Stories from the journey...

As most of you know, all 69 of the YAVs (Young Adult Volunteer...in case you forgot how much Presbyterians love acronyms) had an orientation in Stony Point, New York a month ago. I can't believe it's been a month, but it has! While we were there, several YAVA (YAV alums...good stuff here, people) shared their stories with those of us about to head out onto our mission field. They always referred to them as "stories from the journey" and I wanted to implement that idea into my blog. We've met so many people and done so many amazing things, but our main goal is really to share the stories of those we've met. Many of the people we come in contact with are in poverty situations that people never hear about. Part of our goal with PCUSA and our partner church in the Philippines is to help to be advocates for those we meet. Sometimes (many times) there is nothing we can tangibly do. But these people have names, faces, families...and their stories deserve to be heard. Here's a few stories from the journey so far.

Juriel- our friend from Apo Island.

This is Juriel! She lives on Apo Island, which is a small fishing island near Dumaguete (our "home city"). They have no electricity or running water on the island at all. They live very simply, and are frankly very happy. You'll find that to be a recurring quality. Juriel, though, is 17 and just finished high school last spring. She is brilliant, witty, fun, and just shy enough to barely break out of her shell with 4 weird white people. We spent the day hiking with her on Apo after we went snorkeling (with the sea turtles...yeah, casual) and got to hear some of her story. She made wonderful grades, but can't afford to go to school. She really wants to be a teacher- to come back to Apo and teach there. I can't remember the numbers exactly, but her family is lucky if they make 300 pesos a day. That's about 6 dollars, and there are 6 children. 4 of Juriel's siblings are in Manila working because they too couldn't afford college. We did the math and the cost for the local "community college" is about 5 times what her family could hope to make in a month. Juriel wants to move in with our site coordinators, Cobbie and Dessa, so that she can do housework for them in order to earn school fees. I don't know if this will come to fruition, but she surely deserves it. The sad part for me is that Juriel is just another number. Thousands of bright young Filipino minds simply can't afford to go to college so they join the work force after high school, or even before graduation.

Some problems are universal, but it never makes them less heartbreaking. 

Cuanos- basket weaving.

This picture is from our overnight stay in Cuanos, which is a small "rurban" (rural/urban- HA) village or barangay outsite of Cebu. We stayed there for just one night but really loved spending time with the children there. The women in the village have formed an organized group that sells baskets as their livelihood. Watching them make these baskets was AMAZING. I mean, I live near Charleston, y'all...and these women have everybody beat! They could do the work with their eyes closed, and the product is beautiful within 5 minutes. 

The problem is that by the time they buy the materials to make the baskets and then pay to transport them to the city to be sold, their profit margin is small. This is also a recurring problem. People devote their lives to doing one thing and the profit is just tiny...hardly enough to feed a family. So many people here struggle every day. I am constantly humbled.

Feeding program in Cuanos.

This is one of my favorite pictures. You all know that this hippie loves getting down in the dirt, sitting on the ground, not wearing shoes, etc. I loved the opportunity to sit down and help our Ate Liza serve the children in the village breakfast last Sunday. She made porridge, which is like chocolate mixed in with rice. It's definitely a very popular delicacy here, and it still makes me gag. I'm not sure I'll ever really get used to it, but the kids love it and that's what matters!

We were blessed with the opportunity to bring the rice with us, so it came out of our food budget to serve this community. We didn't even notice a difference, but our hope is that these kids did. Again, it's just so humbling to be "serving" people when they are really giving you so much in return. These are the kids that we got to swim in the waterfall with, and they really allowed us to just PLAY and be kids as well. My sweet friend Margaret reminded me that as we aim to "be Jesus" for the people we come in contact with, they are also being Jesus to us. It's such a blessing. Words could never explain.

I have so, so many more stories...but this is all I have time for now. I hope their stories make you pause for a moment of gratitude as you read this from your internet-capable computer, likely in your air-conditioned home with a full pantry. We are blessed, my friends. 

Spread love.

Seek peace.

Be thankful.