Crazy Adventures in the Life of a Redhead

Returning home from meeting the locals and passing out gifts With some of our spiritual and physical gift recipients Highest point of the Philippine Highway System Speaking to a group of 100 youth With my students and the staff, we traveled as a group to Loo, Bugias, also known as the “salad bowl of the Philippines.” This area produces vegetables for most of the Philippines, traveling as far as the Visayas (one region of the Philippines, in which there are many islands). We traveled for the purpose of passing out Christmas gifts to children, as we spread the good news of Jesus Christ, the meaning of Christmas, and we conducted a free medical clinic and multiple fellowships with the youth, adults and children. Our itinerary was packed with blessings: we were blessed with good weather, safe travels, unity of spirit between the local people and church and the members of my group, and the ability to share material as well as spiritual encouragement with the church a...

For the fourth time in five years, I celebrated Thanksgiving abroad (2008—France, 2009—Philippines, 2011—Senegal, 2012—Philippines). Although I love spending Thanksgiving with my family and have missed being able to share in the fellowship with my loved ones, I revel in the ability to share such a wonderful tradition with my friends and family abroad. Since Thanksgiving is purely North American (the Canadians also celebrate a Thanksgiving holiday), very few people outside of the United States and Canada have heard of the event. It is a pleasure to share a special American historical event with other people and to be thankful together for the blessings of today. Thanksgiving is something one can share with anyone who chooses to be grateful. I am especially thankful to God for his protection and guidance. This year I have traveled to numerous countries and have encountered many people, who have blessed me and have become a part of my memories of these 16 months away from ...

Sayote cake, similar to zucchini, served with tea from Senegal with my Tunisian tea set I have been amusing myself lately by baking goodies for everyone, much to the pleasure of my students and the staff. When I first arrived, little Hannah (the five-year old daughter of two of the staff members) won a toaster oven during our church’s celebration raffle. Making cookies and scones has been fun in the little oven, but I use the wood-burning variety for my cakes and breads, which bake up very well in the rudimentary oven. Three-layered chocolate birthday cake: chocolate overload and delicious Carrot bread One of the things I miss most about being in the United States is baking in a real oven with my preferred ingredients. I cannot wait to bake cookies and cakes and custards when I return home for the holidays! Although I have very limited baking resources, I have become very adept at making do in order to confection delicious desserts. The adage “where there is a will t...

The theme colors were red and black (I'm wearing a dress I had made in Senegal) The Debutante and her 18 Candles A couple weekends ago, I observed and participated in a cherished tradition among Tagalog Filipinos (one of the many ethnic groups found in the Philippine islands): the debut party, which commemorates the coming of age of 18-year old girls into adulthood and maturity. The theme is 18—candles, wishes, roses, dances and presents. (Certainly these are thematic and appropriately associated with the meaning behind the celebration, but these elements make for a long and drawn-out evening of revelry and feasting.) I was chosen to give one of the 18 presents, with an explanation of the reason behind my gift. I gave the debutante one of my scarves, which was made in Korea, received from a friend in Senegal and brought to the Philippines. I told her that if a scarf can easily travel around the world in strange patterns and my many different hands, how much more will t...

About half from the Hosanna Church and half from Happy Family Lots of food for a hungry crowd Last Saturday we had a big youth gathering, combining the students from the Bible school with the young people from the church. Happy Family chipped in for the lunch and the coffee for the afternoon snack, and the church brought snacks and plans for games. I was the speaker and was able to encourage the young people in their faith in Jesus Christ and the need to be a supportive network for one another. Even though I avoided playing the games (I really am not a “game” person), it was nice to hear laughter and to know that everyone was able to have fun together. This Bible school is a great place for gathering and community, as the love of God through Jesus Christ is very palpable and practiced by everyone who lives here. I love to invite people here, for it really is a special place and one that grows on my heart each time I return. Our afternoon snack table:...

In my opinion, one of the greatest joys of being a teacher is attending to the cornucopia of personalities found in the class. This joy is even greater (if you are eager for a challenge) and more humorous when you are dealing with students who speak English as a second language. I have the advantage that, in the Philippines, students are taught from an early age to speak English. My students have all graduated from high school, so they read well and write fairly well; however the cultural differences, the laughter and the occasional moments of frustration (asking a question and waiting five or more minutes to watch the student struggle to communicate the answer) have certainly continued to test my sense of good teaching principles. I am constantly trying to reformulate words, slow down my rhythm and look into their eyes for signs of confusion or comprehension.  I have also become a bit of a witty militant to maintain some order and teaching cohesiveness: I have turned my c...

--> This year I celebrated my third international birthday party. I added the Philippines to France and Senegal where I have hosted parties and celebrations in honor of another year of life God has given me to live on this earth. Life should never be taken for granted, and each day should be lived to the fullness of God’s grace. I remember that when I was 18, I thought I had nothing to learn and no improvements to make. (How prideful and foolish I was!) At the precipice of the impending adventure of my 26 th year, I have humbly and joyfully realized the immensity of what I must learn and how I can change for the better service to my Father in heaven and to my brothers and sisters all around this great world.  --> I guess that it why I love birthdays so much: it is my personal Thanksgiving and my unique New Year’s celebration. I am always able to share in my thankfulness and rejoicing with those around me, and this year, I had quite the party! I planned...

A carving on the oldest tree in Baguio I forgot how much I enjoy teaching a subject about which I am passionate to students who are also enthused. I love teaching! It is so exciting to develop a subject and share the knowledge I have acquired from my own personal study, coupled with the observations and comments of my students. Really teaching is about learning, and it humbles me, realizing there are so many angles to a topic. I have been teaching the book of Acts in the New Testament, and it is such a rich example of the power of the Holy Spirit. Not only do I enjoy explaining various terms or events, but also I am soaking in the practical applications for my own life.  My lovely room on level "B" Another wonderful element in my life—simple but wonderful nonetheless—has been sharing some of my goodies from Senegal. I brought tea and café Touba (a spicy ground coffee that Senegalese are terribly fond of) and my knowledge of a few basic Senegalese dishes. I ...

I am happy to be back in the Philippines with a family I love dearly (Happy Family Bible Training Center) although I miss Senegal and the African continent. The weather is much more agreeable and I love the fact that I am eating much more vegetables than in Senegal. I have to say, I am not pining for Ceb bu Jen (greasy rice and fish and overcooked vegetables but fairly tasty when eaten in small quantities). I have 17 students and am a part of a staff of three faithful colleagues and three novices who have joined within the last two years. The Philippines has two seasons: rainy and dry; but the rainy can be really rainy—serious flooding and torrential downpour—or consistent rain—once a day for several hours. Thankfully, I have only experienced the latter because rain can become a bit tiring when clothing does not dry (the sun is the only dryer we have), books mildew, moldy smells stagnate and dampness never lifts from the air. I have yet to establish a period in which I get ...

my Couchsurfing host For many years, I have been dreaming of making a trip to northern Africa, particularly Morocco and Tunisia. When looking at flights from Dakar to Manila, I noticed that one pathway routed me through Tunis, the capital of Tunisia; I made a stop off for five days and was entirely glad I did. What a beautiful country! My first objective was to find a host in Tunis—through Couchsurfing—to discuss and live Tunisian culture and to keep my bags for me as I traveled south. I was blessed with an incredible host—a female student of medicine who is my age—who took me into her family’s home, fed me copious amounts of delicious food that her mother made and willingly conversed on an array of topics pertinent to our intersecting cultures. I started in Carthage before heading south, with a fast tour of the Roman ruins remaining on this very rich historical site. There is something about nearly 2000-year old bricks that quite intrigues me. I suppose the...