As if I never left...

I am so tired, and I know I am lacking a proper nights sleep for 8 or so days, but still, I am paranoid of decompression sickness from my dives yesterday!! The joint in my left thumb is aching, and im sleepy, and I flew the day after 3 dives!! Although I had about 18 hours between, and the dive computer said im good… I am paranoid! I wonder if they have a recompression chamber in Cagayan just in case…?!?! I’m guessing NO!

It has been a whirwind of a week in the Philippines, and I am starting to feel like I am on the show “Amazing Race” with all these last minute plans, and running here and there!!! Buying tickets at the airport for the next flight out can be a little adrenaline rush! The whirlwind has been amazing though, as I have reunited with old friends and remembered why I love the Philippines so much.

I arrived in the Philippines the evening before my 27th birthday, after being away for almost 2 years! I was very tired, but when I saw the faces of my old Christians’ Haven co-workers I perked right up! Within minutes I felt as though I had never really left them!! We chatted and caught up over a great dinner at the CH college house in the city, and after a sweet little welcome program I spent the night hanging with the college students and reminiscing about years ago. Again, it was as normal and relaxed as if I had never left! The kids woke me up at 4:30am with a birthday serenade (like the old days!). I spent the morning in the city visiting a few old friends, and then headed to Tu-od for a wonderful birthday lunch with all the CH staff!!! They are trying hard to fatten me up again, and I cannot resist the delicious food I have been missing for 2 years! Hanging out and basically doing nothing with the staff and kids proved to be just as fun as it used to be, and then the kids in campus had a cute welcome program for me that made me cry. Then, to end my birthday in perfect Filipino fashion- we hit up some “videoke” in Iligan. Nothing like a small enclosed room, a tv with sing-a-long karaoke with super cheesy backgrounds, bad speakers, and good friends!! Then Ely, Jane, Jerlin, Maam Gumbao, and I slept late in the guest house, like in the old days!!!

Bright and early the next morning I tagged along to a Badjao feeding. This is kinda cool too, because I spent my 23rd or 24th birthday (I can’t remember which) visiting and feeding the Badjao for the first time, long before CH had their outreach there. During my first year in the Philippines I took note of the Badjao people, and had a strong desire to be involved with them somehow. That is when I did the feeding for my birthday with the help of the ladies from CH. About 6 months after that my family came to visit for Christmas and we ventured for the 2nd time into the Badjao neighborhood, which basically started the CH outreach there( feeding, developing relationships, and medical). Although CH continues to foster a relationship with them, the purpose of CH is not the Badjao, and CH cannot help them much further. I have spent much time thinking of how to tackle such a gargantuous problem as the poorest people group in the Philippines. Then, last year during the Global Missions Health Conference I met an organization from India, called Jamked, who has managed to empower a people group similar to the Badjao, and transform their community and lives. I was so inspired by this, but I am not sure if there is a plan in my future to help the Badjao. Currently, CDI (Community Development International, my brother’s NGO) may be interested in something down the line. Who knows what will come of my compassion for the Badjao, but it was nice to visit them once again and start the wheels turning again for how they can be helped, and empowered to help themselves!!

Then early this week I took a spur of the moment trip up to the island of Palawan to see the famous Underground River and hit one of the top scuba sites in the world. Both of which were amazing. I think that the Underground river is on the list to be one of the new "natural wonders of the world", and it lived up to it in my book! The diving in El Nido didn't let me down. I saw so many interesting underwater creatures and beautiful corals, and the highlight was swimming with a school of fish of thousands in number! If i was gentle i could join the school and swim while surrounded by them, and i could also swim into them and they would part for me!! COOOOOL! My max depth was 24 meters this time (78 feet)!!!!!

As of now I am on a bus going back to the main CH campus to hang with old friends and pretend I never left for a few days before another adventure! Sorry no pics, the internet is not that good while traveling on a bumpy bus! Check my FB na lang...