Nothing beats prayer! It's one of the most comforting and encouraging things to hear, "People are praying for you." Last week I was down and out with sickness and stomach cramps, but I'm on the mend and prayers are being answered! More than 6500 miles in between...Isn't it amazing - the same God is there with you and here with me!

Yesterday marked 1 month since arriving in the Philippines! 1 whole month!! I'm one sixth of the way through and I partly feel as if I've been here longer, partly that I've only just arrived. But I'm certainly being put to work here, 15 hour days are not uncommon. What's great is that I really have a role here. Homesickness hasn't been a problem just yet, I'm sure it'll hit home when I'm given a spare moment. CCM is an organisation I've been aware of since as long as I can remember. In school, in church, at home...it was always something I've admired and wished I could be a part of. And here I am!! I was thinking about this the other day, I'm actually here. I'm living in the heart of the Philippines, working with great people and serving in the ministries of CRBC day by day! Everyday I experience 100s of new things...the culture is so different, yet I feel so settled. To think I only have 5 months left with these people makes me sad, it's going to be hard to part with them!

If you've been one of the dedicated followers of my blogs, you'll remember me mentioning how I alternate between working in the offices during the week. So, 3 days a week I work in Cubao and 2 days a week I work in the girls home in Masinag. This mainly involves editing reports and having regular food breaks!! I'm gradually building up relationships with some of the children...the other day the youngest girl from Masinag Girl's Home mentioned that I was cooler than Manny Pacquio. I'll try not to let it go to my head, but...wow!! I'm speechless ;) The reports I edit give information about some of the family situations of the children. It's devastating when you hear about the circumstances many of them have come from. Often you read of how they have suffered abuse or neglect. In spite of this, there are smiles all round, these children who I have grown to know and love demonstrate how to truly pick yourself up and move on. I was reading in my quiet time 2 nights ago from Psalm 68...one phrase really stood out to me, in verse 5: "Father of the fatherless". These children have either lost their parents or been neglected by them, but how amazing to know that there is a Father who will never disappoint, one who will be there for them through good times and bad. I pray that this would be their source of comfort in their lives.

On Saturday, a group of us were to travel to the Circle Memorial Park where 'soccer' training was to take place (apologies for the Americanisms, I'm conforming). Cubao Reformed Baptist Church is putting together a team of young boys from the EAP to enter a soccer tournament for street children. For the next few weeks there will be training and I'm taking it more seriously than the kids. Any opportunity to rid the Philippines of basketball...Matt Gamston agrees with me! We spent the whole day sweating out in the hot sun which makes it doubly tiring. Eventually it was time for Merienda (Tagalog word for breaktime) where someone suggested we recorded a video doing the Harlem Shake with some teenage B-boys (street dancers) nearby. For those of you who have never heard of the Harlem Shake, trust me, you're not missing out on anything! Apparently this is the sequel and rival to Gangnam Style. 'The next big thing!' Supposedly it's imported straight from the UK - oh dear...thanks for that one!! If you've seen the video, I can't apologise enough ;)

On Sunday, the Youth Fellowship met in the afternoon (for ages 13-21) and the topic for this week was 'relationships'. The leader of YF had asked me if I would prepare some thoughts for the group from my 'vast experience'! Oh...right, yeah of course *ehem*. I was able to share some points about enjoying the gift of singleness - an opportunity to maintain undivided attention with Christ! Joshua Harris' book 'I Kissed Dating Goodbye' came in pretty handy (if you haven't read this, I strongly recommend).
As is common throughout the world, relationships are a big deal for the teenagers here in the Philippines; their prime focus tends to be on girlfriends and boyfriends. This priority can hinder both their education and seriousness to the Gospel. In fact, CCM has recently gone from housing 35 girls to 34 because of this particular issue, when a 16 year old girl ran away with her boyfriend last week. (CCM policy does not permit relationships for children whilst under their care, as problems often develop at their young age). She had been missing for 3 days when finally contact was made; however, when spoken to about the matter and encouraged to return, she had made the decision to stick with her boyfriend. This decision obviously has the potential for all sorts of problems and will undoubtedly be shortly followed with regret. However, CCM's zero tolerance policy means that she will not be able to return under their care and responsibility whatever happens. A sad, but common case among the teens! Please pray that this would not be the downfall of others in the future, pray that they would recognise the tremendous privilege of being sponsored and supported by CCM...a work which cares for both their physical and spiritual needs.

The World of Fun is a tacky indoor fairground at the top of Santa Lucia Mall...and the boys in the home love it! Sophie and I were invited to go with the boys as a treat for helping out in Pastor's Conference 2 weeks ago. It's a hard life eh!! You've probably seen the photos and thought the same thoughts I've had, 'Isn't this supposed to be mission work?!' I'm not complaining of course, I love the bumper cars and rollercoasters (usually when they go faster than 5 mph though) ;) It was one of those moments when you have to over-exaggerate the screaming to prove to everyone you're having a great time! It was fun, just not for the right reasons. It's like Star Wars - So bad, it's good! Giving it the name: 'The World of Fun' is slightly misleading...'The World of Cheap Tack' would be more fitting (as a Folkestoner I know all too well) ;)

I moved into Cubao Baptist Church a couple of days ago. I'm all on my own now, in the heart of Manila. On my doorstep is the crazy traffic, street people and a whole lot of pollution!! I guess this self sufficiency will be my preparation for Uni life...gahh!! It's strange, I'd only been staying in the boy's orphanage in Filinvest for 4 weeks, yet it felt like home! Kuya Scott and Ate Emy (the house mother and father) took good care of me, and now I've been thrown into this world of independence...scary stuff!!
Freedom. (or so I thought).
"Reuben, can you wash your clothes by hand? You're okay to cook your meals?? How do you cope with cockroaches, lizards and giant spiders???" Okay, point proved!! This wasn't the great liberation I'd been hoping for after all. Nelson Mandela can keep his title!

Before I arrived in the Philippines, I'll admit...I thought I could handle the bugs in my bed, the spiders in the shower and the mosquitoes. Maybe I'm not the man I thought I was. I've become a right pansy since living on my own! I'm literally paranoid whenever I'm in the apartment ... the broom has certainly come in handy ;) This is the problem, I'm not a squeamish person. Spiders don't bother me, neither do cockroaches...but when you're sleeping with them and they're 10x bigger than the ones you're used to, it's a different story! My street cred is about to spiral downwards (not saying I had much to lose), but ... I'm a wimp and I am scared of bugs! ...facepalm!!

Well, on arrival I was met by Kuya Tony. Trust me, he's the definition of a legend!! He saw my Man Utd shirt (don't pull that face) and pointed to his own shirt. "Oh. You like soccer too?! And even better...we both like the red team." I felt sickened by the ignorance. I looked over at the logo. Liverpool. It made me feel queasier than my encounters with the cockroaches.
Look, I know there's going to be Liverpool supporters reading this, so I'm sure you'll understand where I'm coming from. But, I guess I can let this one go! He offered to take me shopping for my food and I'm now stocked up on Yakult, Cous Cous and Pesto. What more could you possibly need!! No, before you ask...I did not pick up any rice. That must have slipped my mind. What a shame!
I won't say much more about living in Cubao, I have 5 months more to tell you about the cold showers, the incessant 'cock-a-doodle-dooing' of the cockerels, or my encounter with a group of drunken Filipinos.

This week my devotions for the boys home and the girls home was on the Parable of the Hidden Treasure (Matt. 13:44). One verse, full of richness! I spoke about how Christ has laid it open for us, if we seek Him and the treasures in heaven, we will find Him. I just love this verse: "But whatever I gain, I count as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord." (Philippians 3:7-9). Every week, 35+ girls are present at my devotion...the majority of them are unsaved. They're attentive and respectful, always asking questions afterwards. Please pray that they would become trophies of grace, that they would seek Christ Jesus above all things. I've said in previous blogs about how the Filipinos are far more earnest and serious about Biblical truths.
Many of them are so poor that this prevents material distractions from taking root in their lives. However, there is always the danger that we can assume that God is at work here and therefore we don't need to do so much in the form of witnessing.
The other day, I was able to get alongside one of the boys from the home; I asked him what he thought about having this treasure. He replied that it sounded great; in fact he went on to quote me Bible verses and said "I know there is a heaven and a hell. We only go to one place." I was able to share some of my testimony with him, encouraging him to not put it off. Pray for this young boy that he would give his life over to Christ tonight!

There's no internet where I'm staying for the time being, I need to find a wire to connect to the Wi-Fi. I found an adapter yesterday, bought from a street vendor by the side of the large SM (a multi-level shopping mall). Whether it'll work, I am yet to discover..

"Magkano?" (How much?) I asked when he called over to me.
"For you Joe - 150 pesos" he replied (you get used to that).
I walked over to his stall where he then held out his dusty hands and gave me a big smile, revealing a significant gap where his teeth used to be. I gave him the money and he handed me the adapter in return, "Salamat po." Well, we'll soon find out if I've been conned!
I'm in the office now; 'editing reports' and my shoulders are aching with the amount of piggy backs I've given. The kids love to jump on me or take mug shots on their cell phones whenever I arrive at Masinag home. It's the norm. I'm used to it!

The prayer letter is on its way ... 1 month in and I'm trying to keep it short and to the point! There's so much to be thankful for and likewise, lots to pray about! I was handed a slip of paper the other day with a list of dates for giving devotions and taking Bible studies in the slums. This is always a great opportunity! Many more exciting things to inform you of, but you'll just have to wait and see...
Never a dull moment! It's most definitely More Fun in the Philippines.