Our Trips

2011 Philippines

Follow our team of Compassion Bloggers as they witness and write about the ministry of Compassion International to children living in the Philippines. Follow their journey in words, pictures and video here May 29-June 4, 2011.

Keep up with our team on Twitter here.

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Is Compassion International a Good Investment? A Husband’s Perspective.

Posted on Jun 6, 2011 by Stephanie Langford

Growth in business does not happen by accident. Everything you do matters. Everything.

This is the most obvious in a start-up. I run a small music school and I have to be meticulous about where I invest it's money. Every dollar I spend has the ability to either harm my business or cause it to grow. I look for creative opportunities to get what the business needs at low cost, track my marketing expenses and revenues to determine the most advantageous methods of advertising, and generally do everything I can to eliminate waste and increase efficiency.

In other words, I'm trying to be a faithful steward of my businesses resources so that it can grow to be a blessing to many more people (yes, including myself and my family).

This Crazy Hope

Posted on Jun 3, 2011 by Emily Freeman

Iwas really kind of terrified to come on this trip. But you already know that. Exactly one week ago, I zipped up my suitcase for the final time, stuck that blue Compassion tag on it, turned around to look at The Man, and burst into tears. Just now, I zipped up my suitcase again, only this time, I’m going home. The tears aren’t bursting like they did before I left; rather, it’s a slow trickle as the Filipino children have crowded their way into my heart, crowding out everything else.

The Hands And Feet Of The Gospel

Posted on Jun 3, 2011 by Lindsay Edmonds

Our Philippines experience comes to a close today. It is a bittersweet moment, for I have truly seen the love of Christ in action and don’t want to forget the beauty of this work. Since the age of sixteen, I have dreamed of coming to the Philippines after reading my first missionary account of a nineteen year old girl who served here. One door opened after graduation only to be quickly shut. And now, this week, that dream was fulfilled and I got to witness firsthand the dreams of others being fulfilled.

I have witnessed extreme poverty, simple faith, joyful worship and abundant laughter.

I have seen children given hope, the love of Jesus, and the ability to grow, flourish, and make a difference in their nation.

I have seen solid national churches partner together with the work of Compassion to bring the hands of Christ to their communities.

How to Pry Open Swollen Eyes

Posted on Jun 3, 2011 by Stephanie Langford

I've been hugged more this week than I probably have in the last year. I love it, but really? I'm just getting to the point where I want to go home and hug my own kids.

Ready to go home or not, this week has been full of good times...

Now That You Know, What Will You Do?

Posted on Jun 3, 2011 by Tsh Oxenreider

Today I met two supermodels. Not really. But holy cow, aren’t these two sisters gorgeous? These two girls are sponsored by two separate Australian families with Compassion here in the Philippines. Aira, on the left, is 17 and hopes to become a teacher. Dhesthile, on the right, is 13 and is mostly happy playing volleyball.

They both help lead worship in their dilapidated shell of a church in an area here called The Island. They call it that because several times a year, houses are flooded up to their waists.

The Power of Being Known

Posted on Jun 3, 2011 by Kat

I hadn’t been forgotten. I was treasured. That is what meant the most about meeting my Filipino family this week.

They didn’t just remember me when I told them I was coming, they had always remembered me.

On the other side of the world, even when I was a little girl, I had been talked about, known, wanted.

I can’t even write that without crying.

The Other Side Of The Fence

Posted on Jun 3, 2011 by Shaun Groves

We gathered around a dinner table tonight to reflect, laugh, cry – before boarding a plane bound for America in the morning. And Patricia asked the bloggers what their high and low points have been this week in the Philippines.

And mine were easy to recall. They both happened nine and a half hours ago. Give or take a few minutes.

Bata

Posted on Jun 3, 2011 by Keely Scott (photos)

(This is a photo post.)

What Do You Do When You Can’t Do Anything?

Posted on Jun 2, 2011 by Kat

Sometimes I feel inspired and it’s easy to take action. This isn’t one of those times.

Right now I’m supposed to be writing a deep, inspiring blog post. Words should be flowing from me like a fountain.

Instead, I’ve been wandering the halls of the hotel, desperate for focus. Desperate to know how to remove even a drop from the Niagra Falls of experience and emotion that are raging inside me.

But they all seem to be dammed up at my keyboard.

How Stickers Can Change The World

Posted on Jun 2, 2011 by Emily Freeman

When a friend asked me to get together with her after I got back from the Philippines, I made a joke about not having a concept of “after I get back.” Compassion owns me until June 4th, I said, and anything after that doesn’t exist.
I meant simply that I am at their disposal to keep my eyes open and to write what I see while I’m here. And also that the concept of life when I get back is … fuzzy. But keeping my eyes open is becoming more difficult by the day, and that’s not just because of jet lag. I wrote yesterday’s post with one eye shut, and I don’t mean figuratively. I was so emotionally exhausted from wading through the waters of poverty (and I don’t mean that figuratively either), that I could barely stay awake. I can’t be sure, but I have a feeling you might be feeling a bit of that, too.
I know it is hard to read these posts. It is certainly hard to write them. So let’s just take a collective moment and have a little light and easy cultural lesson, shall we?