So this is Christmas...

These last few weeks no doubt give us all pause as we consider what brings us joy in our lives. I have found myself reflecting on and identifying with Mary and Joseph, as they journeyed from Nazareth to Bethlehem. Two Pilgrims traveling far from home, and in need of hospitality and care. That was us, this Christmas, as we were generously taken in by friends and strangers alike. To recount the joys of this Christmas would be it's own book, but I am deeply grateful for friends new and old who celebrated with us this year. To add to these joys are the continuous cards and prayer offerings that keep reaching us through e-mail and snail mail. Mary and Joseph, with the new child Jesus, found themselves surrounded by simplicity as God quietly answered the prayers of his people. And in this simplicity, their joy was complete. Maligayang Pasko! - Merry Christmas!

Take Lord, and Receive My Life, My Liberty, My Memory, My Understanding, My Will, My Entire Being. All that I am, and All that I have You have given to me. I give it back to you. Do with it what you will. Grant me only Your Love and Your Grace, And let that be Enough.

The Reason

"One prayer, one strand, one trip to the manger." This was the theme for the Advent Recollection that I attended this week at Ateneo (local Jesuit University with whom GK has a partnership), and it was exactly where I was supposed to be. (Thank you Patrick for extending the invitation.) The theme above fit right in to my last post. During the Recollection, for each of the prayers we held in our hearts, we were invited to take a piece of straw from a basket and take it to the crib we were preparing for Christ. While different in many respects, the concept of a journey to a manger crib, helping to prepare our way for the Christmas coming of Christ really hit home for me. As I continued on my journey that night, I was moved to a very important place. We went through a series of questions about our past year, and how we have reacted. There was a question about Waiting and Hoping. Another question was about focusing on the Positive things we have heard and experienced this year and our reactions to them- were we truly grateful? The third question was directed to our "God Experiences" lately, and being able to find God in the midst of everything - using His light as our guide. All these questions were a wonderful chance for reflection, and I was already incredibly awed by God's presence for that evening. Then the next series of reflective thoughts came. We were asked to think about Family - about those who would not be together THIS Christmas, and about those who were never able to be together. We were asked who we would miss this season, but in remembering them and getting caught up in so much that this season can entail, we were reminded that Jesus IS THE REASON FOR THE SEASON. I was all caught up in my own crazy series of emotions about not being with my family this Christmas, and about missing them terribly. When I heard the reminder that Jesus is the reason, I had one of those very clear moments where we are truly blessed to recognize God in our Midst and in our mind. As I believe that Jesus is the reason I am here, and with Him being the reason for the season - I knew that I am exactly where I am supposed to be. It did not lessen the missing of my family or even the pain that comes from not being with them this season, but it brought a sense of peace with it. This sense of Peace was actually exactly where the next series of reflective thoughts took us. Peace we were told, was not the absence of conflict, but rather an attitude of Trust in God. So trusting in God, I move forward with the Holiday season, bringing all that I have to offer before the Lord, which often involves a lot of pain, frustrations and even conflict at times. Yet as long as I bring it to Him, still trusting in His plan, I look forward to the gift of Peace this season. Happy Advent, and Know you are all in my prayers for a continual blessed Journey to the Manger where we can behold the Christ Child, our Prince of Peace.

TAO PO at Ateneo de Manila University *a special Christmas celebration*

Join us for this unique Christmas celebration! SUNDAY DECEMBER 23, 2007, Bellarmine Field, Ateneo de Manila University, 6:00pm right before 8:00pm simbang gabi at Jesu. Tao Po is an original production born from the collaboration between Gawad Kalinga and TeatroFilipino Integrated. It showcases an insightful script, moving musical scoring, dynamic choreography and remarkable performances from the SIGA of GK Villages in Metro Manila: Bagong Silang, Payatas, Baseco, and Paranaque. Tao Po tells the journey of the Filipino people moving from the harmony of God’s creation to the agony and misery of poverty and ending with stories of hope from ordinary people who have found a concrete vehicle for change in Gawad Kalinga. In the spirit of Christmas, we would like to share this promise of hope to all who believe in inspiring a new culture for our people. Hopefully, more successful shows like this will enrich art programs for GK communities. http://www.diannegk.blogspot.com/

Greetings!

Hi everyone!!! Just dropping by to say hello and I miss everyone in GK!!! I hope you are all in good spirits and well. I send aloha love from Hawaii! Love & GOD BLESS, Dianne

80 and Advent?

Ive heard that weather in Chicago is cold, cold and sleety and snowy and very Chicago. I miss it. I miss home a lot actually, and its far from just the weather that I miss. Here in Manila though, to give you an idea, its typically somewhere in the 80s. It really makes it difficult to accept that the Christmas season really truly is here, or at least Advent is. I know a few people who are really eager to have Christmas come sooner. (I got to talk to my Godson back in the states today. He got his little hands on the advent calendar full of chocolate, and made his way a little closer to Christmas than it actually is.) For myself though, I know that the Advent season is about waiting and more importantly, preparing, for the coming of Christ. Its about patience and dedication to prepare our lives for Christ. I remember when I was little, my family did this activity during advent. We started out with a manger crib empty at the beginning of advent. For every good thing we did, we got to put in one piece of 'straw' (yarn) to make sure that by the time Christmas came, Baby Jesus had a very comfortable place to sleep. I was thinking about this recently as I've found it difficult to remember that Advent is here, and more specifically as I've found it difficult to focus on good works that I'm doing here. Right now my work is mainly administrative. This is not my passion, and more often then not, I'm more frustrated than anything. I can't seem to determine if this is an opportunity to learn patience or if its a "I gave you 3 ships and a helicopter - what more did you want?" moment. I don't know if this is me not being patient, or if it's ok to let go and get the chocolate inside the calendar early. God wants us to be joyful after all. ;-) So really this is to ask for prayers. I have a few key decisions to make coming up, and I could use help in my discernment process. I know already that I am blessed tremendously and will be loved no matter what I decide, but I really want to make the right decision. I want to be able to add my pieces of straw to the manger and make sure that Jesus is comfy when he's born. ;-) Anyway, know you all are in my thoughts and prayers as I continue this journey (whatever decisions I make or don't) and appreciate the love and support that has already come my way. Have a blessed Advent.

Unspeakable Things

Well, I have to start with HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!! I hope you've all been able to take the time to scope out the picture albums. There are quite a few, and many laughable moments captured in pixels. Scroll down and follow the links to visual memories galore!!!! And a special thanks has to go to the many people, especially tita Cecile and the Demano family who made our Thanksgiving possible, and to those of you in the States who contributed recipes, prayers, and e-mails that kept us missing home and grateful for our country the whole way through. As it has been said, we have much to be THANKFUL FOR!!!!!! Next, I have to apologize for my blatant absence from our posts for a while. You no doubt noticed the huge gap which occurred in the weeks leading up to and recovering from the annual GK expo the last weekend in October. Again, there are a few pics in the album, and much to share about this intense gathering of GK workers, volunteers, supporters and partners, and new GK home-owners. Although it will probably never appear here, this was an incredible, challenging, frustrating and grace-loaded learning experience for all of us. Now, for my life (and silence): It has been our precedent and desire to share on this blog the many wonderful things that happen to us and around us in the Philippines, in the GK communities, and in our day-to-day interactions. Aware of our readership and trying to focus on the positive side of challenges, we often find ourselves posting only the good or weird experiences on our adventure. We all know, however, that life is no picnic, and no scar is earned without its wound. That is probably a very harsh way to say that many of the things we have learned and experienced first-hand have not been "good" in the general sense. We find ourselves often surrounded by disorganization, miscommunication, double standards, misunderstandings and confused visions. The challenge for us as Americans continues to be to accept a style of work and personal relations that is not found in the U.S. However, I believe the challenge for us as Christians is to ask - and strive to answer honestly- what is truly "being Spirit-led," vs. what is just laziness; and where is reality between the Western way, the GK way, the "right" way, the better way, and the successful way? I think for myself I have finally been led by grace to a place where I am not sure that a "Western way" would actually work here in the Philippines (a strange and twisted statement considering the countless ways in which Filipinos strive to be Western). I can look around me and see Western models crumbling with failures constantly. At the same time, I cannot say that I believe this Filipino model would work well in the U.S. Frankly, I don't think it would. The template for development by GK I believe is universally adaptable, yes, but the work method, standards, and other functional normalties would never be successful in the U.S. Some examples of these differences: 1) Western minds are typically trained to think in linear progressions, moving from A thru B to arrive at C. The Filipino mind (and I am told many Asian minds) tend to think in circles, flowing freely between A and C and B without strict adherence to order. 2) The "GK Way" has been expressed in not so clear terms as putting something on the ground first, testing it to see if it works, and then coming up with a plan later. In short, very little "planning ahead" is ever done, and many unnecessary steps and much waste in the result. 3) Filipinos, perhaps influenced by centuries of landlessness, poverty, and living in survival mode, tend not to think beyond themselves, or beyond their immediate situation. This reality manifests itself in little things like buying soap only to do one load of laundry or buying cell phone load (usage) that is only good for one day. It also expresses itself in larger things like setting up office methods that only serve the current situation without planning for growth and expansion that is already happening, or tearing down all of the vegetation in a place in bringing in landfill to build houses without looking ahead to the immediate need for utilizing those same natural resources (low ground for water drainage, vegetation for shade, waste materials for fertilizer, etc.). Lastly, and probably most painfully, is the expression of this mindset in interpersonal interactions. This is the one I find most odd, and is probably the one that comes with the most excuses. I will allow that it probably comes from the fact that most people are used to fending for themselves. I am struck by the number of times I have been in a Jeepnee and people refuse to slide toward the driver to make it easier for others to get in, or when a person gets out, to slide over enough for everyone else squished on the bench to be a bit more comfortable. I have been cut in line countless times, I think because I wasn't standing with my chest pressed against the counter to indicate to the person behind me that I am next. I have been blatantly ignored even by the very people that I live with, and sometimes by the people that I work with. These realities are hard, often discouraging, and force me to question the depth and breadth of our Christian expression. I have worked in several ministries before and know well that the hardest part about working for any Christian organization is working with human beings- that's right folks who make mistakes and are imperfect. But I am surprised, sometimes shocked, and often hurt that this is the reality from a culture that prides itself on being so openly hospitable, truly joy-filled, and desiring to be generous. Yes, the people by whom we have been hosted are tremendous and their generosity towards us is endless and flowing. But as a culture, I find most people here, including myself and my American friends, becoming more selfish, self-centered, and blind to others than I ever experienced in the U.S. It is hard to write this because I know the number of people- people I consider friends- who will be hurt if they read this. But I also believe in the high value of honesty and openness in struggle. I have fallen in love with many Filipinos. I hope to shed light in this area so that they may strive to challenge each other to more embracing of all life around them. To see the connection between pollution and health, between education and respect, between environment and life, between love and freedom. The work of GK is often challenging, at times disappointing, and usually good. But in the ocean of "culture" in which we swim, it often feels as though a small stone has been dropped into rough and troublesome waters, and the ripples are dispersed by the next breaking wave. (as usually happens at these moments, God has just given us another blessing and I must attend to it. He has not abandoned us - I have never felt that way here. But I cannot being to understand the things he is teaching us here- humility is first among these). Thank you for your love and your prayers. Please keep them coming, and know that you are in ours. Happy Thanksgiving!

Having it All

These past few weeks have been full of many things, and not all of them positive. Being here however, is a process and a journey, learning to go with the flow and take all things in stride, remembering always that God is in everything, and would never give us things we can't handle. Sometimes we just have to figure out 1) why God trusts us so much? and 2) what we have to do with all that is on our plate - whether or not to say no or figure out a new way of working with what we have. This has currently been one of my struggles - figuring out what to do with what I've got, as its never what I expect. I've been trying to discern, but have so far, felt like I've come up empty. Things change here so often, that having any sort of consistency is almost impossible, as is planning for anything more than this moment. For those that know me, we can all pretty much agree this would just about drive me insane, or at least more crazy than I normally am. Probably through the grace of God alone, I haven't gone completely batty yet. However, as I said, dealing with all the unplanned ever changing everythings has been a constant struggle. These past few days especially though, I keep getting brought back to the power of prayer. Mass this weekend especially hit home for me when the priest prayed with us a prayer of St. Teresa. Hearing these words which I had taken to heart in college, I felt peace. As I found it such a comfort (not a solution, but hope and strength to move forward) I really wanted to share with you her words:

Let nothing disturb you nothing alarm you: While all things fade away, God is unchanging. Be patient and you will gain everything: for with God in your heart nothing is lacking, God meets your every need. - St. Teresa, Poems

So to us all as we deal with changes, challenges and disturbances - may we remember that we already have it all in God. Here's to us finding it. ;-) Love and God Bless and thank you for all your love and support to us all on our journies here. P.S. - Santiago wished I would let everyone know that he is doing well, just extremely busy here with work in GK. He's pretty much starting their environmental program from scratch with a few others, and everyone on his team works an incredible amount. Wish them well!

"TAO PO" pics & update!

Hi everyone! Just passing thru to let you know the pics from "Tao Po" production are up on my blog as well as some updates =) Feel free to stop by and check it out.. my link is to the right: "Dianne's Blog" or go to: www.diannegk.blogspot.com Enjoy and have a great day! Thanks for all the continued love and support! God Bless~

Prayer Request

Hello Everyone, I just wanted to as everyone to keep all of the people effected by the fires in Southern California in your prayers. I just spoke with my family today and they are doing well and very positive, but they have said that these fires are worse than the ones that raged in 2003. The mix of dry land and relentless Santa Ana winds is making the fires hard to contain and many homes have burned including those of friends. Please pray for a quick end, protection of all involved, and peace in the hearts of those that face great loss. If you are a friend from home reading this please keep me posted on how you and your family are doing. Thank you for all of your love and support. God Bless.

NEWS FLASH!

In light of recent events in Manila my mom asked me to inform all via blog that we are all alive and well and very busy. The past week all of us have been back in Manila working hard to prepare for the GK Expo taking place this weekend. It is a huge event designed to present the many programs of GK, their vision, the many accomplishments, and inspire all involved to greater action. I also wanted to share some old news that I didn't include in my last post.... I helped deliver a baby!!! It was incredible and absolutely nothing like the deliveries I experienced in the hospital. Patrick and I were on our way after celebrating mass with the village when just as our bus was about to pull up one of the villagers came running over the hill yelling to us. She was speaking in the local dialect so I had no idea what she was saying, but the woman next to me did. She grabbed my hand and ran with me back into the village. They pulled me into the house where there were 6-10 other women and mom on the floor. The baby was laying on the floor, but the delivery was not complete and the cord needed to be cut. I got to do the honors. My heart was beating at a 1000 beats per minute, but all went well. The whole experience was an amazing blessing. I guess I really am a nurse. Oh..for those that are curious...I did have gloves, alcohol, and betadine, but that is about it. Good times. To top it off...the parents decided to name the handsome young man Patrick Llamado Mediavillo. Thats right...Patrick ( : Pleas keep the family in your prayers.

Stepping In

"Whatever town you enter and they welcome you,

eat what is set before you, cure the sick in it and say to them, ‘The Kingdom of God is at hand for you.’” Luke 10: 1-9

A few weeks back I found myself feeling disconnected. Active, but not totally engaged. It was like I was wading in the shallow end of a pool too timid to dive into the deep end. Well.... I wouldn't say I have let myself be fully submerged, but I have had the incredible blessing of allowing myself to be engaged and float in the grace of a community that knows love and generosity. When I began my work at Gk Libmanan I stayed with a host family an hour away from the village and would visit for the work hours of 9-5. I approached it almost like a job...minus income, a boss, and a real job description. As the work continued and the my scheduled time with them was drawing to an end I realized I wanted to be with them. I wanted to know them more than what I had allowed myself. So I stayed. I packed my bag and stayed the night. Spending the night is nothing momentous, but in that time our relationship changed. I was welcomed into their homes to share with and be a part of their families. We broke bread...ok well ate rice...shared stories of our families, joked, and prayed. It was beautiful expression of faith lived in its purest form. We have become a part of each others lives and the impact of our time together has changed our lives in both small ways and big ways. It has been incredible. I have grown attached and I hate to leave not knowing when I might be able to return..at least to visit. I fear being assigned to a new place where I will hopefully foster the same type of relationships grow attached again and leave them. They hold a piece of my heart and have shown me that the kingdom is indeed at hand.

GK Bonot (pronounced " BOHT' - note " )

A good friend of mine reminded me this morning that our friends and family members are reading this blog, and that they hadn't seen a new post from me or Heather in a while. So, here's what I've been meaning to write for two weeks ;-) - - - - - Heather and I are finishing up our frist stay here in Bicol. On Tuesday evening we will again brave the adventurous overnight bus ride back to Manila to help with the GK 1-World expo, being held in two weeks in the famous Mall of Asia, in downtown Manila (which reminds me, I ned to go buy our bus tickets as soon as I'm done here). --- So despite our adventures with the Feast of Our Lady of Pena Francia, wake-boarding at CWC (home of next summer's ESPN International Wake-Boarding Championship) and spending lazy Sunday's with our host family in heavenly natural spring pools, we have actually been quite busy with our GK villages. Heather and I decided to stay in the villages for most of the nights of these last two weeks (part of the reason we haven't blogged in a while). I have been working at GK Bonot, which is a fairly new site in the municipality of Calabanga. This beautiful 4-Hectare site is less than 1 kilometer from San Miguel Bay. The ocean can be seen from the top of the hill that marks the center of the site. This pic is from the top of the hill: Most of the future residents are fishermen by trade. Incredibly, the typical family size here is larger than most that I've encountered. 5 Children per family is the statistical GK average, and most families that we've met have 4 -7 children. At Bonot, however, most of the families that I've been able to talk with have 9-11 children!!! It's pretty awesome when you start to hear their stories. Anyway... Bonot is a problematic site, which is part of the reason I was assigned there. The site officially began building last March, and in 6 months has started 27 houses, but not completed a single one. Most GK villages build at an average rate of 10 homes / month. In the middle of the building, there was a significant change in leadership which ground everything to a halt. I was asked to go there, assess the situation, assist the new Project Director, and to get things rolling again. After only 3 weeks, I hope that we got enough coals glowing the fire will grow, and not again be extinguished. I was able to focus the work force on 10 priority houses, hoping that before i left we would be able to turn them over to the first residents. Unfortunately, not all of the residents were able or ambitious enough to begin working again right away, so the work progressed slowly. I do think that in another 1-2 weeks, the first batch of 10 will be complete and turned over, which will hopefully re-inspire the rest of the future residents to come and help with the build, and to engage the community. Unfortunately, I will not be there to see it. I have been impressed, however, by two young men, maybe in their 30's; Rommel (yellow hat), who is working for his mother, and Abelardo(orange hat), who is working for his own family. The 2 men are at the site almost everyday, without pay, and do the most rigorous of all the work to be done. Sometimes that means digging up huge rocks, sometimes hauling 25 80lbs bags of concrete on their head, sometimes mixing concrete. Whatever it is, they will do it so that they can have the pride of moving their families into a new home. These two men also helped to provide the inspiration for some of the other beneficiaries to come back to work, to build and move into their own homes. I guess this is what it takes to build a community from the ground up. GK has built it's success on relationship, just as Jesus built his ministry on relationship. At GK Bonot, new relationships are being forged, and new leaders are emerging. In that fire I pray that a new community will grow in hope for their own future, and love for themselves and one another. At the end of my stay, as one last push to ensure the flame would glow, we organized a half-day build, which will hopefully be repeated every Saturday. These pictures are from that build. If anyone is interested in partnering with a village and really building a relationship that can foster this community, GK Bonot has no other partners. The 40 Houses that are being built have been donated by the federal government. The money is for houses only. Outside partners are needed to provide the funding for the pre-school, the medical center, the office, the hill-top chapel, and all the other facilities that will be a part of this beautiful place. In addition to that, the 4 hectares can hold a total of 100-150 families. 40 Homes is only the beginning. Anyway, enjoy the pics, and if you want to build a partnering relationship with these folks, just let me know. As always, thank you for your endless prayers and support of us and our work. Pray that God will use our presence to transform each of us - volunteers, full-time workers, GK residents, everyone - into saints working for his Kingdom. A little sweat can go a long way ;-)

The Service of Presence

October 8, 2007 Hello all,...... I was recently given a reflection that had the basic question of “do you love the poor?” This made me laugh because this has been my prayer since I arrived here back in August. I was excited to begin finding the answer to this question. But as I struggled through the first 6 weeks trying to be affective in a particular job, I still felt that the answer to that question for myself was only sometimes. I was growing a bit frustrated because I came here to serve and learn how to love the poor but some of the cultural differences have made this transition very slow for me to get involved......................... But on one of my last nights in Bukidnon in Mindinao, I stayed at GK Natidasan, a beautiful village on the edge of a little mountain. Even though I had not done any work at this village, they treated me with incredible kindness and generosity. After playing run game with the children for a hour… this game consists of me saying “run” and then all 70 + children (plus me) run for 50 yards + screaming and laughing.. I had to figure out where to eat dinner because multiple families invited me into their homes. After dinner, the residents in the village came in front of the coffee shop for a bonfire and sing along. The members of the Village leadership sang a song that they wrote that thanked GK for bringing honor and dignity to their lives. As I sat and watched, I reached a moment of ultimate peace that I still draw from by reflecting on it because the song came from a place of restored dignity. It was as if their song was sung as a prayer of thanksgiving… After their song, I got up and spoke to the residents to thank them for their kindness that I didn’t think I deserved because I hadn’t done anything for them. But they responded by sharing that my presence there honored them. It turned out that I was the first guest that had ever had at their village........................ It was after reflecting on this moment that I realized that I didn’t need to be working in order to serve the poor. I would like to be, but it only requires me being present to the different forms of poverty, and that is a product of the heart. I am now working full steam ahead, but as times get slow, I hope to reflect on this moment, know that my willingness and presence is service in itself, and then allow God to lead my service so I am doing his work and not what I think He wants me to be doing...................... In a sense, this is also the work of GK. There is a saying here that “no one here is extraordinary.. we are just ordinary people doing extraordinary things.” GK is a spirit lead movement that works by being present to the poor and learning what they need.. not by dictating what they need from a distance. So.. I guess I am learning quite a bit here...................... Alright… attached is a picture from the sing along and maybe one from the children. If you’d like to look at more pictures.. please click below.. Thank you for taking the time to read this. It honors me. http://luc.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2081381&l=0e750&id=20001885 Also In the Photo Links as 'Jonathan's Pics 2'

New Builders Corps!!!!

Just when you think you're alone, God begins to multiply the harvest! That is, we started out as a group of six, and in just a short time, have already grown to TEN!!! (Ok, so two were here already, but still!) So, this post is to officially welcome Austin (yes, from Texas) and Santiago (a friend from Loyola, originally from Mexico!!!) to the Builders Corps!!! Please add these two gents to your prayer lists, and look for links to their own on-line adventures in our link list in the future. Welcome to the Philippines guys! I hope you brought your umbrellas!

Zeus' Video Blog

We've just added this cool feature that allows us to post videos to our blog! Our first sample is from GKBC Zeus, who is spreading his wings in GK Vlogging (Video-Blogging, that is). Although Zeus calls himself the "7th GK Builders Corps member," the truth is that Zeus has been working at GH National with GKom since late 2006 (that actually makes him the FIRST!). Much to our dismay, he'll be returning home in November =( "But Zeus, we've only just arrived!!!" We're going to miss his fun and wacky presence, but he isn't gone yet, so check out his video-blogs, or "vlogs," as we call 'em, and get a fresh angle on GKBC! ****TIP FOR A BETTER VLOGGING EXPERIENCE**** If your download speed is slow (you have low bandwidth) let your computer stream the entire video once, and then watch it again from the beginning. It should be smooth, with great sound and video quality the second time. Enjoy!

Some things you do 'cuz you hafta...

...But some things you do cuz you wanna! I've had some cool and crazy adventures in the last few days- adventures in ordinary ways, that is. But before that, I'm wondering if anyone out there has conducted or read any good research on phases or stages of Culture Shock. You probably know that Culture Shock is a common experience of travelers abroad. It is the physical and psychological response to being immersed into a whole new world - a new culture - that is so foreign it overwhelms the senses. Well, like all living things, most humans have the capacity to adjust, and they do, and things which were once foreign become ordinary. Has there ever been a study done about when the process reverses??? Here's what 'm talking about: Two days ago, Heather and I were walking down the street, and a bunch of teens were going into a school. We both did a double-take when we noticed a young blond fellow standing a head taller than the rest of the crowd, but wearing the same uniform, and obviously also on his way to school. Then yesterday, I was walking out of the small street shop where we had lunch, when out of the corner of my eye I noticed a Caucasian man sitting on a stool behind the service counter. Catching my glance, he stood up and introduced himself. Terry is not just from the U.S., but he is actually from the west suburbs of CLEVELAND!!!! I learned that he had been in Naga for about 1 year, and that he would soon be married to the women who owns and runs the shop where we had lunch. Basically, he was just hangin there with his lady. As I walked away musing about my run-in with a man from Cleveland in the middle of Naga, I passed another tall Caucasian (I avoided his gaze, however, because I was late for my jeepnee). I hopped a trike to the jeepnee terminal, and while entertaining a thought resembling "Wow, my whole world is turning white!" (excuse the ego-centric racism for a moment) I looked up and landed my eye on the Nagaland YMCA! I couldn't believe it! These encounters filled my jeepnee ride with curious thoughts about the stages of culture shock- or getting over it- and what you call that stage when things that were once normal and commonplace are now so surprising they stop you in your tracks. Of course, little do I accept that even as we walk down the street here, most Filipinos will steal a second glance, if not outrightly stare at us. I guess don't feel entirely out of place anymore, and that was only confirmed when I came across these little reminders of life in the U.S. It's a curious mix between sometimes forgetting I'm so different and sometimes being deeply immersed in the reality that we're all just the same. -------------------------------- And now for the action-adventures ---------------------------- When I got to the Jeepnee terminal, I climbed into the Calambanga jeepnee, which filled very quickly. That is always a good thing because sometimes the jeepnee won't leave until it is nearly full, or the driver will drive very slowly still trying to get more passengers. Anyway, the jeep was so full that there was no room for the last passenger, so I offered to let her have my seat. Gentlemanly, you might think. In truth, it was a selfish move. See, when the woman took my seat, it meant that I got to ride on the back of the jeepnee, with my feet on a small platform, standing up straight holding onto a thin roof-rack welded to the top. This is a ride I have wanted to experience since I first saw it done in Manila! Because the jeepnee was full, the driver wasted no time. We sped away quickly, wind blowin through my hair, my back comfortably extended fully, and the muscles in my body flexing to maintain their balance on the small platform against the movement of the jeep. What a rush! We were riding along at about 40 miles/hour and I was thinking of the rush of jet-skiing. God must have decided that this was a good analogy because he felt the need to add a little water. So, here I am, cruzin on the back of the jeepnee, rain pelting me in the face - not lots, just hard- and still the wind in my hair and an ear to ear grin. I think the fare collector who was also hanging on the back thought I was nuts cuz I wouldn't stop smiling! Finally, when we were almost to Calambanga, enough people had got off the jeep that the fare collector insisted I sit down. I obliged him, but took home the sweet thrill of an on-road rollercoaster. I'll definitely take that ride every chance I get! ------- Today's adventure was my first ride on the back of a motorcycle. This story is probably less exciting to those of you who are motorcycle enthusiasts, but for me, it was another great ride. Of course, the jet-ski analogy returned immediately, but as we sloshed our way down the muddy path that leads to GK Bonot, I couldn't help but accept the reality that if you fall off a jet-ski, the water is much kinder than the land is if you fall off a motorbike. To add to the excitement today, the rain was thick and falling fast our whole 4 km ride. Riding the bike, I decided, was a little more like sailing- you're whole body flexed to maintain your balance on a constantly shifting terrain- especially in the mud! I should mention that motorbikes are a regular form of transportation throughout the Philippines. In spite of the obvious safety risks which are increased exponentially by the lack of driving courtesy here, the bikes offer an affordable and highly efficient mode of transportation. It was one more thing I really wanted to try. Now, for you motorcycle enthusiasts, a practical question: What does one do when the motorbike necessarily comes to short and sudden stops? The strain on my arms was quite intense. Any suggestions? ------- That's it for today(other than walking through ankle-deep typhoon rainfall). Heather and I are continuing our work in Bicol. I have been working with a new site - GK Bonot - that I hope to continue working with for several months. We'll see what mission control says. Keep us in your prayers, and know that you are in ours! Peace Out!

Bayani Build

This past weekend I attended a Bayani Build. This event brings in massive numbers of volunteers to work alongside of the beneficiaries to build their community. While GK is certainly significantly more than home building, the concrete actions of building house combined with the community building activities seem to bring out the Hero Spirit in one and all. When we let ourselves understand that the houses we are building are the basis for the community to have a home, hopefully our perspective on the event changes. We go from the task oriented mentality of "what work is next?" to the more of general focus of "what gifts do I have to share?" This second question understands the significance of giving back all that we have been given. So even though the building may be a central focus, the event involves so much more. Throughout the build there are challenges in athletics (throwing the buco), singing contests (random karoake songs), dancing, and telling stories of both beneficiaries and volunteers. We begin to see that work of building homes cannot be separated from rebuilding and remolding lives. Its about understanding and engaging people on all their levels. Everyone has some value, some talent to contribute. We all need each other if things are going to work out. For example, I now know that while my gifts may not be those of physical construction, or even karaoke or dancing, I have many other things to contribute. Without even knowing where or how best to apply the gifts which I have, I know I have a place. I pray that I will let God work through me until I find which program I can call home while I am here. Know I continue to pray that each of you is able to find your home and your community with which you are able to best serve and share your gifts with the world as well. Love and God Bless as Always.

Day by Day...

The past few days I have had that song running through my head. Day by day...day by day...Oh Dear Lord three things I pray...to see thee more clearly...to know thee more dearly...to follow thee more nearly...day by day... Each day here has been full of new information, new insight, and new challenges. Each day new ideas are sparked to meet this problem we see or address that issue they face. It's exciting and quickly becomes a tad overwhelming in the process of transforming it from an idea to a program being implemented in the real world. In realm of health care there are a million causes that could be taken up in the Philippines. Hypertension, hygiene, tuberculosis, motor vehicle safety, sanitation, tobacco use...the list goes on and on. When I first I got here there were things everywhere that popped out at me. I could hear the voices of my nursing instructors talking about how bad soda is for kids, pregnant mothers should have this supplement and eat this kind of vegetable, make sure to wear your mask when you take care of the tuberculosis patient. There became a lot to pray for. Reality bites hard. The truth is life doesn't always happen by the book. I knew this coming in, but the reality has much more impact when the faces of poverty become the faces of your friends. Each new friend needs so much, but it all comes down to the basics...water, food and income. Day by day I learn more and more that what is being asked of me is not to think of ways to solve all the problems, but to serve with love. To love by allowing myself to be all that I am. Praying day by day.

More Quotes I Like

I just wanted to share more quotes that I've heard while I've been here that have helped put GK and life in general into a new perspective. Enjoy :-) "Jesus was so far ahead of his time that 2000 years later, we still dont know how to love like him." "Dont compromise your values, compromise your methods." "Save the poor, save the environment. Save the environment, save the poor." "The work of human development waits for nobody." "Every person's calling is to live as a human being and therefor needs to live in conditions fit for a human being." "We cannot create a sustainable corporation when the community is mired in poverty." "Get mad, Madly in Love." "Goodness is not enough. You have to be a great person, and to be a great person, you need to be great for others." "Be the yeast that brings it all together." "Walk the Talk" Thats it for now. Talk to you all soon. God Bless and Know you are Loved.

here are some pics

I just wanted to share some pics. here you go.. http://luc.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2078927&l=d56d9&id=20001885

Humble Beginnings

I have been debating for the last 2 weeks on how to share this experience of Gawad Kalinga with you. As much as I would like to share what's going on with myself, the story of GK is so amazing. So, I thought i'd do a compromise and share the similarities of our stories. Gawad Kalinga started not as a movement or a housing program but as an endeavor by some people dedicated to serving the poor. They went into the largest squatter area in the Philippines to learn what makes people turn into thieves and gang members and possibly serve them however they could. After teaching a bit of values formation, they realized that the message of self love was not being understood because the residents they were teaching were not able to focus on their message. They'd return home to their squatter homes and go back to the values they know. That's when GK was born back in 1995 (i think). They realized that they needed to care for the basic needs of the people ( i.e. food and shelter) before any form of values formation could be taught. GK started over 10 years ago with a simple mission to love the poor. I came here over 3 weeks ago with the same mission, but I too have had to struggle to understand how I can best serve. For the first 2 weeks, I was being shipped around with the other volunteers going from speaker to speaker learning about GK, seeing villages, talking to GK residents, and eating lots of rice. Now, I am in the southern region of Mindinao beginning to learn how to best serve. I arrived here a week ago and have spent my time learning how to make organic fertilizer, raising pigs, harvesting crops, and planting for the next season. As I am learning the means to making money for the different villages, I am better able to help them develop more efficient means of production and marketing of the products. So, I am actually learning quite a bit about things I never thought I would know about. But I believe in time, I'll be able to be a part of a growing industry of GK Productivity. So, that is exciting. This is all for now.. i'll be back soon with the next step in the journey.

Feed My Sheep

Ok, so this is not a sheep (its mostly the back end of a Caribou), but its probably the closest thing to a sheep that I've got a picture of since I've been here. Actually, I don't know if I've ever taken a picture of a sheep... hmmmm... Ok, enough tangents. . . This Sunday I attended a rally where various Catholic groups put aside differences in charisms, differences in name and in songs of worship to acknowledge that there is something greater than these differences. There is the call to end poverty - the call to feed the sheep of the Lord - to be shepherds to all. In putting aside their differences they also each acknowledged that they recognized that this call is being fulfilled through the work of Gawad Kalinga. Beside the multitudes of people, the spirit that I felt was awesome - the power, the passion and the promise of results when that many people come together makes one pause and be grateful. Stories of leaders recognized and of heroes typically unsung- the spirit of the generosity of the poor - woke the attendees up to know again that this call is not just about being generous when its convenient or when we want to - the call to serve all our fellow humans is constant, and honestly quite often inconvenient. This does not lesson the call any; quite the opposite; it only strengthens the necessity to respond. Yes, it requires work. It requires sacrifice. It requires pushing past the limits we thought were our own only to realize that when you are doing the work of God, there are no limits because God never gives us what we can't handle. If we have been called to eradicate poverty and to restore the dignity of all peoples, we shouldn't consider it impossible or ideal - we should just open ourselves to the reality of God at work in each and every heart. As I challenge myself to work through my own imposed limits, I challenge each of you as well to see what may be knocking on your door - what do you ignore because you think its not possible or plausible? What could you do if you allowed God full control of the reigns and weren't put off because had to ask you 3xs to Feed His Sheep, when each time you had already responded positively. There is always more work to be done. Cheers to getting it done happily and joyfully. As always God Bless and thank you for what you do already.

Pole Climbing 101...

It takes teamwork, great effort, and belief in one's self and friends. Today Heather and I joined the beneficiaries and caretaker team of our village, GK Libmanan, for fun and games in celebration of several birthdays, including momma Mary's. When we arrived we were treated to several dances, and of course had to dance ourselves (which was far better than our lame Karaoke attempt that ended the day), coconut milk straight from the nut, and an incredible dose of blessings from about 50 Bikolano children, most under 7 years old. The whole day was filled with food and fun, games and contests. Among our favorites were the Tomato Dance (pictured) and the the pole climbing. Two poles were mointed in the ground the day before. Each is about 15 feet tall, and they were about 15 feet apart. When we first got there, several youngsters, mostly boys, were testing and showing off their strength by quickly scurrying to the top. When it came time for the contest, however, the poles had been coated with a red grease. The boys 7-12 were put on one pole, the boys 13-18 were put on the other. The objective, of course, was to be the first to the top to retrieve the Philippines flag, and thereby claim the cash prize. The result was a solid 30 minutes of laughter, effort, and teamwork. Of course, this activity occurred under close supervision of a medical professional. DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME. ............... (PS This is Joel. Guess who's in love with him...)

Dios Mabalos

Dios Mabalos (Thank you)...Thank you for reading our blog...thank you for your prayers...and thank you for being on this journey with us. Patrick and I have moved to our assignment in Bicol. We have taken our long bus ride into the Province where roads only have two lanes, the houses are no taller than two stories and there is plenty of land next to each. The air is clean and the land is lush and green. In the midst of the hustle and the bustle of Manila with the million jeepneys, trikes, buildins and people it is a welcome burst of freshness here in Bicol. I believe more than the space and beauty the renewal in my spirit comes from knowing that this is where I can invest my heart. These are the people I will be living and working with, at least for the next month. This is where my purpose with in GK becomes a bit more defined. It is funny how finding purpose can bring with it such a feeling of renewal. It is not that anything has actually been accomplished, but rather that a direction has been found to do the work we feel called to do. So once again thank you for being with us. Thank you for you thoughts and prayers of encouragement that give us strength and empower us to embrace this opportunity and all of its blessings. I pray for you and your journey as well.

Hi There!

Just a little note to invite you to drop by my blog site. There's a link to the right "Dianne's Blog". Feel free to click on it for my blogs =) Salamat po and have a lovely day!

Doors Wide Open

The other day a group of us were riding the bus when we noted that although we were traveling down what could be considered in the US a highwayesque type of road, the bus doors were still wide open. As a matter of fact, the bus doors here never close. It hadnt hit me before, but in the states, that would never happen. People would complain that it was unsafe or someone would get hurt etc etc... Yet before it was brought up, I never even really felt it was odd or unsafe. It just was how things worked. I think this concept of the doors open riding down a highway is a good image for what working with GK can feel like. GK does things a lot of people would consider crazy and impossible. They've brought housing and peaceful communities to the poorest of the poor, violent areas that now not only have a shot at peace and livelihood, but are now on their way to self sustainability. They are bringing together organizations and people from all levels and all walks of life. The things that GK has done has turned what many people would consider idealism into reality. Yet that reality certainly means taking risks, and being open for whatever the road brings. At this moment, the road brings lots of changes - constantly. The challenge is certainly to be able to respond positively - that ok, its not what I'm used to, and hey, it may not even be my preference (I am one much more for the not gray areas in life), but this is something that is working to restore dignity, to restore hope and honestly seems to be love in action. Being open and active in my discernment and awareness is key to being able to contribute to this program - where ever and however I best fit in. So its ok, I tell myself, that my project is lax in definition or goal, or when I do get goals that they seem so big as its impossible to complete. The longer I am here, the more certain I am that this is where I am supposed to be, and that as uncertain as it seems to me now, God definitely has a plan for me here. So please join me in prayers for not just myself, but all my fellow GKBC travelers as we journey and now as we part to our individual challenges and locations. I pray that we all are able to respond to greatness before us welcomingly, positively and with hearts full of faith and love so that we are able to fully serve our greatest purpose in God's design in each moment. Cause thats how GK works. Thanks as always for your continued support in our adventures. Love and God Bless

GK Builders Institute

Ever dream of being a part of recorded history? Ever have that rare opportunity when you know that you are? That's what happened to us this weekend. The concept is simple, but the reality is truly revolutionary. The GK Builders Institute is an academic adventure that is first being undertaken by the Jesuit Ateneo de Manila University and the University of the Philippines. Both schools have agreed to work in conjunction with GK on research ventures that explore why GK is successful on many different levels. There findings are being compiled into an academic curriculum that will be taught in the schools as part of the GK Builders Institute. This weekend we participated in the first ever Township Development Summit, a program of GKBI sponsored and hosted jointly by UP and AdMU. More than 100 mayors from around the Philippines gathered for the summit to learn about GK and to learn how their Local Government Unit (LGU) can support the work, bringing assistance to squatters in their cities. It is truly inspiring to see people of significant power and stature come together with a humble heart willing to learn. Most importantly, these mayors found new hope for the problems of poverty in their cities, and have been empowered to do something significant about it. As part of the Builders Corps, many mayors were also approaching each of us, imploring us to visit their cities, to bring the message of hope, and ultimately to help GK communities grow in their cities- creating a slum-free, squatter-free Philippines. When I first heard that we were going to meet some local mayors, I envisioned people who had political power over cities about the size of most US suburbs, or smaller. Nope. Some of the videos that we saw this weekend showed off cities easily the size of Toledo, if not even Cleveland. These are prominent figures with major budgets responsible for thousands of poor squatters in their cities. They came to the summit by invite and with curiosity. Many left with new hope and a vision for change, growth and upward movement of the poorest of the poor in their cities. Many had 10-50 hectares ready to be inspected for development, and within only a few years, the very real possibility of giving thousands of squatters a new home, and a new community. A place to call their own, and to welcome others with pride and dignity. A house that is earned, that restores an individual's sense of providing for their family, and their sense of building a beautiful, loving, and nurturing environment for their children. THIS IS GK. A movement that has been growing one village at a time suddenly exploding, and will likely show growth in the next year that looks more like 10 - 100 villages at a time. I know it sounds far-fetched, absurd even, but it's true. If you doubt, I encourage you to come and be a part of it so that your heart too can have hope for the future. Amidst all of this inspiration on the local level, several prominent national leaders were also present for the weekend. We met personally several provincial governors, and heard a couple Senators speak. And Tito Tony personally introduced us to the Vice President of the Philippines! We were all surprised by his relaxed candor, but we later found out that he has been a strong supporter of GK from the very beginning. He has spoken at several GK events, and has said that he will never turn one down! So we were among a few that were directly introduced to him. Personally, I felt like he truly tried to empower the LGU's with the support of the national government to engage GK and start effectively fighting poverty in this beautiful place. So, we had a busy weekend. It was educational, but more, it was inspirational. The Summit was so successful that it was overbooked before it started. A second summit is being planned for November, and several mayors have asked to send other members of their staffs. In addition to hosting summits at UP and Ateneo, mayors and Universities around the Philippines have also offered to host, bring hope to the country, and a solution to local leaders. It is truly a grace to be a small part of something great. It is also a sometimes fearsome task to wonder what God will ask of us in this place. In truth, there is nothing here we can do that is within our means- but everything can be done, because we do not rely on ourselves!

The GK Way

Hello Friends...I have only a moment, but I wanted to leave a note to share just a bit of my thoughts, feelings and prayers from the last few days. Each day we have been almost inundated with an abundance of enthusiasm and joy for the work being done in GK. We are continually meeting more and more people who have found themselves immersed in the work of restoring hope and dignity to the poor of this country. People have been making remarkable commitments and sacrifices to see that the wholistic gifts GK brings to communities are spread as far as possible. Each day I am being humbled by the genuine love that is exuded in each interaction. Last night we met a number of newly elected and young mayors from cities through out the country. They had taken a class on effective governance and at the end had asked Tito Tony Meloto to speak with them about GK. I was so impressed and moved by their desire to understand how to bring GK to the people they serve. I was able to speak to one mayor more in depth and was inspired by his yearning to learn as much as he could from the wisdom of others and the work being done in other places so that he could develop sustainable programs within his own city. I found myself wishing that their were more like him all over the world willing to recognize they do not have all the answers and that it is not to serve themselves that they hold the positions they hold. It was a blessed day.

Don't Ask, Inspire

Hey all, Gawad Kalinga which describes itself as Radical Service with a mission to serve the poorest of the poor. I visited the Philippines last summer with GK, and I have been excited to return to work here because GK is just that, a radical take on service to the poor. As you can probably tell, I am pretty excited to be working with Gawad Kalinga and unfortunately it is not all for selfless reasons. I believe strongly that GK lives love in action and I have never seen a group live this love in such a selfless so holistically to such a great extent. Living in community this past year and in prayer through self reflection has helped me realize some of the many ways that I can embrace the mission of service to others more fully. So, I wanted to join GK with the hope of learning how to love all over again. It didn't take long to get my first lesson. As a member of the first batch of GKBuilders Corps Volunteers, I have been lucky enough to spend time with Tony Meloto who is the visionary behind GK. In our first interaction with him, he was explaining the importance of spreading the good news but instead of preaching he said, "Don't ask, Inspire." These words have taken me over as I look at how I work with others. How do I inspire? How do I not ask? What am I supposed to be doing? I've heard these words before. Ghandi's "Be the change you wish to see in the world" and St. Francis's "Preach the Gospel, use words if necessary" but with GK, I am also getting an example. There are many hundreds of people working in the movement of GK all making extremely simple salaries (some only make enough to go home once a year within the Philippines) but they live with the spirit of GK within them and that spirit inspires others and myself to also embrace that mission. I am excited to begin to start living this trinket of wisdom. I feel incredibly blessed to be here now with GK, and I look forward to sharing this movement, this work, this experience, these people with you.

Waiting

So, we do a lot of that here. But it should be considered a nice contrast to the busy-ness of navigating traffic, or running from meeting to meeting. Later today we will travel to the GK sites that are partnered with Ateneo University. Last week we saw sites in Baseco(urban metro-Manila) and Calamba (in the Laguna Province). The houses and communities are beautiful, and there is a general spirit of joy that pervades everything- a stark contrast to the usual gloom of poverty. We are also being inundated with success stories of people who have found their motivation for life after being touched by GK. The houses in the Philips village in Laguna were so beautiful that I was taking notes for decorating my own home some day. Tito Tony always talks about having 1st world expectations, and building 1st world communities - not settling for "3rd world" or developing country standards. This is the mark of GK, and they are taking the Philippines- and others around the world by storm. .... We are also working on getting more pictures into the photo album, so have a bit of patience, and hopefully we can share with you an adventure in pictures soon! (The photo albums are linked in the link list).

Basic beginning ramblings

We're here as has already been said. It's been amazing, but also overwhelming. The generosity of everyone we've met, and especially our host families has been astounding. We haven't had much immersion yet as we are still in our orientation phase. However, one of the full time workers reminded us to remember when we are going to the sites, we aren't just tourists. We need to look at the villages with the eyes and hearts of people actively figuring out where God is calling us and how God is calling us to serve. Today our schedule includes several village visits and then late night advocacy with a Full Time worker and also one of our hosts - Greg. While mostly we've just been observing things, Greg warned us he may call on us to share our stories of why we came to volunteer. We also have been given our assignments 'officially'. I'm still with the values formation process which is awesome, but definitely overwhelming. I'm really excited to dig in to the work set before me, but have to have patience as we continue our orientation as well. There are plenty of lessons to be learned here in all sorts of ways. I just have to keep praying that I'm open and aware of the multitude of lessons that God brings before me. This is not about expectations but experiences and finding the values of it all. The cliches to be used are many, but they are also true. Now though, as this is about experiences, I want to get back to the people here at the GK office at Ateneo (Jesuit University in Manila playing orientation leaders this week). Thank you all for sharing in our journeys in all the ways you are. Know you are loved. God Bless

"Welcome to Manila...

(pic 1 - Layover in Taipei; Pic 2 Heather and Beth leaving the Manila airport) ...the current outside tempurature is 30 degress celcius, and the weather is mild rain. On behalf of Philippine Air and this flight crew, we'd like to wish you a wonderful stay here in Manila. Mabuhay!" _____________ Yup, we've landed. And then some. Actually, it took our plane two tries to land, probably because there was something on the runway or a miscommunication in the holding pattern the first time. But we made it, and without any hang ups!!!! Praise God! Even as I went through the customs desk at the Manila Airport, the office (a young woman) stopped me, told me that she had been looking for ways to volunteer with GK, and then asked me who she could contact to get involved! There is a new revolution happening here - a new hope is growing in the Philippines - people of every class, every generation, and every skill and ability are uniting to eliminate poverty in this country, and to shine a light for the elimination of poverty worldwide. Don't be fooled - 6 months is a very short time in such a grand scheme, but it is very exciting to be even a small part of such a powerful movement of love. Even as we are still ironing out what we will be doing here, there is already talk of how to continue the mission after we leave. But I am jumping ahead. It wouldn't be right to lose you in a world of dreams without sharing the stark realities of Jeepnee-crowded streets, overflowing generosity, and early morning roosters! The couple we are staying with for the first few nights is amazing. Their house is simple, but beautiful. They said to us that they were happy to have us in return for the generosity they always receive whenever they travel to the States. I was glad to know that a non-American received such generosity, in sharp contrast to the regular negative image that we so often here of abroad. The van ride that took us from the airport to the GK headquarters, and then from the GK headquaters to tita Corky's house was the adventure of a lifetime. For those of you who tire of Chicago driving, or simply hate Chicago drivers for their agressive style, let me assure you, you ain't seen nothin' yet! Perhaps you can be a little more forgiving to know that when they stay between the lines and only cut you off with a four-foot clearance, they are being very restrained for what you might experience in metro-Manila. A three lane road here has traffic five vehicles across, and mopeds in every crack! I am tempted at times to reach out the window and grab a Pepsi bottle off the back of the passing delivery truck. The double yellow line in the middle - if it exists at all - is merely a suggestion for which side you should consider driving on, and playing chicken with on-coming traffic is a regular sport! And that doesn't even get into pedestrians! Wow! So, driving here is not going to happen in the city any time soon! At the GK headquarters, we were immediately greeted again by tito Tony Meloto, founder of GK, and several other full-time workers, who repeatedly reminded us that they have been waiting anxiously for the arrival of the "first batch" of Builders Corps (that's us!). After a short meeting with tito Tony we were ushered to our host's house, tita Corky. She offered us dinner, but we graciously declined, and the four of us were asleep by 8pm! Two days of traveling (three on the calendar) will wear you out, and our hosts were very understanding. We have to go the mall now to exchange our money and take care of some other business. Please keep on praying, and know that things are moving quickly here. More updates are coming soon! And again, my thanks to you all for your endless prayers and support. God is doing great things here! See you soon! (Hopefully.)

WE ARE HERE

Hello Friends and Family! After 20 hours of travel, three in flight movies, and a five hour layover in Tai Pai, we have arrived in Manila. The welcome has been incredible and the people we are surrounded by have embraced us with open arms. It has been such a comfort. There has been so much to take in these last 48 hours that I haven't even really begun to process. From the moment we stepped off the airport grounds I realized that things are much different from home and much more different than I was able to imagine. First of all, driving in the Philippines is nuts, but somehow it works. Driving laws are actually suggestions and rarely accepted. The poverty is widespread and more visible than I had anticipated. It is a dose of reality. At the same time I have experienced incredible hospitality, generosity, hope, and have seen the fruits of labor being done to restore dignity to the poor. There is plenty to do while we are here. I am more excited than ever to be here and I am looking forward to sharing our experience with you. Please continue to keep us in your prayers. We are in for the experience of a lifetime. God Bless.

We're Outta Here!

In a few short minutes Heather and I will be headed to the LA Airport where we'll meet up with Beth and Jonathon, and then board an early-morning red-eye flight to to Manila. This is it. We're outta here. Needless to say, there's a bit of surreallism. For those of you that have checked in on this blog over the summer, you're probably feeling a bit of the build up too. All I have to say now is thank you so much for your prayers that have got us this far, and know that we will miss you as we are carried by your prayers for the next several months. You can look forward to colorful pictures, crazy stories, and hopefully great testimonies of God's love in people in the Philippines. Yup, we're excited, and nervous, yes- but mostly just excited. Now all we have to do is get there . . . HERE WE GO!!!!!!!!!!

Where to Begin

Tomorrow we leave and begin our arrivals to an entirely new and unknown part of our lives. So much goes through my mind when I think about all the possibilities and probabilities - those of you who know me probably understand this. But this past week I've been blessed to continue a traditional family vacation (dad's been going for about 35 years). It reminded me a lot about what I value and ultimately speaks to the reasons I'm leaving on this journey. All my life my family has gone to a place called Pennellwood in Michigan. This year I've learned that it's one of the last of its kind - an American Family Resort. In past decades these places were HUGE attractions - families and friends came together and grew together one week every year. They ate together, played together, laughed together. When I was little and even now, I would rather go to our week at Pennellwood then almost anywhere else for vacation. Yet things change, and Pennellwood, unfortunately, is no exception. I think about these changes and believe it signifies a change in how too many of us see our families and how we prioritize our lives. Yet I don't want to give up to these changes in family dynamics, and certainly not family values that places like Pennellwood can foster. And despite needing to change certain things Pennellwood seems to want to continue to foster as long as possible. Pennellwood is only one of the many examples of being raised with communities and strong family connections. It is through these communities that I have recently and repeatedly been shown how blessed I am. People's generosity in prayer, support and love has been tremendous and so freely given that I am amazed and awed. I thank each one of you, and wish to remind you that whether you've touched my life directly or that of any of my family - I am who I am today because of the people in my life. So as I go forth to face the many unknowns, the challenges, the joys and graces that await me, know I take pieces of each of you with me, confident in the knowledge that I am never alone. Again Thank You. God Bless

GKBC Blessings...

Hi yall! I know your all waiting in anticipation for tha GK adventure.... don't worry its right around the corner and before you know it you'll all be here! I'm really excited to finally be together in the Philippines!!! I pray that you all arrive here safely and in good spirits! May the Lord's angels watch over you and guide you... may they guide us all for an amazing, inspiring, productive, and unforgettable journey, building divine realationships and building a nation!!! Can you believe it??! We're nation builder's! Pack, pray, and meditate in pride and joy that you are travling where no man has gone before! ...haha just kidding. But seriously, we are doing some thing very spiritual and deep, and I know the Lord is smiling over us. I am honored to build with yall and I know its gonna be Great!! ok I gotta go now! Love & blessings, Dianne

WOOHOO

I just wanted to share with everyone that I am officially a NURSE! The day I arrived home in San Diego my mom checked the mail and found a large envelope from the California Board of Nursing...she screamed and dropped all the mail. At home we opened it to find my license! WooHOo! Thank you for your prayers and encouragement. Now all there is to wait for is this whole crazy Philippines thing...

Finally . . . a sit down

driving - packing - driving - moving - driving- packing - driving - driving - unpacking - STOP. Finally. Did you notice a theme here? As Heather and I drove from Chicago to Cleveland she announced that we are now homeless (nothing personal, mom & dad). There is a striking reality, though when you realize that everything you own is packed into the back of a van and you are driving to a place where you will not stay. And we are called again to trust, that in leaving everything behind, God will provide for us the things we need. For me, I have still been in denial. This will be the longest duration I've been out of Chicago since 2001, and without any real knowledge of where I'm going other than "It's Beautiful" & "It's Dangerous," I have had little to actually look forward to. Sure, my head is full of great ideas and my heart believes in this mission, but honestly, I have no idea what is on the other side of the jetway. Now, we are less than two weeks away- work has completed; swimming is almost completed; I am moved out of my apartment; the only thing left to do is pack one more time, and head out. I am beside myself with anticipation. Tired of waiting and not yet ready to leave. Ok God- here we go!

Smelling the Sea Air

I'm not sure exactly why, but I have in my mind the image of sailors preparing their vessel for a long voyage. Adequate preparation takes a bit of time, and all those trips up and down the gang-plank stir in one's self the desire to face the open sea, to be already departed. No, we have no boat to ready, and we will only face the open sea from about 60,000 feet up, but in many ways, all the conversations about leaving serve as those trips across the gang-plank. The time for leaving is almost upon us. The anticipation itself is somewhat unnerving. I find myself procrastinating in my packing in denial that I am leaving, and at the same time, I'm wishing I was already there. What a strange and real yet intangible space- oh liminality, will you ever let us be? (probably not.) Life is one big transition, I suppose. A passing from innocence to bliss, with much adventure in between. Perhaps all of these little transitions will prepare us, give us some "perspective," on the big transition that we all must face. One of my swimmers asked me what the hardest part of leaving the team, or switching teams, is. I told him, "Without a doubt, it's the people." We live and move in relationships that must now undergo a change. A new distance must be inserted where there was before only a day's wait. Communication becomes sparse, if at all, and all of our hopes and dreams are left to trust - and to faith. I think there is something different for me this time, however. Every time a kind friend says to me, "You're leaving; we're going to miss you," I have to first face the fact that I will miss them; but then I have to face the more awesome reality that as I turn from them I turn to a blank canvas- to a world not yet encountered. To dreams I cannot even begin to dream because I cannot even fathom the colors with which I have to paint. I must become in that goodbye a pure canvas ready to say hello to whatever creation my Lord designs. He holds the brush, and I must be ready to receive whatever He paints. This is fearsome and wonderful all at once. And sometimes it is as if the waiting, the preparations, leave me anxious to know the designs he has- anxious to begin. "Time...ah time...is the final surrender." And in our presence, we hope to be attentive to the work of the Master.

Focus on the Postive

Based on what I'm going to be doing, I've gotten a lot of questions from people about my faith. Today, I was asked if I was a Christian. As a Catholic, I consider myself Christian, so I responded that yes I was. However, the person I was speaking with apparently does not consider Catholics Christians and what came next was a rant about the faults of Catholics, and why his denomination was correct. He continued to praise his denomination and the amount of good works that they do. As a Filipino, he was also thrilled I was going to go serve in the Philippines. He had the best intentions, and was very happy that I apparently fell in with his beliefs. I didn't stop him in his rant. I didn't correct any of his overstatements about Catholics. Rather, I was brought back to my recent thoughts on the importance of perspective. I believe that GK's work is significantly more important than difference in religious beliefs. Its about focusing on the needs that everyone can legitimately, positively change - bringing about healing and wholeness instead of ill will and division. We can certainly, and probably easily, focus on the flaws and faults of lots of things around us - be it a different religion, different ethnicity, different income levels - the list goes on too far. But Life is not about what is easy. It is about what is right. For me, what is right, is doing the best that I can for everyone. This encompasses knowing my own strengths and weaknesses, and those of what I commit myself too. We cannot allow our idealism to blind us to our weaknesses. Without honesty on where our weakness lie, we cannot move forward. And as perfection can be found in God alone - everything can be improved. Rather than face our critics with defensive attitudes of self-righteousness, let us be humbled and truly search within ourselves for those areas that we can truly improve. Pray for me as I attempt this - Humility is not always one of my strong points. ;-) God Bless.

I see the Light!!

Many find it hard to understand how I could just quit my job and fund a 6 month mission to serving the poor (mind you I’m not exactly rich), leaving behind my comforts and “securities” I have in the States. But actually, it is exactly THAT which has given me more life! It is a high honor to serve the poor. I have realized my true value as a human and a child of God thru such an honor. We call the poor we are working with beneficiaries, but with all respect I have also become a beneficiary too. There is so much to learn and so many ways to grow thru these fortunate challenges in GK. Much peace, joy, and humility has and will continue to fill my soul. I hope to always be an instrument of inspiration thru the act of selflessness. One of the things that really hit my heart and humbled me was to experience the generosity of the poor Filipinos. Many times it is hard to share what we have because we constantly live with a consciousness that we lack money and materials. When serving the poor in GK, it was amazing to see how these Filipinos literally have close to nothing materially, and yet they would give what they have to you in appreciation. They may have only so many pesos but they will spend it all on a chicken, they don’t even buy that for their own family, but they will buy it and cook it for you out of gratitude. They don’t have not much, but will give much just because you are there for and with them. I’ve seen how our time and presence with the poor is more valuable than any dollar amount you could give. And I can’t help but think about the numerous times where I felt I couldn’t give, not just material things, but more importantly my time. And here are the poor who have nothing but are so willing to give so much. They are one of the greatest teachers of life I have ever come across. It is in the act of selflessness, giving, and humility that we truly find ourselves as humans and become valuable. And it is here we experience true abundance.

My humble insight for my fellow BC friends

Congratulations on your fight ticket purchases =) I'm so excited for you guys, I can't wait till you get here!! It’s going to be an amazing life changing experience! You will see yourself transform magically.... lol i like romanticizing things sometimes. But in all honesty, it's true. And it'll be nice to have the whole BC "1st batch" growing together!! yaaaay Joanne's coming sooner!!!! I'm so happy about that!! =) I will keep you all in my prayers. The first month is really about adjustment with stay, weather, and culture (well maybe not for Joanne hehe)... And you'll be traveling to a lot of GK sites and probably do a build. So it's really learning & absorbing the ways of GK. For me, the work projects have been very tentative, GK is a moving entity (haha). As you know, I'm into the second month now so my work projects are becoming more concrete, imagine a funnel... its like a funnel of ideas instead of water. did that make sense? So I'm really barely begining actual work assignments. The site visits and talks help spark ideas on how you can be of service to making GK continue being a more excellent org. and expand on a bigger level. And syempre (of course)... the central activity is building relationships everywhere you go!! So thats my advice of a month and a half in a nutshell to yall and anyone interested in the Builder's Corps. =) I think its better if much of your experience is raw and unexpected, so just be open minded, flexible, and most importantly, enjoy the ride! You will have a lot of support out here, and syempre me! =) (as you can see thats one of the few tagalog words I know lol) And you will also be in my prayers. I can't wait to see you all!!! =)) Love & God Bless!