tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5001597589912835502024-03-13T17:07:26.487-07:00I will follow you....Mathew 28:19Hi! Thanks so much for stopping by my blog!
My name is Olivia Bauman and I am currently serving as a missionary on the Island of Boracay.
This is where I share what God is doing here on Boracay as well as in my life day to day.
I hope you are blessed by what you read here! The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to sent out laborers into HIS harvest. Matt. 9:37-38Olivia Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02505893690660356222noreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-500159758991283550.post-35750576703309979652013-07-19T09:40:00.001-07:002013-07-19T09:40:23.358-07:00A rough week but God is in the midst of it all :)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I started feeling sick about a week ago. I am totally the kind of person to just suck it up and push forward and pretend that I'm not sick. But finally Wednesday morning after having a very feverish night and a temp of 103 I decided it was time to go to the Dr. <br />
I made my way to the clinic, the sun beat down on me but I still shivered and had goosebumps (never ever thought I would feel cold in the Philippines hahah)<br />
The Dr. took one look at me and wanted to put me on an IV to get the meds into me quickly, I said no, I hate needles and I certainly didn't want to have to stay in the clinic for the next four hours waiting for the IV to finish. I begged the Dr. to give me oral antibiotics and promised I would come back the next day if I wasn't feeling any better.<br />
Twenty minutes later I walked out with five different prescriptions, ayayayay.<br />
I went home to rest and looked at my phone and found I had a text message from my mom. She was letting me know that my dear Grandfather had been put in the ICU and that it was not looking good. That was the last straw. Suddenly the tears came like a flood....Big sloppy tears chasing eachother faster and faster down my cheeks and dripping soundlessly onto the floor. I cried for my Grandpa, I cried because I'm thousands of miles away and I just wanted to be with him and hold his hand and tell him how much I love him just one more time! I cried because suddenly I missed my family and I just wanted my Dad to give me a big bear hug and tell me everything would be ok- And of course when you're sick everything in life appears ten times worse than it really is....And then just when I thought I was all finished I started all over again! The truth is sometimes tears are the best medicine. I didn't have any words just a whole lot of grief in my heart that needed to makes it way out through my eyes. Thank God for tear ducts.<br />
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But in the midst of all of this God is so faithful. Yesterday I randomly saw this on the web. As soon as I read it I just knew that it was a special little kiss from God to me to encourage me to keep my head up.<br />
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<img alt=""God is within her, she will not fall"" class="pinImage" src="http://media-cache-ak1.pinimg.com/736x/69/34/72/6934722eb82a834fdbc8e29b90aaf39a.jpg" style="height: 512px; margin: 0 auto; padding: 40px 0px; width: 640px;" /><br />
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Then this morning I was having my devotions and reading in Psalms and I came upon the exact same verse but I didn't realize it was the same one because my bible is a different version. My version read<i>- "God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved. God shall help her just at the break of dawn" Psalm 46:5</i> I got so excited and underlined the verse and wrote my name where it says "her".<br />
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Then I opened up one of my friends instagram pages today and read the exact same verse!!! That was when I decided to look up the reference and realized it was the exact verse I had read this morning!!!! I was so encouraged!!! I know that there is a reason that that verse has shown up three times in the past two days. God knew/knows just what I needed/need.<br />
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Please continue to pray for me as I am still feeling sick.<br />
Tomorrow I will return to the clinic for further testing because my fever continues to come and go.<br />
Love to all!<br />
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Olivia Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02505893690660356222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-500159758991283550.post-34760562627464524242013-06-28T22:18:00.003-07:002013-06-28T22:18:57.035-07:00A little bit of everything<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Here is a picture of me with my dear friend, Meredith, who was on the LBC college team. Sometimes you meet people and you just click right away...and that was definitely the case with this awesome group of college students! I wish I had a picture with all 27 of them! I am so blessed to have the opportunity to meet and serve alongside so many different people. I think it is one of the things I love most about being here.<br />
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This week we had three different teams arrive from the US.....Its a lot of people!!! It's so exciting to see how much construction can get done when you have so many hands to help!!!<br />
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The past couple of weeks have been challenging for me. The death of baby Alex was really hard. When I first moved here he was just two months old. I loved seeing him every week and watching him getting bigger, start to walk and even start to talk a little bit. His death was so sudden. Two years ago his family also lost their three year old. Death is no stranger to this family. Although we are still grieving we rejoice to see the hand of God working in the lives of the family even in the midst of the sadness.<br />
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Rainy season has come again...Even as I write this there is a torrential downpour and a typhoon on the way. Rainy season is exciting for me because it cools down just a little bit :) And if there is a big storm school is canceled and that is always fun to have a day off :)<br />
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It is official----I will be home for a visit in September!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! If only you knew how excited I am to see everyone!!!!!!!!!!!! I am counting down the days :) <br />
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Olivia Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02505893690660356222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-500159758991283550.post-86494312618787804032013-06-11T18:25:00.001-07:002013-06-11T18:25:36.025-07:00Please pray<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Yesterday I found out that a one year old girl from one of my feeding sites passed away. My heart is broken over it.<br />
Of all my feeding sites the one that is the closest to my heart is the Helicopter site (I am at that site in the picture above) and that is where the little girl is from.<br />
Tonight Ate Candy and I will be holding a small memorial service for her. <br />
I know it is going to be incredibly hard...Please pray for the family and also for me as this really hits close to home. Pray also that God will use this to draw their hearts closer to Him and that we will have the opportunity to minister to the family and to comfort them during this time of grieving.<br />
Thank you so much.<br />
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<i>Oh death where is thy sting? Oh grave where is thy victory? ....Thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through Jesus Christ. 1 Cor. 15:55-57</i></div>
Olivia Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02505893690660356222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-500159758991283550.post-3312661992713916022013-06-03T05:44:00.000-07:002013-06-03T05:44:39.928-07:00Please Pray<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
One day as I was walking home from school a young man approached me and asked me if I was a Christian. I told him I was and he eagerly asked me where I went to church.<br />
He shared with me that he had been led to the Lord by some missionaries in another part of the Philippines about four years ago- but he felt like he was not living for the Lord anymore and wanted to reignite his faith. I was excited to share with him about our ministry here on Boracay and also about our church.<br />
Sure enough Sunday morning came around and he showed up. I introduced him to our pastor and they had great conversation.<br />
That was about three months. He has continued to attend church regularly and seems to be growing in the Lord.<br />
Please pray for Gaga as he is still a new Christian. Pray that God would continue to capture his heart!<br />
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Leshly is a wonderful girl that I met about six months ago. She works here on Boracay.<br />
She is a professing Catholic but appears to be interested in Christianity. I have had the opportunity to witness to her on several occasions. She has come and helped me at my feeding sites before and also helped with construction on the school. I really care for her dearly and am praying that she would accept Christ as her personal Lord and Savior. Please pray with alongside me that her heart would be softened towards the Lord!<br />
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We also have a team of 27 here from PA. They are an incredible group of young adults who will be serving with us for the next week and a half. The days are long and the weather is hot!!! Please pray for safety and strength as they minister here!<br />
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Thank you all so much for your prayers!!! - Olivia Joy</div>
Olivia Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02505893690660356222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-500159758991283550.post-2266273140296388152013-05-21T07:09:00.000-07:002013-05-21T07:09:18.258-07:00More than just lunch<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Yesterday I took one of the little neighbor boys to lunch. <br />
He has been living here for the Summer and I promised him that before he had to go back to school we would go for lunch to his favorite place-McDonalds :)<br />
We were sitting at our table eating when I noticed a couple looking around for a place to sit- Because it was busy there were no available tables so I offered for them to join us.<br />
We began to chat and soon I found out that they were missionaries serving in China! What a delight it was to find out they were my brother and sister in the Lord!!!!<br />
We had a wonderful time sharing with eachother about the ministries we work with and how God called us to the mission field. I was so encouraged by their testimony!<br />
They had a flight to catch so they couldn't stay long but before they left I felt the Lord leading me to pray for their safety and for their ministry in China. So there we sat in the middle of the noisy crowded McDonalds and prayed together. It was such a cool experience! <br />
God is so good!</div>
Olivia Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02505893690660356222noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-500159758991283550.post-35321700891940498632013-04-14T20:32:00.001-07:002013-04-14T20:32:17.851-07:00Praise report<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I
just wanted to share one story with you- At one of the feeding sites I
have worked at for the last eleven months there is one particular girl who
caught my attention from the very first day. She has dark curly hair
and big brown eyes. I always noticed that she never smiled or played or
laughed like the other children. I began to make a habit of going over
to her every week and picking her up and loving on her. Then she
started coming to church with her older siblings. Every single Sunday
she comes and climbs on my lap and falls asleep in my arms. I have
fallen in love with this precious girl...But still she never smiled or
even showed any emotion. She has a hard home life. Anyways, I have
just continued to pray for her and love on her every chance I get. The
other day she was sitting on my lap at the feeding and suddenly turned
towards me and smiled the biggest smile and then began to laugh....It
was the most glorious moment! Her eyes lit up and her face crinkled up
as she smiled up at me. Since then I have seen her two more times and
she is a different little girl! She is happy and has begun to join in
with the other children at the feeding site. I know that God has called
me here to love those ones that have been passed by and she is a
perfect example of that. I am blessed that God is using me here on
Boracay.....Which is why I have made the decision to extend for another
year!!!!!!!!<br />
I want to say thank you so much to all of you for your love and support over the past year. What a blessing you all have been to me! </div>
Olivia Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02505893690660356222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-500159758991283550.post-60246195973591580222013-02-22T23:25:00.000-08:002013-02-22T23:25:00.049-08:00Red Cross fun run<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Last week the Red Cross held a 5k run to raise money for the Chapter here on Boracay.<br />
I'm not sure who's idea it was to start the race at 5:30am...yep..that's why the pictures are dark hahah :) We had so much fun despite the early hour :)<br />
L-R Shane, Me, Yosef, CJ and Tom <br />
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Smiling even though I was very tired hahah :)<br />
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I paced with one of our neighbor boys, Ninoy, here we are pictured in the far right corner after crossing the finish line...Poor Ninoy was beat. He collapsed on the ground and didn't move for a good ten minutes :) He ran a good race!<br />
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Resting after the race.<br />
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Shane and I.</div>
Olivia Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02505893690660356222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-500159758991283550.post-65223330213121659492013-02-12T04:38:00.001-08:002013-02-12T04:38:19.405-08:00school pictures<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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My co-teacher, Praise, and I. <br />
Praise has been a huge encouragement to me. She is such a blessing in my life.<br />
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Xanana working on his math. This little guy has such a special place in my heart :)<br />
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Elizer joined our class mid school year. He was really struggling with his English and writing...He has improved so much in the past few months! I am so proud of him!<br />
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Peter sharing a secret with me during play time :)<br />
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Kylle is just as beautiful on the inside as she is on the out. I love her sweet smile<br />
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Xanana and Xinidi keep us guessing who is who every single day haha :) I still can't tell them apart.<br />
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I can't believe that school will be finishing up within two months!!!!<br />
The past week has been so exciting for me- The children finished up their testing and each child did so good!!! It was exciting to see that all of our hard work is paying off :)<br />
Thank you for your prayers and your support!!! love you all!</div>
Olivia Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02505893690660356222noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-500159758991283550.post-12811265882650636932013-01-30T21:45:00.002-08:002013-01-30T21:45:29.316-08:00Update on my health<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I just wanted to write a quick update on my health and thank all of you for your prayers!!!<br />
Most of you know I have been struggling with a serious infection for over a month.<br />
Currently I am on my fourth round of antibiotics and I an finally improving! Praise God!<br />
I am so grateful for all of your prayers and support!<br />
Please continue to pray for complete healing as I finish up the last of the antibiotics, and that it will not return!!!!<br />
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Olivia Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02505893690660356222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-500159758991283550.post-10456557518712858872013-01-15T23:09:00.001-08:002013-01-15T23:09:52.583-08:00Update <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Hello everybody :)<br />
I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and New Years!!! I am so excited to see what the year 2013 holds :)<br />
Most of you know I had the opportunity to travel to Australia for the holidays. I had such a blessed time there!!!! It was fun to relax and get refreshed.<br />
I met a lot of amazing people and made some great friends....And I got to pet a kangaroo...SCORE! :)<br />
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School is back in session and we can see light at the end of the tunnel...only nine more weeks left!!! Wow! This year has flown by!<br />
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Construction on our school/ministry center is ongoing. Here are a few pictures from this week. There is always work for willing hands around here :)<br />
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<img alt="" class="spotlight" src="http://sphotos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/150973_3934900942215_215824125_n.jpg" style="height: 567px; width: 567px;" /><img alt="" class="spotlight" src="http://sphotos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/306446_3934901822237_418250644_n.jpg" style="height: 567px; width: 567px;" /><br />
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<br />We are working on building two more classrooms on the back of the school. We hope to have them finished by the time the next school year begins.<br />
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Please continue to life all of us up in your prayers. Pray for strength to continue the work God has called us to here on Boracay . And also for wisdom- Many of us are facing some major decisions.<br />
As always I send my love and thank you to everyone back home. I miss each and every one of you!</div>
Olivia Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02505893690660356222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-500159758991283550.post-90527308799864442282012-11-22T07:35:00.001-08:002012-11-22T07:35:38.231-08:00Loving the children<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Sometimes ministry is cuddling a child who needs some extra love<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Sometimes it's just a shoulder for them to rest on <br />
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I was leading songs at a feeding site a couple weeks ago and I noticed this little girl off to the side crying...I went over and picked her up and before I knew it she was fast asleep. She slept through the entire feeding in my arms. I love these children so much!!!<br />
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<i>But Jesus said, "Let the children alone, and do not hinder them from
coming to Me; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." Matt. 19:14</i><br />
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Olivia Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02505893690660356222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-500159758991283550.post-40170070609108471272012-11-12T05:17:00.002-08:002012-11-12T05:17:44.875-08:00Prayer request<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Every day my roommates and I have the opportunity to minister and reach out to our neighbor kids. Many of them attend our school and we have become very close to them.<br />
They love to come to our house and play games or read stories - we love spending time with them!! Acouple times a month we have "Movie night"....Sometimes we have 30 kids packed into our tiny living room :) <br />
I would like to ask for prayer for these kids. Most of them have wonderful parents and a great home life- but they don't know Jesus as their personal Savior. <br />
Please pray for opportunities for us to share the gospel with them and that their hearts would be open to receive it!<br />
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<span class="text 2Pet-3-9" id="en-NKJV-30532"><i>The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us,<sup class="footnote" value="[<a href="#fen-NKJV-30532a" title="See footnote a">a</a>]">[<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Peter+3%3A9&version=NKJV#fen-NKJV-30532a" title="See footnote a">a</a>]</sup> not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. 2nd Peter 3:9</i></span><br />
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Angel, Aletcha, Shane, Kevin and Jake playing cards on our front porch<br />
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One of the days Anneke and Alyssa were here we had them over and made bead bracelets :)<br />
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I am so thankful for each one of these children...God uses them in my life to teach me so many things! <br />
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<span class="text 2Pet-3-9" id="en-NKJV-30532"><i> </i></span></div>
Olivia Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02505893690660356222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-500159758991283550.post-87520318226720064002012-11-05T00:02:00.001-08:002012-11-05T00:02:22.887-08:00Anneke and Alyssa's visit<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The past two weeks have flown by! It has been so amazing having Anneke and Alyssa here! They have been such a blessing to me!! Here are just a few pictures to show what we have been up to! There are lots more to come too! :)<br />
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Alyssa and Anneke leading songs at the Malabanoot feeding site. The children were so excited to see them and enjoyed the new songs they taught them :)<br />
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They brought a flannel graph board to use for the stories. It was something we have never had at the feeding sites before so it really captured the kids attention.<br />
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The coloring sheets are always a big hit with the kids :) <br />
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One of the biggest things we challenge people to do is just love the kids. So many of them just want to hold your hand or sit on your lap and receive some much needed attention...Here is Alyssa doing just that :)<br />
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Besides doing the ministry work we have also enjoyed some bonding time :) I am going to miss them both so much when they leave!!!<br />
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Olivia Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02505893690660356222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-500159758991283550.post-23703948489053977912012-10-21T02:17:00.001-07:002012-10-21T05:53:48.474-07:00They are hereeeee!!!!!!!!!!!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Friday morning I flew out bright and early to Manila.....Anneke and Alyssa's flight was not coming in until 9 pm but I had a little shopping I wanted to do before they arrived. Traveling to Manila includes- a trike ride, a boat ride, a two hour bus ride and a one hour plane ride. It is always an adventure :)<br />
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Manila feels alot like cities in America...except usually you are the only white person in sight and everyone is staring at you haha :)<br />
It was exciting to walk around the mall and to enjoy an American meal :) <br />
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At 8:30pm Dan and Tori's driver, Adore, and I headed to the airport...I was so excited I could barely sit still. I felt like I was ten years old and I was getting to go to the county fair for the first time lol! ;)<br />
It still didn't seem real to me that I was actually going to be seeing Anneke and Alyssa in less than an hour!<br />
Adore dropped me off at the front of the airport and I raced inside....I stood next to the glass window and reminded myself to breath....I went over and double checked at the information desk that I was at the right terminal and gate.....I paced back and forth chewing my nails furiously. Suddenly people began to pour out of the stairwell...My heart was pounding. Five minutes passed, then ten..still no sign of them. I went back to the information desk...The woman told me to be patient. Just as I was beginning to get nervous I saw them come around the corner....It was so shocking, there they were! I pushed and shoved my way through the crowd leaving my manners far behind me as I fought my way to the entrance of the gate. I ran right past the security guard and into the "secured" part of the airport....He was not pleased. We hugged and and jumped up and down and smiled ...It was a beautiful moment :) And then it hit me that this was for real!!! They were really here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!<br />
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This is a reenactment of when I first saw them :)<br />
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So so so happy :)<br />
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It has been almost six months since I have seen my family :)<br />
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We are thrilled to be together again and are looking forward to the next three weeks :)</div>
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Love to all back home!!!!! :)</div>
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Olivia Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02505893690660356222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-500159758991283550.post-60612748941775168422012-10-07T03:56:00.000-07:002012-10-07T03:56:03.860-07:00I am alive :)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I do apologize for the quietness on my blog this past month...<br />
I had a great month it was just very busy! The highlight was finally getting a long awaited box from home that my family and friends put together for me...It took three months to get here but it was worth the wait! My Moms homemade raspberry jam was just what I needed to drive away the bout of homesickness I had been going through :)<br />
School is going really well. I fall more in love with the kiddos every day :) Teaching has proven to be very stretching for me but I do love the challenge :)<br />
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I am looking forward to welcoming my little sister, Anneke and our friend Alyssa, to the Philippines on October 18th....I seriously can't even tell you how excited I am!!!! Please pray for them as they prepare for their trip :) They will be here for Three weeks serving at the school and feeding sites.<br />
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It is hard to believe that you are going into Fall/Winter....The weather here is hot, muggy and rainy. I am slowly getting used to it...I will definitely miss the snow this year! I never thought I would say that hahah :) <br />
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I will end with a verse that was a huge encouragement to me this month.<br />
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<i>Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. James 1:2-4</i></div>
Olivia Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02505893690660356222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-500159758991283550.post-7881692317893511832012-09-03T07:29:00.002-07:002012-09-03T07:43:02.895-07:00Introducing my students to you<img style="width: 612px; height: 612px;" src="http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/298729_3384040171040_34851719_n.jpg" alt="" class="spotlight" /><br />Sittie Asia...Beautiful, shy and such a cuddle bug! When play times come she is more happy sitting on my lap and talking to me :) Her English has improved so much over the past two months! I am so proud of her!<br /><img style="width: 612px; height: 612px;" src="http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/216864_3381041016063_959347008_n.jpg" alt="" class="spotlight" /><br />Eleazer is a transfer student- He joined our class about a month ago...He has the sweetest smile ever! I love getting to see that cute face every morning :) His favorite part of the day is snack time :)<br />Olivia Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02505893690660356222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-500159758991283550.post-59092324335859685022012-08-27T18:38:00.005-07:002012-08-27T20:06:58.871-07:00Malabanoot Feeding Site<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUnnEu3aGRoizSU68VSNeRQVcTuEEvCTTrTT3IeJ6AuT9B46jTFAt6b9CdYA9V1DmnS0vVum7IOJ8Co9_N9JNngdjL-JYZhH58py2vjbYQcDQUJ8bU_dIwui6usdBjcdvoCBZsTM8jw_az/s1600/DSCN1833.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUnnEu3aGRoizSU68VSNeRQVcTuEEvCTTrTT3IeJ6AuT9B46jTFAt6b9CdYA9V1DmnS0vVum7IOJ8Co9_N9JNngdjL-JYZhH58py2vjbYQcDQUJ8bU_dIwui6usdBjcdvoCBZsTM8jw_az/s320/DSCN1833.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5781533968271763794" border="0" /></a>I have the privilege of serving at the Malabanoot feeding site on Friday afternoons. At this particular site we have seen up to 70 children at a time! What a joy it is to love, teach and play with them :)<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqVdLib8R5X6AhImD8oAPtOOpUski4-4W2Zg6cnq68RzrA2WFQVNfwTlLtIGuUFrAI-vPBW8fYxsdkkQmCctTwliQe1hk4y9lCr4ADD5Ku_owOmYkAAEp5Cj8LIoS00sCQggMcSao3jvvt/s1600/DSCN1830.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqVdLib8R5X6AhImD8oAPtOOpUski4-4W2Zg6cnq68RzrA2WFQVNfwTlLtIGuUFrAI-vPBW8fYxsdkkQmCctTwliQe1hk4y9lCr4ADD5Ku_owOmYkAAEp5Cj8LIoS00sCQggMcSao3jvvt/s320/DSCN1830.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5781533957704815186" border="0" /></a>Teaching the children memory verses<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5AJYGZx8-e_hjngetFnFaLn2ZO-4hRPgrCajwBy2WRhyphenhyphenBkMave6PqUNlDpJYTXkv20yvf3u07qEFcVBTohcsY8HPfgJacIFPlCJGVbFZrMSJQIq-YeYYgTgbDss4rcZfkzMcXOWr827Jf/s1600/DSCN1826.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5AJYGZx8-e_hjngetFnFaLn2ZO-4hRPgrCajwBy2WRhyphenhyphenBkMave6PqUNlDpJYTXkv20yvf3u07qEFcVBTohcsY8HPfgJacIFPlCJGVbFZrMSJQIq-YeYYgTgbDss4rcZfkzMcXOWr827Jf/s320/DSCN1826.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5781533946911336882" border="0" /></a>I wish I could tell you all of their names- but there are so many children and I go to many different feeding sites. I do try my best, but it is nearly impossible to learn (and then remember) all of their names! I always think to myself "Lord, thank you that you know each one by name!" :)<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhan8qPLjhfS-ve4v3PISY8NncbOa_mbUpEgmjk6flBjq56S6Rp2esinlMGjuXf2olzqeiFE1NXXk7xSs6KbiEWLnR4-BbwrqO_3UMRDPRQGr6XyTYg27_AysY3ovKD_AyCFFbJ2d-sAAKF/s1600/DSCN1828.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhan8qPLjhfS-ve4v3PISY8NncbOa_mbUpEgmjk6flBjq56S6Rp2esinlMGjuXf2olzqeiFE1NXXk7xSs6KbiEWLnR4-BbwrqO_3UMRDPRQGr6XyTYg27_AysY3ovKD_AyCFFbJ2d-sAAKF/s320/DSCN1828.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5781533937653730034" border="0" /></a><br />I will end with a verse that has really ministered to me.<br /><br /><i>I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, And he shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord! Psalm 27: 13-14<br /></i><br />Olivia Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02505893690660356222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-500159758991283550.post-64011625949077487542012-08-11T14:44:00.000-07:002012-08-11T23:45:36.169-07:00Movie night!!!!!!!!!<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaPbu0uo3xF8mMKcfSzlUqT5IS7vADNEbgskzHRCT-EXzK0b2LUg0ftS8AblwneEVm1Sqm28REFht7a1CMvTyrwIXvmouazWKgxaF9ig09hrZBqsFiBUPy8aAiUN8-eyqRuNgIao04plX6/s1600/DSCN1843.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaPbu0uo3xF8mMKcfSzlUqT5IS7vADNEbgskzHRCT-EXzK0b2LUg0ftS8AblwneEVm1Sqm28REFht7a1CMvTyrwIXvmouazWKgxaF9ig09hrZBqsFiBUPy8aAiUN8-eyqRuNgIao04plX6/s320/DSCN1843.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5775673177174338674" border="0" /></a></div>I think Kyle took the prize for being the most excited hehe :)<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6GzAysgfdowkUFuKeZ1LptuCnluyn6fqAqYqNh56stQXilFBTJwIiVnJtMM2Gv2A4qyTwfCED4oyyaPG2-kNGIqos08WehN1C1Z34KxkopTG947gZurJaA7kjSODrzfQGMAIRpkbylH4Y/s1600/DSCN1847.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 162px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6GzAysgfdowkUFuKeZ1LptuCnluyn6fqAqYqNh56stQXilFBTJwIiVnJtMM2Gv2A4qyTwfCED4oyyaPG2-kNGIqos08WehN1C1Z34KxkopTG947gZurJaA7kjSODrzfQGMAIRpkbylH4Y/s320/DSCN1847.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5775673175889996354" border="0" /></a>My Roomies Carla and Elizabeth and some of the kiddos<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglLoIIm_KuW1vVsGffmloTfMUfHD2kPuG42h0A9fORliedS9ZKgRpUTQV0rec39rpy1e7J2bdFPhkLNy9FOZNeXUeWdwxHAMIN82fnXqkxqzzRADfNllveOlwkM6qZ-McfUOyltaehHGdB/s1600/DSCN1842.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 272px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglLoIIm_KuW1vVsGffmloTfMUfHD2kPuG42h0A9fORliedS9ZKgRpUTQV0rec39rpy1e7J2bdFPhkLNy9FOZNeXUeWdwxHAMIN82fnXqkxqzzRADfNllveOlwkM6qZ-McfUOyltaehHGdB/s320/DSCN1842.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5775673182333082002" border="0" /></a><br />Friday night we invited all of our neighbor kids over for a movie and popcorn.. We had seventeen VERY excited boys and girls crowded into our living room...And several VERY excited adults ;) (Carla, Elizabeth and I were pumped about it too) :)<br />It was such a fun evening! It was an awesome way to reach out to the kids! We all enjoyed it so much I think we might make it more of a regular activity :)Olivia Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02505893690660356222noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-500159758991283550.post-39767205681861680842012-08-09T21:57:00.000-07:002012-08-10T07:10:50.427-07:00Introducing my students to You :)<img style="width: 622px; height: 622px;" src="http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/391447_3301413185417_1819007391_n.jpg" alt="" class="spotlight" /><br />Never a dull moment when this little guy is around...John Rex is my happy hyper 5 year old :) He has enough energy to make me jealous (And I have ALOT of energy haha) He LOVES to sing...He easily drowns out the other sixteen children when it comes time to sing :) Usually he has his eyes tightly shut and his head thrown back as he belts out 'Jesus loves me', 'This is the day' etc.<br /><br /><img class="scaledImageFitWidth img" src="http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/c0.0.403.403/p403x403/391387_3301421785632_610421493_n.jpg" alt="Photo" height="403" width="403" /><br />Tell me this little face doesn't have mischievous written all over it :)<br />Divine is 4 and so incredibly cute that when she is naughty I have such a hard time punishing her :) Her Father (Bong) is the Chief Engineer for building the school and her Mother (Jing) is a second grade teacher at the school.Olivia Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02505893690660356222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-500159758991283550.post-90005285471233593282012-08-08T09:55:00.001-07:002012-08-08T06:57:35.919-07:00Preaching to the Choir<img class="hv" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/?ui=2&ik=7ef4c67320&view=att&th=138fc4f9aac53f54&attid=0.1&disp=thd&zw" alt="photo.JPG" height="233" width="283" /><br />The other day I was thinking about how many "bends" there are in my life that I would love to see around the corner of....just to know "how it's going to turn out." I admit it, I'm human. ;) I'm sure at one point or other in our lives we have all been at this same point.<br />I snapped this picture the other day while I was walking home from school. What I love the best about it is the brilliant light coming from "around the bend." It is so easy for me to get caught up in thinking that I have the best plan for my life and that I know what is best for me. I think God probably sits up there and chuckles at me. Because the truth is only God knows what is best for us. Only HE knows exactly what we need. Only HE knows the true desires of our hearts. Only HE loves us enough to say no to us and to sometimes allow us to walk in darkness in order to produce faith and hope in our lives. That was the conclusion I came to- If I always knew what was coming next in my life I would have no need for faith. God is teaching me about patience, and waiting for HIS timing, and also teaching me that HIS ways are the best ways. Even when it seems nothing is going the way YOU had planned, always remember that God sees the bigger picture, and through everything He has your best interest at heart!!! Isn't that incredible to think about! God only wants us to have what He knows is best for us!<br />Since moving to the Philippines I have learned alot about releasing things--dreams I've had, desires I've had. God is showing me that when I release all of the dreams that I have had to Him, and truly abandon my heart and soul to the one who loves me dearest, He begins to place HIS desires and dreams that HE has for me into my heart. What an awesome God. I am humbled and amazed that the God of the universe cares so deeply for me.<br />Whatever your "bend in the road" might be, whatever it is you might be struggling or feeling frustrated about because you don't seem to be hearing or seeing an answer for it--rest. Rest in Christ. Rest in the assurance that He is working something in your life that is bigger than what is right in front you. Rest in the knowledge that His love for you is deeper than anyone else's. Rest in the peace that He knows best.Olivia Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02505893690660356222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-500159758991283550.post-81574215898677640752012-08-06T21:41:00.001-07:002012-08-06T21:44:41.597-07:00Newsletter<div style="text-align:none"><img src="http://gallery.mailchimp.com/97ca8d9359a7a68ea9734009e/images/IMG_4631.1.jpg" alt="" border="0" height="150" width="600" /></div> <div style="color:#505050;font-family:Arial;font-size:14px;line-height:150%;text-align:left"><center> <div style="text-align:center;color:#505050;font-family:Arial;font-size:14px;line-height:150%"> <span style="color:#666666"><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:times new roman,times,serif"><em>As we give God praise for His good work and the family<br /> of God from around the world, a recent medical team came to minister<br /> to hundreds of people on Boracay and to the Ati tribal people on Panay.</em></span></span></span></div> <div style="text-align:center;color:#505050;font-family:Arial;font-size:14px;line-height:150%"> <span style="color:#666666"><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-family:times new roman,times,serif"><em>God contiues to pour out His blessings as He provides<br /> a huge ministry task on Boracay and Panay. We are always so blessed<br /> with those who have encouraged us and the ministry<br /> here with prayers and gifts. A grateful melody rings from our lips each<br /> day, because of the family of God around the world who care. <br /> <br /> - Dan & Tori Beaver</em></span></span></span><br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <span style="color:#333333"><span style="font-family:times new roman,times,serif"><span style="font-size:18px"><span style="font-size:32px">MEDICAL MISSION</span></span></span></span><br /> <br /> <img src="http://gallery.mailchimp.com/97ca8d9359a7a68ea9734009e/images/photo_3dtch.jpg" style="width:550px;min-height:364px;border:0;line-height:100%;outline:none;text-decoration:none;display:inline" align="none" height="364" width="550" /><br /> <br /> <div style="color:#505050;font-family:Arial;font-size:14px;line-height:150%;text-align:left"> <center> <span style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><span style="color:#000000"><span style="font-size:14px">Because of the poverty here, many people can not afford healthcare.<br /> Many sicknesses go untreated; some even die from lack of medical care.<br /> In fact, a cousin to a little boy in our school died just last week<br /> from a sickness because family was not able to take him to Manila for treatment.<br /> The hospital and clinics on this island are very simple. Major medical<br /> problems are sent to a nearby island or Manila, a one hour plane ride away.<br /> If you do have a loved one in the hospital here, there is no<br /> nursing care….you are their nurse, the provider of their food, and care taker while<br /> there. This is difficult for single mothers with other children at home.<br /> So many medical issues go untreated. </span>But we serve an awesome God.<br /> He knows exactly what we have need of before we even pray for it.</span></span></center> </div> <div style="color:#505050;font-family:Arial;font-size:14px;line-height:150%;text-align:left"> <center> <br /> <span style="color:#000000">Recently, we were blessed to have a Nigerian-American team of Doctors<br /> and nurses come here to do a free medical clinic for the people.<br /> They did physicals and eye exams, then handed out free medicine,<br /> vitamins and eye glasses. The people were so grateful!<br /> About 200 people showed up at the clinic in the northern part of Boracay<br /> and another 100 at the clinic we held for the Ati village on the nearby island. </span></center> </div> <br /> <img src="http://gallery.mailchimp.com/97ca8d9359a7a68ea9734009e/images/dscn0715.jpg" style="width:550px;min-height:207px;border:0;line-height:100%;outline:none;text-decoration:none;display:inline" align="none" height="207" width="550" /><br /> <br /> <center> <span style="color:#000000">The Ati are the native tribal people who live in the mountains, mostly<br /> secluded from the other Filipinos. Many elders were coming out to receive the<br /> medical care they have not had for years. High blood pressure and ulcers were some<br /> major problems. We discovered one woman with a cyst or tumor in her breast that<br /> could be cancerous. The poor lady had waited so long to get it checked,<br /> we pray it’s not to late. She’s a single mother of five, with one child being deaf.<br /> Her fear is dying without anyone to care for her children, so she never got it checked.<br /> Prayerfully we can get her the medical treatment she needs.</span><br /> <br /> <img src="http://gallery.mailchimp.com/97ca8d9359a7a68ea9734009e/images/photo_2.jpg" style="width:550px;min-height:273px;border:0;line-height:100%;outline:none;text-decoration:none;display:inline" align="none" height="273" width="550" /><br /> <br /> <center> <span style="color:#000000">So much physical sickness, but also emotional and spiritual sickness.<br /> Praise God, besides the medical treatment, we prayed with every individual<br /> person who came through the clinic.<br /> God was really moving in the hearts of the people! <br /> Hallelujah! The Holy Spirit touched so many; healing from the inside out!</span><br /> <br /> <img src="http://gallery.mailchimp.com/97ca8d9359a7a68ea9734009e/images/photo4.jpg" style="width:550px;min-height:248px;border:0;line-height:100%;outline:none;text-decoration:none;display:inline" align="none" height="248" width="550" /><br /> <br /> <em><span style="color:#000000">Lord, continue to move in the hearts of the people from the clinics.<br /> Wash them from the inside out with your blood, grace, and mercy.<br /> Let them bathe in your presence<br /> and soak in your healing, in Jesus name. Amen.</span></em><br /> <p> </p> <div style="color:#505050;font-family:Arial;font-size:14px;line-height:150%;text-align:left"> <span style="font-size:85%;"><i>*Article written by Julie Immer. We thank God for Julie's love and<br /> encouragement for the Filipino and Ati people.</i></span></div> <div style="color:#505050;font-family:Arial;font-size:14px;line-height:150%;text-align:left"> </div> <div style="color:#505050;font-family:Arial;font-size:14px;line-height:150%;text-align:left"> <span style="font-size:85%;"><em>If you would like to help with some of the continued medical needs<br /> of the Filipinos we are reaching, your gifts would be<br /> very much a blessing to these people. You can mark your gifts for the<br /> medical needs of the Boracay and Panay ministry. </em></span></div> <div style="color:#505050;font-family:Arial;font-size:14px;line-height:150%;text-align:left"> <br /> <span style="font-size:85%;"><em>Send gifts to -</em></span></div> <div style="color:#505050;font-family:Arial;font-size:14px;line-height:150%;text-align:left"> </div> <div style="color:#505050;font-family:Arial;font-size:14px;line-height:150%;text-align:left"> <span style="font-size:85%;">First Love International - Boracay Ministry</span></div> <div style="color:#505050;font-family:Arial;font-size:14px;line-height:150%;text-align:left"> <span style="font-size:85%;">PO Box 15836<br /> Loves Park, IL 61132 USA<br /> <a href="tel:%28815%29%20229-3065" value="+18152293065" target="_blank">(815) 229-3065</a><br /> <br /> <img src="http://gallery.mailchimp.com/97ca8d9359a7a68ea9734009e/images/3734_93787758112_586361_n.jpg" style="width:300px;min-height:201px;float:left;border:0;line-height:100%;outline:none;text-decoration:none;display:inline" align="right" height="201" width="300" /></span></div> </center> </center> </div> </center> <div style="color:#505050;font-family:Arial;font-size:14px;line-height:150%;text-align:left"> Dan & Tori Beaver <br /> <br /> <em> <span style="font-size:12px">Missionaries to Boracay & Panay Islands</span></em> <br /> <span style="font-size:12px">First Love International </span> <br /> <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I just wanted to share Dan and Tori's latest newsletter with all of you :)<br /></div> </div>Olivia Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02505893690660356222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-500159758991283550.post-31979796673765654182012-07-31T05:22:00.004-07:002012-07-31T05:46:19.520-07:00Introducing my students to youEach week I will be introducing two of my students to you. I want you to get to know each of them.<br />Please keep my students in your prayers...Most of them do not come from Christian homes. We are so blessed to have the opportunity to share the gospel with them on a regular basis..Please pray that the seeds we plant in their hearts would bear much fruit!<br /><br /><br /><img style="width: 428px; height: 428px;" src="http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/562812_3239510837897_1492297939_n.jpg" alt="" class="spotlight" /><br />Meet Peter...He is Four years old...He loves to help whenever I call for a volunteer and enjoys drawing pictures of dinosaurs and robots :)<br /><img style="width: 468px; height: 622px;" src="http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/561158_3238695817522_1508110435_n.jpg" alt="" class="spotlight" /><br />Meet Jay N...She is 4 as well...She is very shy and quiet and is my best child when it comes to sitting quietly and listening :) She can write her ABC's perfectly and is starting to read small words :)Olivia Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02505893690660356222noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-500159758991283550.post-39735519202596169312012-07-24T14:24:00.000-07:002012-07-24T14:24:53.099-07:00Feeling wiser after surgery<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
We've all had those moments....You know you have to do something and yet everything inside of you is screaming no and trying to pull you back...Kinda like when I passed through security in the Syracuse airport on my way to the Philippines...I remember tears stinging my eyes as I fumbled to get my laptop out of it's case..I remember looking back and seeing Pastor Dave and Jean and wanting so badly to run back to them. Instead of running in those moments, you pull your shoulders back, purse your lips, stand straight and walk on....Or totally fall apart..wait, yes, that's actually more like it for me..lets be real Olivia :)<br />
<br />
Yes, today I had one of those moments..I found myself racing along in a taxi headed to the dentist to have my wisdom teeth removed...That is the LAST thing on my bucket list of "things to do before I die." I consider myself an extremely brave person most days, but of course today did not fall into the category of one of my "brave days." I kept having different thoughts like "maybe if my mom was here I wouldn't be nervous" or " if I was in America this would be a breeze, I'm just scared cause I'm getting it done in another country." Suddenly I realized I needed to come to grips with the fact that it wouldn't matter where I was or who I was with, I would still be in the same state of mind, and it was also time to come to grips with the fact that it was indeed going to happen today.<br />
<br />
The elevator felt like it took ages to get to the thirty first floor. Tori and the nurse chatted about what medicine I would need etc. I tried to imagine it was four days from now, and I was back in my classroom happy as a lark. The elevator doors opened and within seconds I found myself seated in a comfy green chair, a floor to ceiling window giving me a generous view of the city of Manila. "At least I get to enjoy a beautiful view while I wait for my surgery," I thought. My sightseeing was ruined by the news that they would not be putting me under. I felt panicky. I did not want to be aware of what was going on around me when the surgery took place. The very thought made me want to .. well.. you know what I mean.<br />
"Is there something that I can take to at least relax me?" I tried to sound brave. The nurse said she would talk to the Dr. I took a deep breath.<br />
Even though my appointment was not until ten we arrived at nine. The office was not busy so they took me back almost immediately. First there was an x-ray, and then I was ushered into a tiny room and told to take a seat. I was so grateful that Tori stayed with me as the Dr. showed us the results of the x-ray. The Dr. asked if I was nervous. "Uh", I thought to myself. "Do bears live in the woods?" But of course I didn't say that. I just laughed and said that yes indeed I was scared. The Dr. said he only pulls two teeth per visit. I held up four fingers, and told him I wanted all of them done at once. I said I didn't want to have to go through this nervousness twice. He laughed, and I could tell he still was not convinced. I was not going to let this go. And then Tori (whose father was a dentist) said that he always took all four out at once. The Dr. paused and then agreed to it. I couldn't believe we had just talked him into it. I asked why they don't put people under for this procedure, and he said that in the Philippines you aren't allowed to use anesthesia unless you are in a hospital. He told me the best he could do was give me half of something that was similar to valium. I told him I wanted the whole thing. He said he wanted me to keep my mouth open the whole time and didn't want it making me sleepy. Of course I wanted the whole thing! I was all about sleeping through the surgery! He gave me half. I begged him for the other half; he gave it to me. Ahh, I started feeling good in quick order :)<br />
As if I wasn't pushing my luck enough, I further asked if I could be allowed to put my headphones in and listen to music throughout the surgery. He said yes to that as well :) I was delighted.<br />
<br />
At first I was completely alert and aware of what was going on. I kept my eyes tightly shut and hummed. I thought I was humming in my head, but it turned out I was humming out loud. And then after that I pretty much didn't remember anything until I woke up out of my drugged state at three<br />
o' clock. But what I do remember is.....the Dr. telling me repeatedly to open my mouth wider (probably kicking himself that he had allowed me to take the whole pill), having a nurse tell me to let go of her shirt (I think I was holding onto the edge of it for comfort), telling the Dr. that Miami was a city full of crime (I have no idea where that came from), opening my eyes and seeing thread weaving back and forth and realizing he was stitching up my mouth (definitely could have done without that one), and staring up into the Dr.'s special glasses trying to see if I could see my reflection (I was so gone).<br />
<br />
Two hours of surgery later four giant teeth were wrapped up in a little bag and handed to me. I sat up. My brain was about as numb as my mouth. I clumsily tried to wipe the drool that was falling lazily out of my mouth. This was super embarrassing to me. I made it to the waiting room where Tori kindly helped me gather my things and then escorted me down to their car that was waiting outside for us. Tori gently helped me step up into the van, and I flopped down on the seat and was out again like a light.<br />
And then suddenly I opened my eyes and was laying on Tori's couch, and I realized it was over!!! I never have to go through that again!!! I was ecstatic....until I went into the bathroom and looked at myself in the mirror... hahah just kidding :) Looking back it really wasn't that bad. God certainly gave me peace throughout the entire morning (ok, maybe that little pill had something to do with it too ;)) But on a serious note, thank you so much for everyone who stood with me in prayer! And also those of you who so generously contributed to the bill. I truly appreciate your love and support! And of course your continued prayers are appreciated. I hear there is this nasty thing called "dry socket" and I am hoping I do not get it. I will be in Manila for a few more days and then head back to Boracay as soon as my stitches are out :) <br />
<br /></div>Olivia Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02505893690660356222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-500159758991283550.post-38162932151232731462012-07-19T17:21:00.000-07:002012-07-19T17:21:38.389-07:00And then she turned 22<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Today I turned 22.<br />
22...That just seems like a really big number to me!<br />
This afternoon I was thinking back over the past year. So much has changed in just a short twelve months! Last year on my birthday I was sitting across the breakfast table from my Dad talking about my life and what I was going to do with it. I'm pretty sure if Dad had leaned over and told me that I would be celebrating my 22nd birthday on a tiny island in the Philippines, I wouldn't have believed him.<br />
I certainly never thought this is what my life would look like right now...but I wouldn't trade it for anything. I know God has me right where He wants me to be, and I can rest in the assurance that God's plan for me is far greater than the ideas I have in my head of what I think my life should be.<br />
<br />
I was slightly sad when I woke up this morning...There were no delicious smells wafting up from the kitchen as I opened my eyes, no presents on the table, no family..."Ug" I thought to myself "This is such a bummer!" I wandered out of my bedroom and scrambled some eggs ...I sat and and looked out the window, mindlessly watching the neighbor chickens scratch away in our front yard. <br />
I trudged out the door to school ten minutes late. I just was not in a good mood. I thought about flagging down a bike and getting a ride, but I didn't have small change with me. I power walked all the way there and entered my classroom with three minutes to spare, covered in a thick layer of sweat. <br />
At exactly eight o'clock the children began to file into my room. Seventeen beautiful boys and girls, each of them with a special smile and a sweet "Happy Birthday Miss Bauman."<br />
Then before I knew what was happening one of the teachers burst into the room holding a muffin with a candle in it and loudly singing the most intense version of Happy Birthday...The children joined in. Of course the only way to sing Happy Birthday is at the top of your lungs...All seventeen of them did..It was so loud and I loved every minute of it. <br />
Some of the children had made me birthday cards and others had small presents for me. It was so special! And suddenly I realized my day was not so bad after all. No, it didn't feel like home, but there was something so special and unique about experiencing my birthday here. I smiled. God always shows me the ways I can be happy and thankful in the midst of feeling lonely or sad.<br />
I left the classroom and came back to find a poster that the children from 1st grade had made for me, taped on my classroom door. I felt overwhelmed with happiness....Everywhere I turned there was something/someone reminding me it was my birthday and making me feel so special and loved.<br />
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At five o clock I got a text from Candy (a Filipino Missionary who I have been doing feeding sites with). She told me to come to the barn because they had something special for me. I walked in and saw Eileen, Isidro, their children and several neighbor children. Candy handed me a beautiful pink carnation and a chocolate birthday cake with my name on it. I felt tears starting to well up in my eyes. They had spent money and time making sure that I would feel at home, loved and special on my birthday! And I certainly did! We cut the cake and that was followed by another round of Happy Birthday..This time I sang along :) I was so incredibly blessed by everyone.<br />
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For dinner Haley, Elizabeth, Carla and Ryan took me to an Indian restaurant. I LOVE Indian food and this place did not disappoint! It was so delicious! The atmosphere was relaxed and comfortable, and again, the food was fantastic. I smiled and thought to myself it truly was a perfect day :)<br />
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I can't even imagine what God has in store for me in this next year. I'm ok with that..If it's anything like this past year has been, I know for sure my imagination can't come up with it :)<br />
I'm looking forward to it! Here's to another incredible year!!!!!<br />
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My birthday cake and flowers :)<br />
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(L-R) Eileen, Me, Candy, Isidro<br />
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Enjoying the cake (L-R) Haley, Jiren, Elijah, Me, ? drawing a blank on his name haha I will get back to you on that one ;)<br />
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Heading out to dinner, (L-R) Ryan, Carla, Me, Haley, Elizabeth<br />
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<br /></div>Olivia Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02505893690660356222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-500159758991283550.post-87642024635210278972012-07-12T06:12:00.003-07:002012-07-12T06:12:38.606-07:00Basketball outreach<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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One game they LOVE to play here is Basketball. Sports is an awesome way for us to reach the teenage boys and girls. Last week we put a team together and went over to the Island of Panay and did a basketball outreach in the village of Carla. The Filipino girls put us American girls to shame! haha :) We were playing on a dirt and gravel court. Most of them were either barefoot or in flip-flops and they still played better than us :) </div>
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A crowd of parents and children watched from the sidelines and cheered us on :)<br />
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Most of the American girls in this picture were here with a team from California. They stayed for two and a half weeks and helped with construction on the school and also did tutoring.<br />
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<br /></div>Olivia Joyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02505893690660356222noreply@blogger.com0