Soccer Clinic

The team woke up at 5.30 in the morning and were expected to be ready by 6 to head out to the Ynares Multi-Purpose Sport Centre where we put on a free soccer clinic for the local kids. The team was responsible for teaching basic skills and techniques to kids, who while may know some things, have never experienced a full soccer experience due to lack of soccer fields. Three stations were set up to teach passing, dribbling and shooting, and the team led 50 kids through different drills with the help of the Journey for Hope Soccer team. After this, the Rehoboth team played against Journey’s team in an intense and very close match, however, Journey team emerged victorious with a score of 2-1. After this we then split the kids into groups of 5 kids with one Rehoboth student as a coach, and these small teams played scratch matches against each other. After this the we gave out prizes and medals to the best kids in their categories, and then broke for lunch. More fun scratch matches took place and then another casual match against Journey took place. Eventually the team finally finished everything and packed up, and headed back to the YMC where we swam and relaxed until dinner. Then the team split up into green/blue and red/yellow teams to go to the Journey for Hope and the Orphanage, respectively, for devotions. Afterwards, we returned and then headed back out on trikes (small motorbikes with attached carriages) to the fast food chain called Jollibee, where the team was given a set amount of money to buy different food, while still leaving enough money to rent trikes back home… one group of the team missed this little detail, which resulted in much begging and bartering for other group’s spare money. Then the team finished up the day with a journal debrief and devotion session.

Tyler: Hey Mum, Dad and Ayns :D Having a great time right now, especially after the soccer matches today! Only problem is I’ve almost lost my voice from so much shouting >.< Love ya guys.

Beth: Hey family! Been having such an awesome time, with some unforgettable experiences that I’ll have to fill you in with when I get back.
I’m sure you’re all having a brilliant time together! Miss you and love you all loads! Xx

Simon Bryant: hey mum, hope you’re doing ok and I love you heaps. X

Chanelle: Hey Dad and Jacqueline! Having such a memorable time here and I hope you’re all doing well which I know you are. Love you guys heaps; you’ll be hearing a lot of stories when I get back! Xx

Leah: Hello to all my family back at home! Just one week left until I’m coming home, which gives me lots of mixed feelings :/ I’ve been taking lots of photos on the school camera so I’ll have lots to show you when I get back hopefully. Hoping all of you are doing well and would love to hear from all of you soon please J

Kirsten: Hey Mum, Dad and everyone else, hope all is still good! See ya xx

Jo: Hey Mum and Dad, missing you heaps! Love ya!

Church Day!

Sunday morning, we started off the day going out to Victory Church in Robertson’s mall five stories high, where we found the praise and worship in particular impressive and energetic! The pastor talked about what its like to live a life that is Temporal or Eternal, which most of us found relatable. Then ate lunch at Max’s restaurant where we tried ox tongue, chicken heart, shrimp paste, banana ketchup and a number of other interesting Filipino foods with Lester, Lorel, Ericson and Jon-Jon. After that we walked around the shops for a while and some of us (Yami and Mr Peletier) got to try the cheese covered chicken from Filipino KFC! It was interesting to see that even in popular food chains, there was a difference in culture in that they had rice, or different things in their meals.

We then headed back home and the boys went out to help set up a soccer clinic, but instead ended up watching a high school basketball game. We rode in a trike from the basketball game to the YMC which was a thrilling and excitement. Some of us had to squish in while others have been ripped off haha. Some of the girls were at the children’s home taking part of a Christmas party and gave out some balloon animals to the kids in the community. After a while we all headed back to base and were able to just have some free time, in the pool or catching up on some rest! Some of us went out to spend some time with the local kids, who really just showed so much love towards us, giving hugs, singing, laughing and playing with us. It was amazing to see how happy these kids are when all they have is so little. They treat everything so preciously, and remind us to find joy in everything no matter how small or insignificant it may seem.

From the yellow team.

Shoutout to my Mum and Dad for your prayers, hope you guys are doing well and not missing me too much! Another shoutout to Megan, hope you are doing well too! Miss you guys so much! From Enoki

Shoutout to Mum, Dad, Eryn and Zac as well as the rest of my family. Thanks for all your support, hope you’re surviving without me ;) Love you guys X - Jaz.

Hi everyone!!! I’m having a great time over here, it’s been really different, but it’s great. Hope your all doing well! Miss you all. Love Kate

Day Four - Corregidor

 Greetings from the red team! It was an early start this morning as we had to wake up at 5am. It was a 2 hour drive to Manila Port and another 2 hour ferry to Corregidor Island. Corregidor Island is a small rocky island at the entrance of Manila Bay. It played a significant role during World War Two and is now a memorial for the Filipino and American defenders. Upon arriving at the island we all hopped on a tour bus and we met out tour guide, Armando. He was very entertaining, lively and knew his facts about the island very well. Firstly, we entered The Malinta Tunnel. It was built over a period of ten years to house the American-Filipino troops. It has been renovated to serve as a tourist attraction, complete with lights and visual effects. We then hopped back into the bus which took us up to the highest point of the island to see all of the ruined artillery and barracks. Most of the guns were bombed or had bomb craters surrounding them. One of the two barracks was called the ‘Mile Long’ barrack and was quite literally a mile long. This barrack was bombed heavily and mostly in ruins although some of it remained intact. Lunch was provided at the Corregidor Hotel and we were spoiled with a buffet lunch. After this we visited the Corregidor lighthouse, museum and memorials. As the tour drew to a close, we said our goodbyes to the driver and tour guide and left on the ferry for the Manila port. W then took a taxi to Gerry’s Grill where we had authentic Filipino food, including snails and pig brain. Following this, we were allowed to go window shopping at the ‘Mall of Asia’ which is the biggest shopping mall in the southern hemisphere. There was also a Christmas parade and fireworks. Then we waited an hour for our bus to arrive to take us back to the ministry and we entertained ourselves by pretending to be a Zumba class on the steps of the mall. Overall it was an educating and enjoyable day, and despite the early wake up, it was relaxing to take a break from our usual activities.

 Hey Mum, Dad and Cody! Love you guys heaps and missing you. Everything is great and I’m having so much fun. Also a shoutout to Holly and Cathy! Wish you guys could be here to share this experience but we all feel your presence. Btw Holly, thought of you today when I heard all the Christmas music playing in the mall xx Cass

 Hi Family! I’m missing you guys but I’m also having a lot of fun. I hope you guys are all good and enjoying yourselves too. Love you all lots and give Rolly a hug from me. Eliza

 Hey Mum and Dad, and Peka and Jin cause I know you’ll both be reading this too. I’m having heaps of fun here and I’m excited for what’s coming in the next few days. There’s so much here that I wish you all were here to see. The view from Corregidor is amazing and everything here reminds me of home. Oh well, love you all. Hanisiof and take care! From Soni xx

Day 3

 After a delicious breakfast cooked by Marlou and the other ladies in the kitchen, the different teams headed off to their rotations. Green and yellow teams headed off to construction at the orphanage, doing painting, knocking out cement and wooden poles, and even demolishing a termite mound. Meanwhile, the blue and red teams went on a feeding to a community in Angona, which is a slum village built on a swamp. Those that went on the feeding commented that although it was awesome, as always, to feed the kids and see their happy faces, many struggled with turning away kids who came over and over for more balloons after already being given some. After lunch the teams swapped rotations and blue and red went to do construction. They managed to finish levelling the ground by knocking out the cement and wooden poles, which was quite a milestone! Yellow team went to the children’s home to help out with the kids, while green team waited for the feeding at 4pm. While waiting we helped out around the YMC base. At 4 we headed off to the feeding at a community about 10 minutes away from the base, experiencing Mr P’s ‘interesting’ driving. But it’s all good, no fatalities today! The feeding was great, and the kids were super friendly, though we also struggled with the kids wanting more and more. After the feeding we headed back to the base for some dinner. We then went to Journey for Hope to watch a movie (Paper Planes). Poor Smokes had to make 3 trips to get all the teams to Journey for Hope, as we only had one car. The movie was fun, but by the end everyone’s legs were numb from the lack of space and kids clambering all over them. After the movie we went back to the base (3 separate trips) and now its time for bed! 4am wakeup tomorrow morning, so sleep is very much needed. - Green team (Jos, Isaac, Jaz S, Jayden, Mark, Dana and Arianna)

 Hey Mum, Dad, Joy and Grandma, really missing you out here. I’ve been having a blast in the Philippines, such a great experience so far. The company and kids have been amazing! Time has gone so fast out here - plenty of work to be done. Thanks for all the support from everyone. Miss you all, Isaac.

 Hey crew, fun times are being had by all, no blood poisoning yet so that’s a win! Would say I’m missing you but that’s not exactly true, as I’m having heaps of fun and not keen to leave! Hope your surviving without your favourite daughter, sister, etc. Love you, Jos

 Hey fam, missing you guys so much right now. I’m having so much fun and having a lot of good experiences! Love you guys so much!! –Mark

 Hey Mum, Dad, GG and Liv, I am having lots of fun here and enjoying every minute. Hope you’re all well! Lots of Love, Dana

 Helooo Joshhh, Mum, Dad and Family. It’s a good experience here in the Philippines. It’s interesting to see how the kids live here. Its a lot of fun but missing you all. Hope everyones well back at home. Love you and see you sooonnn

Heyy Mann Mum, Dad, Lonestar, Luke, Michael, Kaitlyn, Danial san? And Jordan? If I’m related to any of youse. Havin a good time. Please keep my caravan safe for me. Also look after your house, it would a be a pity to damage yours. Seeya next time

Jayden de Verstoten

Hey fam, enjoying the Philippines, hope you’re all safe and well. Lots of Love, Jasmine. Xx