Cebu daily star - spot the bald geezer from Blighty!
We arrived in Batangas City & Province today to another big welcome. We left Cebu after a long 4 week stay – some 130,000 visitors came to the ship book exhibition buying 133,000 books - 18,000 came to conferences on board including 10,000 school kids. All left with some element of the message of the ship which is - to bring Knowledge, Help and Hope.
As we left the quayside a large group of local Christian supporters and street kids waved us off. It was quite emotional. Its amazing how quickly you can connect with folk. We were showered with attention. An example – we got back to our cabin to find a gift bag on the door, on investigation it was from a couple we met on a marriage seminar. We had chatted for a very short time and they had been impacted sufficiently to express thanks with a card and big bag of cookies.
Likewise with the street kids, my heart sort of broke to see them at the quayside waving us off – they shouted messages sang choruses and behaved as kids should. They however live on the streets largely unattended, some complete orphans. Philippines has a huge number of children like this scratching out an exposed life and wide open to all sorts of abuses.
It has however been a time to give huge thanks for – I talked to the local OM leader as we sailed away and she expressed how this visit had not only penetrated the churches with the encouragement for mission but the media and the business community. When so many are affected things can change.
One highlight was meeting our little Compassion girl Sarah May and her family – she and 165 other kids from the scheme came to the ship on the final Saturday. Less overawed and more relaxed she talked more and we will leave with enduring memories. Amazingly another couple on the ship have a son who has literally just started sponsoring a little boy form the same centre – the whole situation just replayed a week after ours. Now 265 kids all think their sponsors will be coming!
Sarah May and friends enjoying lunch on board
Well we need your prayers for the next week. We are joining an A team (A for action)
This involves a 9 day stay away with a church in Lucena some 2 hours away. We will be involved in practical building work, bible studies, student evangelism and all things church wise. The kids are coming too – the team are very excited – our kids are less than muted (you can imagine) we leave 24th Feb and return 4th March
Pray – for health and safety –impact with the church – great team times – kiddie harmony and opportunity for good news!
Oh yes and – the house in Sheffield has sold!!!! Still waiting for Carlisle house to happen
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