So Long, Farewell...

I will be heading home tomorrow.  Life has been moving quickly these last couple of days...I honestly can't wait for my over-24hours of travel just so I have some time alone to process these things.

I want to thank you all for following my journey and for walking with me in my times of struggle and in my times of joy.  I am so grateful for you and for the blessing you've been to me!  Please believe me when I say that this internship would not have been possible without your help!  I'm glad that you had a part in God's work here :)  I can't thank you enough!

I hope to write you an adequate summary of some of the things I've learned...but I will need your patience because I am still in that state of "Wow, did this really happen?"  ...Perhaps I should continue to blog through my senior year.  It might be neat to see how things play out.  I'll let you know if I come to a decision.  Haha, blogging seems to be the new "thing" to do.

Right now, all I can see are the next couple of days ahead.  It seems that life won't pause for me.

I will be giving an oral presentation to the church leaders tomorrow and saying many goodbyes.  My flight takes off out of Manila at 9pm (So...Sunday 9am EST) and I'll be back home in Orlando by 12:30pm EST Monday (Tuesday 12:30AM - Philippines).  Yay!

By Thursday morning I'll be on my way back to Covenant (with thee other RAs:  two fellow cdv interns) for RA training and things just keep rolling onward from there.


Please pray for...
-Safe travels
-No luggage/other traveling issues
-Productive processing time and rest on the plane
-Good time of sharing and quality time with my family (I only have two days with them :(...)...that God would multiple that time
-Safe travels back to school
-That God would continue to prepare me for this upcoming year of being a student and being an RA and being a daughter and a sister and a friend and whatever other roles He gives me


Ending thoughts (for now...)
-I have LOVED the Philippines
-I have learned a lot about my weaknesses
-I have learned a lot about God's control and his power and greatness

When the oceans rise and thunders roar, I will soar with you above the storm.  Father, you are king over the flood; I will be still--know you are God.  ~"Still" Hillsong United

Putting It All Together

Ah, guys, I'm so sorry for being horrible about posting during my last week!  I started writing this post Monday, but now it's Friday...Things just keep happening so fast!  But at the same time...Sunday couldn't come sooner!  I can't wait to be on that plane home :)

THIS is Week 12.  Last week.  I have finally (almost) completed the internship I had been anticipating since my freshman year of college.  !!  Oh my goodness, I'm a senior.  Wow.  Okay.  I'll think about that one later.

Let me break down the week for you:

Oral Presentation (Sunday)

Things didn't go according to plan and I definitely got really nervous and had to keep reminding myself, "If this is happening, it's God's will so just go with the flow; go with the flow; it's okay, just do it..." etc, etc.  And...the presentation went really smoothly :)  People affirmed my research, which was encouraging because I had not really received any affirmation these past three months and I was starting to wonder if what I was doing really mattered to the congregation (I think most of them didn't really know what I was doing).  Thank you all for your prayers--they were heard and God granted!  If you could be praying for my second presentation this coming Sunday (yes, the day I leave) with just the leaders of the church that would be much appreciated :)

Despedida (Saturday--sorry I'm going backward...)

The young people at church threw me a surprise despedida (farewell party)!  And my goodness was I surprised!  I had been sitting at home all day writing letters and papers and suches and thinking and praying about my presentation--nothing leading up to this party screamed "surprise party."  Up until the moment they yelled "surprise!" I was still confused.  We played games, sang songs, watched a slideshow, ate food (of course) and I was quite in shock by it all and very touched by their thoughtfulness.  It definitely gave me courage in preparation for my oral presentation, knowing that they would be there.

St. Francis Square (Sunday--fast-forward)

After my presentation, lunch, and some afternoon activities at church, six of us piled into a car and drove to Manila to shop :D

Monday 
Blood test (pre-cautionary) - tested positive for typhoid - no symptoms - but I'm on antibiotics now... haha.  Got a hair cut...said goodbye and thank you to all the barangay captains...

Tuesday
Went to San Pablo to visit my translator's home and meet her parents.  We had a delicious meal of various rice cakes and fruit and then headed off to Liliw (the shoe capital of Luzon) yeah!!!  :D  And we ate at this tiny restaurant (everything in it is small :D) and visited a really old underground cemetery.

Wednesday
Traveled to Quezon City to visit Samaritana (a ministry to women who have left the life of prostitution) and then shopped at SM Fairview...hm.  Lots of shopping this week..

Thursday
Met a friend and we out for pedicures.  Nice.  :)  Went to her favorite coffee shop; she graded tests and I wrote a paper.  Attended my last SVCF fellowship large group meeting.  The group surprised me with a nice card signed by all, prayed for me, and then a number of them walked me home :)

I'll post again before Sunday :)