As a returner, I noticed that a lot of things are different in this year’s Philippines Service Trip than last year. First of all, the working environment is a bit different. Last year, we dug holes for a nursery center that will be built. When I came back this year, I saw a three-storied building that was already built, so the works we did during construction is very different from last year’s. Secondly, the members of this trip are quite different from last year. They are OP. I love them. Another one, I appreciate them, especially because they are very easy to get along with. I was worried at first because many of my close friends did not come to Tacloban this year. However, I made new friends throughout the trip, and I appreciate them. Overall, I am enjoying this trip very much.
Hey, it’s Eli :). So as you might know I am here in Tacloban right now, a really beautiful Island with a breathtaking beach right in front of the door. I really enjoy everyday here more and more because each day all the students and also the teachers grow more to one family, that is there for you each second when you might get tired, or where you just feel like giving up. But of course I came to Tacloban with the thought of sharing love and serving other people, that have had a hard past. I just love the thought of being able to give a part of me to people who might need it. Each time we went to the feeding, I had so many special moments. But not only when we went to the feeding, even the hard construction work in the Lighthouse sometimes in the hard rain or in the burning sun just gave me a special feeling. The moment when you work together with the Filipinos as a team, for other Filipinos is just a feeling that no words can describe. It might sound weird but it is true. At night before dinner, when all the kids come to the Lighthouse, the place where we are staying we have the possibility to get to know each of the kids more, and it is so awesome because they will love you just like you love them. However I really love what I am doing and I am proud that I started this without fear and still work myself through the day without being scared of any kind of happening that I could face. And I am also so thankful to all the people that are here with me, and who are there for me each second, people who would share their last drop of water with me. So yeah, I already made a lot of nice experiences and I am looking forward to learn more each day that I have left in Tacloban and I will never forget this trip and all the people here!! – Eli
Today is Saturday the 6th. Life here in Tacloban is rapidly coming to a close. My group leaders, Ms. Thao and Ms. Thornton, ask my LAL (Learn About Love) group our highs and lows of the day. As the week goes on, I find that more highs are rising to the surface and the lows are nowhere to be found. On the first few days of the trip we would mildly complain about the construction and the hot sun giving us sunburns and darker skin. But nowadays, we are thankful for the time we have together pulling out nails and shoveling rocks into bags.
This is my second year going to Tacloban but definitely not my last. Many of us who came last year were wondering if this year would even compare to the last trip. I was skeptical because many of my friends from last year were in another city (Manila). As I get to know more and more people here and learn their stories, I find myself thinking about the pain that will be present when we have to share “cya laters.” I used to think this trip was just about serving the Filipinos, but this year I came to the same conclusion as last year: it is about serving God. Serving God through helping the Filipinos, friends, and teachers. As we serve one another we grow closer and form stronger bonds. So, this year is different than last year but same in the amount of memories and love shared throughout the group. In conclusion, this is an unforgettable year. Hello, I am Jiwon. This is my 5th day in Tacloban. I am really enjoying my trip with my friends here. Although this trip requires a lot of money and time, I believe that good memories and experiences I have here are much worthier. I went to Manila last year but I came to Tacloban this year, since I wanted to challenge myself with new environments and relationships. Even though I had memorable time in Manila, there are some parts that I like more in Tacloban. There is more free time in Tacloban. I play basketball and soccer, make bracelets, sing songs, play card games, drink coconuts and mango juice, and swim at beach with my friends and children. Many people say that Tacloban is not fun since there are more constructions. However, that is not true! Constructions in Tacloban are much funnier here. We are building a community center and it is already 3rd floor. It is fun to move cement and to hammer wood with friends. I also really enjoyed feeding. I went to a kindergarten, shared food with kids, learned Tagalog from children, sang songs with them, and played games with them. Although they met me for the first time, they were really friendly. I asked them, “Am I maganda?” which means “Am I pretty?” but they told me that I am “bang et” which means ugly. My favorite part was worship time. I was super duper blessed when I was singing with kids. I felt so much love when children were keep calling my name and smiling at me during the worship time. I love everything here and I cannot believe that already 4 days past. I am so thankful that God gave me this wonderful chance to experience beautiful magical things.
Hey, it’s me Wendy! I’m in Tacloban right now. It’s like my fourth day in Tacloban I think. I am quite enjoying this trip. I did not really expect this trip to be an awesome trip because it’s only a service trip, but actually it turned out to be a great trip. The first day when we arrived to our base camp, I was amazed with how great the Tacloban team’s base camp was. There was a basketball court and a soccer field. So anyways, what we had been doing was four things everyday. Going to feeding, cleaning our rooms, helping the kitchen work, and construction working. Everyday we had one rotation so we got to have two works in a day. Construction work was the hardest part to me because there was no rain pouring on me so you basically had to work under a sunny day. However it was a good experience to me because I never had done this work before and I saw some Filipino workers that were around my age. I would love to visit Tacloban next year and build more relationship with the people who are living in Tacloban.
This trip to Tacloban has been amazing so far. That I am making this statement might come a little unexpected to some, as I have spent the last couple of days at the local hospital here in Tacloban City. I came to the Philippines to serve and help others, yet something different happened: I was helped and I am served. The team has been taking excellent care of me and even though I felt very helpless at times, they cheered me up and made me smile. Now that I am back at the Light House base camp it is my turn to motivate my ISC classmates as they go out on feedings or when they are having a hard time at the construction site. The last couple of days have taught me a lot about love and friendship in a way that I had definitely not expected before going on this trip. – Marie
Day four is here and it is finally a day where it didn’t rain. It has been wet and soggy for much of our time as we work and serve. There are two main projects we are working in Tacloban. The first project is going to surrounding areas and serving food to children. During this time many of the students also interact with the local children by playing tag, singing songs, and playing hide-and-go seek. The second project is working on constructing a 4th floor at the Lighthouse center. This requires moving large amounts of gravel and sand to the 3rd floor in preparation to pour concrete pillars. It’s incredible watching students adapt so quickly to new situations and challenges. They are each so willing to sacrifice their own comfort to not only help, but also learn from the Filipino kids and people.
Last year I came to Tacloban, here in the Philippines. To my amazement, much is different. First of all, I didn't get sick last year. Unfortunately, I¹ve had a fever and sore throat today, but I¹m feeling
better now. The greater and more important difference is, now in the place of what used to be shallow mud pits stands a building in amazing progress. There are some things that remain the same though, such as the people here. The people of the Philippines is where the real amazement lies. For every second of this trip (even last year), gratitude is what I keep learning about. I have so much, and I complain about the things that I don¹t have. The people here, however, have so little, and they show thankfulness in the small amount of things that they have. I admire the people here so much; despite their conditions, joy is shown in their faces all the time. This trip has been teaching me that I need to be more thankful for God¹s love given to me. I need to recognize God's love first, which is what I have been trying to do. The people here in Tacloban radiate God's love, and I want to learn from these people. Even though construction, getting sick, and the rainy weather has made the beginning of this trip a bit tough, I¹m still so happy to be here learning about God's love, and I can't wait for what the rest of this trip has in store for everyone here. Joyelle Hello my lovely and hot mama papa. It's me Ki won. I'm having a great time with my friends and
people here. We all doing lots of works to help and humble for people here. I feel so great that I came Tacloban to help those people cause at least I am doing something for people who had horrible disasters. I can feel love among people and it is so warm. We are working on building and it is super exhausting. I'm about to die but still I feel like it is worthy. I love my life here and miss you so much I cannot wait go back to Shenyang and tell you all the happy and great memories that I got from here. Love you. Watsup peeps it’s your homie Danie here. To be honest, right now I’m still just super exhausted from our horribly long travel day on Saturday. I woke up at 4:30 to catch a 10:00 flight, had an 8 hour layover at this small terminal in Pusan, Korea, and then had another 5 hour layover from 1:00-6:00 am in Manila. I probably got a total of 2-ish hours of sleep that whole time. Besides being extremely sleep deprived, it’s been good to be back in Tacloban. This is my second year, and so far it’s been quite different, but still fun and exciting nonetheless. The coolest thing to see since being back is how far the building beside the Lighthouse has come. Last year, they only had stakes in the ground to plot out the dirt land when we started. We spent the whole trip digging up the foundation for the new building, and in one year since, they have completed two whole floors, and are started on the third. It’s just cool to see how much work is being done here to make the Lighthouse a better place to shine God’s light to the people of Tacloban. Like our trip leader said in this morning’s devotional, the work we do here will get done whether we come or not, but it’s still a great opportunity for us to be part of God’s big plan and have front row seats to the great things He’s doing here. That’s watsup right now, and I’ll talk to you guys later! Love and peace
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SYIS Tacloban Team
10th - 12th Grade Students from Shenyang, China ArchivesCategories |