Youth Camp, wow what an experience. There where a little over 200 young people from around Bohol that attended. They stayed in tents and cabins on the grounds at a camp not far from our home here. They started with registration where they got there name tag and where assigned there team color. They did everything with their team. The day started early at camp. They started the morning with team devotions and exercise at 4:30 They then had time to get ready for the day before breakfast at 7:00. The first session of the day started at 8:30. They started with praise and worship then a speaker. The topics that where discussed where relevant to young peoples life today. There where several pastors from the area that did the speaking. After the lecture they where dismissed for chore duty. Each team had a certain area of camp they where responsible for cleaning. Lunch was at noon. There was another session after lunch. Then each afternoon there where team activities planned. Basketball, volleyball, dramas, skits and even an amazing race planned. Dinner and free time was then enjoyed by all before an evening session. Lights out by 9:00 pm because morning came early. We had the joy to be able to stay at camp with everyone as chaperones and just to observe and enjoy watching the young people get to know Christ and grow in him more.
praying for one another
200 young people from youth camp 2015
kids from our village at camp
In other news The orphanage just needs to be painted and a couple of doors put on which should happen today and tomorrow. It took a little over three and a half months to finish with a lot of love and sweat from a lot of very dedicated men. We had two volunteer weeks and every Saturday was a volunteer day. Every volunteer day at least three to five guys working.
We have three orphans currently living in the orphanage you can see there pictures below, but I will tell you a little about all of them. Jerwin(tata) the oldest is 15 years old and has started the 5th grade this last week. He is smart, enjoys spending time with his friends and recently became a new believer in Christ. His sister in Donnabe(Ebec) she is 13 years old and has also just started the 5th grade. She is fun loving and a great caretaker of the younger kids around. The youngest is Jonh Allen he is 7 years old and started the 2nd grade. He is full of energy and can be quite the trouble maker if not watched. He is learning a lot of things to become more independent. He was not made to do much for himself before he arrived so does not think he is able to do for himself. They are all learning and growing well here and we pray they will continue to. There mom Died several years ago in an accident and there dad passed in mid march from TB. They have all been tested and two of them are being treated for TB and the youngest is being treated for the exposure. They have a government program that allows people to be tested for and treated free of charge so we have challenged the church to get tested and treated if needed. To help with that we will provide transportation to the clinic and help with any expenses if there are any.
Jonh Allan Dupalco
Donnabe (Ebec) dupalco
Jerwin (Tata) Dupalco
In family news, we are all adjusting to life with three new kids around. As you can maybe imagine we have a very busy house these days but we are enjoying it and taking everyday as it comes. The girls have started school as well. Precious is started the 2nd grade and is still homeschooled for know we will see about next year. She is picking up on the language a little bit and loves spending time with her friends. She is getting involved with some of the activities here. She helps to clean the grounds and get the church set up every Saturday. She also attends a pray meeting with some of the other young people on Friday evening. She still talks about missing home every once in awhile but we are able to send a message to her friends and even call them and she is usually okay. Faith is smart, fun and full of energy. She knows how to count to ten in English and Viasayan. She knows here colors, shapes and can identify the numbers 0-8 she is also starting to learn to write some of her numbers. Seven is her favorite number to write. We are not pushing her to learn but she asks to do school and we are letting her set the pace at what she is learning. She has a lot of older girls that love to watch out for her so that is nice because she has a lot of energy and would run us in circles every day. Jonah is enjoying being home. He has taken up fishing here and has been out a few times with a young man from the church and they have done great at supplying us with fish to eat. He has also started a livelihood project with the men at the church here. they are planting oysters to then harvest and sell. There seems to be a large demand for but no one was harvesting them. Me, Jessica am enjoying having so many kids around to care for. I will admit there are times they all try my patience but God seems to be blessing me with a lot more of that than I used to possess so he knows what we need and is a great provider. I am proud to say also that I have lost pretty close to 35 pounds since we have been here. I have been eating better and eating less and have been walking at least four times a week. It also helps that we have a flight of steps in our house and I climb them somewhere between 20-30 times a day. Anyway sorry this one is so long and has been a long time in coming but we where without internet for a week and have had a lot of activities going on here. For more youth camp pictures see facebook.
