Saturday, June 12, 2004
Hello again! I have gathered some nice pictures this week and I will post several today because it may be a while before I have time to mess with the blog after school starts on Monday. Let me just say what a blessing your prayers and financial support are to us! I have been reminded over and over again this week how it is only by the Grace of God and the love of our friends, family and spiritual family that we get to take advantage of such an awesome opportunity this year - THANK YOU!
Just about a week before we left Japan a dear brother in Yokohama felt led to ask me about whether I needed a notebook PC and a digital camera. Little did he know that I had been praying for specifically those two items for months! So God has even given me the tools to write this blog through the love and prayers of others in the church - THANK YOU!
Alishea is enrolled in 5th grade at school for the first time and we have paid for her first quarter of schooling and bought all her school supplies and uniform. She will probably learn a little Tagalog language this year and definitely make a lot of friends - THANK YOU!
James has been praying for a guitar teacher while we are here and one of the first people we met was Archie Castillo, who is a classically-trained professional guitar player who gave up this career to serve God full-time. Archie lives in the same building as us. He will be going to help start a new church-plant in India next year, but in the meantime he has offered to teach James guitar for FREE.
Once again - THANKS FOR YOUR PRAYERS! They are really making a difference!
CURRENT PRAYER REQUESTS:
Now finally to the pictures!
First here is a picture of the outside of our building. It is a pretty big skyscraper (36 floors) and we can always find it because it says "In God We Trust" on all sides of the top floor! Here is a view of the other side.
Today our new friend Archie (the guitarist) took all of us on an adventure into downtown Manila. Here is the group walking in front of me with Archie explaining to Sam how to look like a Filipino. (hint* we are wearing backpacks and carrying bottled water and digital cameras. I think the locals can spot us a mile away!)
We got on a train and headed to a station called Carriedo. This station has a China Town (that Sam wanted to visit) and a district where you can buy cheap musical instruments, electronics and computer parts (that I wanted to see). When we arrived we discovered that it was Filipino-Chinese Friendship Day today so Archie and Sam posed for a picture.
We also saw a statue of the first mayor of Manila and noticed a striking resemblance to Ray. My stomach was a little queasy so Sam assured me that once we reached China Town he could find medicine to cure me of anything! Once I saw the Chinese medicinal stores selling everything from deer heads to eagle claws to who-knows-what my stomachache immediately seemed very insignificant and I told Sam I was feeling much better - thank you! James' stomach was starting to get a little queasy to from the smell from this river. But he wasn't interested in any of Sam's chinese medicinal potions either. So we compromised and let Sam buy us lunch in a Chinese Dim Sum restaurant which was actually quite good. It helped that Sam and our other Chinese friend Fiona were with us because they knew all the good things to order (even after I refused their kind offer of chicken-foot soup).
There are numerous types of transportation in Manila. James especially liked this vehicle but we didn't want to ask the occupants to pose with us because they carry automatic rifles and shotguns! The most interesting form of transportation seems to be unique to the Philippines. It is called "Jeepney" and is sort of a modified jeep that is used as an open-air taxi/bus. Jeepneys are everywhere and depending on how far you want to go you can squeeze in or hang on and ride for less than 20 cents. Inceidentally, the church in the background of the Jeepney photo above is one of the oldest churches in Manila. It was built in 1586 and has stood Chinese and Dutch attacks, the British Occupation Force, the Philippine-Spanish War, Dewey's bombardment, the Japanese Occupation, and the return of MacArthur's troops.
I hope this virtual tour gave you a glimpse of Manila. It is an amazing place with shades of many cultures, influences of Spanish, Chinese, even the U.S.A. We are really thankful to be here and, all tongue-in-cheek humor aside, this is going to be an amazing year!
Just about a week before we left Japan a dear brother in Yokohama felt led to ask me about whether I needed a notebook PC and a digital camera. Little did he know that I had been praying for specifically those two items for months! So God has even given me the tools to write this blog through the love and prayers of others in the church - THANK YOU!
Alishea is enrolled in 5th grade at school for the first time and we have paid for her first quarter of schooling and bought all her school supplies and uniform. She will probably learn a little Tagalog language this year and definitely make a lot of friends - THANK YOU!
James has been praying for a guitar teacher while we are here and one of the first people we met was Archie Castillo, who is a classically-trained professional guitar player who gave up this career to serve God full-time. Archie lives in the same building as us. He will be going to help start a new church-plant in India next year, but in the meantime he has offered to teach James guitar for FREE.
Once again - THANKS FOR YOUR PRAYERS! They are really making a difference!
CURRENT PRAYER REQUESTS:
- For our stomaches to get used to Filipino food
- For a good used guitar for James and I
- For all the finances to come in that we need for my seminary tuition, books, and ministry trips this year
- Safety and protection on all of us, especially Alishea and Satomi as they travel to school and back each day
Now finally to the pictures!
First here is a picture of the outside of our building. It is a pretty big skyscraper (36 floors) and we can always find it because it says "In God We Trust" on all sides of the top floor! Here is a view of the other side.
Today our new friend Archie (the guitarist) took all of us on an adventure into downtown Manila. Here is the group walking in front of me with Archie explaining to Sam how to look like a Filipino. (hint* we are wearing backpacks and carrying bottled water and digital cameras. I think the locals can spot us a mile away!)
We got on a train and headed to a station called Carriedo. This station has a China Town (that Sam wanted to visit) and a district where you can buy cheap musical instruments, electronics and computer parts (that I wanted to see). When we arrived we discovered that it was Filipino-Chinese Friendship Day today so Archie and Sam posed for a picture.
We also saw a statue of the first mayor of Manila and noticed a striking resemblance to Ray. My stomach was a little queasy so Sam assured me that once we reached China Town he could find medicine to cure me of anything! Once I saw the Chinese medicinal stores selling everything from deer heads to eagle claws to who-knows-what my stomachache immediately seemed very insignificant and I told Sam I was feeling much better - thank you! James' stomach was starting to get a little queasy to from the smell from this river. But he wasn't interested in any of Sam's chinese medicinal potions either. So we compromised and let Sam buy us lunch in a Chinese Dim Sum restaurant which was actually quite good. It helped that Sam and our other Chinese friend Fiona were with us because they knew all the good things to order (even after I refused their kind offer of chicken-foot soup).
There are numerous types of transportation in Manila. James especially liked this vehicle but we didn't want to ask the occupants to pose with us because they carry automatic rifles and shotguns! The most interesting form of transportation seems to be unique to the Philippines. It is called "Jeepney" and is sort of a modified jeep that is used as an open-air taxi/bus. Jeepneys are everywhere and depending on how far you want to go you can squeeze in or hang on and ride for less than 20 cents. Inceidentally, the church in the background of the Jeepney photo above is one of the oldest churches in Manila. It was built in 1586 and has stood Chinese and Dutch attacks, the British Occupation Force, the Philippine-Spanish War, Dewey's bombardment, the Japanese Occupation, and the return of MacArthur's troops.
I hope this virtual tour gave you a glimpse of Manila. It is an amazing place with shades of many cultures, influences of Spanish, Chinese, even the U.S.A. We are really thankful to be here and, all tongue-in-cheek humor aside, this is going to be an amazing year!
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