tine Hardeman. Maddie met them at westmont's homecoming and they have a ministry here called Faith Academy. They are soooo nice and awesome!

I really miss Siargao already and the friends and culture and nature. The city is so different.
In my last week there the kids were practicing dances for different Christmas parties/productions ... they loooove to dance. I love their moves ;) I love the way the kids/youth interact w/ each other. Even the guys/teens are always putting their arm around eachothers necks and no one cares what people think. They're singing any song just sauntering around town. The girls and guys are best friends punching and laughing eachother and are all like brothers and sisters b/c they are all eachother has. Parents don't worry if their kids are out even at night b/c where are they gonna go? Everybody sits around talking at night and some sing chareoke from their living rooms. The way people walk is even so laid back. They drag their feet and go so slow I lvoe it. No one is in a hurry. People don't care about matching clothes. Girls hold my shoulder or elbow while we walk its normal for them. I find it comforting. The kids/youth love to eat these little pink lollipops that turn their lips pink. I love them too ;).

About some of the poverty here- some people do not have enough food. Rice is essential to them. I asked Leah (13 best friend) what she had for breakfast and she said 'fish' and then paused and asked, 'ate, you have a rice in your place?' I put it together that she was embarassed that she couldnt say fish and rice for breakfast b/c here one should have them together. So I said 'naaah, I only like rice sometimes'. Some kids chew on cardboard to get rid of the hunger feeling. Some kids wear shorts w/ the butt completely ripped open and dont think twice b/c they have nothing else to wear. Some kids have sores all over their legs. A lot of the girls talk about not liking their dark skin. White skin is coveted here. Funny how in the states we have tanning booths... I keep telling them their skin is beautiful. Some kids sell bags of rocks for money for food.

Before one of the kid Christmas parties the hope staff puts on we were bagging gifts (one toothbrush, a few crayons and maybe a toy). We ran out of toys and Jen brought a box of old toys that looked like the toys in Sid's backyard from Toy Story.... I'm thinking, we're giving this as Christmas presents?... Jing said 'dont worry the kids will be glad to get something.' So I got a bottle of rubbing alcohol and rubbed the toys down and bagged them up. When we handed them out at the party they were so stoked. This is all they will receive for Christmas. I asked Jing if she ever got Christmas presents as a kid. She chuckled and said no, no body does but it's ok because its all they know.

At all the Hope Christmas parties they always stress Christmas is about Jesus. And without the gift giving/receiving it seems to center it so much more on Jesus. We have gotten so so so wrapped up in gift giving and Christmas lists in America, it's kindof sad. What if we just skipped the whole present thing one year and had a party with dancing, food, games, fun...

more thoughts to come later.... <3