Mary's Musings...

I just wrote this on FB:
Doing well at the NTM Conference! I'm loving getting to know these amazing kids from so many different cultures...and families too! I have to pinch myself sometimes to really believe I am in a tropical paradise hanging out with people who love Jesus enough to reach the lost, from all over the globe (Germany, Ireland, Canada, Australia, Philippines Islands, and the US:) My kids team is doing awesome:) Allie Tibbets and i went down a big water slide with the kids today, which made us look even cooler in their eyes.

The first day of VBS went pretty well, but we definitely had our kinks to work through as a team. Today went wonderfully! We have had the kids in the morning from 8-12 for our VBS program and then again in the afternoons so that their parents can attend a session. Tomorrow we will have a free afternoon. Some of the team has been volunteering to help out with childcare in the evenings so the parents can go to the Session together.

The evening sessions have been a huge blessing! Sitting in under Pastor James' messages have been SO much of an encouragement as well as Freddy's worship leading. I know this is a spiritual time of refreshment to be here with these people...and not necessarily a realistic perspective of life in the Philippines, but nevertheless, Im super grateful!

This afternoon Allie and I finally had some time to hang out with the kids and missionaries during free time. We've been planning for the next day in VBS so much, getting ready for the next day, having meetings and tweaking things, that the only time we've had to mingle with these people has been during meals and the evening session (which is like church). So free time is very accepted!
Yesterday during free time, the men and a few brave women played soccer in the MUD!! Its been raining for the past 2 days and there is LOTS of mud. In fact, when we were taking the kids over to snack time today, we made the mistake of going through sloshing mud hidden under green grass. We were all covered thick and were grateful for a hose nearby.

The weather has been beautiful! Its been in the 80s and didn't rain until the second day. The people here are funny - they think you have to dress in pants and sweatshirts when the temp drops below 75. They also said the pool was freezing and it was an average pool temp.

The kids are so cool to get to know! They don't like to wear shoes, still don't like rain but don't mind the mud, are dare devils on the water slide, way good at soccer and sports (because they don't watch TV in the tribes), are really well behaved, say the funniest things and have CUTE accents (especially the little German kids who also know Tagolag).

Thank you SO much for your prayers for everyday! Everyone has been feeling better and getting sleep. We are having a blast and would appreciate prayer to take advantage of the moments and conversations left in these last 2 days at the Conference.