Past happenings:

Over the past few days, here is a bit of what i've been up to.

- Met Kacey, our sponsor child, and his family.
- Took them to Jollibee's which was disgusting.
- Took them shopping.
- Laughed at how mesmerized Kacey was by the transformer toys.
- Was embarrassed by a shopkeeper who got down on his knee and sung "Nothing on you" By B.O.B. to me.
- Got asked if i was a famous popstar singer.
- Found out that the average person here makes the equivalent of about $200 a month to live on.
- Tried to stay dry-eyed as i watched Kacey get so excited with us there that he couldn't breathe because of his bad asthma.
- Went parading around the streets of Laoag in a "March for Jesus" parade along with 800 kids from all the local churches.
- Sang for the kids in the highschool.
- Watched the kids perform their talents for us in the highschool.
- Cried a lot. But not in a bad way.
- Watched a little girl cry as she said thankyou to us as the sponsors on stage.
- Got numerous gifts, including a handmade purse, a picture drawn for me, a handmade origami flower by a little girl, and two white roses from two other little girls.
- Got bombarded by hundreds of kids as they fought over who would be next to us in the photos.
- Realized again just how much i am smiling.
- Was taken countless photos of by everyone around - ones that i was and also was not aware of.
- Had people stroking my hair, but could not get away since i had four kids on my lap and by my side.
- Went for many walks at night through the streets.
- Held my breath for a lot of those walks.
- Saw so much poverty on the streets.
- Watched as an elderly lady was half naked, half covered in rags, searched through a garbage bag for food.
- Drank lots and lots of iced tea.
- Ate lots and lots of rice.
- Became accustomed to the noodles here.
- Photo bombed.
- Got photo bombed.
- Rode in a horse and cart and nearly died.
- walked through trees adorned with golden fairy lights hanging vertically; it reminds me of a willow tree, or the tree of souls off of the Avatar movie.
- Visited Pastor Marilyn's church.
- Sang at the church.
- Saw where the kids go to learn on Saturdays.
- Looked through the files of Hollie's sponsor child.
- Saw the letters we both sent her in 2008 and nearly cried.
- Ate lunch with them, nearly gagged at the squid.
- Also nearly gagged at the soup - it had a plant in it. With a stem. And leaves. And petals. And a bud. Yeah.
- Got used to not having knives to eat with. It's a fork and a spoon, and that is it.
- marvelled at the fact that Jollibees can call see-through pasta as spaghetti, a ball of rice wrapped to look like a cheeseburger, deep fried chicken bones as meaty, and little squares of questionable brownies as a good meal.
- Fell in love with the food at Chow King.

That's about all so far. I'm back at the hotel now.
Soon we will be driving to the airport to say goodbye to Scott.
Then we are possibly sight-seeing a little bit before we go to the quaint cafe we discovered on our late-night walk last night.
I'm looking forward to the iced tea again.
Tomorrow is our first medical mission trip. Keely, Hollie and I have boxes full of medical supplies in our room, as it is by far the biggest room. Possibly in the whole hotel.
I'll get to blog a bit more later. But in a few days time i possibly won't be able to anymore. I will try.
And if i do, i'll be using more dot points. It's so much easier, and doesn't have to be in order.
I know i miss everyone back home, and i miss fresh air, fresh foods, and my pillow.
But i don't ever want to leave.
If only everyone was here, including my pillow. I would be the happiest person on Earth.