THE POST-PHILIPPINES TRIP “LONG” UPDATE

March 9, 2016

Dear Family and Friends,

Thank you for your support and prayers before, during, and after my trip to the Philippines! I believe it was by prayer and a Divine miracle that I was able to function and survive! Prior to leaving, I was trying to cram in far too many things, thus leading to minimal sleep and catching the cold that was going around. Air travel worsened my condition, and when I arrived in Manila, my chest was heavy with bronchitis. Seeing a doctor, I was prescribed an antibiotic series, as well as a cough suppressant. Unfortunately, the antibiotic didn’t clear my chest congestion, and I struggled to breathe the whole week, wheezing, coughing, etc., getting very little sleep on top of the already rigorous schedule that demanded high-energy performance, leadership, and physical activity. Despite the illness, I went ahead with our activities (which is probably why it’s taken me an additional 10-14 days to recuperate since returning Stateside).

Below, I’ve summarized the various involvements and activities in which we took part during our team’s time in the Philippines. This past Sunday, March 6, our team presented, sharing this video in addition to talking to the congregation about our reflections (running time is 11:40, but still barely scrapes the surface of all that we did and experienced during our trip. It’s hard to encapsulate 11 days of content in 11 minutes!). Please note that this video is not to be shared on social media (especially Facebook), due to the privacy issues/concerns for some of the kids we were working with.

Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_QGJRk9Pb4

Church services:

Both Sundays were were in the Philippines, Bethany and I performed our dances at church services. The first Sunday, we were at iCare Foursquare Church in Olongapo (Pastor Miranda’s long-established church). The next Sunday, we were in San Fernando at Lord of the Breakthrough Foursquare Church. We were well-received and felt spirit-filled on all occasions. Plus, we had no less than a dozen cameras recording our every move! (If you’d like to see video clips of our dancing, social media is littered with images and links!) We also attended youth group at iCare, a lively demonstration of worship and learning.

Orphanage for at-risk girls in Olongapo:

Monday through Wednesday evenings, we held a Bible School program at an orphanage for at-risk girls. We presented songs, dance, crafts, memory verse projects and games, and interactive puppet skits, as well as shared the dinner meal. These girls--many of whom had been abandoned, abused, or neglected in their past lives--had inquisitive hearts of gold, spirits of joy and giving, and kindhearted natures that longed for reciprocated love. I could see our interactions were a mutual blessing as we shared these activities and our faith. iCare Foursquare now has strong ties to continue working towards spiritual development and a continued relationship with these girls and the orphanage itself.

Olongapo barangay (city provincial) Center for Youth, boys program:

In the mornings on Tuesday and Wednesday, we spent time at a Center for Youth that invited us to visit their boys’ program. There were boys there ranging from ages 6-19, coming from a variety of circumstances: orphaned or unwanted, abandoned on the street, with criminal record or drug problems, disabled, and one even mute. These boys spoke almost no English, so we were blessed to have our iCare youth friends along to interpret Tagalog-English conversations. We played rambunctious games, provided a meal to share (Chicken Joy from their favorite franchise, Jollibee), shared our personal testimonies, sang songs with hand motions, and danced--which (surprisingly) was particularly of interest to the boys. What an awesome connection Bethany and I had when those boys wanted to try on our pointe shoes and be taught about the various supplies it takes to dance en pointe, further explaining to them all about our training. I’ve never had such a captivated audience--comprised of boys no less--while we danced! Goodbyes were tough with these boys. There was a definite connection, and we’re happy to know that iCare youth will carry on these relationships.

Prep and Planning:

In between programs the first few days, the teen members of the team and I would prepare for the next program, or the day ahead. Such tasks included picking rocks to paint for craft projects (the looks we received from passersby on that occasion!), shopping for crafts supplies, and prepping and packing supplies we’d brought with us for the next lesson (including puppets, re-writing scripts, finishing crafts, etc.). We were more than prepared and equipped based on the pre-trip planning we had done, bringing supplies with us, but the day-to-day prep was necessary to keep organized.

Pampanga Province- Clark/San Fernando:

On this ALFC trip to the Philippines, the team split our stay between Olongapo and then Wednesday night after our final program at the orphanage, we traveled to the Pampanga province. Through networking connections, a villa on the Clark airbase was generously offered to our group (former military housing converted to a Chinese resort). It was about a 30-45 minute drive to The Lord of The Breakthrough Foursquare Church (LBFC) in San Fernando. Our first day in Pampanga, Thursday, we had time to rest, shop for the days ahead, and take in some of the local culture. On Friday, we met with Pastor Rex and his wife, Lanie (one of Pastor Miranda’s daughters), at their home and church, LBFC. We spent the day planning for the weekend ahead, building a puppet stage for them, as well as hanging out with local children, playing games and basketball (the concrete court and hoops at LBFC are a huge draw for locals). Many of the iCare youth members had traveled up from Olongapo to join us for the day, and a couple stayed to help out on Saturday with interpreting, though a lot of the locals only spoke Kapampangan (a regional dialect that is not even similar to the nationalized Tagalog, Filipino language). On Saturday, we held a dance clinic in the morning, followed by lunch and an afternoon program with crafts, puppets, music, and games! This was a high-energy, hot, busy day! The kids latched on to us, and their parents and other family members came in. Many returned for church the next morning. Sunday afternoon, we hosted a basketball ministry at the church.

Travel/Post-Trip:

We began our 25+ hours of travel back Stateside in the wee hours of Monday morning, Philippines time, and arrived back home around noon on Monday, US time. It was a long trip, still being ill. I went straight to urgent care and was diagnosed with acute bronchitis and severe sinus infection (thankfully the ear infection was already dissipating). Receiving proper medication, I was sent home to rest. However, my allergy and asthma-related health issues remain at a high level of intolerance and reaction as I’ve been struggling to recover. If I were to take away a lesson from my health experiences, I would say it’s the importance of taking time to rest, even if it’s not convenient or desirable for the present, as it affects the long-term outcome. Because I was unable to rest sufficiently, continuing to push myself through activities (fun or necessary as they seemed at the time), my overall health suffered; I’ve been sick for over a month, oftentimes to a disabling degree, and I’m going into a deficit of sick leave at work, and it’s taking a toll on the pocketbook as well. I request continued prayer and support as I battle health issues.

For further, more specific details written in posts while on the trip, check out my blogsite: http://larainthephilippines.blogspot.com (you can find the history of past posts in the menu on the right side of the page, as well as links to photo albums and other resources). If you’d like access to our team’s closed Facebook group (closed privacy settings), let me know and I can add you!

Looking ahead:

I am overwhelmed with gratitude for your prayer and financial support of this trip to the Philippines! I am also about halfway to my goal of $1500 for my other service trip, to Costa Rica (July 29-August 5, 2016). Please be checking in on my blogsite for that trip to receive updates on my fundraising status, information about the trip and preparations, etc.: http://larainCRagain.blogspot.com. If you have yet to return a Support Response form, I’m still accepting those! I welcome continued contact as I look forward to my Costa Rica trip this summer! 
Blessings,  Lara Lichten

Support Response

If you are willing and able to contribute support for my trips, or have suggestions to help our teams gather support, please respond using this form (click here to go to the post where you can download it!). Please keep the teams in your thoughts and prayers as we prepare for this trip, and I will be in touch with additional updates.

Please download, fill out, and return the support response page. 

Post-Trip Health Follow-Up

Coming into Hollister Monday afternoon, I took a quick shower at home and went straight to Urgent Care, to get checked out. Even though I felt like I was doing better, I figured I should get checked over (wheezing and coughing was at a low, compared to the past few days, but that may have been due to all the dry air on the flight, and the less humid climate of California, as compared to the uber-humid Philippines).

After a brief 20-30 minute wait (filled with paperwork, insurance, sorting billing matters, etc... welcome back to the good old US of A!), the doctor saw me. She listened to my breathing, and said she was surprised I wasn't flat on my back, based on how congested my respiratory system was! My bronchials were completely hardened, explaining why coughing was unproductive. Also, the doctor informed me that the antibiotic series I had been placed on while I was in the Philippines was not only too short and weak of a dosage, but it was also the wrong antibiotic to treat bronchitis; it was for sinus infection! ...which explains why my sinuses cleared, but my chest didn't.

As for treatment, I was given an in-office nebulizer treatment of a steroid inhaler, to start breaking things up prior to antibiotic and further steroid treatment of the infections. I drove to the Gilroy Costco pharmacy to pick up all the prescriptions of a Z-pak (azithromycin) antibiotic series (to clear up the chest, and remaining ear infection), as well as (another) tapered dose of prednisone, for the sinus infection. I was also instructed to continue with my usual medicine regimen for allergies and asthma, supplementing it with additional steroid inhaler puffs, as well as my emergency levalbuterol inhaler. Phew. And rest. The doctor wanted me to take the entire week off work to recuperate... yeah right!

I took Tuesday off of work at the high school, sleeping literally all morning. I went in to the studio 2:30-8pm, and taught 4 hours of jazz and ballet classes from a chair/standing. Not too strenuous, compared to the activity I'd been taking part in over the last week! It was hard to fall asleep Tuesday night, probably due in part to the fact that I had slept so much during the day, but also for the reason that I was wheezing and could not stop coughing. I was grateful my dog Nevada has decided to stop shunning me, and snuggled up to give me some comfort (she was mad at me for leaving her, and had been ignoring me for the last 48 hours since I arrived home).

I went back to work at the high school today, and don't teach dance classes on Wednesday, so I'm sure I'll be catching up on things this afternoon. Gramma doesn't want me to come up to visit; she wants me to stay in town and rest. Nurse's orders! :)

That's the update for now. I'll be organizing all the volumes of photos and posting links in the next couple of days. Stay tuned!

Travels concluded

We landed in Hong Kong at 1:20, and our connecting flight was scheduled to board at 1:30, and take off at 2:10. The plane taxied for approximately 10 minutes, and finally hooked up to the We were towards the back of the plane, so of course deplaning took for-ev-er. By the time we were off the plane, it was 1:45. However, a Cathay Pacific employee with a sign for our connecting flight, pushing green stickers onto our shirts, hurried us through priority security and then on to our next gate in another terminal across the airport. We arrived at the gate by 2:00, only to discover our flight had been delayed. "Hurry up and wait." Oh well. 

We boarded the plane around 2:20, and took off by 2:45, I think. The first meal was served within the first hour and a half of take off. Then we settled down and tried to sleep. Between screaming babies (there were no less than three in our immediate vicinity), and the crew deciding to serve another meal just 7 hours into the flight (with 5 hours left), it was hard to get any solid rest. Plus, the ceiling above the window seat leaked condensation droplets.  Annoying! We landed around 10am, taxied, and stood in immigration lines for well over an hour. Bethany somehow got diverted to a different line, and we waited an additional 25 minutes for her to come out. The new automated system that has been implemented recently is totally inefficient and frustrating, especially since they won't let accompanied minors stay with their traveling parties; we got split up early on in the immigration line. 

It's 1pm, and we are about 40 minutes from Hollister, on our drive south from San Francisco. I will be thankful to go see a doctor and unpack, shower, and see my puppy dog after a couple hours' drive home from San Francisco. 

Travel back home, part 1

Our day began with a 3:15am wake up. We zipped up our suitcases, double checked the weight (my clunker of a suitcase that weighs 15lbs without anything in it was a kilo or two over, so PB offered to haul a few of my gifts). We needed to call housekeeping at 3:30 to inspect our villa and give us the okay before turning in our keys and getting our deposit back. However, our phone was broken! So we packed up and went to the main office. Check out took about 45 minutes! They needed to call housekeeping twice before they got a crew out there to do the inspection. Then an additional call was made to ensure the villa was cleared. Next, they had to call twice the powers that be to retrieve the deposit! Finally, by 4:30ish we were on the road to Manila.

We hit morning rush hour traffic around 6am. Buses rule the road, swerving between lanes with no warning, jeepneys veer about, vehicles cut in from every alleyway, and pedestrians run amuck, weaving through the vehicles. Lanes are not observed, and traffic signals are of no consequence. Well, so it seemed. About 30 minutes from the airport, we got pulled over for "running a red light" (if you know Manila traffic, you understand why this is such a joke; the light was green, with many seconds to spare on the countdown meter, but we got caught in the intersection, sandwiched between a jeepney and other vehicles, when a bunch of cross-traffic motorcycles surrounded us, trapping us in the intersection. It is worthwhile to mention that we were one of about a dozen vehicles in the stagnant intersection, and white, tall, Pastor Bob was also sitting visibly in the front seat.) The officer, on foot, motioned us out of he intersection, and then pulled us over to a gas station lot on the corner. Pastor Miranda pulled out his ID, which indicates he is a member of the clergy, and when the officer questioned further, Pastor mentioned he was carrying a bunch of missionaries to the airport. The traffic officer gave a verbal slap on the wrist, and then released us on our way, without a ticket.

Once we arrived at the airport though, it was smooth sailing. Flying Cathay Pacific, they take care of us. We didn't need to wait in additional lines to pay the departure tax (included in airfare and services), no wait for check in, no fees for additional baggage, no wait or issues through security! PTL! We ate some breakfast (I had a Magnum almond ice cream bar; it's my prerogative as an adult!). Now we staked out space at the gate. I KT-taped Bethany's foot that she tweaked yesterday. I've spent most of my time writing this update and trying to get wifi... I've had a bad time of it with wifi in general this trip. 

Now for the flying... Back to Hong Kong we go! Then the 12-hour flight with the air current back to SFO. Finally, to be picked up and driven the two hours back to Hollister. Let's do this! 24+ hours more to go!!

Last day: Sunday 2/21 at LOTB

We were up and going at 7am for a team prayer breakfast, and at the church by 8:30ish, when Sunday School began-- lessons for both children and adults. 

Service started at 9:15ish, with praise and worship (all in English this morning), and Bethany and I danced "Oceans" prior to Pastor Bob giving the sermon. Also present was a Foursquare clergyman (I'm not exactly sure of his title, but it was a surprise to Pastor Rex when he walked in the door). There were also lots of other first time local guests present. It was pretty cool. After the sermon, offering was taken, and Beth and I danced "You Make Me Brave." I felt that both performances were close to the best we had ever given, despite the smallest amount of space! It was an awesome feeling. 

After church, we went down the road a bit for lunch at a Chinese restaurant. Pastor Rex, Lanie, their two kids Rafa and VicVic, Kennet (youth groundskeeper at the church), and our driver Nolan joined us. 

We came back to the church to wait a couple hours for basketball ministries. The girls and I took naps. When we awoke, while the guys were playing basketball, we hung out with the neighborhood kids and mommies and aunties, chit chatting and munching on pan de coco and other pastries that one of the aunties in the church prepared for us. 

We said our goodbyes around 6:30pm, and Nolan drove us back to the Fontana villa, where we showered and began to pack up. We check out at 3:30am, and head back to Manila towards the airport. 

Check out the Facebook group for all the photos and media being posted!!!

Day 8: Lord of the Breakthrough kids day

February 20, 2016

At Rex and Lanie's Foursquare church today, they held a kids day, featuring a dance clinic run by our team! 

After having a team prayer-breakfast (of oatmeal, apple bananas, mango, peanut butter un-toast and guava jelly, and mango) at our Fontana villa, Nolan picked us up around 8am, and we arrived at the church around 8:45am. We were surprised to find our iCare youth friends still at LOTB Foursquare Church, as they had spent the night with the youth praying all night (they do this every Friday night at Rex and Lanie's church, but the additional prayer warriors were utilized in preparation for this Saturday of activities that was planned.) Also when we arrived, it came to our attention that they were experiencing an electrical brown-out, only the second they've had in the 8 months they've been at this location. Spiritual warfare is still at play, but the devil can't stop us and our outreach endeavors! We proceeded with our plans, regardless. We said a (final?) goodbye to the majority of our iCare youth friends, but Alvin and Isiah ("Ice") remained to help us with our day. Good thing they did, because we utilized their musical talents since we had no electricity with which to power our speakers for our music. 

After leading/teaching a full ballet warm up (plies, tendus, degages, port de bras, chasses, bourrees, a little adagio balance-soutenu turn combo, and more!), Bethany and I danced "Oceans" to the acoustic/vocal accompaniment of our friends! The day was warming up, and so were we!! Continuing with our dance workshop, we split the kids into two groups, to teach them choreography to Planetshakers "With God All Things Are Possible" and Hillsong's "Faith." Again, we implemented the musical talents of guitar players present! Then the groups performed for one another. We switched groups and taught the other song's choreography. Then they performed for each other. We took a break for morning merienda (snack)- surprised with Oreo cookies from Papa (Pastor) Bob! The rest of us enjoyed Pandasol (pan de sol), a baked bread with a seeded/grainy filling inside. 

Regrouping as the power came back on, we moved inside for the shade and fans, performing all together the two songs, with full, surround sound accompaniment! Then ensued the "freestyle" dance session. For the next 30-45 min, breakdancing, hip hop, and acrobatic movement filled the church room. Then a tickle-fest broke out, followed by further rough housing. It was a blast. Everyone was showing off and sweating buckets in our exertion during play time. 

Lunch of adobo chicken with potatoes and rice was served by the church mommies around 12:30. Kids were camped out all over the place, eating in trees, on the ground, at tables too, as well as in/atop a trike parked in the yard (tricycle, tuk-tukesque motorcycle cabs that are commonly used as taxi carriages here in the Philippines, smaller and more personal than their mini-bus jeepneys). Everyone rested/set up for the afternoon's activities until 2pm, while the kids watched a movie. Our afternoon activities included several crafts, puppet shows, and more song/dance. 

Lanie and the church youth helpers taught another song with hand motions. Then they presented an awesome puppet skit to the kids and had an altar call, with many children reciting the salvation prayer.  Outside, our team had set up craft stations: mustard-seed (Matthew 17:20) bookmarks, Jericho drums and egg (maraca) shakers, and gospel "faith" bracelets. It was hot and in the direct sun on the concrete basketball court, though we tried to keep under the shade of the trees that edged the court. Kids had so much fun flitting from station to station, making their own creations. And the helpers from the church also took ownership of the crafts, learning quickly and instructing the kids on what to do in Tagalog.

As I have caught on to vocab over the past several days, I use choice words here and there to communicate. Usually they are the words that are  cognates or similar to Spanish vocabulary. (Present-day Filipino Tagalog is a fusion of native words, adapted to modern times with English/US/Western culture as well as adapted Spanish vocabulary from hundreds of years of historic Spamish colonial rule.) When the chicken especially hear me use words like "diseño" - to tell them to decorate their bookmarks, or "basurero" - to bring the trash can over, they don't understand those are Spanish cognates, nor that I speak Spanish, for that matter! In combo with me using Tagalog words like salamatpo (thank you with respect, colloquially stated), or "hello po" (colloquial/honorific greeting), they think I speak/can understand anything they say, and to my dismay, typically begin to rattle off whole thoughts in Tagalog. Especially getting little ones to understand that we speak a different language is tough. Whenever I travel, I try to use nonverbal cues as communicationally indicators; body language, tone/inflection (which actually is culturally similar between Tagalog and US English, as opposed to the relationship between English and Mandarin, for instance). 

Back to events of the day...

We wrapped up the activities after crafts with a puppet show of our own-- the one telling the story of Jericho. Ending the story with "marching around the walls of Jericho" (aka the basketball court), kids were handed kazoos in addition to their drums and shakers, and we made a joyful racket, shouting "Break through! Break through!" After marching not quite 7 times around, we broke out the candy and prize toys to continue our celebrations, but conclude the day's activities. The festivities were wonderful, jovial faces seen everywhere--kids, our team, parents, pastors, and the like. 

We said "see you later" to everyone (we will see most of them at church tomorrow), leaving the church around 4pm. We stopped by SM Mall to get dinner at Max's (I had veggie lumpia and kamote (sweet potato) fries, dipped in banana-ketchup), and finished up with a quick shopping trip for postcards and souvenirs and things of the sort. We were home in the villa by 6pm. Showering, I came up to the "clubhouse" lobby with the girls to get the first real, valid internet I've had in days (the wifi at Rex and Lanie's is terribly weak, so it was all I could do to post text-only updates). I'm going to try to post some photos now... 

Day 7: San Fernando

I woke up around 7am and prepped for the day, organizing the suitcases of supplies we would be taking to Lanie and Rex at their Foursquare church, Lord of the Breakthrough, in San Fernando. We got picked up from our villa at 9 by our driver, Nolan, who is a neighbor of Pastor Miranda (he drove from Olongapo to transport us). We arrived around 9:45 at the church/home of Lanie and Rex, and sat down to plan with them for the weekend's activities. We assessed the supplies for games, crafts, and puppet shows, to fill up the day with activity. Bethany and I outlined the schedule for a morning of dance workshops.

Walking around the corner, we got supplies to construct a puppet stage out of PVC pipes. Within an hour, according to Pastor Bob's plans, it was built!

Some of the members of iCare youth from Olongapo came up by bus to join us, arriving around 11:30. Pastor Rex and Lanie's children (Victoria, 6, and Rafael, 10) returned home from school around noon, and for lunch, we ate lumpia (fried egg rolls), rice, and adobo (PB's fave- spiced chicken!). There was even veggie lumpia with squash filling for me, the vegetarian! There are two cute puppies and lots of chickens that provided plenty entertainment!

After lunch, we napped in hammocks and bunks upstairs, lounging around in the heat of the day and singing to the guitar and cajon drum. It was very calm and the air was heavy in the afternoon (even the Filipinos were lethargic and complaining of the heat), so all the fans were humming in the background as well.

Then the neighbor children began to arrive... Teenage/young adult basketball players poured into the church grounds, toting their prized high top shoes to trade out for their sandals, mommies with babies and toddlers. Basketball games were intense. Most spoke Kapapangan, a local dialect, so it was hard to communicate even in Tagalog. As the grade school aged kids came around, I passed out some jump ropes and played various games with the kiddos. We played with puppies and as the kids grew comfortable with me, calling me "auntie," or some even "mommie" (as is Filipino honorific culture toward women of childbearing age), they began hanging all over me, asking to be "manhandled" (flying airplanes, acrobatic tosses or sack-of-potato-style shoulder-toss carriage, piggy backs and shoulder rides, etc). PB talked with pastors and local neighbors/church members, and the teen team members hung out with their friends from the iCare youth group from Olongapo. We played "charades with a twist" with the youth (telephone charades) and card games while snacking on dried fish kabobs, dipped in a sauce.

Later in the evening, we ordered pizzas to share from the Shakey's franchise, Filipino style. All the kids were asking where the rice was to accompany pizza for dinner.

Then we took photos with our puppets from home and Lanie and Rex's as well. It was at that time that we told them all our puppets would be staying at their new home, "Lord of the Breakthrough Foursquare Church." Lanie could not contain her joy. They were ecstatic! The superintendent of the Foursquare churches will be visiting soon, and they wanted to have a nice puppet presentation when he came, Lanie explained to me, so she was especially happy about these new puppet additions!

The day came to an end all too soon. We didn't want our driver from Olongapo, Nolan (one of Pastor Miranda's neighbors), to get back too late since he had to drive us 45 min to our resort and then another hour back to his home, so we said goodnight around 7pm. It was a hard, tearful parting yet again for our teens.

Getting back to the villa, I showered, prepared for the next morning, and fell straight into bed by 9am. Around midnight, I awoke to the sounds of many voices outside my door. I was too sleepy and disoriented to fully comprehend the circumstances, but there were some workers outside my bedroom door, in the bathroom across the hallway, and the kids were gathered round. Elijah told me something that apparently pacified me, so I went back to bed. In the morning, I got the full story. While Bethany was showering, the cold-water faucet somehow came off, thus rendering incapable the shutoff function! While Alora showered, to not waste water, Elijah ran up to the front lodge (where PB was stationed, talking to his wife Pastor Mary, ironically sorting out another water-related issue of the flooding of their house that occurred two days prior; that is another story, but in short, the water valve on their fridge broke overnight and their house was under 3 inches of water by morning!). Anyway, Elijah got some workers called, and by the time he ran back to the villa, the workers were barely showing up... Four of them. Because apparently it takes four Filipino men (at a Chinese establishment) to change a water fixture. Me and my wheezing, rattling lungs were resting in my bed, too exhausted to care.

Day 6: day of rest in Clark, Pampanga

Going to bed around 1:30/2ish our first night in Clark, Pampanga, we all slept in until around 9:30 and then waited for a ride into town that never came, so we walked up to the main lodge "clubhouse" building and chartered a taxi. We went in to the SM shopping center and had brunch, and then did some grocery shopping for essentials as well as gifts.

We arrived back at the Fontana resort around 3:30/4, and checked out the prices for the water theme park. Just less than $10, with towel rental. There was hardly anyone there--more lifeguards and staff than guests. Bethany, Alora, and I took the GoPro down water slides and in the pools and down the lazy river for a couple hours, while the men snoozed. For dinner, we went out to the Korean restaurant, teaching Alora and Elijah to use chopsticks, introducing them to kimchi, and other foods. I had bibimbap of course. 

After dinner, I went to the spa and got a Filipino/Chinese massage and had a nice steam shower l. It was a mixture of a Korean jimjilbang experience and a massage/day spa. It was over double what I paid for the hotel masseuse in Olongapo ($10), but my body needed it! The wifi hadn't been working with my phone, so i haven't been able to post. I walked back to the villa and went straight to bed, around 10:30. 

We all needed this day of rest and recuperation after the past few days of putting on double-programs, planning, and sleepless nights due to illness. 

Day 5: last day in Olongapo

Morning: boys at Center for Youth

Back at the Center for Youth with the boys, we shared more Chicken Joy with them, followed by songs (the one with the motions taught yesterday), and then a new one. Then I shared my testimony, followed by Alora. The older boys were captured by the message. The younger ones cuddled on our laps. Next we made Gospel/Faith bracelets, explaining the symbolism of the bead colors as we strung them. Those boys love jewelry. Based on their interest in our bracelets, earrings, and rings during our first visit the day prior, we knew the bracelets would be a hit. Some boys wanted to make two or three! Then Bethany and I danced "You Make Me Brave". They were just as captivated as the day before. Goodbyes were hard, as the boys clung to us, kissing us and not wanting to let us leave. 

Afternoon: free time

Because we had planned and prepared supplies for bible school the night before, as well as packed up and checked out of our room in the morning, we had a couple hours of free time in the afternoon! We walked a couple blocks to get some lunch, and then stopped by Subic Bay to touch toes in the water. Returning to the hotel, we wrote some cards and hung out for a short while. When Pastors Bob and Miranda arrived, we loaded up the van, checked out, and headed downtown to the Public Market, where we did a bit of shopping. 

Evening: girls orphanage

We returned to the girls orphanage for the third and final night of bible school. The girls welcomed us back with squeals of joy and open arms. They were completing their craft from Tuesday night- the painted and decorated "faith rocks" with Hebrews 11:1 written on them. Our closing program together was dance-filled. After dinner, Bethany and I gave a mini intro-to -ballet workshop, and then danced another song for them. Then we reviewed bible memory verses (these girls are on fire!), and made noise maker instruments of drums and shakers for craft. We performed a puppet show, telling the Jericho story, and at the end, invited the girls to "march around the city" (the room) and make as much noise as possible--screams and shouts and joyful noises abounded. The girls danced two songs for us, and then sang us a song of gratitude, in closing. It was touching. 

Night: travel and transition

We had to get going right after the program concluded around 8/8:30. We drove about 75 minutes to get to Clark, Pampanga, where the villa is located at the Fontana resort (connections of congregation members blessed us with these accomodations!). We will be staying here through Sunday night, as we work in San Fernando with Pastor Miranda's daughter, Lani, and her husband, Pastor Rex, at their church. I had a nice nap during the drive, and we arrived around 10pm. Settling in and assessing our new situation, we determined that we needed some supplies, and went to the on-site mini mart. I wasn't instantly transported from the Philippines back to China. Learning the resort is Chinese-owned explained a lot. All my fave milk teas and an assortment of MSG-loaded products were spread before me. Smokers infiltrated the indoor lobby. Red envelopes, monkeys, and lanterns, among other decor, were also telltale signs. Getting back to the villa (formerly US Navy housing), we unpacked and I fell asleep around 1. 

no wifi

Day 5 update will have to wait to be posted. There is no wifi at our new location in the Pampanga Province. I'll post when I next have access. 

Need Prayer!

I need prayer. My breathing has worsened through the night. Coughing is non-productive (dry and just hurts my throat). I could barely sleep 3 hours. It feels like it is deeper in my chest and it's scary. I am believing for a miracle! 😷🙏🏼

Day 4: full, busy day!!

No time before sleep to write a full entry, but just to jot down a few notes and remarks that are on my mind...

1. Morning: visited a youth center that serves as a community rehab effort for boys (or at least this particular program we visited was all male): unwanted "stranded," delinquent/deviant, disabled boys and men. Most boys were ages 12-19. 

We greeted one another with a name game in which we also detailed our age and favorite food. This was enlightening, as we learned some interesting Filipino dishes (such as: dinuguan- cooked pig's blood, balut- fermented partially-grown chicken eggs, isaw- fried chicken intestines, and fried fat treats derived from pig, cow, and various other animals). Most of the kids specified Jollibee's or "Chicken Joy" as their faves, which was great because that transitioned well into the meal we brought them; classic American fried chicken with a side of spaghetti and meat...somethings. (Needless to say I did not partake). But the kids loved it! 

After sharing a meal, we taught some hand motions and words to a song. Being teenage boys, I was surprised to see they actually participated, let alone enjoyed themselves! I should mention most of these kids understood 0-very little English, so our Filipino youth-helper friends from our I Care sister-church interpreted back and forth. 

Bethany and Elijah shared their testimonies, and the kids responded after listening respectfully, making comments like "You have big height" (to Elijah), and asking questions such as (to Bethany), "How is your skin so fair, like Snow White?!" Also to Elijah were more sobering questions: "We're your parents there for you as you grew up?" and "Whatever happens, will you still have God?"  

Then Bethany and I got out the pointe shoes, and the boys went coocoo! Expect ally the younger ones, but even the teens were entranced by the toe shoes. Some boys put on our ballet flat-slippers while others watched on as Bethany and I put on our shoes before dancing. Aside from the movement of our dancing, the rest of the room became motionless, the boys watching us in awe. When we finished dancing, they could not get enough, and continued asking questions about our shoes, wanting us to dance with them, and more, more, more! They even asked to keep the CD of music tracks we had been using for the program, and the older boys were dancing away to it as we left!

 

Lastly, we played the game "Fruit Basket Upset" before saying goodbye for the day, promising to return tomorrow. They clung to us, not wanting to let us go out the front door of the gated enclosure. 

2. Lunch: meals around here are beginning to share a similar trait: non-vegetarian. Even the potato salad had meat in it!!!

3. Prep work: included shopping for supplies, collecting supplies (rocks from around the neighborhood, to locals' amusement/befuddlement), planning and organizing materials for the bible school program at the orphanage, writing puppet skit scripts, and finishing bookmark crafts. (Forgot to put the mustard seeds in this first batch of laminated masterpieces the girls had made on the first night. Whoops!)

4. Bible School program at the girls orphanage: so many things. I'll have to detail later. 

- fabulous little girls; respect, excitement, love, energy

- great youth leadership

- puppet skit collaboration with Pastor Bob as an awesome Goliath 

- song and dance!

- Beth and I danced

- craft of painting "faith" rocks

- memory Bible verse activity

- Relationships. Smiles. Love. 

The drive back to the hotel was a time in which many laughs and much joy was shared between our team and the I Care youth and our pastors. 

5. Finally, back in our hotel rooms, we spent about two hours prepping supplies and materials for tomorrow, our last day in Olongapo. It will be another busy and jam-packed one! We really had a great time as a team tonight; whether it was slap-happy giddiness from exhaustion, or what... We truly bonded and made some great memories over puppets, Faith Bracelets, and parchment paper. 

Lots of friends are uploading media on social networks, so I'll sort through my camera roll and post my faves when I next get the chance. Sleep calls, though my body protests.  The wheezing and heaviness in my chest persist, despite the fact that the mucous and confessions have lifted from my head, for the most part. I can't get comfy when I can't breathe, and coughing hurts my throat, too!

Day 3: conclusion

In the afternoon, I rested and lounged about, taking advantage of a cloud-covered sky to sit poolside and read for a bit, as well as catch up on social media. Then I organized supplies and materials for the night's upcoming Bible School program for which we had prepared curriculum back home. I made checklists and got things ready for the rest of the team. Later in the afternoon, as Pastor Bob was arriving back at the hotel from his pastors convention, we had a meeting to finalize hand motions for kids sing along songs, as well as go over materials and curriculum I had organized. Elijah and I went on a quick shopping trip across the street for some essential supplies. Resigning myself to stay behind and keep myself from contaminating the kids, As well as to conserve my energy, I sent the team on their way, and off I went on a walk to find garlic supplements.

I needed that walk. The exercise helped me clear my system a bit, and also allowed me to take in more Filipino culture. When I returned to the hotel, I arranged for their in-house service of a 50-minute, $10 massage. Just what I needed to help work out the tensions the sickness had wrought upon my body. 

The team came back around 8:30, and we debriefed and planned for tomorrow. I'll upload media from their time spent at the orphanage putting on the program as soon as I collect it from them. 

As for my health, I feel like it is improving. I am coughing less. The meds are drying me up. I am sore from all the coughing, so that massage really helped. I am optimistic that tomorrow will be better, and I will have the energy needed to enjoy the day's work ahead!

Day 3: illness

After a rough night that brought little rest, my bronchial condition worsening, and congestion mounting, Pastor Miranda took me and Elijah to see a doctor friend of his this morning at 10. (Might I add here that this "Doctor friend" just so happened to be the former Commissioner of Public Health in Olongapo...) A 10-15 minute drive into Olongapo-Mabayuan, Pastor whisked us into the community health center where we immediately waltzed into Dr. Tamayo's office, with no wait! Praise Jesus for Pastor's connections!

Mabayuan Community Health Center

After detailing my list of current afflictions of obvious fever (I was sweating through my shirt, front and back, even though the aircon was on full blast. In addition to being thorough flushed in my cheeks, I had goosebumps and chills), chest and nasal congestion, wheezing, shortness of breath, cough, etc., I attempted to air my laundry list of other medical issues, so he would know how to properly prescribe me treatment. I presented Dr. Tamayo my list of current meds, all the drugs I am on to sustain myself on a daily basis. He had many questions, which in my sick and tired state were difficult for me to figure out where to begin to address. I started by trying to explain to him the aspirin desensitization I had undergone in the last month, as an attempt to better my overall health, as well as trying to briefly explain my Samter's Triad of aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease (and allergy-induced asthma)... He was stunned. He asked me how old I was. I barely had the energy to go on explaining myself, as he asked what would happen if I just went off all of these meds. I told him I wouldn't be able to breathe at all, which was saying something, since despite continuing on all these meds (steroids, inhalers, nasal rinse, allergy and asthma pills, not to mention a ton of extra vitamins and mineral supplements to fortify my immune system...), I am still this sick with additional respiratory illness-bronchitis. My body is weak. I struggled to gasp shallow breaths as I wheezed through a sentence at a time. I concluded by saying I am under the advisement of several specialists and doctors back home, and so pre-existing conditions and medicinal regime aside, would he please prescribe an antibiotic and treatment for the cough? 

As much as I dread taking antibiotics since they wreak havoc on my body, totally weakening and sucking all energy out of me... I have no other choice to rid myself of this bronchitis at this point. I can't go back on high-dose steroids again so soon after having been on them for the month of January, and steroids wouldn't necessarily clear the bronchitis anyway. Dr. thought I might be pneumatic even, which might explain the fever. He suggested I have a bacterial virus that my body is struggling to fight. After studying my medication list, he prescribed an antibiotic series (co-amoxiclav), because he noticed I am on ranitidin for acid reflux, and other antibiotics such as azithromycin (a Z-pak, which is what is normally prescribed to treat bronchitis) would further aggravate the acidity. It was reassuring to know that he really knew his drugs and chemistry. For the phlegm, cough, and congestion, he prescribed ambroxol mucosolvan, a drug I'd never heard of before, but contains no NSAID or active ingredient I've been allergic to in the past. I did some quick research on the pill before popping it. I am to take one pill of each, with food, three times a day for the next three days. 

I continue taking my daily asthma and allergy meds, DoTerra, vitamins, and mineral supplements, as well as rubbing various oils on my chest and feet periodically throughout the day; oregano, OnGuard and Breathe blends, lavender, and peppermint for the fever-induced waves of heat flashes. I'm doing all I can do, and I'm feeling very supported by prayer on all fronts. I just want to get better and have the energy to do the work set out for us here in the Philippines, and not just lie in bed. Or sit by the pool. I don't want to risk infecting children if I'm contagious, as I'm running a fever, and I also don't have the energy to supervise and put on a VBS program, I don't think. But I'm only here for 10 days, and I don't want to waste valuable time or miss out on experiences! Blech.

Bedside table... 😱

As for Elijah, the doctor didn't hear any bronchial congestion, and just prescribed him some decongestant and mucous control pills. He also suggested lots of fluids and rest, of course. 

It's now been almost two hours since I took those pills, and I haven't noticed any change in my state. Maybe a little less congestion in my head...? I also haven't had any allergic reactions, so that's something, I suppose! Now for some more rest...

Night 2: illness worsens

Prayers please! I'm having a really hard time sleeping because I'm wheezing, coughing, and so congested. Feverish too. Bronchitis and sinus infection, it feels like. I'm in a lot of discomfort/pain. Headache and sore throat from all the coughing in addition to the breathing issues.  

Nothing is helping. Not essential oils or extra vitamin supplements... I've been using all my steroid meds- inhalers, pills, sinus rinses, etc

Good thing we have the morning off, but I wish I could go enjoy myself...

Day 2: Olongapo iCare Foursquare church

Today was a church day. After a leisurely breakfast, we went to the I Care Fellowship Foursquare church. Bethany and I danced two of our dances, Pastor Bob preached, and I got to meet up with the cousin of one of my friends (Joralynn) back home in Hollister! I teach Joralynn's daughter Abby in my dance classes at the studio. So Jor told her family here in the Philippines about where we would be and when, and her cousin and cousin's daughter came to watch us dance!

After church, we went into town (Olongapo Proper) to have a team meal of Chinese food. Then we went back to the hotel to change and head back to I Care church to attend the Youth Group Service. High energy and fun to see these young people so educated and on fire for their faith!

We returned to the hotel around 6:30 for a Valentine's Day couples dinner, where Pastor Bob was the keynote/guest speaker.  

Elijah caught my sick-bug, so he was down and out most of the afternoon and all evening. Treating him with practically every remedy I have available to me, and he has been resting. I am on the up and up, feeling almost no trace of the head cold during the day; however, this evening I stuffed up again and started having sneezing fits.  I also feel a wheeze and rattle in my chest, which I fear (in my experienced opinion), is bronchitis. Lots of annoying, if not painful coughing at this point... Keep the prayers coming! Thanks!

Arrived in the Philippines/Day 1

February 13 (East Asian time zone):

Our 23 hours of travel from Hollister, CA, ISA to Manila, Philippines summarized...

• Left ALFC at 9pm Pacific time. 
• Checked in at San Francisco Int'l airport around 10:30. 
• Flight departed SFO at 1:10am. 
• Arrived in Hong Kong around 8:00am, HK time (4pm Pacific). 
• Original layover of 1 hr was lengthened another hour, so it was nice to have more time to stretch before our connection flight. Feeling crummy with a raging head cold and sinus infection. Coughing too. It felt good to be able to have access to facilities where I could take care of my health needs before the next flight. 
• We boarded our flight to Manila around 9:44, and finally departed HKG around 10:15am. 
• Landed in Manila at noon. Quickly passed through immigration and retrieved all luggage with ease. By God's grace I passed through immigration, despite on my declarations form the fact that I clearly admitted I was unhealthy. 
• Met Pastor Miranda at the airport and our adventure continued from there!

Then, we sat in a minivan for the next 7 hours, as we ran errands. Just getting out of Manila was a chore. Saturday traffic was especially congested due to the recent Chinese New Year holiday. We stopped for lunch at a Jollibee franchise and then got back on the road to head for Pampanga province, where we exchanged currencies and then traveled on to Clark airbase where we reserved our accomodations for later in the week. There was lots of traffic there because of the hot air balloon festival that is taking place this weekend. Lots of traffic in nearly every direction we were traveling this afternoon/evening. Finally, as the sun was setting around 6:30pm, we drove back to Olongapo to check into our hotel for the next few days. We settled in, rearranging furniture in our small room to make everything for, getting the aircon and the safe fixed by maintenance, and spreading out. We showered and the girls hit the sack about an hour ago, as I have been updating social media; check out the links to photos found on the ALFC Team Philippines16 facebook page!

In Hong Kong

In Hong Kong on layover. A wave of memories are flooding back to me from my time living and traveling in Asia... hearing Chinese again, being pushed around, using chopsticks, drinking tea with every morsel of food, and seeing footprints on the toilet seats in the restrooms. 

There is at least a one-hour delay for our connecting flight to Manila. I'm okay with having more time to stretch my legs. I slept maybe 7-8 hours of the 13+ hours in the air (we landed early!). That is more and harder than I thought I would, but still interrupted of course. Praying this head cold that feels as if it is turning bronchial/chesty will lift so I can taste and smell again! 

Keep the prayers coming!!! They are necessary!!!

Hoping to be in Manila in about 4 hours. Travels have been easy and uneventful thus far. (The delay is even welcomed!)

Travels have begun!

Well, the first part is complete: the 70-minute drive from Hollister to San Francisco! and check in and through security at the airport!

We fly out of San Francisco at 1:10, arriving in Hong Kong about 14 hours later for our very brief layover, before our connection flight to Manila. 

We arrive in the Philippines about 17 hours from now. Woot!

Pre-Travel Post

Dear Family and Friends,

Abundant Life Foursquare Church’s five-person contingent will depart on our Philippine adventure in less than three short, jam-packed days (Feb. 11-22)! Many of you are inquiring as to our team’s progress in preparation, level of excitement, and financial status.

Let me begin with the latter; praise the Lord that my $2,500 for the Philippines trip has been raised! Between your generous contributions, support from my church (ALFC), and some personal fundraising efforts, I am feeling the love! Hearing back from my friends and family and receiving kind words of support, I have been feeling uplifted. At Abundant Life Foursquare Church, our Dessert Auction fundraiser was a BIG SUCCESS after our Family Worship Service on Sunday, January 31! Many thanks to those who submitted dessert entries that raised over $2,100 towards our collective team funds! An additional love offering was also taken in service, as it was Missions Sunday, and those funds are being put towards supplies for when we are working there in the Philippines. We are overwhelmed with gratitude! I am also about halfway to my goal of $1500 for my other service trip, to Costa Rica in July/August. Thank you for your continued financial and prayer support!

Seeing to the logistical preparations, as per my list-making nature, in the last few weeks I’ve been writing out my packing list, adding things as they periodically occur to me. Contrary to my customary last-minute packing from said list, I am currently trying to start packing a couple days in advance, since my schedule has me running around like crazy! The to do list is ever-lengthening, as I juggle life’s events and work: at the high school, dance studio, and team prep at church. We’ve developed a Vacation Bible School program, gathering our resources to put together supplies for crafts and games, writing puppet show scripts, choreographing dances and hand gestures to songs. I work a 12-hour day on Thursday, before driving right to the airport that night for our red eye flight to Hong Kong. (That 15-hour flight is sounding like Zzzzzz!) Therefore, prayer support for strength and energy is much appreciated!

I am very excited for what the Philippines will bring (and not just warmer weather--though these 80º days here in California have been nice this week!). When we arrive Sunday morning, local Philippines time (they’re 16 hours ahead of Pacific Time right now), after literally 24+ hours of travel, we’ll hit the ground running: two church services at which Bethany and I will be performing dances, and attending Valentine’s party. Monday-Wednesday we’ll be putting on two VBS programs per day, before driving to Pampanga Province to do it all again in San Fernando Thursday-Saturday! We’ll do a couple work-service projects, build a puppet stage, conduct/teach dance workshops, probably dance our pointe-ballet and contemporary/lyrical dance numbers countless times, and make a ton of friends/see old ones!  Of course, all these ‘plans’ are subject to change.

Please check in on my blogsites, http://larainthephilippines.blogspot.com & http://larainCRagain.blogspot.com, for up-to-date information regarding fundraising, preparation efforts, getting to know my fellow team members, and reading/seeing photo updates while we are on the trips. On my Philippines blogsite, you will find a link to our team’s group on Facebook, through which you can follow us during our trip. I hope to be diligent in posting photos of our work and the people we encounter, as well as video of our dances!

If you have yet to return a Support Response form, I’m still accepting those. I’m looking ahead to my Costa Rica trip this summer! Blessings,  Lara Lichten


Check out the first pointe performance Bethany and I gave to "Oceans Lark Remix" at our church, ALFC, on the Send-Off Sunday, 2/7/16, before departing. (This was after only two rehearsals to choreograph and practice... so it was still rough!) Click here to view (uploaded to Google Drive)