Philippines 2024
Today we had an early start... we decided that we would get up early and watch the sun rise, so we were out by the beach at around 5am. After watching the sunrise, we did our devotions and sang some worship songs at the beach. While we were there a
Philippines 2024
Today we went to the church that Cassandra goes to. We were greeted by a very excited bunch of children who were singing and dancing. Some of the kids came to us and gave us a necklace. Cassandra was the one who gave my necklace, and she also gave me
Philippines 2024
Today was an exciting day - I finally get to meet Cassandra our sponsored child. We were taking all the kids that the group sponsored for a fun day out at Cebu Ocean Park which is a giant aquarium which also has some other animals such as snakes, and birds.
Philippines 2024
Today we went to another Church that partners with Compassion, to see the work that Tearfund do via Compassion at this church. This church was not located on the side of the road like many others were, instead we got off the bus and walked through the slums to get
Philippines 2024
Today was Sunday, so instead of visiting a center to see what was happening, and the work being done with the kids, we went to church at one of the places that is part of the compassion projects. We listen to a sermon from a passionate pastor in relation to
Philippines 2024
As we begin the next part of the trip, we start by looking at our Tearfund Experience Travel Journal where we are asked to consider the book of James Chapter 2, verses 1-17, specifically verse 5 which says: Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who
Philippines 2024
Today was a day where I was moving from my own accomodation to the accomodation arranged by Tearfund as we move towards starting the formal part of the trip with Tearfund. I have been waking up fairly early in the morning still so was up by 6ish, and after a
Philippines 2024
The main event of day two was a 4 hour tour around Cebu guided by Mary. I found this tour on Air BnB for a very reasonable rate. If anyone is visiting Cebu and would like to have a tour, Mary has quite a few different options, you can see
Philippines 2024
Day 1 was planned to be a relatively relaxing day to ease into being in a different country, the heat, and get over the travel, maybe have a sleep in. I woke up at around 6.30am so no sleep in, but still got about 10 hrs sleep. I slept
Philippines 2024
My trip to the Philippines was Auckland -> Singapore, then Singapore -> Cebu. The first leg of the trip went well, surprisingly they served “Supper” even though it was like 2am (NZ time) by that time. Supper was a bread roll, some meatballs and mashed potatoes with a
Philippines 2024
Today was a bit of a weird day - We had a few things left to organise, and some normal every day life stuff to do. I also had to be at the airport later in the evening for my flight, but for the rest of the day there wasn’
Philippines 2024
Over the weekend we went out an purchased some things for Cassandra and her family. Tearfund provided a list of example items that would be suitable for different age ranges. We purchased things like clothes, games, basket ball with pump for Cassandra, and for the family things like simple cooking
Philippines 2024
Not that I knew it at the time but the road to the Philippines began way back in 2017. There was a church service at which Tearfund had a chat about the work that they do, and also there was an opportunity to sponsor a child. The church that I