Returning to chaos

Since the last post school has started again. Our family tries every year at the beginning of the school year to put together some back to school packs for the local elementary students. So this year we did exactly that for all the students that enrolled at the local elementary from grades Kinder to 6th grade. We provided the students with pencils/pens, paper, crayons, earaser, sharpeners, and a couple notebooks all that an elementary student would need to start the year. So the start of this year saw Precious entering 10th grade, Mickaila starting 7th grade, Faith entering 6th grade which in the Philippines means her last year of elementary, Andrew starting 4th grade, and the twins Mark and Marah starting 3rd grade. So because of Politics the Department of Education is considering ending its K to 12 Program meaning that there is the possibility that this could Precious' last year of highschool.

Just as school has started Mommy (Jessica) found out that in order to be completely rid of the cancer in her cervix she would need to get a hysterectomy. So she had the surgery on the 13th of september was admitted the 11th and was released the 16th.A little before that my Grandpa on Daddy's side was hospitalized for a week, he came home but never really got back on his feet he passed towards the beginning of October at the age of 92.

This was at a family dinner 2 weeks before Lolo (Grandpa) passed.

This was taken on his 91st Birthday As a tradition in our house every year we have to celebrate American Thanksgiving before we even talk about Christmas. But when we do celebrate we always invite our neighbors meaning we have to have a filipino twist. So we had the traditional mash potatoes, corn, and pumpkin (Squash) pie and for our Fiipino twist we had a whole roasted Pig and of course RICE!

Daddy and some of the kids behind the roasted pig

Some other Pics from Thanksgiving This year for Christmas we decided to take a Family Vacation to Mindanao for a week so as soon the the kid's Christmas parties has ended we left for our week long family vaaction. We spent the first couple days with some cousins of ours up in the mountains. Then we went to see some friends of ours in Tagum. These friends have been such a huge blessing to our family and while we were there they treated us like royalty. We didn't have to cook, drive or anything hard work. They took us to see the tallest Christmas tree in the Philippines, a hot spring (which was too hot), and then they gave us all a Christmas surprise with a big breakfast and presents for all of us including mommy and daddy. They also let some of us kids tag along to for some caroling.

Daddy came with us to go Caroling

One of the best Christmas Breakfasts ever

Family with Ate Val

Hot spring in Tagum

Tallest Christmas tree in the Philippines When we got back from vacation instead of resting and recovering from travel for a few days it was Go! Go!Go! for Precious to get ready for the Children's Christmas Program. This year the kids performed a skit while dancing of the Christmas story. A cousin of ours came up with the choreography and Precious directed everything. The staff also handmade all the costumes, from the star to the Angel's gowns and wings.

Me and some of the kids in the skit

Almost all the kids that were apart of the skit (all in costume)

One of the young boys wanted to pretend he was a king

The young girl that volunteered to be Mary. For the year ahead we look forward to doing at least 3 kids camps, two youth camps, and a Children's ministry staff retreat. Our first Kids camp is gonna be March 16. Details are still being figured out but we are excited for the year ahead. So from our family we would like to say God bless to each and every one of you.

Life recently

Hello to all our friends, family, and supporters, I apologize for not being better at updating our blog but anyway let me catch you all up on what has happened since our last post. So after the Kid's camp in October the next big thing for us was our first trip back to the US in 8 years, but unfortunately because the adoption was not yet legal only me (Precious), my mom and sister Faith were allowed. My dad stayed behind to take care of my siblings. We were there for 6 weeks starting at the end of November right up to the end of December. On the trip we visited our churches, spent time with family and friends, and just enjoyed being on US soil (or I guesss snow) for the first time in 8 years

These are some of the people we visited. We didn't just see though we also did things

like decorate for christmas.

and decorate a ginger bread house

we also had a big thanksgiving with my moms family and Faith even made a snowman. We got back to the Philippines just in time to ring in the new year as in we arrived at our house 10 in the morning on Decembr 31, and it seemed as though the God thought we needed to get back to our life right away cause not even days later all the kids went back to school but we recovered and did catch up on our sleep eventually. Before the school year ended we had another kids camp in April. Now this camp was like every other where on the day off challenges just kept coming our way, such as the sun, because the venue for this camp didn't have a complte roff, we also had an unexpected number of crafts either disappear or the kids made two instead of only one causng some kids to not be able to do a craft. But the Lord prevailed and we have another successful camp under our belts, Glory to God. Like every camp we have had there were games, crafts, coloring and activity pages, and mot importantly speakers. Our theme for this camp was Jesus is my superhero and the kids were taught that the only true superhero in their lives was Jesus

THe year or school year started ending and us kids were excited for summer to begin. I got second in my class with high honors, Mickaila Graduated 6th grade and will be joining me in highschool next year, she garduated with honors the same as Fath and Andrew. The twins got a ribbon for being a friendly neighbor, at leat that is what the ribbon says.

Now it is summer break and the kids are enjoying their rest. Our family vacation where we actually go somewhere will be in a week or so. In terms of the adoption our case has been handed to a friend of ours and he is handling it, and because he is we had to start from square 1 but we are moving so much faster than before. We are expecting that by the end of this year or the beginning of next the adoption will be legal and final so that by 2025 our whole family can visit the US for a summer. We ask that you pray for the adoption as we have been in this process for 4-5 years. We also ask that you pray for the kids next school year that they will all try their best and have a good year. By the end of this year it is our goal to have a youth camp and another kids camp so it would meanthe world if you guys would pray for that too. Our family tanks you so much for your prayers and support and again I apologize for not updating the blog sooner we are all just trying our best. God bless to each and every one of your and to God be the Glory

These are pictures from our most recent kids camp. This camp has been the biggest and most difficult camp we have done so far with 300 kids and a staff of 16 young people. Half of the staff just started helping with my kids ministry and were staffing a camp for the first time. We were definitely unprepared for this camp we were expecting 100 kids and ended with 300 plus. but even with so many kids and very little staff we pushed through the camp and went with the flow. In september we started classes. thankfully it was half face to face half modules so we didn't have to stay home all the time. Just recently My schedule has changed from 2-3 days a week to 4 days every week. classes for the elementary kids start around 7:45 every Monday to Thursday and my calsses start at 6:45 every Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Lastly I would like to tell you all that me my mom and sister are coming to the Us the end of this month. We will be flying in on November 21 and will be flying out on december 28 if any of you would like to see us just let either me or my mom know so we can set a schedule.