Church

Church.

What pops into your head when you hear that word? While growing up, the word church always meant Sundays and Wednesdays to me. It wasn’t until a few years ago that I finally understood church is about God’s people… about my brothers and sisters. The church is what we are. And not only are we a family, but we are a family that pleases our Lord.

The more I come to love Jesus, the more I love His church. I love praising His name alongside so many others. I love thinking about the work Jesus has done in each of our lives and the fact that He knows each of us so personally. I love thinking about how broken we are as a church, and how good God is to restore us and use us. I love our ability to give all praise back to Him, and I love the overwhelming feeling of the glory I want God to receive from us.

In my time overseas I have gained a huge appreciation for the international church. God is reaching so many through their own cultures, and it’s an honor to worship him amongst my brothers and sisters of other nations. It’s a tiny sliver of what heaven is going to be. It’s beautiful.

In Revelation 7:9, we are told that heaven is international:

“After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands…”

Last night I was able to go to Passion Manila and worship the Lord with thousands of my Filipino brothers and sisters. It was incredible! I felt overwhelmed by the privilege to experience God being worshipped by the nation He has called me to for the past two years. It felt like a “parting gift” from Him as my number of days here dwindles.

Keep praying for the church. Pray for our eternal family that God is working through all over the world! I can’t wait for the day Rev. 7:9 is reality.

Longing

Today has been one of those days where I just long to be home. I miss my friends and family and I am so excited to get to live life with them again in about 4 months.

And as these thoughts consume my mind, I know that when I get back home I will have days where I long to be back in the Philippines. Basically, I'm learning that I may never be 100% satisfied with where I physically am. And I think that's ok. :)

Faith Academy- 2014

I long for these two worlds I now have to collide. This is going to require the proclamation of the Gospel to all people, leading to a new heaven and a new earth. The day when Christ's church is fully unified and God himself dwells with us. The day when differences and location don't matter. The day when we get to experience our Creator and His creation to it's fullest... in a way that we can't even begin to imagine!

At church this morning I was so encouraged by this passage:

"Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, 'Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall their be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.'"
Revelation 21:1-4

I believe that many others experience these same feelings and I pray this passage can encourage you today as well.

To live is Christ, to die is gain.

Typhoon Yolanda-- How You Can Help!

Here is a small list of ways you can donate to Typhoon Yolanda relief. If you're feeling led to help, check them out! A small gift can go a long way. Thanks friends!

Philippines Red Cross
http://ushare.redcross.org.ph/


Faith Academy
Collecting material and financial donations. Please message me via Facebook or Email if you're interested in contributing! nicoleann.nw@gmail.com


Kids International Ministries
Want to help the victims of Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan)? KIM is sending a small disaster response team to Tacloban, the area hardest hit. We will build a shelter providing food, water, and medicine to the community. If you would like to donate to the effort, know that 100% of your money will go towards the Tacloban relief and is tax deductible. Click below http://www.stayclassy.org/events/philippine-typhoon-relief/e28674


Compassion International
http://www.compassion.com/typhoon-hits-philippines.htm

When you give to this fund, you help Compassion provide the relief, recovery, and rehabilitation that is vital to restore families affected by this massive storm.

Your gift makes possible interventions such as:

• emergency food and water, temporary shelters, personal items, cooking utensils, trauma counseling and spiritual support
• replacing clothing, school supplies and household items
• restoring supplies a family needs for earning income

Operation Blessing https://secure.ob.org/site/Donation2?df_id=6920&6920.donation=form1 In the wake of one of the strongest storms in recorded history, Operation Blessing teams are providing food, water, medical care and other critical relief to victims of Super Typhoon Haiyan.

Chapel

This past week my students were able to do a presentation during our weekly Chapel. We joined the other second grade class, taught by my good friend Kelsie, to share what God has been teaching us with the rest of the elementary school. Here is the last portion of our presentation! The kids worked so hard, and they were pretty pumped to get to present in front of their peers. Enjoy!

Walls

A few weeks ago my class and I studied Joshua and the battle of Jericho (Joshua 6). This led to many discussions of God tearing down walls, which led to us discussing the "walls" we have in our own lives that are only going to fall down with God's help. These are sins/habits/etc. that are between us and the Lord that we need to ask Him to tear down in our hearts. We proceeded to write down these things on "bricks" and built a classroom wall to pray over.

My kids have basically blown me away. Such a simple task is generating some amazing prayers and self-reflection! We spend time praying for our wall in different groupings, and the kids literally rejoice when someone gets to take down their brick because God has answered their prayer!

A few bricks we got to take down today!

Our wall after a few removals and additions.

Here are the main reasons I am so thankful that we've been able to do this:

1. These 2nd graders have been open, honest, and vulnerable with admitting their struggles.
2. They are thinking deeply about the walls in their lives and what separates them from the Lord. 
3. They are continuing to realize the power of prayer. Prayer is POWERFUL! (as they say)
4. They are believing in this power. As they take bricks down, they are also adding others so that they can be prayed for.
5. I am seeing these kids understand the Truth of the Gospel. Seriously, what gets better than that?!

Thank you for praying for us. God's incredible! He can take simple pieces of construction paper and convict us. Thank you Jesus for drawing us closer to You.

God and His Sense of Humor :)

God had a fun plan up his sleeve for me this past Saturday...

The day included a few unfortunate events. I spent the day up at school but had forgotten my phone at home. My roommate Angela and I were planning to hit the weight room but forgot a key and it was locked. We went to go find the "key man", who was gone, but ended up having a lovely chat with his wife and daughter. We then headed home (about a 10 minute drive).

Manila is full of speed bumps and guard houses for each subdivision. As we were heading out of our school's subdivision, I prepared to slow down as we approached said guard house and speed bump. I have learned to drive manual since being here, and was incredibly surprised to not be able to find my clutch with my left foot. It was completely floored and out of commission. My car jerked to an uncomfortable stop as it stalled. I panicked, as we were in the middle of a busy road and a large truck was approaching behind me. Usually, I could call my mechanic, Nick, and he would rush over to save the day... but like I said earlier, I had forgotten my phone! About 10 seconds after we stalled, two guys on a motorcycle knocked on my window. I asked Angela if she knew them (which she didn't) and started to roll down my window with caution. The driver took off his helmet and I was shocked to see Nick! He asked what was wrong, proceeded to push my car out of the way, and figured out the problem in minutes. He's great and was able to take my car right then and there while Angela and I walked home. 

Basically, it was a day of unscheduled events that the Lord totally had His hand on. We laughed about all of the little things that happened in order for us to stall out in the right place at exactly the right time. God is so good, and so in control. I hope this little story can encourage you and provide a chuckle. :)

The hero, Nick, and myself.

Civ (my car) and the intersection we broke down at.

He Has Made Me Glad!

So, the Lord has put it on my heart to share the things I love about where He has me right now. Since returning to Manila, I have had this supernatural feeling of contentment and joy in the ways I currently get to serve our King. There have been so many days where I think "Wow, I can't believe I get to serve God here in the Philippines!" No, every day hasn't been easy or perfect, but that hasn't taken away from the fact that God's ways are perfect and just. Here are the current joys that have been replaying in my mind:

1. Filipinos are some of the kindest, content, hard-working, and joyful people that I have met. They are truly happy and eager to serve you. I continue to learn from them in this way.

2. I get to live in a culture so different than home. This provides a lot of laughs, some frustration at times, and tons of learning.

3. I have seen God working in different parts of the world. It's incredible how God meets his people and draws us to himself. The ministries that I can get involved with here seem so worthwhile and bring glory to our King!

4. I get to work with an amazing staff at Faith Academy. Different families and friends have been such good examples to me in hospitality, humility, and servanthood. It's encouraging to work beside people that are striving for the Kingdom to come.

5. I have the pleasure of living off of support from loved ones back home. This was quite the process and I learned lesson upon lesson within support raising alone. But it has given me a new perspective on the money I "earn." It is easier for me to see it as a gift from the Lord, which has helped me become more joyful in my own giving of God's resources. He alone provides!

6. I have a job that allows me to depend on the Lord. I get to love on God's children for about 8 hours a day and learn from them. There are the beautiful days that I think "Man, I have the absolute best job in the world!" and then the equally beautiful days where I end with thinking "Man, I don't think I can do this for the rest of my life." The truth is, I CAN'T do this job alone. I am still learning to depend on God daily with teaching; it is a lesson I am so happy to learn!

Well, there is my list for now. I am praying that my heart will always seek God's perfection in the place he has me. I also pray that God will show you how blessed you are to be in the perfect place he has you today and tomorrow! What an honor it is to serve our Creator. :)

Two Days Down in Grade Two!

Well... this week was pretty crazy with changes and working at school. Due to some enrollment changes, I was moved to 2nd grade instead of Kindergarten 3 days before school started! It was crazy getting everything ready, but our incredible elementary staff was helpful and encouraging through the process. The Lord blessed me with a lot of peace, and I am excited that I get to depend on him with teaching a new grade again.

We have now had 2 days of school and I can already tell I am going to love 2nd grade. I love that my students can already read and write :) and our class has a lot of personality! I am thankful that I will get to know them and love them this year. It has felt great to be teaching again, and I keep learning that God has blessed my heart with a passion for the classroom.

Please pray for me! I truly need the Lord's guidance and strong hand as I figure out a new curriculum and age group. Please also pray for my friend/roommate Kelsie and I, as we learn to teach the same grade together, balancing school life with home. Praise the Lord for the plans he has for this year! His ways are so much higher than ours.

Here's a look at my cuties! (you will notice a blurry face due to media restrictions)
Pray for: Annette, Jungwoo, Minjae, Lucie, Bekah, Luka, Josiah, Sara, Ava, Paul, Emma, Meeram, Tyler, Daniel, and Hyunyoung :)

Round Two

Hello from LAX! I am currently on a 7 hour layover en route to Manila and decided to do a little updating.

I was just blessed with 6 incredible weeks of being back in Kansas. The Lord and I both knew that I was exhausted and ready to be home for awhile once school was out in May. I am so thankful I was able to travel back! There is something so comforting about being surrounded by family and old friends, my home church and the culture I'm most used to.

My first week back I was able to be the missionary for the VBS at my home church. I loved sharing information about the Philippines with the kids and we were able to pray for different people groups around the world. It was a fun week!

I was also able to travel to Boston with my family for a few days and spend the 4th of July with lots of family in Wamego and at the lake. It has been so good to see all of my aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents!

I loved getting to catch up with so many friends, meeting new baby Landrie, reliving old traditions, living with the Isaacs, and feeling rested by extra time with the Lord. He truly used these weeks to teach me, guide me, correct me, and provide healing. What an amazing Father we have!

I am so very thankful for this time I had at home and I look forward to returning next summer. I don't think I will ever enjoy goodbyes, but this past week seemed much easier than last year since I pretty much know what to expect when I get to the other side of the ocean. I am so excited to see my friends in the Philippines, hug my past students, and get ready for a new year of teaching! This year will be quite different with new staff, new roommates, and new goals. I can't wait to see what the Lord has in store. :)

Thank you for your prayers and encouragement this summer! I am leaving the States with a very full heart. Love you guys!

Seeking Guidance

As I mentioned in my last post, I have become interested in pursuing a more direct role within the Bible translation process. Here has been my journey so far...

While I went through Wycliffe's training last summer I was able to hear from many different translators about the projects they have worked on and the faithfulness the Lord showed them. I LOVED these stories and felt so energized by each of them. Once I moved to the Philippines, I was able to read a couple of books ("And the Word Came With Power" and "Peace Child" specifically) about pioneer missions and translation and the power of the Word of God. Thirdly, I was able to attend a Bible translation dedication this past October, celebrating the Scriptures being in the heart language of the people of Bolinao, Philippines. All of these experiences combined got me daydreaming about translation and the groups of people that could be impacted by God's Truth. I remember a moment when I couldn't imagine doing anything else with my life.

I have learned that training to be a translator takes years. With this knowledge I decided to look into what it would take. I found a few programs that I could pursue and was overwhelmed with the excitement of it all! I couldn't believe that this was something God might be calling me to!

About a week later, my mind was flooded with doubt. Do I really think I can translate the Bible? Has God truly gifted me for translation? I've never been great at learning languages and my one linguistics class was hard for me in college. Why did God have me study education if I'm supposed to be a translator? I had so many questions! I believed that God could work through me in translation, but I wanted to be sure that this is the direction he was guiding me in and not just a crazy dream I had.

These doubts were discouraging to me and I felt like the guidance I was feeling from the Lord vanished. Thankfully, God promises that he will guide us all the days of our lives. He has been challenging me to spend extra time in prayer asking for this guidance. This past Tuesday night I was drawn to my knees before the Lord and asked him to guide me to someone who could help me with my questions.

On Wednesday I was testing my kiddos on their reading levels which required me to have a sub in my classroom. That morning I received a text from my friend, Becca, saying that there was a girl named Janel visiting the school who had taught there in the past, left and got her masters in linguistics, and is now in Indonesia as a translator. She suggested that we meet up that afternoon to chat. Luckily, I finished my testing that morning and just so happened to have the afternoon free. (That would have been a different story any other Wednesday!)

We met up after lunch and had such a fun conversation! Janel was so honest with me and I was able to ask her all of the questions that have been flooding my mind. Our stories are very similar, and she was able to relate to the way I have been feeling. She explained various roles in the translation process, including a few that involve TEACHING nationals about the Scriptures as they take the front lines in translating the Bible into their language. She assured me that grad school was hard work, but some of my fears played a very small part in schooling as a whole. I was left encouraged by her ministry, and it was so good for me to talk to someone that was passionate about God's work through translation again. (Also... she was just on a layover and felt prompted to stop by the school. I consider our conversation a divine appointment!)

I have a new energy for Bible translation and the ways God could use me. I will be visiting Biola University in LA on my way home in a few weeks to talk about their linguistics program. Another option is in Dallas. Please pray with me as I continue to seek guidance, following the Lord with each step I take. Thank you for journeying with me!

"Make me to know your ways, O Lord;

teach me your paths. 

Lead me in your truth and teach me,

for you are the God of my salvation;

for you I wait all the day long."

Psalm 25:4-5

The Last 3 Months in a Nutshell...

Blogging has not been going at all as planned this semester. In this post, I will attempt to catch everyone up on what God has been doing in my life and in this ministry over the past few months.

1. Christmas break included 3 weeks of adventures, homesickness, and new experiences. I was able to go on a couple of trips around the Philippines with my friends. First, 3 of my girlfriends and I headed up north to enjoy some cool weather and relaxation. After Christmas a group of us headed up north again to Sagada. This was an intense trip of caving, hiking, and marveling at the Lord's creation.

As Christmas day approached, homesickness became a little overwhelming. God's name Emmanuel had a new meaning to me... He provided so much comfort in letting me know that He was with me even when my family couldn't be. In the end, Christmas day was filled with friends and families from the Faith Academy community. The Lord provided, and it was a great day of celebrating Jesus' birth.

Kelsie, Jacque, Melissa and I in Bagio.

We were so excited to wear jeans and use blankets! :)

Christmas Eve with the roomies!

Getting ready for an epic caving experience in Sagada.

We couldn't believe some of the holes we had to go through!

Kels and I loved staying in this little hut. :)

2. Basketball season has come to a close. Coaching was a great experience for me. I loved getting to know some of the high school girls and I learned from their faith and genuine hearts. :)

Our JV team of freshmen and sophomores. :)

3. My Kindergarten class grew to 15 in January. These 3 new little bodies came with adjustments and new challenges for me with our classroom dynamic changing. I love what Bella, Richie, and Pepijn bring to our classroom family and I'm so thankful God chose to bless me with them and my 12 other students. I have been able to watch their hearts grow for the nations and each other. I can get so touched by their questions about the Lord and their desires to serve him here in the Philippines and around the world. God is incredible! He is working in them and it's an honor to get to watch.

Celebrating the 100th day of school!

My kiddos representing their home countries for International Week.

4. I found out that I will be teaching 4th grade next year! I am excited for a new challenge, but also nervous about all of the change. Fourth graders and kindergarteners are extremely different. :)

5. My parents came to visit! It was a blessed 2 weeks. It meant the world to me to be able to share my life in the Philippines with people from home. They had so much fun with my kids, and we packed in quite a bit of sight-seeing and other Manila experiences.

Exploring Corregidor Island.

Mrs. Wilbur, Miss Wilbur, and Mr. Wilbur with the Kinders. :)

6. Throughout this year, God has been teaching me about Bible translation and His heart for different tribal groups. I have been able to hear some incredible stories through joining Wycliffe, meeting different missionaries, and reading some amazing stories about the way Bible translation can change lives and communities for eternity. With all of this, I have been praying about becoming a Bible translator. On my way home this summer I will be making a pit stop at Biola University in Las Angeles to learn more about their MA in Linguistics and Biblical Languages. This degree would equip me to translate for an unreached people group somewhere in the world. Direction is exciting and your prayers are coveted as I look into the next steps it will take to be a translator.

To God be the glory, forever and ever!

Gentle Hands

I have been awful at blogging lately. The past few weeks have been packed full of busyness! I do have an experience that I'd like to share with you all though.

Last night, I was able to visit a child welfare agency (orphanage) here called Gentle Hands. A few people that I know are very connected to Gentle Hands, and one of my students actually lived there for a month before her adoption process began. One of my friends and co-teachers, Kim, goes to Gentle Hands on Sunday evenings almost on a weekly basis. I was thankful to be able to join her this week! She is currently in the adoption process of Daniel, a 4 year old cutie!

I had never really been to an orphanage before, and it was not what I expected. The home currently has 3 levels. The bottom level has different rooms for the children based on age. We started in the nursery, and I was able to hold a precious baby girl named Raven. We then moved up to the toddlers. These 1-2 year olds were very timid and skeptical of their new visitor. It took them awhile to warm up to me, but after a few minutes I had a good game of "catch the monkey" going with a set of twin boys. Our next room had boys and girls around the ages of 3-5. These kiddos were so excited to have someone watch them! One little boy named CJ immediately grabbed my hand, pulled me down to sit on the edge of a bed, and hopped up on my lap. CJ and another little girl noticed my cross necklace, pointed to it and said "Jesus!" and then broke out into "Jesus Loves Me." It was pretty precious. :) The remainder of their words were mainly in Tagalog, so I just smiled and enjoyed their chattiness. The last couple of rooms were divided by gender. It was fun to talk to the older girls and boys. They are blessed with so many brothers and sisters in their home!

After hanging out with the kids, we moved up a couple of floors to where the family that runs Gentle Hands lives. This floor was also very busy, as some of the kids live up with this family based on their special needs. We were able to have dinner with the workers and I learned more about the extensive and slow adoption process of the Philippines. It takes years and so much patience for these families!

I learned one huge lesson on this night. Charity, the woman who runs Gentle Hands, explained that there is a misperception of orphanages. Many people, myself included, have this instinct to feel sorry for orphans and the living situation they are in. We have this view that we must rescue these children from orphanages. I understand that this may be true for some orphanages, but Gentle Hands doesn't fall into that category. The children there are so loved and cared for. They are fed spiritually and mentally, and they are loved by so many workers that dedicate their lives to this ministry. I have a lot of respect for those that God calls to orphan ministry.

If you would like to learn more about Gentle Hands visit their page at http://gentlehandsinc.org/ . What a beautiful ministry! Praise the Lord for taking care of His children.

Turning 23 in the Tropics

Although it was a couple of weeks ago, I'd love to share what my first birthday in the Philippines looked like. I'm used to attending class on this day while wearing warm clothing. This year proved to be very different!

Faith Academy has a week long October break each year. This allows students to spend time with their families, and is especially beneficial for the boarding students. Since we had this week off, 8 of my friends and I jumped on the opportunity to take a trip. We decided to visit another Filipino island down south called Palawan.

This island was absolutely beautiful! It is known for its beaches and scuba diving opportunities. We really enjoyed getting out of the busy city of Manila to enjoy the more quiet and peaceful city of Puerto Princesa. 

The Friday before break, my vice principal walked into our classroom with a platter of cupcakes and a birthday hat. It was a fun surprise for all of us and I really enjoyed getting to celebrate my birthday a little early with my kiddos! (Along with Crazy Hat Day!)

My birthday happened to fall on the Wednesday of our trip. The day started off with a Skype call to my wonderful mother. Let me tell you... it was definitely weird and a little saddening to not get to talk to all of my family on my birthday. But I am so thankful that I got to connect with my mom and tell her a little bit about what we had been doing on our trip! 

I then went back to our hotel room, where my roommates had decorated with balloons and a nice little pile of presents on our bed. They did an awesome job of making the day special! 

After getting ready, our group loaded up and we headed to Palawan's Underground River. This is known as Wonder of Nature. We were able to get in a little boat and travel down the river with our tour guide. Meg and I sat close to him in the back of the boat and really enjoyed his commentary on the cave's formations. :)

After the river, we ate at a nice little Filipino buffet and were offered the treat of eating woodworm. Five of us decided to take advantage of the opportunity... and the boys ended up enjoying the slimy creatures. 

We were able to go back to our hotel for a relaxing afternoon spent by the ocean shore. The Lord reminded me that He is a God worth enjoying! I had such a good time admiring His creation while on this trip. I loved enjoying the Lord. 

That night, we were able to go out on the town for dinner at a nice seafood restaurant and I was surprised with some blueberry cheesecake. Once we got back to our hotel, we partook in a dance party at my request. :) I LOVE to dance, and we had a great time in our little room with our beds pushed to the sides. 

Overall, it was an awesome birthday. Completely different than anything before... but awesome. Thank you for your continued prayers! 

Faithful, Faithful, Faithful

I would love to share an awesome God-moment with you all. :)

Being a new teacher can be a struggle. There is so much knowledge that comes with experience, and I often feel the effects of lacking said knowledge. A couple of weeks ago, one of these areas was my reading groups. This probably sounds silly, but a huge portion of Kindergarten is dedicated to reading and writing. I was feeling super lost on how to conduct my small groups in class and how to help my kids learn these life-skills best. I wasn't confident in what I was doing, and this uncertainty would just throw off the rest of my day.

One night I was on the internet, trying to find ideas and talking to my roommate about how I was having a hard time. As I'm talking to her about this, a friend named Rebecca, who I met at training back in the States, messaged me and asked how things were going.  Rebecca is also teaching overseas and was in Mali, Africa at the time. She reminded me that she had taught Kindergarten for 7 years and encouraged me to ask her for help on anything. I told her about my dilemma, and she ended up emailing me lots of pictures and ideas on things that she did with her kids. I felt incredibly blessed and I was so thankful for her help!

Well, a couple of weeks have gone by. I have been implementing Rebecca's ideas and our reading groups have been going great. But my favorite part of this story comes from 2 nights ago, when she emailed me to share her side of the story...

"You are welcome. I am glad that the ideas helped. Yes, it was totally God! That day...I was feeling a little low...(transitoning to the new culture, missing home,not working yet, bored, other missionaries were busy, I was on my own with not much to do, etc). I prayed that God would allow me to help someone and make an impact/difference that day. I asked Him to show me my purpose for that day. About 30 mins later I saw you were on FB and I felt God telling me to talk to you on FB. After I got done talking with you on FB, I realized that God was using me to help you. I was so thankful after that. It helped me to feel that I had a purpose that day. So, it was as much of a blessing for me as it was for you! That is how awesome our God is!!!!"

I just love the way our God works. I knew that I had been blessed, but I never would have guessed that there was a whole other side to this story where the Lord was proving His faithfulness. God is constantly working, and I pray that you see His faithfulness... even in the little things. :)

"And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28

Market Day!

My roommate, Kelsie, and I have been eager to learn more about the Filipino lifestyle and culture. So far we had only gone to grocery stores for food shopping each week, but had heard about the busy markets that many Filipinos frequent. We knew that our Ate, Nimfa, went each week and so we asked if we could tag along on a Saturday morning. She was excited that we wanted to join her!

One thing that we hadn't experienced yet was the public transportation of Manila. We took 4 jeepney rides total on our trip. The jeepney is lined with a bench on both sides where people sit closely together. You pay by passing money up to the driver (about 20 cents a ride). To get off, you either pull on a little cord or give two hard knocks on the roof. We had fun jumping on the jeepneys, and the other passengers found it interesting to see white girls as fellow passengers. :)

Nimfa leading us to the 2nd jeepney

Kelsie, Jacque and I enjoying the ride

Once we arrived, we went to a part of the market that sold clothes ranging in price from less than $1 to $5. It was fun to look at all they had! Some things were very similar to what you would see in America while other things were very Filipino. After venturing this market, we headed to the wet market, where meat, fruit, and veggies were sold. It was extremely crowded and had a strong, distinct smell. Nimfa told us that you don't see a lot of white people at the wet market and this resulted in a lot of stares from the nationals.

Jacque, Kelsie and I at the clothing market

Fruit sales

The meat at the wet market was extremely fresh. We would see freshly killed chickens being brought in, the butchering table, and then the vast assortment of chicken parts to buy. This was also true with the pigs. When the Filipinos noticed us taking pictures, they were eager to have us turn our camera their way and snap a picture of them with their merchandise. :) After browsing the chicken, pork, and fish sections, we moved on to the veggies and fruit. We entered an area with a very muddy floor that you couldn't help sliding in. Their was a stench in this area as well, and that was when I got to the point of being ready to head home. :)

Poor Wilbur!

A butcher posing with his pig head

All types of vegetables and spices

Kelsie and the pasta selection

I am so thankful for the morning I had with Kelsie, our friend Jacque, and Ate Nimfa. It was a fun adventure and I enjoyed being immersed in the Filipino culture. The Lord has blessed me with a lot of joy and happiness throughout the past few weeks and each day I feel so thankful to be serving Him here in the Philippines. Thank you for your continued prayers and for being a part of this ministry!

And this gospel of the Kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

Matthew 24:14

Special People

Life in the Philippines has started to slow down a little and a routine is being established. I am so grateful for this!

In my Kindergarten class, my students and I have been learning about God's creation. The past couple of weeks put the focus on how God has made each of us special. My student's parents wrote letters to their children about what made them special and why they were loved, and yesterday I had the privilege of surprising my kiddos and reading them their letters. It was so fun to see my boys blush and hide their faces and my girls giggle and get embarrassed with their parents' compliments. :)

Another person who really benefited from this was myself. I have truly enjoyed getting to know my 13 little ones in the classroom. They are each different... different personalities, different struggles, different strengths, different hearts. The letters reminded me that each of these children are so precious and so loved by the ones who pick them up from school each day.

I gained a new appreciation for my kids and the role I get to play in their lives. I also gained a new respect for the parents who love them so much and raise them in Christ-centered homes. It was fun to hear about my students from the people who know them best!

So here we are, finishing up our 6th week of school with so much of the year still to come. I can't wait to see the ways the Lord is going to use these special 5 and 6 year olds to further his Kingdom! Praise the Lord, for he is good.

Miss Wilbur, Kindergarten Teacher

Well, we now have 8 days of school under our belts! And after tomorrow, our first full week of school will be completed. I am really loving this whole teaching thing. :) Every day presents a new joy and a new challenge, and my little ones always keep me on my toes.

One adjustment that I LOVE is working at a Christian school. I get to pray with my kids multiple times throughout the day, dedicate time during our day towards teaching the Bible, and just relate life and what's going on to our Lord. It is hard for me to get used to doing this in a classroom, but I am absolutely loving it! I also love the spiritual support I get from the staff here... like my principal coming into my classroom the night before school started to pray with me, or the random before-school prayer I got from our librarian. Please praise the Lord for these things! His provision is overwhelming. :)

Now for the cute Kindergarten stories...

Student A- "Will we get to color today?"
Me- "Yes, we actually will!"
Student B- "We EVEN get to COLOR here?!?" (with wide eyes and all excitement)
...Kindergarten is a dream come true!

Yesterday when we were sharing prayer requests, I shared a story about how I had hurt my foot. Five students insisted on praying for me. :) So sweet!

My little boy makes sure that we pray for the poor children every single day during our morning prayer. :)

The names I have been called include but are not limited to Miss... Wilbut, Wilburn, Wilburt, Milbur, Vilbur, and my personal favorite, mom. :)



Meet my 12 kiddos!

Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. -James 4:8

Missing you all,

Nicole

Our Rock

Hello friends! So much has been going on and there are lots of blogging options. But one thing that I think the Lord has been wanting me to write about is change.

Tomorrow will mark my one-month anniversary of being in the Philippines! I am so thankful for this past month. Change is something that I have been praying about since I knew that I would be coming to the Philippines almost a year ago. My track record would show that I am very bad with change and have a hard time handling it. Thankfully, this transition has been going very smoothly and I have the Lord's faithfulness to give credit to for that.

With moving to a new home and culture, the changes in my life have included weather, new friends, new roommates, a new house, a new job and staff to work with, new students to love, new modes of transportation (not driving), increased dependency on others, new foods, a new currency, traffic, not going anywhere alone, less communication with friends and family back home, a new church, and the list could go on.

I know that change is hard for almost everyone. It can be so overwhelming and exhausting! Through reading the book of James the past few days, the Lord has reminded me of the truth that he will never change.

"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change." James 1:17

I just love that no matter what is going on in our lives, we can always count on the Lord's plan, his Truth, and his goodness. I can't imagine putting my hope into something or someone that changed from day to day! Jesus is our rock, and for that I am so grateful. :)

Getting Used to a New Home

Wow, how time flies! I can't believe that I have been here for 2 1/2 weeks already! Manila has proven to be a city of new things and fun times. I have been spending a lot of time at school during new staff orientation and also getting my classroom ready. It has been a lot of work and I have been extremely busy. Although it has been a lot to take on, I am loving the preparation I get to do and I can't wait to have my students in my classroom on Thursday for our first day of school! I find myself daydreaming about teaching and seeing little hearts come to know the Lord better. What an honor to be their teacher :)

Along with the work there has been plenty of play! My roommates and I are having a great time and there is a group of us "singles" that have been able to spend a lot of time together. I am already being blessed by this community. God is so good!

Manila's culture is more westernized than I was expecting, but that doesn't mean there aren't plenty of differences! Here are some things that I am getting used to in my new home:

1. Pulling out in front of oncoming traffic. Very normal here :)

2. Falling asleep with a fan on and no blankets.

3. Locals calling you "sir ma'am."

4. Not picking up your trash at any sort of restaurant... or even Starbucks!

5. A few stares from locals while out in public.

6. Pretty green mountains! Well to me they are mountains, but to others they might be large hills :)

7. Dr. Pepper is nowhere to be found.

8. Lots of rain and "flash flooding" along the streets. I personally enjoy it because it takes the temperature and humidity down quite a bit :)

9. Smiling and friendly workers! The Filipinos are so happy to serve you and will always offer a "good morning."

10. Lots of rooster crows in the wee hours of the morning.

11. Only talking to friends and family back home at night and in the mornings.

12. Using pesos instead of dollars.

13. Little lizards crawling on the walls. :)

14. Being a minority.

15. Seeing cows, chickens, goats, water buffalo, lots of dogs, and a ton of people on the sides of roads. :)

Well, that will be my list for now. Thank you for your continued prayers. :) They are so appreciated!!

Made It!

I am here!! After 33 hours at LAX and 25 hours on planes, I made it! I have been here for about 4 days and am loving it. I have been able to stay on Faith Academy's campus for the last few nights in one of the boarding homes. It has been so fun to venture around and check out the campus that I will be spending most of my time at. I am anxious to get into my classroom and start decorating, organizing, and arranging things!

The city of Manila is huge, full of people, and very busy. I love driving around and seeing what life is like here. The traffic is crazy and lots of things are happening on the sides of the streets. The school is outside of the city in a gorgeous area. If you look off to one side of campus you will see a beautiful view of the city. If you look to your other side, you'll see amazing hills of green. It's the best of both worlds. :)

Here are some things that have either surprised me or that are different from the US:

1. The humidity. I knew this was coming, but it is pretty intense. The first time I went outside to take pictures, I had to bring a rag with me to continuously wipe off my lens. I also had to come back inside and take my camera apart while holding it in front of a fan to dry it out.

2. Air conditioning is room by room and it is usually only turned on in the bedrooms of a house. One thing I am having to get used to is humidity outside AND inside.

3. McDonald's, Burger King, and other restaurants serve spaghetti, fried chicken, and rice. Apparently, Filipinos love to go out and get spaghetti for special occasions. :) Also, a meal at McDonald's is about $3.

4. Bugs. Like very large cockroaches in my shower.

5. Pesos instead of dollars. I have enjoyed trying to make the conversions in my head and it is fun to buy things with their colorful money! The conversion is about P41=$1

6. It gets dark at like 6:30. Very different from a Kansas summer!


Well, those are the things that stand out right now. I am sure there will be plenty more! Let me know if you have any specific questions :)