Christmas pageant

For the first time, the children wrote their own script, directed themselves with a little help from us. Their costumes were clothes with a hole cut out for their heads and a little sash for the belt, doesnt look that bad at all. And make up courtesy from our own make up palettes.

For more photos: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=78172&l=3d4ae&id=588321659

(Reverse) Carolling 2008

This year, my team of 6, together with other teams went out caroling to the poorest families. These 100 plus families were recommended by our own Balikatan members in the adults ministry.

The families my team visited this year truly opened my eyes to what Mary and Joseph could have experienced. Everything looked so make-shift, so temporary. I can only imagine that even with their ‘home’ they could easily be looted from all that they own. There was no lock in place, sometimes the main ‘door’ was only a curtain.

Many of them were living in conditions that most people would not consider staying for more than a few minutes. Some homes do not even have walls, their ‘walls’ were made up of whatever they could salvage. Pieces of old material, wood, metal. It was only slightly better than a tent. Many of the children looked malnourished evident in their protruding stomachs and bulging eyes.

All of the families prayed for good health and joy in the family.

As I tried hard to hold back my own tears, the Balikatan members themselves could not hold back theirs. One family said they wanted to pray that they get to keep their home because there’s news that the land will be cleared for development. And one of our own members said “same situation as my family”.

Our loving Father really knew how to bring hope to the poor, Jesus came into our world in similar conditions, with no pillow to lay his head. Constantly on the move.

My prayer is that the poor will be empowered, those in authority will uphold integrity and look into ways of providing a better world for its citizens to live in. With job opportunities, with relocation possibilities that will enable the poor rather than place them in a position that might prove to be worse than before.

Christmas, a very good time of the year

This the season, which in Philippines has been preparing itself since September. Carols, Christmas decorations have been donning buildings since 4 months ago.

This year, we outdid ourselves in all our ministries.
Balikatan (adults) ministry packed food 150 hampers and gave them all out during the reverse carolling
Children ministry similarly packed 150 presents ranging from bibles, dictionaries, stationaries to toys.
Youth ministry had a very simple Christmas get-together for the first time.

And our small community celebrated together in our usual way of celebrating life, with members and guests coming from nations:
Singapore,
Malaysia,
Indonesia,
Philippines,
The Netherlands,
Czech republic,
Korea

At the end of the day, after all that is said and done, after all the presents are given out, all the food handed out, we only need to look back at the simplicity of our Lord.

He was born in darkness, in a small smelly cold place, with only animals as witnesses.
Will he be born in our hearts, in the darkest places where no one knows? It's our choice.

http://icpephilippines.blogspot.com

as defined by wikipedia : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philippine_Christmas_traditions

Parol
Though not strictly a custom, every Christmas season, Filipino homes and buildings are adorned with beautiful star lanterns, called parol (Span. farol, meaning lantern or lamp-Merriam Webster - English English- Spanish Dictionary). The earliest parols were traditionally made from simple materials like bamboo sticks, Japanese rice paper (known as "papel de Hapon") or crepe paper, and a candle or coconut oil-lamp for illumination; although the present day parol can take many different shapes and forms. The most base form of the lantern is a 5-pointed star with two "tails" at the lower two tips. Other variations are 4, 8, 10 pointed stars with the rarer 6, 16 and so on pointed stars. The parol is also traditionally made of lacquered paper and bamboo, but others are made of cellophane, plastic, rope, capiz shell and a wide variety of materials. Making parols is a folk craft, and most Filipino kids have tried their hand at making a parol at one time or another, maybe as a school project or otherwise. The most basic parol can be easily constructed with just ten bamboo sticks, paper, and glue. These lanterns represent the Star of Bethlehem that guided the Magi, also known as the Three Wise Men or Three Kings (Tatlong Hari in Tagalog). Parols are to Filipinos as Christmas trees are to Westerners- an iconic and beloved symbol of the holiday.

This is a small group of the children we work with. The Çhristmas tree is made out of string and straw and whatever material they can find.

Doing something new

The gift of self

This is one of our children (the older sister) who regularly attends the weekly children ministry. She is one of many children who bring their younger brothers and sisters to the sessions even though these sessions are prepared for their (9 and above) age group.

While the teachings, activities, singing is happening, these older ones take care of their younger ones as a parent would take care of their own. Often they cannot participate in games, sometimes while doing the activity, they run off halfway after the younger ones, sometimes running home for a quick change of clothes once the young ones soil them.

All part and parcel of life here.

These older ones are giving the gift of themselves, learning from this early an age the gift of self sacrifice. Often I think of children of the same age in other more progressive countries, where all they need to concentrate on is their school work and how sibling rivalry is so rampant.

2 lizards in a sink

The other day, we woke up to find 2 mature size lizards in our sink. They probably fell in and couldn't climb out of the slippery sides of the sink. When we gave it a gentle probe, they didn't move, they were not dead yet but they are probably very tired from trying to escape.

Then we had a grand idea, since none of us were brave enough to handle them, and they couldn't get out, we gentle placed an old chopping board sideways into the