Kids Small Groups

Day One: We were blessed with a 1 hour delay in flight.  But, because we were given good flying weather and the airline was able to bypass Guam and fly directly to Manila, we arrived 2 hours sooner than expected, coasted through customs and everyone got their luggage. Thank you, Jesus! We met Monette and were on our way to our guest house via three 15-passenger vans. Our guest house is located in a residential area with a courtyard, multiple rooms and plenty of space to fellowship. Once everyone was settled in Lea, Tyler, Lisa and James took a "Tricycle," also known as a motorcycle with a sidecar, to a local pastry shop for a traditional Filipino breakfast of Pandesal with Coco and Mango spreads and bananas that taste so much sweeter than what we're used to.

The kids played basketball in the closed in courtyard, others played card games, caught up on some sleep, unpacked and strategized on the week's events ahead. Everyone filled up on a traditional Filipino lunch of a variety of soups, fish, chicken with gravy, noodles and rice.

We attended the monthly Saddleback Manila church service and got to meet the amazing people that are helping to plant a church home there. The Saddleback Kids and family helped gather interest in the local mall where the service was held, others helped make popcorn for the service, others were greeting the Saddleback attenders that were coming into the service. Pastor Steve gave a great talk on mirroring Paul in the bible and have our children being spiritually healthy, growing and full of love as Saddleback Manila would like to mirror Saddleback, California. We got to connect with the clean water initiative team and Luke Holladay who are also here in Manila this week. It was so amazing to see the church in action tonight. Lives were saved through the message and we got to be a great witness to the church and strangers around the mall.

The kids finally "hit their wall" in church, as their normal body clocks reached about 2am California time. Even the traffic chaos wasn't enough to keep some of them awake on the ride home. They are marveling at the lack of driving laws, no signaling, cars cutting in front of each other and trying to figure out the code of the horns that are constantly being blared from multiple vehicles. They love looking at the different themed Jeepneys and were challenged to pray for those very unfortunate people and children they saw on the sidewalks and streets as we passed by them.

Tomorrow brings preparation for Vacation Bible School and a visit to the local orphanage to bring joy and God's Word to those who could use a relationship with God in their lives.
Until then, we're all safe and happy and enjoying the rainstorm this evening.

Paalam!