Cyrus is awesome

For one, the title was made by Whittaker. Not that I am egotistical or anything. Manilla is very dirty, with trash and excrete everywhere. The children are able to absorb names like crazy, and they also are able to play basketball very well. I saw that even though they where living in poverty, they where able to look at the bright side of things, like Frances. It'S TOO BAD THAT THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE NATIONAL BASKETBALL LEAGUE TOURNAMENTS because they would be able to beat many of the other countries because they have an enthusiasm that no other player can rival. The children also are able to play basketball, volleyball, and other sports very well, and in other circumstances, would be able to have a great future in store for them. I will miss the children in Manilla because the children are so joyful and happy.

Frances - Kids in Manila :-)

Manila is great, the kids are great, the food is great, and even the construction is great. :) This country is full of such kind and caring people and I've loved getting to know the children through working at the children's home and playing with kids in the community. Often there will be kids hanging around the street at the gate next to the place we are staying and whenever I have free time I go and talk to them. Our conversations are quite amusing as we talk about anything from what we did that day to music we like. One day, we went out to the community and invited kids to play sports down in the court. I played basketball for around three hours with a thirteen year old boy named Manny (who was way better than me ;)). Whenever he shot a three I would yell "Steph Curry!" and we would both smile and laugh. Later, when we went to the market, I found a Golden State Warriors shirt with Curry on the back and I bought it for him. I just gave it to him yesterday and today I noticed he was wearing it. :) Another kid that I bonded with was a girl named Marlyn at the children's home. On one of the first days she ran up to me and insistently demanded to be on my shoulders. I ran around for hours with her and we played in the playground and played tag in the field and even though my whole body ached I would carry through because of her sweet smile and laugh. On the last night, she would pretend to hug other people as I would say, "I'll miss you! I love you!" But when Miss Bandy and Miss Cantrell called that there was only one minute left, she jumped into my arms and I carried her until the very last moment when I exited the gate. The kids here are so amazing and I've loved truly taking time to get to know them and spend as much time with them as possible.

This photo very accurately describes the relationship between Marlyn and me :):) Mahal kita Marlyn <3

Children's Home

During the first day, I was able to go to the Children's Home. There I played with the kids, and also hung out in the nursery, feeding, playing, and putting some of the adorable babies to sleep. I was able to run around with two little girls and put them on my shoulders although the weather was really hot they were still so joyful and always smiling that we were there and playing with them. Being around the kids made everyone so happy and I didn't want to leave when it was time for dinner. I always look forward to go to the Children's Home and I'm really grateful to be able to spend time with the kids.

Deep Stuff from Eman (Emanuel Koo)

This week has been harder than I anticipated but also very interesting since it is very different from any other service trip I have gone on. This service trip, we really connected to the kids in the children's home. It is also much more difficult compared to the other service trips I have been on because there is more work to do, but that work really gives a sense of satisfaction and happiness knowing that we have done something for others in the community. Another thing that I have really enjoyed though is hanging out and playing with the kids in the children's home. Making connections with people from different cultures and different ages is very special. Investing in other people makes all of the hard work really worth while.

Hoonjoo - meaningful time in Manila

When I was preparing for this trip, I never knew what will happen. All I knew was that there will be some children that we will be leading devotions and we will be working on construction. When I reached here, it was similar to what I thought. It was hot, there were many children, and constructions going on. However, when I went to the feeding, I was shocked. When I saw the house of people who are in need of feeding, I realized how much blessings and advantage I have. It was a huge influence to me. After feeding was construction. Thanks to the help of the influence, I could work hard. I also enjoyed fighting against my own limit. All of the time will people in need of help, as well as people working together was meaningful, and joyful. I am truly happy as I got to know more about people that I did not know.

Kids in Manila - Yujin

Our team Manila all came to KIM ministry last week. Since this was my second time coming to Manila, I was really excited to see kids from last year. Last year, I could not interact with kids in Manila that much so I always regret about it. This year, I played with kids a lot, interacted with them, and I had more courage to go to them first and talked to them. Some of them remembered me, which was amazing! I was so shocked that they even remembered my name. After I went to them and tried to interact with them first, they all started to open their minds and be really friendly and nicely to me. Our team is going back the day after tomorrow and I am so sad that there is no enough time for me to have more good memories with them and waste the time. I miss Singapore too but then I really do not want to go back to Singapore. I made so much memories with the kids and I do not want to forget this time forever. Even though I like the last year team better (It does not mean that I do not like this year team member), I like this year's trip better. It was especially meaningful and impactful to me. It makes me cry that although they had some bad memories when they were young, they still laugh with their big smile and welcome strangers. I love the kids so much and it was the best WWW trip ever. I really do not want to forget this happy memory ever.

Lucas' Amazing Adventure

My stay here in Manila wasn't nearly as bad as I was expecting, and I wasn't expecting it to be very bad. I guess that means that it's been pretty good. The construction is hard and stuff, but after a while you kind of just learn to deal with the back pain and blisters and just work for whatever amount of time passes without realizing it. Also, eating and sleeping after working for three-ish hours in a row is way better than eating and sleeping normally; massages are basically the best thing ever. Playing with kids is definitely the highlight of the trip. Every time you come, there is a kid who just comes up to you and asks you carry him or read him a story or something like that and they are so ready to just run up and play. Every time you come back, there's a new kid just waiting to do the same thing. The team is also pretty great, people who I've never seen do any physical work before are slinging bags of gravel over their shoulders and throwing dirt out of chest-deep holes like it's nothing. So yeah, pretty life changing, I'd do it again any day.