Saturday, Dec 15

The geckos and the crickets are singing and the kids are all tucked into bed.

The team and all of the church volunteers ended the week strong. Even in the rain and then the heat, with patients pushing and traffic roaring in the background, over 300 patients were gently cared for by the efficient team of church members and community volunteers. We had two doctors and a dental team join us today as well. What a gift each volunteer has been these past two weeks.

We ended our long week with a rousing pig roast and a mustache party with the kids. We showed a slide show of our adventures to the kids and staff, did a silly dance with mustaches, and just laughed and played and danced and hugged.

Our day tomorrow starts off with Noah’s baptism. What an exciting event to share with the kids and staff who mean so much to Noah and to the Adolph family. After breakfast, we will head to a last church service with the kids. Then we will travel to Rizal (which gets us half way to Manila) and then we are headed home. We will try to check in once more from Rizal- but we may be off the grid for a few days.

How precious you all are to us! Thank you so much for your support and love and prayers.

 

Post #9 Notes from Noah

Friday, Dec 14

Notes from Noah:

Monday was a normal day. We did an outside mission today which Maricar, one of the kids, joined us on. It was our longest day that lasted from eight to five, but still provided some play time with the wonderful kids! At night, we read a devotion with the kids and did some basketball, and hide’n’seek also. Each day just gets better and better here and I am having a blast.

On Tuesday, we went to a new medical place. It was a dental and medical mission! I enjoyed watching dental stuff like pulling teeth and seeing all the dental tools. Also. Leah, and Gelyn came to the mission today too. IT was our longest mission yet, from eight to seven. Even though it was very long, I still enjoyed it!

Wednesday was very fun! First, we did a medical mission a the home of the aged. There were some very nice people there. At the end of the mission, one of the folks played his harmonica and did a small opera! After that, we went to the floating restaurant. I enjoyed most of the food there. Jeff O and Nathan tried “sea sig” for the first time! (Which was pig brain!) After eating, we came back to Sankey and wrote letters and played basketball with Genesis and Luis and Nathan. Then we read a devotion with the great energetic kids! We played after that and had a blast! We played basketball, tag and did some crafts and listened to the band practice! I had lots of fun and hope to have fun again!

On Thursday, we went to a church on the beach. It was newly remodeled. I had a fun time there on Thursday. Gelyn, Grace, Vani, and Randy came too. After the mission we went out to ride in Kuya Toto’s boat. Then we came to Sankey, and played with the kids. We did some crafts with them and I made some funny videos. Thursday was enjoyable and fun for us all.

 

Post #8 Thursday

Thursday, Dec. 13

Pastor Tenny and his church welcomed us today for a medical mission on the beach. With waves rolling in the background and with fishing boats always in view, our team helped see over 200 patients. Doc Arjel joined us again today, which was a huge help, and enabled us to see every patient and get packed up by just after 5 pm.

This was our third visit to this church- and we got to see some of the same folks that we have treated on previous visits. We were very glad to welcome back one particular family that we saw in February. Their little girl was just a few weeks old when we saw her last, and at the time, was she was very malnourished, sick, and dehydrated. We had a huge challenge trying to get a urine sample from the infant for diagnosis. Today, this little one came in with a cold, but was overall very healthy and strong. Her cheeks had filled out and she had chubby little thighs. What a blessing to see how God preserved her little life and what joy she brings to her family.

At the end of the day, a few of the team members got to jump into one of the fishing boats for a quick ride around the bay. Noah’s face was priceless when they gunned up the motor and took out to sea.

We ended the day with devotions with the kids and a craft night making Christmas picture frames with the kids. Many of the kids are starting to open up and share more with the US team members. Each of the kids are such a joy to get to know. They keep us entertained and rolling with laughter! Please pray that we can be an encouragement to them, as many of them are struggling with the ups and downs of teenage life and school and relationships.

P.S. We got to see and hold Malou and Michael's baby Tomas, who was just 11 days old! And we get to meet Blesie and Alex's daughter Karin on Saturday. What a blessing these staff members are to the kids here at Sankey- and what dear friends they are to us!

Post #7 Wednesday

Wednesday, Dec.   12

Today we visited our dear friends at the Home for the Aged. This home is a special place for the elderly who are orphaned and have no family to care for them. Several of the dear ones, like Isabel and Alejandro remembered us and were happy to smile and chat while we cleaned ears and did exams. Several of the residents and the nursing staff were suffering from skin rashes, which turned out to be scabies. So Jeff P and Toto spent most of the morning helping the staff prepare to treat every patient and nurse, as well as the nurses’ families for scabies. So along with medications, rice, sardines, and supplies, the residents will get new mattresses and scabies medication.

Please pray for these dear ones and for the staff as they prepare for this treatment and transition. It is going to be a battle to eradicate the infestation!

The floating restaurant was our next stop. What a feast! We have been so well fed here. Lucy and Lito who cook for us are fantastic chefs and Noah is addicted to Filipino food!

We also had an opportunity to rest and play this afternoon and evening. It was much needed after several long days of medical work. And now we are ready to tackle another day!

Post #6 Tuesday

Dec 11, Tuesday

Today we served at the Headquarters for the 4^th Forward Service Support Unit for the Philippine Army at their military base. We were joined by numerous community and church volunteers, as well as the Army dentist and his team.  Over 200 patients were seen- some by both the dentist and Jeff P. Kelly is ready to go back to dental school- she found the whole process of pulling teeth enthralling. And a visit to the dentist at these medical missions is really just that- a chance to get bad teeth pulled. The patients were so brave! A few of the kids cried a bit, but for most folks, it was just a relief to have the bad or infected teeth removed. And we had just enough amoxicillin to treat every dental patient who needed it.

Several of our faithful Sankey students joined us again today. Grace (our nursing student) helped Kelly and Kurt at the breathing station, Gelyn (a high school student and Mac Mac’s sister) was a help at the ear station, Leah (a high school student) was our pharmacist and translator, and Randy (a college student studying to be a marine) ran the ear station. They made our day so much fun- they kept us laughing and kept Noah entertained and busy!

Jeff had three faithful translators today- Marshi, Melissa, and Kaye. They were on their feet all day working alongside Jeff taking medical histories and speaking with patients. They were all exposed to numerous cases of lice, scabies, and some very nasty fevers, and yet they approached every patient with a smile and encouraging words.

Please pray for quick recuperation for our team- we have had two very long days and the Sankey Staff and the US team are very tired! Please pray too that our bodies are protected from the diseases that we are exposed to- both from the patients and from the mosquitos.

Post # 5 Monday

Dec 10, Monday

Today our team worked from dawn until dusk at our first outdoor mission. Jeff P was our only medical provider today, so we were extremely grateful for the arrival of the rest of our team, which included two more nurses and two extra translators. Ate Melissa arrived today with her sister, Kaye, friend, Marshi, and hubby, Mark. What a blessing to have them jump right in after their 4 hour drive!

With translators on both sides speaking to patients, Jeff P took the time to smile and care for and tease each patient. It is quite a challenge to make connections quickly with the patients, and yet, with the help of the team, each patient is cared for and listened to by volunteers.

Each day we are joined by the hard-working Sankey staff and many church volunteers. They are the behind-the-scenes cogs that keep us all organized and help the medical missions go so smoothly. They make meals, coordinate the feeding programs, get supplies, drive the team to the missions, work each station, keep the lines of patients moving, and smile, smile, smile!

We have also been blessed to have Nate, a missionary from Santa Cruz, here with us as well. He has been a great help to us on the medical missions and has a wicked sense of humor that keeps us rolling at meal times!

Two more of the students joined us today as well, and we enjoyed laughing and working alongside Maricar and Raymart. Raymart is becoming an expert at giving eye exams and Maricar counted medications and wrote labels all day with us. It is so good to reconnect with the kids and to spend some extended time with them. What lovely young people they are becoming!

Please pray for our patients, as so many of them are struggling with terrible skin diseases, strong fevers, and chronic illness. Please pray  that the medicines we gave would be effective. Please pray that those who heard the gospel message would understand the hope that it brings. Please pray for our team as well, as we touched each patient, held each child, and washed each wound.

As the week stretches before us with more long and fulfilling days ahead, please pray that our bodies remain strong, that our minds remain sharp, and that our hearts would overflow with love.

Post # 4 Sunday

Sunday, Dec 9
 
Praise God for a day of worship and fun! With buses and vans loaded with kids and staff members, we headed to a morning of worship at Bethel Bible Church. Pastor Lito preached an inspiring sermon in both Tagalog and in English on Psalm 122: 1 "I was glad when they said to me, 'Let us go to the house of the LORD!'" It is such an amazing thing to worship with our fellow Filipino believers- to sing at the top of our voices and to read God's Word together. At church we were surrounded by the Sankey kids and staff- which was so very sweet.
 
We also had the great privilege of giving the kids their Christmas present- a trip to the mall for an all-you-can-eat rice and chicken lunch and then money to spend at the mall for whatever their hearts desired. They had three hours of complete freedom at the mall to buy treats, window shop, and just hang out. What fun to play in the arcade, go to the photo booth, eat Filipino treats, go to the bookstore and just chat with the kids. 
 
Our next activity was one that Jeff P has been planning for the past two years- a GIANT slip-n-slide on the soccer field. The kids screamed and slid and dog piled and screamed with laughter some more. We also shot off bottle rockets (another treat that we have been waiting for since last year when we brought the rocket launcher but had to abort due to the February rains).
 
We ended the evening with devotions with the kids. Instead of doing one big group we broke up into small teams. This allowed us to talk to and encourage each of the kids and answer any questions they had about the Bible reading and discipleship material.
 
Special relationships with the kids are being rekindled or built anew. Many of the high school and college students need an extra dose of encouragement and love as they struggle through life and school and relationships. John Paul, the newest addition to Sankey, loves Jeff O! It is so very precious to see this little man, who just over a year ago did not have a safe place to live or grow up, laughing, playing, and building trusting relationships with others. He has the sweetest smile and the most giving heart. 
 
Note from Noah: Saturday was cool. We did some fun stuff on the medical mission. We met some guy named Herbert, he was a big help to us. I worked at the Pharmacy with Jeff O and La Ne' too. We finished early so we hug out with the kids after that and watched a movie. I was excited for Sunday so I slept pretty good. Sunday was the BEST! We went to church in the morning and went to the mall too. After that we broke out the slip-n-slide. That was wet, crazy, and wild. That was very fun! And then at night we did a devotion and played. I got some Tagolog lessons with Arlene and Genevie and Aicel. I will never forget this day!
 
Signing off for another night- sending our love to all our friends and family-
 
The Philippines Team

Post #3 Saturday Dec 8th

This morning our Team studied the following verses from Ephesians 3: 14-21

14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

These verses helped fill and encourage our hearts as we got ready for our first full day of medical missions at Pastor Danny’s church. For those of you who have been following our previous journeys, this was our third visit to this amazing little church, and it was the home of baby Sharmain who touched us so profoundly last year.

Many church volunteers had prepared the church for our arrival and, like a well-oiled machine, the Team got the medical stations set up in no time. Each patient is triaged by several of the Sankey Staff ladies who take a brief medical history, weight, height, temperature, and blood pressure. The patients all get an eye check and ear cleaning and check. Then the patients see one of the medical providers. Today Doc Arjel joined us, along with two doctors from the Department of Health. These same doctors had visited our first medical mission at Pastor Danny’s church two years ago, and they attended that first mission with a critical eye and very serious faces. Today they came in with smiles and warm greetings and were very helpful in seeing our 203 patients.

After seeing one of the medical providers, the patients may visit our wound care station or the breathing station depending on their needs. Mac Mac, one of the Sankey students who is now studying medicine, was Jeff’s translator today, and he got to assist in his first minor surgery at the wound station. We often lance infected boils or cysts, and there was a teenage boy with a very infected ear that needed attention. With instructions from Jeff, Mac Mac lanced the wound and assisted in dressing it. It is amazing to see how Mac Mac has matured and grown these last few years. He is becoming an amazing young man- and we are so excited to see how God uses him to serve others.

If the patients visit either of these two stations, they make another visit to one of the medical providers before heading to the pharmacy. All patients get a round of vitamins to take home, as well as any medication that they may need for treatment. Then each patient is prayed for by one of the pastors, and if they are interested, have the opportunity to take a correspondence course to learn more about Jesus.

With all of the help today, we were able to see all the patients by 2:30 in the afternoon, which allowed us time for rest and a bit of play. Our time with the kids tonight started with a time in God’s Word and talking through the first session in the discipleship series we will be doing with them. Then we played a rousing two games of bunko and watched a movie with the kiddos. Note: We actually watched the movie- but as we were in the gym, the echo was TERRIBLE, and we couldn’t understand a word of it. The kids had all seen it before- so they laughed and sighed at all the right places.

Thank you again to all of you who donated every vitamin and medication. And thank you for praying!

Post #2 THURSDAY AND FRIDAY

Thursday, Dec 6

After 24+ hours of travel we have arrived! We enjoyed getting off the plane in Hawaii- even if only for a few minutes to stretch our legs. The second leg of the flight was long- but allowed Jeff P time to see three patients who needed assistance on the plane. It is amazing how many people talked to us on the plane and in the airport- and how many people we were able to encourage and tell about what God has been doing in the Philippines.

We hit our first big customs snag when we arrived in Manila. It seems as if we were due after 5 trips! Its seems this go round that we did not have all of the appropriate paperwork for the boxes and boxes of supplies that were donated. They pulled our whole team aside and gave us two choices- we could leave all of our supplies in customs and wait for the appropriate paperwork to come through (which can take several days) or we could pay high duty and taxes (up to 30% of the value of the supplies) to release them from customs. After an hour of fervent prayer and many phone calls, we got permission to pay 4000 pesos (the equivalent of 90 US dollars) so that we could leave the airport with all of our supplies. This was a huge praise- as they could have been super tough on us.

Friday, Dec 7

I will let Noah (age 11) tell you about his first impressions of Sankey on Friday morning:

My first impression was how beautiful the orphanage was. I was shocked to know how nice people are here and how many people know Jesus outside the orphanage. When we got off the plane, two or three people greeted us and said that they loved our T-shirts which said "God belongs in this city." I know from the beginning this is going to an experience I'll never forget.

Today was very fun. We did our first medical mission, and hung out with the kids! The medical mission was fun and there were some really nice people helping us there too! After that, we came back to Sankey and had fun with some of the kids. The kids were crazy, energetic, and fun all at the same time! I had lots of fun. Love, Noah

-----

We spent Friday morning getting unpacked and sorted in preparation for our first day of medical missions. We gave Noah and Jeff O a quick tour of the Sankey campus and got to chat with some of the kids and staff members. The volunteers from Bethal Church came and spent the morning helping us get ready and then going thru a quick crash course for all of the medical stations. They all had great attitudes and jumped right in to help whereever needed.

At Bethal, we saw over 100 patients in just over 4 hours. Our good friend Doc Arjel came and helped us out again. He took time out of preparing for his general surgery rotation to spend the day loving on people and seeing patients. Jeff P also had help from one of the Sankey nursing students, Grace, as a translator and super assistant. All of our volunteers did a great job- even with all of the yucky jobs like cleaning ears and taking urine samples.

The evening time was spent with the students doing a devotional, putting together a puzzle, and making bead necklaces. It was a great time to just hang out with the kids and hear how they were doing. All of the high school students have their summative exams on Saturday- so please pray for wisdom and recall of knowledge as they take their exams.

Praise God for a good first day! It was a great warm up for what is to come.

Post #1 "Philippines here we come!"

We are getting ready to board the plane  for our first leg of the flight to Hawaii. Our team is hoping that we will get a bit delayed in the beautiful Hawaiian Islands on our way home ;) Thank you to everyone who was so generous in getting us ready for our adventure! We are truly blessed to be the bearers of all of you gifts, letters, and hundreds of pounds of medication.

Already we have seen God's Hand at work in so many ways. About 36 hours before we headed out we got a last minute request for ostomy supplies. Usually these supplies take us several weeks to get and can be very expensive, but we found an ad on Craig's List and the supplies were hand delivered to us from Santa Cruz at 1/2 the cost and in plenty of time to pack them up for the trip. Super amazing!

Please pray for safe and restful travels, for clear passage thru customs, and that all of our supplies make it through the plane change.

The Philippines Team

Day 13, February 21st

San Jose, CA

We are home! We arrived safely last night- a bit worse for the wear with a flu bug that attacked the whole team and a nice skin parasite that made our first day home a bit itchy. But we are home!

We had a lovely time visiting with David and Naomi and their sweet baby girl. We also got to meet David's mom- Mommy Linda, who has been a missionary in the Philippines for 30+ years. It was a great reunion for Jeff and La Ne'- and provided some shopping time at the Mall of Asia for the rest of the team.

Thank you again to all of you who supported us in prayer and with gifts of letters, supplies, and money for the projects at and around Sankey. We were able to give and love generously because of your support! May our God keep you and bless you.

Signing off- The Philippines Team Fabulous Five

Day 12, February 19th

 Rizal Recreation Center

We wrapped up our trip with time at the Rizal sports camp with the kids and staff. We started the morning with a devotion on discipleship, led by Jeff, along with worship, lead by Junior, Heidi, La Ne' and some of the other talented Sankey girls. We followed this time of fellowship with playing, swimming, a water balloon fight, and more ice cream.

It was bittersweet saying good-bye to the kids and staff and sending them home in the jeepneys. We love them all so much! We are all praying that God allows us to return again next year to serve here with our Sankey Family again.

We have one more visit planned with our dear friends and missionaries David and Naomi tomorrow, and then we head off to the airport.

Please pray for traveling mercies and for all of the sick team members. Pastor Steve was able to say good bye to the kids and staff this afternoon, but was in bed again most of today. Please pray for strength!

Day 11, February 18th

 
Doc Arjel's Community

Today we traveled several hours over a mountain and over a river in canoes to serve in Doc Arjel's community. This was an answer to both his prayers and ours- after he served with the team a year and a half ago on his first medical mission. He had a deep desire to bring medical help and the gospel to his hometown.

We started the day with a time of incredible worship and prayer at his home church with the team of volunteers. Doc Arjel has a beautiful voice and a heart for worship, and our time together helped us start our day with the right heart and attitude.

To get to the community school where we were serving, we rode six people at a time in long canoes across a wide river. With all of our supplies, the canoes sat so low on the water that our hands resting on the side of the canoes touched the water. We all laughed and giggled as each person embarked into the wobbly canoes and there were many squeals from the staff ladies as they crossed the river with their eyes squeezed shut.

After a short hike into the school, we set up the clinic in a covered area outside. We had many volunteers from the church and local community to help us, so seeing the 200+ patients went smoothly. We even had an ophthalmologist there to fit folks for glasses.

It was a happy and sad day for our team. We were so grateful to be able to serve alongside Doc Arjel's friends and church family, but a bit sad to be wrapping up our last day of medical missions.

Thank you to all of you who have been praying for us on this adventure!

Please pray for Pastor Steve, as he has been very sick with the flu, and has not been able to join us the past few days on the medical trips. The rest of the team and the staff are all fighting colds and flu symptoms. Please pray for strength of body and hearts!