On Tuesday, I went to a wake for the grandmother of an SBCC member. It was actually my first wake ever, so I didn't know what to expect. Even though it was late at night, I was not surprised to see that there was food (provided by Josiah's Catering). I've leaned that when Filipinos gather, there is always food. The next day was Baloy's (one of the Shelter boys) 15th birthday, and birthdays are always a big deal in the Philippines. I skipped Wednesday night bible study to eat dinner and cake with the boys. It was so special to just linger around after dinner, as we were talking, taking pictures, and surfing the internet together. Ate Ging, a former housemother, was visiting that week, so she was able to celebrate with us. I think Baloy really felt appreciated on his special day.
Thursday, the boys came home early from school because of the typhoon. Since it was still raining hard on Friday and the streets were very flooded, the boys did not have classes. I had just finished scrubbing my bedroom floor when my roof started leaking. This wasn't the first time my roof has leaked, but it was the worst; it was practically raining inside! I had buckets set up, and Baloy helped wipe up the water. We set a fan on the floor and had to let it dry for about an hour. I'm so grateful though, because it only leaks in the center of my floor. All of my belongings are safely out of the way. Friday was sort of a strange day since all of the boys were home and The Life City Campus was closed. I mostly worked on research and visited with the boys. After dinner, I was watching a movie with the boys when Kuya Nikos invited me to hang out with him and Jonathan. We ended up going to a mall, where we listened to a band at Hard Rock Cafe until 2:45 am. I only got 3.5 hours of sleep Friday night, which made it a little difficult to lead my bible study the next morning. Dance class was cancelled (and I was too tired anyway), so I went to a membership class instead. On Sunday night, I went to Ate Yen's mother's house for dinner. It was really fun getting to know my professor's in-laws, and Ate Yen fixed a fabulous meal of enchiladas (an unknown delicacy in the Philippines).
One of my friends, Allison, has been leading a witnessing workshop with a group of girls from SBCC. Although I wasn't able to attend yesterday, I heard that she lead a TLCC visitor to Christ! She is such an inspiration to me, as I see her put her spiritual gift into use for God's glory. I've been thinking about what God wants me to do after I graduate Covenant College. Normally when people ask me if I want to be a missionary, I cringe on the inside, though I don't know why. Maybe it's that I want my life to be more simple and easy. But now that I've been here for 9 weeks, made very close friends, and developed a huge compassion for street children, I know that I have to come back to the Philippines. I am not saying that I'm going to move here after I graduate, but I know that I want to always be connected with SBCC and the Shelter boys. I'm trying not to dread coming home, but I really don't want to leave. I know that I need to though, because I can feel myself getting tired and wearing down. Everyone is asking me when (when, not if) I'm going to come back, and I tell them, "When God provides the money and makes the way." Man, I never thought the Philippines would touch me like it has!
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