Week 1

Week one, what shall I tell you about week one? About the insane weather that reached over 90 degrees each day coupled with a humidity index of over 97%; and most importantly how summer is about to start in a few weeks...yes I said "about to start"! Or maybe I can go a little further back to my departure with all its gut wrenching pain, seeing my Mother's eyes well up with loneliness even before I departed while my Father paraded what he thought was a facade of strength, sorry Pop it hurt me too...and my sister, ahhh Tanya; Makes you regret all those stupid fights and nights of barely speaking to each other huh? Completely not worth it, no matter who's fault it was over any situation, not worth it. Oh how can I forget what I believed to be a clever idea of jamming my bag with no regard to the total weight, because after all they can only charge me once for over the limit...so I thought. Off I went to forcibly purchase another bag ($45 -much like the other 5 I have sitting at home), and perfectly balance the weight to keep my third bag charge at a nice round number of $150. Yeah that got my trip kick started off to on the right foot. There is also the account of the killer mosquitos that viciously and repeatedly attacked me until there was not an inch of skin without a bite, seriously over 2oo bites at last count. Again, you read correctly, over 200 bites!

I was blessed with some praise reports too though. To start, the young lady who enforced the weight limit (I still say she could have let me pass, 92 lbs is not thaaaat heavy, BTW-the limit is 50lbs per bag, the other bag tip-toed in at 53lbs) felt so bad that she got me an aisle seat in the front row all the way to Korea, NICE! And upon landing in Soul they had the best coffee American money can buy ($6 for 8 oz. and totally worth it) all while fully taking advantage of the free wi-fi, hey I had 4 hours to burn, so I wrote to my peeps, well whoever was online at the time-Max, Yvette, Tanya, and Dawn! And here is the kicker, so after 21 hours of flying and waiting on connecting flights Tito Jessie and Tita Nestie pick me up and directly take me to her cousin's house. Great so I'm thinking, "C'mon people I was just on a plane for the better part of 24 hours, can a brotha get some rest?" Ahhh yeah of little faith, "So I say to you ask, and it be given to you; seek and you will find; knock at it will be opened to you for to everyone who asks receives for everyone who asks receives..." Luke 11:9-10 We get to her cousin's (Lita) house, which is nothing short of immaculate, and she has this killer spread laid out for me! I mean us. But that's not all Bob, tell the people what else you won....A NEW CAR!!!

No, not a new car but at that moment what I got was better. A relaxing evening at one of Manila's best and most exquisite resorts. I promptly found the most comfortable lawn chair in front of the pool and went to work on sawing some wood. I must have snored something awful 'cuz I was dead tired. When I awoke from my comatose state, I was greeted by another meal, and well can't say no. It is bad manners and I might offend my host, so reluctantly I obliged and forced down another tantalizing meal. What's a poor missionary to do? The night was capped off with the harmonizing sounds of your’s truly Karaoke-ing to classics such as Sweet Caroline, The Piano Man, and Sarah Smile. I scored a 100% once and 99% twice, how do you like them apples?!

Oh my, I have yet to tell you what I actually did this first week huh? Gosh well time is not my ally so perhaps I should use this blog in the manner I intended it to be use…for pictures to speak and not me? Okay quick rundown, you are acquainted with every detail of my first day, so for the rest of the week I basically helped Tito clean up the “office” and make it suitable for two missionaries to call it home for the next ten months. Some shopping for supplies was involved and plenty of sweat labor. Best of all though, it provided some bonding time with my host parents who have been nothing short of fabulous. They have a fierce passion for the LORD and will not be stopped from proclaiming HIS good news. So I bid you adieu my peeps, well at least ‘till next weeks installment.

in HIS service,

me!