Philippines!!!

Hey! We're still doing really great here. We're having a blast and getting to know one another and the culture so much better. We're excited for home but we're also going to be very sad to leave this place as we will miss it very much. I know that the relationships we've formed have made a positive impact and our experiences won't be forgotten. We have huge smiles on our faces as the parents, children, and pastors light up when they see us coming. Everywhere we've gone we have felt so safe and so welcome.
Yesterday we went on a 6-7 hour car ride up the mountain to Baguio City. It was very very different from every place we'd been thus far. It was very difficult for us to be separated from Jun and Joel while they attended district convention - a good hint of how hard it will be to say goodbye to them. We've done a lot of sightseeing lately. Filipinos are very very proud of their country and love to show it off. We have been blessed so much by the creativity of God's nature. The flowers, animals, mountains, sky and trees are so beautiful here. We wish that our stories and pictures could truly explain our experiences... but they'll never be able to.
Today and tomorrow we will be back with Jun and Joel before we fly out Friday morning at 7am. They have planned more sightseeing and some wrap-up debriefing in order for us to process what we've experienced in a healthy manner. It is our desire that the seeds we've planted will reap a plentiful harvest. Because we've been the first Americans to ministery in most of the churches here, we pray that we've been a positive light of our Savior's love. We hope that world impact can continue to play a part in the spiritual development of the provinces. We know the people would love that.
We had shirts made for this trip and it says - 36 hours on a plane, 5 days on a boat, and 12 hours in a Jeepney . . . going to the Philippines - Timeless. Oh so true! The theme for World Impact this year is announce joy - and we are filled with joy at the presence of the people.