Alright so quick update,
Monday was filled with Tom, Steph, Royce, Grace and myself sanding and painting a toilet block for one of the outreach centres. It was hot, hard work, and full of brain cell-destroying fumes, but it was so fulfilling to do.
After lunch, we were driven to a high school where we performed some more songs and Brad did a short message. We were swarmed with high school students. Tom became the new Justin Bieber, and... I don't know who I became, but it was pretty unnerving when I found I was surrounded with students and actually had to escape them with the help of a project director.
We went for a beautiful short walk from the high school, to Annie's church where we had some snack food and drove back to the hotel. I think we went to Greenich, the delicious pizza restaurant.

Tuesday, Steph, Wendy and I went to the optical and medical mission at the same outreach centre we had painted for the day before. We got to see it nearly finished, and it looks great. We spent the day handing out glasses for people and getting to know the optometrist, before we had lunch together and then relaxed at the hotel. We took trikes to Gerry's Bar and Grill for dinner, and had a walk around the city where the trees and water fountains are all lit up with colourful lights.

Today, I've been bored out of my mind laying on my bed in the hotel with a sore back while everyone helped Heather with a counselling seminar. I've been watching strange Filipino shows and drinking too many glasses of mango iced tea.

So this is an extremely quick summary of my past few days, and it definitely doesn't do my time here so far any real justice. I'm just keeping this here so I don't forget, I suppose.

Yep, so dinner time soon!

I am honestly so glad that I am here in the Philippines, painting walls, handing out glasses and spending my time with some of the most beautiful children in the world, rather than being at some overcrowded city on the Gold Coast, wasting my days and my money on alcohol at 'schoolies'. Life is so much brighter, richer, deeper and more satisfying when lived by doing things for others. Not to mention when sober.

Blergh!

So much has already happened dear blog, but I unfortunately haven't had the time or Internet connection to update as of yet. I have about five minutes in which to say that I am so very glad to be back here in the Philippines. It honestly feels like I've never left.
It's a lot hotter this time around with blue skies everyday, and the team is bigger and more diverse than last year too, which means more splitting into groups and sharing ourselves around. Today was Sunday, which meant the church services. I went with Peter and Sue to Bethel church, where I finally got to see my mum's awesome sponsor child Kacey, his mum and his sisters, though it was only for a minute.

I sang for the church twice for two different services, and was also taken to the local radio station to sing on air for the for the city and the towns surrounding it, which was definitely an experience.
Tonight we're going to another evening church service, and then Monday is when we begin the optical and dental missions, the practical work and the sponsor visits.

I really do feel at home here though, it's crazy how quickly I've adjusted to this kind of life again. I've seen new faces and familiar ones too, and in short I have loved every minute of the Philippines. Maybe not the smell of the bushman's repellant, or maybe not the heat at night, or maybe not the smell of the fish being gutted on the side of the road... But you know what I mean.

Hopefully I can do this properly later!
Mahal Kita.

So much in such a short space!

So I wrote a long and detailed post about what's been going on in my life recently, but it seems to have disappeared.

So in short, I'll just use quick sentences and let anyone who is reading, guess the stories behind them.

1. I've finished high school now, meaning all classes and exams are now behind me forever.
2. Last night was my valedictory dinner, where I said goodbye to a lot of good friends who mean a lot to me. They'll be heading out into the world to change people's lives in their own ways, and I'll miss them a lot.
3. I actually received the English award, which was incredible. I never expected such a blessing.
4. I'm going back to the Philippines tomorrow.
5. Of course, I plan on writing a HECK of a lot on this blog about the happenings overseas! That is, if it all works out and I'm able to do that.
6. For New Year's, I'm going on the CYC The Island's Senior Teen camp - the last camp I'll ever be able to attend as a camper - and then on the 1st of January, 2013, I'm headed to the Adventure Resort to lead on Impact Summer camp. That'll mean leaving The Island site and going to the Resort on the same day.
7. I'M ACTUALLY EXTREMELY GRATEFUL FOR EVERYTHING IN MY LIFE RIGHT NOW!

Thought I should add some capitals, since I really am unbelievably excited about everything, and it looks like I'm not.
I definitely am.

Definitely.

I can't believe I'll finally be back in the Philippines by tomorrow night.

That's all for now, since I still have to bloomin' pack!
I've got The Script's new album #3 as my soundtrack while I'm over there, since the other albums were my soundtrack for last time.

Very keen!

I'll be writing more as soon as I can, most likely overseas.
Until then, mahal kita!