Pastor Rolly commented that I hadn't updated my blog since April, so here goes. I've had ideas, but they usually are written in my head but that's where they stay. It has been a really busy summer due to teaching the summer bridging program. The kids are in school from 8-2:15, which was nice because we got to leave at 2:45. I was able to swim about 3 times a week in the afternoons, which has been really been nice. By the way, swimming in an uncovered pool in the summer does wonders to one's pigment....
One of the highlights of the summer was the fact that Anya was here reviewing for her Nutrition board exam. She stayed near the UP campus, but we were able to get together several different times. She stayed with me her second weekend here, then we went to Molino's anniversary service and I went home with the Maramaras (after taking a detour to Tagaytay just for coffee!) and attended their morning service. We weren't able to get together the following weekend but during her last week, we got together spur of the moment on Wednesday and then again for the weekend. Loved chika-ing with her. :)
This country is rather obsessed with malls, and even if we have SM Department Stores/Malls on every corner, people still go all crazy when a new one opens. In May, a HUGE SM opened right across the street from another mall across from school. It caused INSANE traffic that day because everyone was flocking to the mall like they had never seen one before. I attempted to go swimming that day, but the pool was crowded, and thanks to all the people flocking to the mall, I had to walk about an hour back to school. Haha. Even if I didn't swim, I got my exercise that day. By the way, the new mall is really boring. It's all full of high-end brands and expensive stuff. One of my students told me yesterday that I should definitely go to this shoe store there that specializes in checking your feet to see if you are flat-footed or need special shoes. Ha. Know how expensive that will be????
We've had some adventures this term as far as the kids are concerned. The Grade 7 kids moved upstairs, but some of them still come down to bug me. One of them only wants to talk to me in hopes of getting Potchi. Two of the boys came to see me yesterday in hopes that I'd help them on their English homework. They were very miffed that I wouldn't help them. Last year's batch has issues about friends and immaturity stuff, but this year's batch has issues with bullying and disrespect. It's really been a challenge dealing with some of them in particular. My last class of the day is particularly draining because 4 of the boys have no sense of respect or self-control. It's always a good reminder about how small I am and how much I need God's wisdom in dealing with these kids. Just when I start to think, "I've got this..." because it seems like everything is going well, something will happen to smack me back into reality and remind me that apart from Him I am nothing.
This year, we participated in the Global Discipleship Congress. It was the first of its kind here in the Philippines. Sixty-one countries were represented. There were about 7000 delegates plus 1,600 volunteers to help run the conference. Christ's Commission Fellowship (CCF), a mega-church here, hosted it in partnership with another mega-church from Singapore. It was held at the new CCF worship center which can accommodate 10,000 people. Oftentimes we are tempted to judge mega-churches or even those who are not "Reformed Baptist." After going to a Christian college, I am always put to shame by the zeal and love for the Lord that many people from other denominations have. How dare we make our theology a source of pride. Many times, I believe we as Reformed Baptists can tend to be all head and no heart. We lose the emotion when going for theology. We even lose the zeal because we are so concerned with getting it right theologically. Theology is important, but I wish I had even half of the heart for God and for the lost as many people in other Christian circles have.
The emphasis of the conference was on making disciples. "Disciplining" others is the new buzzword, I guess. It has a lot to do with the "small group" trend that a lot of churches are now using. Grouping and use of "disciplining" aside, the heart of the whole conference was on personal holiness and the Lordship of Christ. They never talked about discipling others without first talking about our heart condition with God. It even went down to the home. One of the sessions heavily emphasized the importance of discipling your own children before you disciple anyone else. One of the speakers was Ravi Zacarias and I was very excited to hear him live for the first time. I was impressed at how much and how clearly they emphasized the exceeding sinfulness of sin and how we need to be certain of our standing before God. I was also convicted in how I teach my students, particularly in cell group. I need to be much more intentional at pointing them to Jesus. We talk about sin and salvation, but really getting to their hearts is another matter. Only God can work change in their hearts, but I need to be much more intentional and direct with my girls. It was also a good reminder for my own personal walk with Jesus. I am walking in conformity with Him or am I only offering Him half a heart.
One of the other highlights of the conference was the presence of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and the President of the Philippines. The Chief Justice was there for Ravi Zacarias's second message. She's a professing Christian, and based on what she said and her prayer requests, she seems to be really sincere about her faith. After Pastor Tanchi talked about the story of Esther, someone prayed for her. We also prayed for the President. That was the first time I heard him speak. He was definitely Catholic, but God is capable of changing his heart. :)
As far as MCBC news goes, we had the joy of witnessing the baptism of another teenager. Bambam grew up in the church. People used to say we look alike. Actually, my toddler pictures and her toddler pictures and especially her sister's pictures look a lot alike. Bambam is 17 and she was one of my recorder students way back when. :) It reminded me again of my baptism 9 years ago. I was baptized on June 4, 2004. It was a good reminder to listen to the covenant of membership again and to meditate on the death and resurrection of my Savior.
Back to school news. The kids just finished writing their fractured fairy tale plays. I think I taught it better this time and the kids were also more proactive in getting it done. Some of the plays are absolutely hilarious. None of them are total flops, which is an improvement from last year. Let's just hope the performances are even better too. :) Here is an excerpt from one of the fractured fairy tales. The original is the Princess and the Pea.
Queen: Why not host a ball in 1 week? That way you can find a real girl. Try hitting them with a bat. If they pass out, then they are a real princess. Real princesses have such delicate skin....
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Servant: Yes, your majesty. But if I, may please do not hit the girls with a bat because they might hate you. Only hit them if it's absolutely necessary.
Prince: But in finding a girl, EVERYTHING is necessary.
Servant: I know, I know, but if they already like you the way you are, DON'T HIT THEM.
Prince: Thank you for your opinion, I will try not to hit them.
Servant : Thank you young sir.
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Narrator: There were about 16 girls there
Prince: Oh well...Time to whack everyone! Give me a bat.
Servant 2: Yes sir here you go .
Prince: (Holding a bat) Thank you now leave my precense servant.
Girl 1: I love this party...and this cocktail...DELISH!
(Prince sneaks up on girl 1 and whacks her with the bat.)
Girl 1:*hurting* Ouch! It's okay I've felt worse.
Prince: Not a princess...Leave this party!
Girl 1: (angrily thinking) I hope he doesn't find any princess! He is the worst person ever!! He should stay a forever alone!!
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They giggled the whole way through writing it. Last year I had 3 clowns in Jordan A and this year I have 3 more clowns in Jordan A. It must be a thing with Jordan A boys. They were responsible for most of that Prince and the Bat play. Originally it was supposed to be the Princess and the Playground and the test of her being a true princess was for her to get rashes when she slides down the playground slide. I told them that was really weird, so one of the boys decided it would be more fun to whack the girls with a bat.
Yesterday we said goodbye to one of the Grade 7 girls. She's migrating. Her class threw a surprise goodbye party for her. There was a TON of food, thanks to the kids. When she walked in the room, she immediately started crying. The girls on the other side of the room were crying their eyes out. The boys were punching each other and laughing. I was on the side of the room with the boys, but then she came running to me and was hugging me and crying. Emotional people... The boys were more concerned with getting to the food part because there had pizza, mojos, fried chicken, 4 cakes, Krispy Kreme donuts, cookies, cupcakes, and tons of other stuff. Some of the teachers prayed for her and of course she bawled through the whole thing, but the good news is, now she knows she's loved. She thought the world was against her this past week. In fact she was crying to me the day before about how her best friend is not her best friend anymore and nobody cares that she's leaving, etc. All her drama issues apparently got temporarily fixed yesterday. One of the boys was walking around saying, "This is the most awkward thing I've ever been to." OH MIDDLE SCHOOL.......
I now believe that I have the right to not write another post for the next 5 months. This was long enough to cover for the next 5 months. :)
