Boiled Eggs

The Filipinos have a delicacy called "balut."  This is a developing duck embryo that is boiled and eaten in the shell.  The fertilized eggs are set in a favorable environment for the embryo to form in about 10 days, then after another 8 days or so, the embryo is ready to eat.... yummy.  I have committed to eating one already, but looking at these pics make me want to change my mind.  But ehh... it's just another boiled egg right?

They get seasoned in salt and/or chile/garlic.  Balut has been eaten on Fear Factor in 2002. 

Manila to Mindanao Pt. 3

Manila to Mindanao Pt. 2

Manila to Mindanao

My Open Diary

 (This is not edited for grammatical or structural revisions... raw and uncut)

 I have always been apprehensive about going on a mission trip.  God has put it on my heart to minister to those around me through my actions and words.  There are many lost souls in my nearby community that I always told myself that I wouldn't go on a "mission trip."  But one day the pastor did an alter call for those who would like more boldness in evangelizing.  After the alter call, brother Carl asked if I would like to join him on a mission trip to the Philippines.  It sounded good at the time, but after I while I had second thoughts.   It sounds much more glamorous that I will be going to the Philippines rather than going to Martin Luther King park to feed and minister to the homeless every week, or going to minister in people from Arvin.  Those are the people that I admire; the people that are making a difference in their own communities but who don't get the recognition.  The people going to the prison every week and consistently pouring biblical truths into the inmates.  Every day I pray for boldness that I will be able to tell my unsaved friends about the grace that is freely given to those who accept Jesus as their savior.   I attempt to share my beliefs with friends when asked or pray with and encourage the students I tutor to continue to develop their relationships with Christ and stay in fellowship with him but most of the time I feel like they ignore me.  I honestly think that going on this mission trip will have a greater effect on me than the people that I am serving.  People who went on the trip before said they were inspired by the passion the Filipinos had during praise and worship services and how eager they are to hear the word.  Sometimes I take for granted that I am blessed with the opportunity to freely read the bible without fear of being persecuted or arrested.  I fear that I will start to become prideful and see myself as special for doing what I'm doing.  In reality I will have a limited effect on these people's lives, I'll be there for a mere 2 weeks.  During this time I'll dedicate myself and do whatever i need to do to help, but many times we are just alleviating pain or providing a temporary fix.  Many times these patients have chronic illnesses that require prolonged attention, which we won't be able to provide during our limited time.  Sometimes I can't help but feel extremely selfish.  I understand and freely understand the greatest gift on Earth, accepting Jesus Christ as my lord and savior.  On one hand I want to respect other people's right to develop and cultivate their own beliefs.  However, I also feel an overwhelming responsibility to lead them to the beliefs that I know to be true and the source of my everlasting joy.  It's not just their lifetime joy on the line, it's their soul's eternity on the line.  How selfish of me to not lead them to the light.  I always had fears that I would not be a good evangelist.  I am not talkative enough... I am not eloquent enough... I don't have enough spiritual gifts...  I am not passionate enough.  I am just praying that God uses me how he sees fit.  He has designed me according to his infinite wisdom, and I should just concentrate on making the best use of the gifts that God has given me.  Sometimes we spend way too much time concentrating on the gifts others have instead of utilizing the gifts God has gave us to further his kingdom.  Shot out to Jun, Lisa and the team who do this every year; I am just hoping to have an impact on at least one person's life, and everything will be well worth it. I just got my welcome packet to Ross University school of medicine today.  I am so grateful that God has given me the opportunity to work with nurses, physician's assistants, and physicians in the Philippines and just soak up information about how to properly care for the patients.  I am still significantly short on funds to cover my travel and lodging costs, but I'm confident that God will take care of my funds before it's time to head out.  More and more, I am looking for an opportunity to share the gospel, and I have noticed myself sharing with friends more lately.  I am excited about being introduced to other cultures and giving up some of the comforts I'm used to in the U.S.   I am excited about serving and sharing the good news with others!  I also realized that someone who's going on the trip isn't saved, so I invited him to church with me.  I will be praying that God touches his heart as well during the trip.


** Thank you Thomas for the $300 donation and Regina for the $25 donation.  Every amount is greatly appreciated, no matter how insignificant it may seem.  Please continue to support by prayer or funds.  God bless.

Dancing

Mama Knows Best

The Philippines are known for being a matricentric society.  Historically, mothers have been the backbone of the family.  The Philippines are the leaders in exporting nurses to meet the demands of the United States.  This is partly contributed to the Filipino culture of careful nurturing and motherly care, as many Filipinos have large families.  Mothers also generally have the duty of child rearing, discipline, and managing the affairs of the home, including finances. 

More Fun in the Philippines

On a lighter note... here's a short video showing why it's more fun for tourism in the Philippines.  And no I won't be using the money to go snorkeling, zip lining, shopping, etc. on this trip... maybe on day though.  On this trip my fun will come in the form of serving the people.


* Thanks Betty for the $25 donation, it is greatly appreciated.

Getting High in the Philippines

Leaders of previous mission trips have advised us not to give money to the children asking for money on the streets.  Instead, we are advised to pay for their food, clothing, or other essential needs.  Sometimes the parents are unable to provide adequate care for these children, so they are left to fend for their selves.  Other times these children become slowly addicted to "rugby" and leave their homes to join fellow addicts and escape the discipline of their parents.  If given money, these children will usually buy more rugby.

The "Rugby boys" are a common collective of children usually seen in the streets of the Philippines.  These boys are known for sniffing a glue-like substance to get high (rugby).  This substance is cheap and easily accessible, as there is no law prohibiting the sale of the drug to minors, and is significantly cheaper than food.  Therefore, these children use the substance to help ease the pain from hunger, neglect, and hopelessness.   

The chemical toluene gives the aromatic smell in contact cement and other glue and the culprit behind the addiction. Toluene abusers are exposed to levels above 1000 ppm (parts per million). Levels of exposure greater than 600 ppm cause confusion and delirium. Inhalant abuse causes permanent damage to the brain and may result in “sudden sniffing death”. It can also cause loss of memory, confusion or disorientation, distorted perception of time and distance, hallucination, illusion, nausea and vomiting. Inhalant abuse leads to muscle cramps and weakness, numbness of limbs, abdominal pains, damage to the central nervous system, kidneys and liver.

 *Matthew 25:40-45

Muslims VS Christians

In 1565 the Spanish officials of Cebu wrote the King of Spain requesting permission to enslave Moros (Filipino Muslims):

"We beseech his majesty and your highness in this royal name, that, inasmuch as the said Moros and others take all the gold, pearls, jewels, precious stones and other things of which we have no information—thus injuring the natives, both by giving us no opportunity to plant out holy faith among them, and by taking the said gold, they should, if they continue the said trade, lose their property and be made slaves, for they preach the doctrine of Mahoma."

This started another crusade in the Philippines in order to overtake the precious stone that Muslims in the Philippines had access to at the time.  Yet another example of the Spaniards overtaking land, under the false pretense of merely wanting to convert others to Christianity.

Filipino Muslims have endured years of betrayal and oppression from Christians and the United States military.  These years of oppression have caused the Muslims in the southern Philippines to develop a hostile attitude towards Christians. There is still hostility between Christians and Muslims in the southern Philippines, however the violence has significantly decreased.  Among these Muslim communities, bibles were strictly prohibited. 

Lisa After setting up a tent in an outdoor health clinic near an area that contained a large Muslim population, some Muslims came to get checked-up.  These Muslims were easily identified because of their turbans.  These Muslims were surprised that Lisa and her team were still treating the Muslims despite the noted hostility that they have towards Christian.  This presented the opportunity to explain the love and grace of Jesus, who commands us to love our enemies.   One of the Muslims even asked for a bible.  After arriving to the same area the next year, Lisa for the first time noticed bible studies and bibles being infiltrated into an area where bibles were once prohibited.


Matthew 5: 43-45  ⁴³ “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ ⁴⁴ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,⁴⁵ that you may be children of your Father in heaven."

Pimp My Ride

The Jeepneys are a common mode of transportation in the Philippines.  They originated as Jeeps from World War II.  After the war, their previously common modes of public transportation were virtually destroyed.  These Jeeps were sold inexpensively, as the American troops were leaving the Philippines.  The locals stripped down the Jeeps to provide more space, added a metal roof for shade, and designed creative artwork to make their Jeepney unique and personalized.  This is just another testament to the creativity and innovation that Filipinos are recognized for.  Modern Jeepneys are produced in factories within the Philippines.  Filipinos were pimping their rides way before the MTV show.

Unfortunately, some believe that the culture and uniqueness that characterizes these Jeepneys are being compromised, partly due to Western influence.  http://travel.cnn.com/explorations/life/are-we-witnessing-death-filipino-jeepney-070038


** I received $250 to support my trip yesterday, bringing my fundraising goal to $2,100.  Thank you for your support, and please continue to donate either through the Paypal link or by sending a check.
God bless.

Blue Baby

 "This baby is blue!" the medical assistant screams to the nurse, Lisa Canoy.  Lisa is in panic mode, acknowledging that this baby needs oxygen quickly.  As there is no 9-1-1 emergency service in the area, Lisa scrambles to arrange for a jeepney to take the mother and baby to the nearest doctor.  However, Lisa noticed something very strange.  The baby's mother did not seem to be rattled or worried about the baby's condition.  Thus Lisa talked with the mother, with the help of a translator, and realized that the baby has already been diagnosed with congestive heart failure at an early age.  The doctor has previously told the mother that the baby would sporadically turn blue because the heart is much weaker than normal.  The heart responds by stretching to hold more blood or becoming thicker to increase the blood flow.  However, the heart muscles gradually weaken, restricting blood flow throughout the body.  They baby was given a very short life expectancy.

The mother did not have nearly enough money to pay for the heart surgery that was necessary for the baby.  The sad reality is that the mother has already accepted the fate of the baby; she was just there to get vitamins and check-ups for her two other children.  She was smiling when waiting in line, because she was just grateful that her family was able to receive free medical attention. 

Lisa told us this story at the meeting for this year's mission trip.  In the U.S., especially as we are debating on the flaws or benefits of the Affordable Care Act, it is important to keep in mind how fortunate we are receive the emergency medical attention we have access too, regardless of the current flaws to our medical system.  

Roman Catholicism in the Philipppines

The majority of Filipinos are considered Roman Catholic.  The 2000 CIA census indicates that there are: Roman Catholic 80.9%, Muslim 5%, Evangelical 2.8%, Iglesia ni Kristo 2.3%, Aglipayan 2%, other Christian 4.5%, other 1.8%, unspecified 0.6%, none 0.1%. 

Due to a mix of religious influences and folk culture, Christianity has been distorted in many areas of the Philippines.  Some participants volunteer to get nailed to the cross as a reminder of how Jesus freely gave his life for us all, and others participate in this ceremony in order to atone for the sins of their families. 

These categories do not depict an accurate representation, as many people characterized as Catholics have adopted practices and ideals from Buddhism, Islam, Hindus, and traditional folk religion.  The general premise of Christianity, that Jesus Christ has came to atone for all of our sins, has been distorted.  Some Filipinos participate in the overt worship of Catholic statues.  Some Roman Catholics in the Philippines are under the impression that they are forgiven of their sins through their works, instead of embracing that Jesus has already died for all their sins, and has given grace to all who accept Jesus as their savior.

Medical Team

This is a picture from a previous year of the medical team setting up the over the counter medications.  Each patient is first counseled and prayed for.  There is a form that each patient must fill out in order to provide statistics of the most common ailments and which drugs were prescribed.  During or after counseling, the vitals of each patient are taken.  They are then seen by the nurse, physician assistant, or physician to determine if a medication should be described.  Many patients walk from long distances to receive a check-up for themselves and their families.  Each day, the clinic sees anywhere from 300-400 people.  The most commonly distributed items are multivitamins; Vitamin A is a noted deficiency in many Filipinos. 

My Mission

Dear friends and family:

In the days leading to June 28th, I will be posting every morning about previous mission trips, what the team leaders have taught me about the Filipino culture, and my expectations and thoughts about this mission trip.  After arriving in the Philippines, I will write about my experiences whenever I am able to.

I am excited to have the opportunity to assist Pastor Jun Canoy and his team in the Philippines this year.  We will be leaving on June 28th and returning July 14th, 2013.  This mission is organized by Living Hope Church in Newark, California.  The goal of this mission trip is to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ throughout various parts of the Philippines, including: Digos City, Davao City, General Santos, Manila, and Cagayan de Oro.

For fifteen years this church has been sending over a team of volunteers to be used by God in the Philippines.  The ministries that are serving during this trip include:

• Distribution of Medical Supplies
• Distribution of Food to the Hungry
• Prision Ministry
• Biblical Instruction for Youth Leaders
• Praise and Worship Services
• Home Building Project
• Basketball Missions Outreach Team

I will be mainly serving as part of the medical outreach team.  As a part of this team, I will have the opportunity to assist by checking in patients and collecting vital signs at the outdoor clinics. These clinics service families in impoverished areas of the Philippines.  Our team is comprised of medical students, nurses, physician's assistants, physicians, and general volunteers.  We are excited to assist in treating the physical ailments that are affecting the patients, however we also realize that spiritual health is much more important.  Physical healing is temporary, however a dedication of one's life to Jesus Christ lasts for eternity.  Therefore, before each patient gets a check-up, they are directed to counseling, where one of the volunteers will be devoted to praying and spreading the gospel with them.

Our team is currently working on a project to raise funds to pay for each volunteer to make the trip.  I'm responsible for helping to generate approximately $2,800 to offset our travel, lodging, and transportation needs.  I have currently raised $450, so I still need $2,350 by June 1 to reach my goal.  I believe that God has called me to go, and I trusting Him to allow me to raise the money necessary.
I am asking you to assist me by making a donation to help raise funds for our efforts.  The amounts that I am seeking are:
A) $500             B)$250             C)$150            D)$100

If you desire to donate more or less, please feel free to assist with any amount.  Any donation amount will be greatly appreciated.  Thank you for your provisions, and may God bless you in return.

** Donations can be sent by credit or debit card through Paypal by pressing the donate link on the home page or by check made payable to: Living Hope Church.  If sending a check, please email me at tmcgil05@gmail.com and I will send you the address.