Monday, June 6, 2011

Where I've Been: The Philippines


I'm getting so excited about going to Ethiopia in October. I've had travel fever lately and have been looking back at some of my prior mission trips. Here are a few photos of my second mission trip. My first mission trip was to Mexico in high school, but I didn't have a camera then…thus, there will be no pictures of that trip!  

Back in 2007, I went to the Philippines with the Bob Tebow Evangelistic Association for two weeks. I had just finished my first year of college. (Yes, I was a baby and looked like one too! Ha!) I'm so glad I went because it really gave me a good perspective for the rest of college. I really did come back a different person.

Every morning we woke up before the crack of dawn, loaded into the “Jeepneys” and traveled for hours sometimes to different schools to share the gospel. Sometimes you traveled to over 10 schools in a single day. By time we made it back to our rooms, we were drenched in sweat and tired physically, emotionally and spiritually, but it was a very rewarding kind of tiredness.

It was a beautiful place. There was greenery everywhere you looked.
I spend most of my days there with kids like these. They stole my heart. I loved learning bits and pieces of their language. They would laugh so hard whenever I tried to say something. I think the teachers had fun teaching me too!
Aren't they so beautiful?
This girl was an angel. After I shared the gospel with this school, she came up and wanted to give me a hug and a kiss. My heart did about a million back-flips. 
Yes, I got to ride a caribou. Haha. There were lots of flies, so I quickly got off.
These girls were so sweet. We had such a great time getting to know each other.
The BTEA also has an orphanage in the Philippines. The children there are some of the sweetest I've ever had the pleasure to meet. This was the view from the orphanage. I still remember it as one of the most gorgeous places I've been to in my life. This photo doesn't even come close to doing it justice.
Yes, this is an actual bridge. No, I did not walk on it.
Oh, all the kids stole my heart. They were so loving!
This was our team.

It was during this trip that God really started growing a passion in my heart for missions. I would go every month if I could! I have used the training from this trip many times in different situations as well. It was a huge blessing to see how other people live in other countries! I realized just how much I really have and how much I have to give to others who need far more things than I do!

Have you guys ever been overseas before? What were some of the things you learned?

37 comments:

Olga Marquez said...

how awesome, good for you! What a blessing to be able to go to these mission trips and teach the word and show God's amazing love through us. such a blessing, and so much fun! I hope one day the hubby and I can go on one once our girls are older.

<33

Olivia said...

What an awesome experience! I went to Ethiopia last November with my dad and brother and it was an amazing trip!! I would love to hear more about it! :) You will have so much fun and find really great opportunities there!

Alyss said...

Ohmygoodness, that bridge. And those beautiful kids.

I have been to China and Thailand for mission trips. China was amazing. You can't talk about the Gospel at all there. I definitely learned how to SHOW God's love. How to show that you live life with that light in your heart.

Thailand taught me patience. I could spend days talking about the logistical difficulties of that trip. My goodness. God totally taught me how to serve with a happy heart, no matter the circumstance!

I'm so glad you were given opportunity for God to teach you!

Bethany G said...

You're going to Ethiopia?! Ahh I want to go with you!

You're pictures from the Philippines are beautiful! They remind me of my mission trip to Peru several years ago. How wonderful it is to be with those sweet children... Nothing like it!

mary said...

I love your heart Jennifer! And your photos definitely convey that love! xox!

Denise said...

i live overseas in the uk:) and i have been going to china every summer for a couple years now. :) i love china! :) i don't know which country i belong to anymore haha. but God is awesome everywhere.x

Off Label Mama said...

Mission trips can be so wonderful for everyone involved. I've been to Spain, Portugal, and Ecuador. I liked Ecuador the best. Truly, I'm hoping that I'll be able to spend the rest of my life overseas.

Emily said...

Great pictures. G-man has been to the Philippines and he says it changes him every time, all that he sees.

I've been overseas, but not on missions trips. Seeing how other cultures live definitely, for me any way, makes me appreciate all I have and been given.

Whim Wham Life said...

I've got that travel bug too:-) The kids always steal my heart wherever I go! You are going to have such an amazing time in Ethiopia, can't wait to see pictures and hear all about it. xoxo

Annie said...

i loved reading your account and seeing your pictures. i've been overseas six times, three of those for missions. i've learned a lot during those trips - exercises in flexibility probably being the most common {ha!}. i would go on every trip i heard of if i could. i love international missions and i love to travel.

Hopeandarrow said...

The Philippines will always hold a special place in my heart. My dad has been going every year, twice a year since I can remember. I got to go when i was 14 and I am longing to go back. My dad's bff is a pastor there and he's come to stay with us several times. Your pictures make me miss it. And yes Filipinos are the most BEAUTIFUL people on the planet.

I heart Jeepneys!

Breanne said...

Hi! I've followed your blog for a while, but I'm not sure I've ever commented..oops. I have been busy planning a wedding though and I'm finally going to start working a bit more on making my way into the blog world now. ;) I love reading your posts. :)

I love international missions. It is such a big part of mine and my husband's lives. I write about missions often on my blog. we are about to be leaving for two months to go to Peru to do mission work and will be blogging often while we are there. :)
-Breanne

Mrs. Julius said...

that must have been an incredible experience. you do appreciate everything you have more when you visit these places. cannot wait to see your pics from Ethiopia.

Pamela said...

That is wonderful!

Valerie said...

I am going to Africa in September for two weeks ... I can't wait! It will be my 4th mission trip but my first one overseas! I loved your pictures!

grace said...

Last summer I had the privilege to on a mission trip to Peru with another church and a few of my fellow church members. It was a two week trip and my team signed up to do VBS for several churches there. I remember being SO excited while we prepped. When we went to our first church, the happy faces on all the beautiful children melted my heart. Just remembering about the trip does..it was one of the biggest blessings God has given me :]

Unknown said...

@TheSoulAnchor: That is awesome girl! I would LOVE to go to Ecuador one day! I hope to end up overseas one day too.

@BonBon: Oh, gosh. I can't wait to get over there. We are going to be working part of the time at a feeding clinic with poor little babies that are so skinny that their ribs show...BABIES! I'm sure I'll want to come home with a million of them....

@Annie: Yes, flexiblility is a HUGE lesson you have to learn. It's just hard to know how flexible you're going to have to be! Ha!


@Valerie: This will be my 5th! Africa sounds amazing. I'm so excited. I can't wait to post about the rest of my trips too!

@grace: Oh goodness. I had a friend who went to Peru for a whole summer. It looked amazing. Oh the children...they are so amazing. I could adopt a million of them...ok maybe not a million!

Voldemorts Daughter said...

AH I am going on that same Philippians trip in a few weeks! This was so encouraging to read! Any advice for the trip you would give?

The Thomas' said...

My husband lived in Ethiopia for 2 years. We are planning on going back too! Who are you going back with? Like what organization?? Let me know!

Stephanie said...

Beautiful pictures! I've been on three missions trips, although not overseas. I've built houses and churches in Mexico twice and worked in New Orleans after Hurricaine Katrina with a mission organization down there. They were all life changing in their own way. New Orleans was exceptionally difficult because we were working where the levy had broken and knew that they hadn't found all of the deceased yet. So that was a little unnerving. But they were all incredible experiences.

larisaa said...

I've been to the Philippines, too, and Mexico was my very first missions trip! I can't believe we are so similar. OH. And I'm going to Ethiopia in October as well. That is just craziness.

I could go on a trip every month as well. The hardest part is leaving.

Jenna Griffin | Gold & Bloom said...

i love this! the pictures are wonderful. i would like to hear more about your trip.
i just got back from a mission trip and it was just as you described--exhausting! it was so rewarding though, and God has totally given me a heart for missions. I can't wait to go again.

Lindsey said...

First of all, LOVE the pictures. Those kids are gorgeous. And I've never seen anyone ride a caribou, but I doubt anyone else can do it with as much poise as you seem to have. :)

Now, did you make that map? Because it is incredible.

I've been on mission trips overseas twice & am always ready to go again. I've been to Lesotho (southern Africa) & Mexico. One of the biggest things I learned was that we can't try to help others by providing them with what is the standard of living for Americans. It just doesn't make sense & isn't even what they need.

arielle elise. said...

oh wow...looks like it was a wonderful trip! i love looking back at old memories from trips i've taken in the past. we sponsor a boy in the philippines and jay's best friend is from the philippines so it is close to our heart :)

Ashley Slater said...

I have been missing out-- you get to go to Ethiopia?! That is awesome!

also I am sorry to hear that you were sick during your entire colorado trip. I had a similar experience, but my family was driving from georgia to new mexico and back. It was the most miserable week of my life!

Vivian said...

Wow...these pictures are SOOOOOO BEAUTIFUL. Very inspiring! Wishing you the best in your future travels. Someday I may have to go with you ;)

Unknown said...

@Arielle: That is so neat Arielle! I bet you guys would love to visit there sometime. That would be so special to see your sponsor child!

@Lindsey: Haha. They say you have to ride a caribou before you leave the Philippines. It was an experience. I wish I made the map. It's something I found a while back...but I can't remember where.

And you are so right...America, well really Christians should maybe lower theirstandards of living just a little and help give other countries what they really need. (I am totally talking to myself there too.)

Unknown said...

@Jenna: I know! I can't wait to hear more about your trip girl!

@Stephanie: Man. That is incredible that you guys were in New Orleans after Katrina. Missions are HARD! Sometimes we make them out to be easier than they are...or more fun. Still, they are good and life changing...like you said.

Chelsea girl said...

I went to Costa Rica this last summer and it changed my life. We serve a global God. There are longings in the human heart that only He can satisfy. That is not just a part of American culture, but of the world He created. I love sharing the gospel and learning about new cultures.

Gelai said...

Hi! Where in the Philippines did you actually went? I'm from the Philippines! Wish you were able to go to some of our tourist spots! It's good to know that you had fun during your stay in our country! :)

Unknown said...

@Gelai: That is really neat! Where are you from in the Philippines?We came into Manila and saw a bit of the city, but most of the time was spent in rural areas several hours away from Manila. I went back in 2009 as well, but we were somewhere is Luzon....but I'm not sure where. It was close to the north coast. I thought the countryside was breathtaking and everyone was so hospitable!

Aaron & Ashley said...

These are soo great! I am jealous, we want to get to the Philippines sometime soon, my husband is filipino! Your photos are awesome and make me want to go so bad:)

Meredith said...

totally awesome! i wish I'd done something like this before i had a baby. PS: your eyes are unreal!
YOURS, MINE AND OURS

Laura said...

Wow, that must have been an awesome experience.
Laura

Kristine@thefoleyfam said...

You are such an inspiration! I've loved catching up on your blog :) Your eyes are absolutely stunning!

Shayne said...

hi! =) this post of yours made me smile so big and made my heart so joyful that the message of Jesus is being preached to villages in the Philippines. I was born there and lived there for 14 years, then my family moved to California, now my husband and I live in Guadalajara Mexico. Jesus is Lord!!

I found your site through Arielle Royer, whom I met this year through RAVEN Ministries on an outreach in New Orleans. She's cool! =)

keep loving the Lord, and walking in His ways.

arvee marie said...

wow! you really went to the philippines! ♥ I'm so happy you had a great time there! ;) I love the picture of you and the kids! ♥

LinkWithin

Related Posts with Thumbnails