Swimming With the Fishes

Today, on the first day of spring break, several of us teachers and even some students took a boat trip out to a nearby island. Rachel's parents flew from New York to visit, Jim's daughter came from California to visit, so we got invited along on the $4/person day trip at sea!

We actually went to the same place where Nate and I got engaged last February. That is a special coral garden full of memories. We snorkeled and swam with the fishes! I wish you could see all the beautiful creations God has put in the sea! I love seeing all the colored fish and schools of fish, jagged fish and up-and-down fish. The starfish on the bottom are blue or some even have chocolate chips on them! (Be careful not to eat!)

We enjoyed a great day relaxing, swimming, reading in the hammocks on the beach and taking naps. We got quite a bit of sun, but we also enjoyed reading books and resting from a busy quarter.

I prayed all day that I would not see a snake. After our time on the beach we took the boat over to another snorkeling reef. Nate and I jumped in with the others, and not too long after that first plunge I spotted the slithering sea snake! I poked Nate's arm and pointed to the striped snake. If it weren't so poisonous and deadly I would actually be able to notice the beautiful movements through the water that looked like a graceful ribbon. But after almost running in to four jelly fish and getting stung by the plankton, I decided I had enough of the sea for one day.

"Praise the Lord from the earth, you great sea creatures and all ocean depths..." Psalm 148.7

Tropical Depression Cancelled Track & Field

Today was supposed to be our annual track & field day. It is a great event including everyone from Kindergarten to 12th grade. The moms and dads get out of work to come watch the kids race. Nate and I were even going to compete in the 3K event. Unfortunately, the meet was cancelled due to a tropical depression (what does that really mean?).

Yesterday it started to rain hard in the morning, which it usually just rains in the evening. It rained all day and all night very hard. It turned out that the "Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical & Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) monitored a tropical depression (TD) estimated at 400kms east of our island with maximum winds of 55kph near the center. It was forecast to move toward our city at 13 kms per hour." The center of the storm actually hit our city at 7pm last night.

For a week I watched a Filipino worker paint the lines to the track. All his hard work was washed away in the storm yesterday. Thankfully we were offered a ride home in the downpour, but this morning I had to roll up my pants and wade through the flooded streets to get to my class on time. Whew! I praise the Lord that the river near our house didn't flood and destroy our first level of our home! God is our Protector of the storm!

Isn't God Amazing?!

I am online trying to find a picture to go with the verse 1 Corinthians 15.51-52 “Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed—in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will all be changed.”

I got totally sidetracked when I saw this incredible picture of a total solar eclipse from Antarctica. Then I got even more sidetracked when I found this guy's website who has been all over the world tracking total solar eclipses and other incredible things that God has done. I thought I would get even more off track and write a blog about it so you can check out his pictures and his story about going to Antarctica! http://www.moonglow.net/eclipse/2003nov23/updates.html

He explains: "What is a total solar eclipse? Well, through an amazing coincidence in geometry, every few years the Moon blocks out the Sun creating a solar eclipse. The Sun is 400 times the size of the Moon, and 400 times as distant, so they appear to be the same size when viewed from Earth. When the orbit of the Moon takes it between the Sun and the Earth, the shadow of the Moon is cast upon the Earth. If the Moon is close enough to the Earth, someone located near the middle of that shadow will see the Moon exactly block out the Sun in a spectacular show. This is a "Total Solar Eclipse", arguably the most spectacular show in astronomy."

What We Saw On Our Bike Ride

Yesterday after a wonderful breakfast of french toast topped with manderin oranges, Nate and I decided to go on a bike ride. This is one of our favorite things to do together as a couple (among many other things!). Nate estimates that we ended up riding about 8 miles, and it was just about the heat of the day. Nate also estimates that the sun was hitting us just about directly, so that explains why I was SO THIRSTY!

We have a great city to bike in because we can see the traffic for one minute and then explore down trails by the river the next minute. We raced Jeepneys down the street and cut in between taxis. We explored the narrow paths through the squaters quarters. We coasted down paved hills and then bounced up and down the rough back roads. Everywhere we looked we felt we were truly in the Philippines. What a beautiful place!

I loved exploring by the river on the trails paved out where motercycles had ridden. Sometimes we can see the local caribou or a man tending a flock of sheep. We watched boats floating down the river and children playing by their huts in the dirt. We could feel our hearts racing as we pedaled around the city on bikes. What a great day we had to enjoy God's creation!

Students Are Seeking Truth

The best part of my day was teaching 6th grade Bible. My students were so hungry for the truth! They had so many incredible questions. I am teaching them how to study the Bible on their own. As they practiced studying with the passage John 19 the students raised their hands with questions.

I told one student that Jesus actually knew he was going to rise again before he even died. Another student overheard and said, "Really? I never knew that." Then I went on to explain John chapter two. The 6th graders are so excited about the Bible! I am praising God all day long.

My favorite question today was from my thinker-student, Christy. She asked, "If it was God's plan that Jesus would suffer, then was what Pilate did wrong?" I knew a yes/no answer would not satisfy her. All day we discussed the question: in class, at lunch, and after school. Her ride was pulling away as I began to tell her about Romans 9. I praise God for these opportunities to teach students to find the truth within God's word. May they put their trust in Him forever!

P.S. This is a photo of a papyrus fragment from the gospel of John 18 when it tells about Pilate! Wow!

Why Do the Innocent Suffer?

I have been teaching my students the book of Job. The question this book raises is "Why do the innocent suffer?" After going through a whirlwind of suffering, Job never finds out why (though his 'friends' try to tell him it is his sin or for discipline). God only speaks to him out of the storm and puts Job in his place. God really assures Job that he has not been abandoned and that He is sovereign over everything. All Job needs to do is trust God in faith.

I read the list of things Paul suffers in 2 Corinthians 6: beatings, imprisonments, riots, hard work, sleepless nights, hunger, poverty.... I asked myself and God, "If I truly experienced all this and more for a long period of time would I be able to persevere in my faith?" I know other people like Jospeh, Job and Jesus have gone before me and have persevered, but how do I know I will stand firm until the end?

God encouraged me that through suffering I can focus not on the circumstances but on His character. I can focus on the glory to come. I pray that I will remain faithful to the end, and I pray for those Christians who are suffering all over the world right now. Let us remember: 2 Cor. 4.17-18 "For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."

Carnival Sponge Booth

Today was the carnival at school. This year Rachel and I were in charge of the 6th grade booth. We decided to keep up the annual tradition and recreate the sponge throwing booth. Last night some students stayed after school to help paint our backdrop (don't you love to see Carol's painting position?).

From 1-3pm I managed the 6th grade workers while people paid their tickets to see their favorite teachers and peers get shot at with a wet sponge. I was glad I had the "excuse" that I was working so I didn't have to get put behind the pullory. Unfortunately some of our teachers, students and even the principal were not so lucky!

Now I am taking an internet break because the continuation of the carnival is to have a middle school lock-in. Why do young people think it is so fun to stay up all night? (I know when I was in 6th grade I did the same thing with Cara!). Well, it is a great opportunity to show love to the students and to get to know them better.

Nate is supervising with the other teachers while I am catching my breath from all the fun of the day: Carnival, clean-up, blob tag, group games inside, cheering at the high school basketball game, eating pizza and hanging out. I better get back before they wonder if I fell asleep!

A Taste of Canada

The day after we were back from OE (two weekends ago) we met up with our other co-leaders (also middle school teachers with us) for a wonderful buffett at a nice local hotel. This is the fanciest place I have eaten since I have been in the Philippines. It was extravagant, and almost too much so. There was a grand variety of food, especially tuna, blue marlin, and many local fish specialties caught that day in the ocean. I also enjoyed just dining quietly with our friends so we could exchange stories about the week.

It was great to show up to the restaurant on the third floor of the hotel and to see this huge Canadian map! I love Canada, and it just so happened to be Canada theme week. We even met some Canadians in the restaurant who were visiting our city. The food was far from Canadian, but the decor was lovely. I thought you would enjoy these photos of our evening! "O Canada, our home and native land..."

Who Is On the Throne?

After teaching the book of Ezra today in my 9th grade class I revisited some questions of my own. After the exile who would be Israel's king? What happened to the line of ancestors after King Jehoiachin and Zedekiah? What did the people in Jesus' time think of when they were waiting for a Messiah, an Anointed One (King?)?

Did I lose you with those questions? I hope not! These questions are only part of the amazing connections I was trying to make in my brain between the people of God in the OT and the Christ in the NT. These questions lead us to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the Messiah!* Here are some pretty amazing verses God showed me today.

Jeremiah 22
24 "As surely as I live," declares the LORD, "even if you, Jehoiachin son of Jehoiakim king of Judah, were a signet ring on my right hand, I would still pull you off. 25 I will hand you over to those who seek your life, those you fear—to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and to the Babylonians. 26 I will hurl you and the mother who gave you birth into another country, where neither of you was born, and there you both will die. 27 You will never come back to the land you long to return to."

28 Is this man Jehoiachin a despised, broken pot,
an object no one wants?
Why will he and his children be hurled out,
cast into a land they do not know?

29 O land, land, land,
hear the word of the LORD!

30 This is what the LORD says:
"Record this man as if childless,
a man who will not prosper in his lifetime,
for none of his offspring will prosper,
none will sit on the throne of David
or rule anymore in Judah."

God was patient with His people but the kings continued to do evil in the eyes of the Lord. Finally he had to fulfill the consequences of Levitics 26 and Deuteronomy 28. This verse 30 is why the line of kings did not continue after exile. The prophet spoke God's word, "None of his offspring...will sit on the throne of David or rule..."

So what did the prophet say right after that? Where was the people's hope? A beautiful passage follows.

Jeremiah 23
5 "The days are coming," declares the LORD,
"when I will raise up to David a righteous Branch,
a King who will reign wisely
and do what is just and right in the land."

This righteous Branch, traced in Matthew 1 through David's line, including the failed kings Jehoiachin and his ancestors, is JESUS! He is the King of all kings! He will reign wisely and justly. He will not fail like the kings before have failed. He is the awaited one we worship.

"So Pilate asked Jesus, 'Are you the king of the Jews?'
'Yes, it is as you say,' Jesus replied."--Luke 23.3

*Messiah [Hebrew]=Christ [Greek]=Anointed One[English]--from 1 Samuel 9.16 "anointed" usually refers to the king (NIV study Bible footnote)

Therefore We Will Not Fear

Psalm 46 NIV

1 God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble.

2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,

3 though its waters roar and foam
and the mountains quake with their surging.
Selah

4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy place where the Most High dwells.

5 God is within her, she will not fall;
God will help her at break of day.

6 Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;
he lifts his voice, the earth melts.

7 The LORD Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.
Selah

8 Come and see the works of the LORD,
the desolations he has brought on the earth.

9 He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth;
he breaks the bow and shatters the spear,
he burns the shields [b] with fire.

10 "Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth."

11 The LORD Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.
Selah

Where We Went---Subic Bay Luzon

We thought we would give you a few days to catch up on our blog before writing again. I want to show you a map of where we went on Luzon island. Luzon is the big island where we flew to the city of Manila. Then we took busses and went to Subic Bay, which is that little nook on the West of Luzon island.

Subic bay used to be a U.S. military base, so our base camp nights were spent in the former soldier bunks. It was incredible that the guides who took us through the jungle survival training were the same guys who trained the U.S. soldiers to survive during the Vietnam war.

One of my favorite things that I learned was that the airstrip you see on the map, which was built by the U.S. military, is now the FedEx Hub for Asia South Pacific. We slept on the beach right by that airstrip, and all day I was excitedly teling people that I had finally seen the place where the packages my mom sends me travels through. When tracking her packages online I see it goes to Subic Bay, PH. "Where is that?" I used to wonder. Now I do not have to ponder because all night as we tried to sleep outside the sky filled with light and sound as the FedEx planes landed to sort and deliver packages. What a system! Enjoy the maps...I wish you could have experienced it all with us.

Supper in the Jungle

We had a great time cooking and eating supper in the jungle. We learned how to make a fire, and Jessica was able to start it for us! What a gal!

We all brought uncooked rice with us and then cooked it it bamboo sticks (rice cookers) over the fire. We also cooked vegetables and meat in the bamboo sticks.

Earlier in the day, we collected several bamboo bats to save them for supper. Bamboo bats live in bamboo (as you might have guessed) and are tiny creatures.


When we had our supper, we saved the bamboo bats for desert! We cooked them by trapping them inside the bamboo stick alive and then barbecuing them over the fire. Then, when they were cooked, we finally were able to eat what we had been looking forward too--they tasted like chicken nuggets. Yum!



The night in the jungle, Thursday night, was our last night on OE (Outdoor Education) with our students and was very special. In our evening session around the camp fire, we were challenged to be RAW for the Lord like a machete is raw for the jungle--we were taught to be Real, Authentic, and Whole (spells RAW). Afterwards, our sqaud of 9 students prayed and shared how God had really worked in their lives that week. That is what this week was all about, drawing closer to God and learning to surrender all to Him. Thank you Jesus!

A Bamboo Set of Kitchen Supplies

Before long in the Jungle, we learned that a person can make a hundred and one things out of bamboo. Our guide Jun was handy with his machete (they call it a bolo here in the Philippines) and could make almost anything with that tool!


After lunch, we went back into the jungle to make all of our cooking utensils. Jun showed us how to make everything out of bamboo: cups, plates, spoons and knives, a stove, rice cookers, as well as many other things.


We were then expected to make those things ourselves, but our bolos (machetes) were very dull, plus we were not very skilled at this stuff, so Jun ended up making 11 cups, spoons, knives, and plates, as well as 4 rice cookers, for all of us!!!

Hiking in the Jungle

Thursday was a favorite day for many of us. This was the day our traveling squad hiked through the Philippine Jungle!

Our guide's name was Jun, and he was really experienced and funny! Some of the other guides who were elderly had trained the American soldiers to survive in the Vietnam Jungle prior to and during the Vietnam War in the 1960's!

Our guide showed us everything. He showed us the plants that were poisonous as well as the plants that were medicine. Jessica and I thought this was funny because we couldn't tell the difference between the plants. If we were in the Jungle alone, we would probably grab what we thought was a medicine plant but in reality was poison ivy!

Our guide also showed us plants that stored 100% pure water in them. The water was declicious!

We made bracelets from rope/string that we could make from a tree. There is also a "Tea Tree"--the whole tree is tea! We all grabbed some bark and saved it for later to put in a hot cup of water :)

Our guide also made some instruments (sort of like recorders) from the plants in the jungle. Before long, we had our own band session!

I was also able to swim and slide down a natural water slide (it was a small water fall that was carved perfectly for a person's body to slide down on!)--this was absolutely terrific!

One of our favorite parts of our hike was learning about a plant that makes shampoo. It was seriously a 5 in 1 deal!: Shampoo, Mosquito repellent, works against dandruff as well as lice, and is also great soap!

Lord, You are the One who created all these things in the Jungle! How majestic is Your Name in all the earth!

Sand-Building Contest!

Later, on Wednesday, our traveling squad went to the beach and did a variety of activities. One of those activities was a Sand-Building contest. Each squad had 50 minutes to design a sand structure of their choice. The squads were being judged based on two criteria: creativity and completion.

Our squad decided to build a very long snake. Other squads created little mermaids, sharks, big hearts, Sponge Bob, and other creative constructions!

That evening, we had an incredible life-changing worship service by the beach. Most of our students went forward when an "altar call" was given. And, after talking to all of them one-on-one after the service, Jessica and I felt that many of the students were sincere in their decisions for Christ and growth in His love! He is indeed alive and working in the hearts of youth all over the world!

Loving Kids at a School!

On Wednesday morning, we went to a local Philippino school to minister to elementary kids. We spent 30 minutes in two different classrooms, one of which was 2nd grade and the other was 3rd grade.

It was really neat for Jessica and I to see our own students break off into small groups with the elementary kids and interact with them. Some of our students asked good questions and talked about themselves; others played fun games with the kids. No matter what they did, they demontrated love to these kids through their eyes and smiles!

Some of our students told us later that they were glad we went to this school even if it was out of their comfort zones! One of our students even expressed that being at that school caused her to want to be a missionary when she gets older!

I hope we never get too old to reach out and try new things even if it is uncomfortable! As a friend of mine says, we are here on earth to "comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable"!