To view all of my teammates personal blogs and our team journal all in one place go to:
www.vandercar.net and click on New Dawn Blogs in the upper right hand corner of the page.
We are now in Davao City, on the island of Mindinau in the Philippines. Coming here from Manila, this seems so much calmer and laid back. There isn’t loud music playing late into the night and not so many Jeepneys crowding the streets. We are staying with Pastor Sonny Mercado and his wife, Chai. They live in the Christ Our Savior Lutheran Church compound along with a couple other families. We all have our own beds and it is very comfortable here. It has been a blessing getting to know the Mercados.
It has been very hot here, especially compared to what the weather is like at home in Minnesota right now! It has been around 83 degrees Fahrenheit when I have fallen asleep and also when I wake up and much warmer during the day. It is also very humid. I’m not used to falling asleep sweating and waking up sweating. Early on Saturday morning I woke up with my sleeping bag pulled over me and I wasn’t sweating! I must have gotten cold and pulled it over me in the middle of the night. I haven’t used it otherwise at all here in the Philippines, so that was refreshing. I have slept very well the last couple nights.
The other day I had my first bucket shower. I never thought I would enjoy a cold shower so much, but it was soooo refreshing! I also did all of my laundry by hand today, another first.
I met a new friend when we arrived here in Davao. Her name is Katarine and she is seven years old. When we were rehearsing the first day, she came and just listened to us. Afterward I went over to talk to her and she said “Your songs are very beautiful.” We have enjoyed playing ‘Rock, Paper, Scissors,’ ‘Hide-and-Seek,’ ‘Tag’ and ‘Frisbee’ with Katarine and three of the little boys, Saeed (Pastor Sonny’s son), Luther (Katarine’s little brother) and Kurt (Pastor Sonny’s nephew). They also sang for us! So cute!
Tomorrow we head to Banga, and Pastor Sonny will accompany us. I have been enjoying my time here and I am loving the new culture. The people we have met have been such a blessing to us. We have all stayed healthy and I am amazed with all the new, very different foods we have tried, that none of us have gotten sick. We pray for continued good health for our team. I hope all is well back home!
3 comments:
Carly, I must say that your blog ROCKS. It has pictures and stories about what you are doing and what does Dave's have?! A story about his ripped up underwear. Like that is new ;) haha. Enjoyed the post, keep them coming when you can. Praying for health and safety for you and the team. Laura
Carly sounds like you are having an amazing time! :) So happy for you! I'm keeping you in my prayers. MISS you like a stream misses water during a drought! :( Keep up the good work! Love you!!!
Its so great to get an update from you Carly. The picture of you and the little girl is so cute. I miss being able to hear your voice, but I look down at my glow-in the dark lime-green bracelet from camp and I say a prayer for you. Also do they have diet coke over there? just a thought. My prayers for the rest of the team and say hi to Dave and Luke for me. Love ya
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