I'm Home!

Hi ! Got home Sunday late afternoon:) pacific time. I was trying to do the math and am too tired to figure it out. But, if I started traveling Sunday 3:30am Manila time, and arrived in at my home in CA. 6pm Pacific time, how many hours was I on a plane or in an airport? Manila is 15 hours ahead of CA. I will figure it out after I get some sleep! It was so good to see my doggy Desi. He has been eating non stop. Like mother, like son...talk to you Tuesday, I'll be back on with Mike:) Who by the way was nice enough to pick me up from the airport. Here's a picture of landing at the Hong Kong airport, and Desi's smiling face today!

Love,

Jeannie

Time in Dumugete, Philippines!

Hi! These pics are from our time in Dumugete, Philippines which is on a different island. These students are students who have been sponsored by people through Compassion International, and have gone on to continue to be sponsored and are able to go to college here. These students are so incredible. They did not let poverty stop them from becoming leaders. The girl I pictured with is named Jonadith, she is so intelligent, and one day may be President in the Philippines. I can't wait to share more about this experience with you. It has been raining a lot here. It makes it hard for people live here in so many ways(no proper drainage even in the capital city....etc....etc) I still have a sore throat, hopefully it doesn't get any worse. I have to start getting ready for the day. I am getting homesick again. Just being able to brush my teeth with tap water again will feel so good! I hope as you read this you are having a great day and feeling blessed!
Love,
Jeannie

Thursday night, back from visiting another island here in the Philipines!

Hi! It's Thursday night and I am about to head to bed for the night. I have a sore throat so hoping it will go away after I get a good night's sleep. Have so much to share with you when I get back about what I saw and experienced here in the Philippines. We traveled to another island yesterday, stayed the night and got back to Manila this afternoon. We stayed right near the China sea and I got to kayak in the China Sea! How cool is that! It was raining quite a bit, but haven't heard rain in so long living in Northern California, so the sound fo rain was really nice! Talk to you soon,
Love,
Jeannie:)

Pictures from Manila, Tuesday!

More pics from Manila!

Visit to a "home"

Hi! Greetings from the friendliest place on earth:) Seriously, the people here in the Philippines are so friendly! I am still feeling shock from what I saw yesterday on our visit to a "home" that a mother, father and young baby "lived". We started out our day meeting the people that work for Compassion International locally in Manila. Then we went out to see one of their Child Survival Projects that is there thanks to Compassion and one of the local churches here. Moms and babies up to 3 years old were there to greet us, as well as the staff. When we went to see a "home", we rode on little motorcycles(I'll have some pics posted). Anyway, when I tell you that the conditions this family were living in were unsuitable for anybody, I really mean it. There is no electricity, bathroom, running water, and the space may have been 5x5 if that. It was just so sad. And that is how all the people lived in this area. Little kids came up and loved to get their pictures taken and that was quite funny. There was such a mixture of emotion yesterday. The people in this area are getting help thanks to Compassion and the church, they go to the center for proper nutrition, education, and to hear the Gospel. We spent time with moms and babies and that was really encouraging. Well, today we are going to visit some more centers, and older kids, really looking forward to it. I am still encouraged, despite seeing such conditions, like the local manager for Compassion said yesterday "The greatest intention is always outweighed by the smallest deed". I will be able to share more with you when I get back from my trip!
Love,
Jeannie:)

An amazing story!

Hi! It is 5:20am Monday morning, and I have finally straightened things out in my hotel room. I got a great night's sleep and I am looking forward to today's activities with my group. We will be visiting 2 different Compassion International projects. One focuses on prenatal care for babies through 5 years old. In developing countries, the mortality rate is high for babies. This project is so important as it truly cares for the needs of the moms and babies. The other project is younger children.
Last night one of our group members had a special visit from a kid he had sponsored many years ago. The kid is now 30 years old, and had looked up "Daddy Todd" on the internet and found him, it had been 17 years since their last communication! Elmer spoke about how impacted he was by the sponsorship from Todd. It was a tear jerker for sure. Elmer is now a successful photographer in the part of the Philippines where he lives. It was so heart warming to see Todd and Elmer together sharing their story.

Sunday we went to church at Green Hills Christian Fellowship in Manila. It is on a couple of floors in a high rise builing in the city. It was amazing to worship God with fellow believers in a different country! The pastor was very passionate when he spoke, and I really enjoyed his sermon from Proverbs on Wisdom and Folly. English is one of the 2 predominant languages here, so it's easy to follow along. The people at the church were so welcoming to us, as I am finding out people here truly are soooo friendly. Well, bfn... I will post more pics when I get back later today.
Love,
Jeannie

Pictures from Manila

We made it!

Hello,
I am in Manila, about to go to sleep. I have lost count of how many hours I have been awake, but we made it safe and sound. The plane ride was as good as a 13 hour plane ride could be....tomorrow I will be going to church here in Manila with the group I am with. I feel pretty delirious right now. I miss my dog....feeling homesick....but I am sure being up as long as I have isn't helping. Good night!
Love,
Jeannie

Are we there yet?

Hello again,
In L.A. about to board the flight to Hong Kong. I love the L.A. airport, I love looking at how many different people there are, and to observe people while I am in an airport. Being here makes me feel so much love toward people if that makes sense. We are all going to different places all over the world at the same time, every one has their story. I just look at everyone and see so much beauty. I love the excitement of being in an airport. The people in front of me in one of the lines were from Italy, I detected a few words that sounded familiar. Traveling like this makes me want to learn languages. I thought about it, and of all things that would be cool to do, communicating with people that speak a different language kind of makes sense. Have met some of the people that are going to be going on this trip with me, there's 39 of us I believe. We are going with Compassion International. www.compassion.com . Well, I must go take a bathroom break before we board the plane to Hong Kong!!! (still giddy with excitement) Thanks again for your prayers and encouragement! Blessings to you..Talk to you from Hong Kong!
Love,
Jeannie
(P.S.) There is a fellow Croc wearer in our group:) Hers are sandals though:)

On My Way! Whoo Hoo!

Hi! I am at the Sacramento, CA airport right now(free wi fi, that is always a plus when you are traveling) and about to go board the plane to L.A. So far so good with the "nervousness". I talked to a nice girl while waiting in line in security, she was headed to a Bachelorette party in San Diego. I feel so blessed to be able to go on this trip. I am feeling so grateful for all the people in my life. I talked to my mom this morning, she was doing some research on The Philippines and was happy for me that I was going. That makes me feel good to have her support instead of "watch out for this, watch out for that"....(Love you mom):) Anyway, thanks for your prayers and well wishes for my trip. I will ttys:)
P.S. Got on some Crocs...(they ARE comfortable Mike!!)
Love,
Jeannie