It’s hard to believe we are here. We’ve looked forward to it for some time. We started here as any new missionary would with orientation. We spent a few hours with the various department personnel at NTM Manila.
We also spent a couple of days with the NTM bookkeeper here. He walked us through the many accounts that we will be working on a regular basis. Now we are ready to move on to the island of Palawan and our new ministry.
We applied for work permits, got our residency certificates, and got our shortwave radio licenses.
First Impressions of Manila
Girls in the Squatter Area
During our time here I’ve enjoyed my morning walks through the various neighborhoods. I see very nice houses right next to poor squatter areas. Affluent people have guards and tall concrete fences with wire and broken glass on the top. The poorest have no shelter at all. Most of the people live in between working hard to find the money to feed their often large families. Squatters houses may be 3 stories high.
Squatter houses
I find the traffic rather amazing! I’m often up before 6am and there is lots of traffic on the streets. The way I cross is by "Jay" walking. While that might sound crazy, I’ve tried to cross at the corner and it’s twice as difficult there. At least when I "jay" walk, I only have to look two ways.
Busy Traffic Street
Street Side Butcher Shop
Carrying Produce to the Market
A Jeepney painted with "Lord and Savior"
Forgotten dust-laden statue of Jesus in a corner
The other day I stopped at a Catholic church. Everything was neat, clean and precise. The paintings on the wall were beautiful. Then as I was leaving I noticed that they had a "Jesus" that they no longer needed. He was pushed over in a corner and was collecting dust. It was upsetting. Yet, I was reminded that that is only a piece on concrete that can not answer prayers or save people. I know the real Jesus. Yet, how often do I neglect Him and relegate Him to an unused corner of my life.
It is a privilege that He has given us to serve Him. We are grateful to be here and trust that we might be allowed to continue to serve Him until He returns.
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