During the last week of school in 2016, I shared children's Christmas literature during 5th Grade Language Arts class rather than start a whole new unit in our regular literature text.
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| "Under A Starry Sky" Christmas Musical was presented at Christ Fellowship Church. |
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| Joseph, Mary, and Baby Jesus (This is Timothy, the precious little one I was holding in a November blog post.) |
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| Adult choir |
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| The daughter in the drama prays for her Mom who left temporarily, distracted by materialism. |
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| Children's choir dressed as angels. |
Thank God for technology ...especially computers, Wi-fi, and Skype. A google search told me the distance from Davao City to Granville, Ohio is 8,711 miles. It was a joy to talk with my two sisters on Christmas morning in the Philippines / Christmas Eve evening for them - 13 hours difference EST. My younger sister told family and friends we had Skyped and I was sweating. TRUE...also had wet hair because partial electricity in my apartment went out while I was in the shower. Oh well, you focus on what's important.
I was blessed to receive invitations to three gatherings with new friends and colleagues on Christmas Day. At one home, we had brunch and a meaningful carols and lighting of candles worship time. Fans blew out several of the candles a couple of times, but you go on.
U.S. DEPARTURE and
Philippines ARRIVAL
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DEPARTURE: At the Columbus, Ohio
airport luggage drop with sisters Juanita and Pat. I thank God for my
wonderful sisters who helped me prep in so many ways.
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ARRIVAL: Thankful for safe
arrival in Davoa City, Philippines on Friday (very late Thursday EST) with
all luggage after a delay in Manila because of mechanical difficulties of the
plane that was supposed to bring us to Davao.
This
welcome care package (snacks) from Faith International Academy awaited my
arrival along with fresh fruits in the frig. The Philippines are known for the
variety of fruits grown here.
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Faith International
Academy (FIA)
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Storytime
with Kindergarten class on International
Day at FIA. Introducing “Grandma Gracie,” and explaining common Cameroon
custom of wearing matching fabric.
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International Day at FIA with my 5th
grade Language Arts students. TOP: Saem and Irene from Korea and LOWER: Simeo
and his mother from Switzerland with German roots. CENTER: Korean Fan Dance. Fourteen countries’ flags waved as students
performed in their traditional costumes and parents served tastes of national dishes.
It was a blessing to see our school’s cultures spotlighted and to celebrate country
uniqueness.
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Grandma Gracie” read a poem about doing THANKSLIVING year around all over the world to Kdg- Grade 5 classes at Faith International Academy during the week of Thanksgiving in the U.S. We discussed the book Thanksgiving Is for Giving Thanks by Margaret Sutherland and the Bible story, ‘The Man Who Said “Thank You”’, from Luke 17:11-19. Copies of the poem are still available to students, staff, and parents at the circulation desk.
Count
your blessings instead of your crosses;
Count your gains instead of your losses.
Count your joys instead of your woes;
Count
your friends instead of your foes.
Count your smiles instead of your tears;
Count your courage instead of your fears.
Count your full years instead of your lean;
Count your kind deeds instead of your mean.
Count your health instead of your wealth;
Count on God instead of yourself. Author Unknown
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My 5th grade Language Arts class with
ELL (English Language Learners)
students. Since “grasshopper” was a compound spelling word during my first
week as Language Arts teacher, my large hopper puppet came to class…much to
the delight of the students. My 5th graders are not camera shy.
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Library “Scavenger Hunt”. I challenged my 5th
graders to see how many Christmas books they could find in the Elementary
& Middle School Library. They received one point for each book tagged
with a fluorescent green strip on the lower spine and two points for each
Christmas book located that was not tagged - earning a combined 171 points. Christmas books
are being displayed on the top of shelves near where normally found. This
Scavenger Hunt has benefited the library by discovering Christmas books that
needed to be tagged and has made life easier for students, teachers, parents,
and especially this librarian. So proud of and thankful for my students’
energetic hard work.
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Lunch at Chow King with apartment
mate Julie, who teaches grades 3 & 4. We shared unique dessert halo halo.
I greatly appreciate Julie going shopping with me and explaining the details
of jeepneys and taxis.
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THANKS
to teachers Amy and Eric Seidlitz for inviting me to join your family for
dinner and games Thanksgiving evening. It is enjoyable to learn about others’
journeys to the field, theirs and children’s special interests. I also appreciate
the hospitality of other school and SIL staff have hosted me for a meal
during my first month in the Philippines.
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AROUND
DAVAO CITY
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After
visiting three Davao City churches, I choose to attend Christ
Fellowship Church Davao
(https://www.facebook.com/cfcofdavao/)
regularly. TOP: I love the blend of
contemporary music with traditional hymns. On 11/27, my heart and soul was
touched by an old favorite, “How Great Thou Art.” LEFT: A significant factor in my choice
of this church is the Care Groups after the English worship service where we
discuss reactions and applications to the sermon and pray for one another. It is important to me to fellowship with
Christian brothers and sisters outside of the school where I serve. I look
forward to outreach in the community. RIGHT: Having no grandchildren or great
grandchildren, I enjoy “borrowing” one for a little while periodically. This is Timothy, whose grandmother is
seated on my right, and mother on my left.
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FAST FOOD chain
restaurants abound
in the Philippines (I saw none in Cameroon, although I sure enjoyed some
street vendors). LEFT: I was excited
to see pictures of the Col. at KFC, being from Kentucky. RIGHT: Jollibee is a major Philippine
hamburger chain, and this is the mascot
(similar to Ronald McDonald). White
rice has been a part of many meal deals and is available at every school lunch
at Faith Academy.
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A
popular and economical form of public transportation around town is the
jeepney. Depending on their size, jeepneys carry approximately 11-21
passengers, lined up facing one another and maybe two beside the driver.
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COMING: To serve as Elementary Chapel speaker on December 1
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While in Florida, God blessed me with unexpected opportunities to meet and learn from persons who have lived in the Philippines. In Titusville I was lunch guest of Patty (served 25 years as missionary in Philippines) and her husband. In this Orlando pic, I was dinner guest of Dan (grew up in the Philippines) and Pat, who are scheduled to move there this fall to serve with a Christian organization.
THANK YOU, Delores, for your
gracious (and delicious) hospitality! It was great catching with you, Terry,
and daughter Christina, and hearing many wonderful things about the Philippines. Wonderful evening of fellowship and
sharing...your Italy photos (Terry you would make a great tour guide!),
PowerPoint of my coming educational missions in Davao, and beautiful singing
from your college daughter and friends (would love to have heard more!).
VISA arrival PRAISE REPORT: Inside my returned new passport was the visa entitling me to entry into the Philippines. It awaited me when I returned September 27 to Ohio from Florida after two plus weeks of visits, sharing about my new Wycliffe ministry assignment, and good-byes to Florida friends.
Finally! I had to wait over a year to get a new eyeglass prescription...and on September 30, I was able to select frames. Expecting to get them back in approx. two weeks.
