Philippine Update- Week 3- My Journey Ends

My journey is finally coming to an end.. Our last week here was very bittersweet.. I have been dreading this day to come. I am not ready to come home, because I feel more at home here than I do in the States. I'm dreading to come back to the issues of life and reality, but I will get through it because I'm not the same person I was when I left 3 weeks ago. This trip has strengthened and healed me in a lot of areas in my life!! True happiness has been brought back into my life and I just feel free :)

I found out that I still have feelings and that I'm not completely numb.. I haven't cried in a long time over some issues that has happened in my life, because I am always trying to be strong and I put up a wall. but on this journey, Those walls were starting to break down. The Lord has taken away my fear for a lot of things.. I can really just go on and on about all the wonderful things the Lord has done for me, and for everyone else on this trip.
When I had to say goodbye to everyone tonight, my heart broke.. They are my family and are apart of me. I have gotten so much closer to every person here and I've made a lot of new friends. So it's really hard to let them go. but I know this will not be the end. Lord willing, I will be back. My friends here joke that maybe I will marry someone here in the Philippines, So I can officially live here haha Hey, you never know what God will do. ;)

So our last week in the Philippines was such a blessing and is something I will always remember.. On Tuesday, we went to a small island area called Matangib. We had to cross the South China Sea, on a small boat that my dad named a long time ago called "Sea of Galilee" I have not been on that boat since I was a little girl.. The scenery that we passed on the boat was so pretty!! The Philippines is really a beautiful country.
On Wednesday it was a pretty low key day. We tried to rest as much as we could. I was able to spend the whole day with my friends.. My dad took out all the Elders and their wives to dinner on the military base, So I just hung out with everyone on the compound. It was a rainy day and it was the first day where we actually had some cool weather. The stars that night was so beautiful and you could see lightning in the distance. Us kids just sat outside, and had such a wonderful fellowship. We sang praise and worship songs for over an hour. I am really thankful for every one of those kids... They are so special to me and we all have such a strong bond.

My beautiful Friend Jezreel and I.

I love these girls!!

My friends Rona and Kimuel :)











I am so thankful for the work God has done and for the best friends and new friends He has given me!! This trip was the best trip I have been on in my almost 18 years of traveling and doing ministry. Ang Diyos Ay Mabuti! (God is Good) God Bless..

P.S- My song on this journey "Healing Begins- Tenth Avenue North"

Goodbye Philippines!! You will always be sa puso ko {In my heart}

Philippine Update- Week 2

Our 2nd week in the Philippines was super busy but awesome..

Monday we went to the Bajac Philippine Market.. Let's just say it's a very interesting place.. You are surrounded by Pig ears, Pigs snouts, insides of pigs and cows with flys all over them, and tons of fish..If you brought in a dead person to that market, just the smell would bring them back to life.. It's really unbearable but welcome to the Philippines..On top of that, it was extremely hot and humid..But overall, it was a great experience but it's sad at the same time to see what people do for a living here at the markets.

On Tuesday night, We blessed all the missionary families and some other friends by going to the Fair that they have set up on the old military base. I was so happy to see the little kids happy and having fun. They don't get to do stuff like this very often.
So on Wednesday, we took them to Ocean Adventure.. Which is place where they do Dolphin, Seal and Reptile shows. I absolutely hate snakes, but that day they needed a volunteer for their reptile show. So of course they picked me..
What I had to do, was wear a blindfold, and I had to touch 3 things and guess which one of the 3 things was the snake. So when I got up on stage, the snake was huge, and inside I was freaking out. So they blindfolded me. The first thing I touched was a guys arm.. the 2nd was the actual snake, and the 3rd was a rubber snake. In the end I got the right answer, and walked off the stage as quickly as I could to get away from the snake.. Hey, at least I faced my fear that day..The dolphin show was cute, and afterwards they let us take pictures with the dolphins.. I even got a kiss on the cheek from the Dolphin.. They love me ;)

Everyone at Ocean Adventure.













On Saturday, All the woman in the church gathered for a fellowship. My dad shared with them about the women in the Bible, like Esther, Ruth, Lydia and Deborah and how our character is supposed to be as women of God.
Afterwards, I went to my friends house, while my dad had a meeting with all the Elders and their wives in the church.. So all of us missionary kids were stuck together.. I made everyone some cherry pie. I was so happy that I was able to find the ingredients I needed for it here.. The pies turned out great though!! Most of them have never had a cherry pie in their life.

Cherry Pies in the oven :)















We leave the Philippines in 4 days.. I really don't want to leave..This is like my 2nd home and I feel so in my calling here.. More than I do in Africa.
There's just something about this land, and the people here that have always had an extra special place in my heart. I know the Lord sent us here to help those people that are in need. We have been witnessing to almost every person we meet here. Everyone here are Catholics, but I believe we are a light in the midst of darkness..

Yesterday, It was our last day at church. It was really hard to leave.. Some people were even crying, and wouldn't let go of me..
After service, We had a youth fellowship. I talked to them, about love, marriage, dating and courting and how we need to live our lives in purity and in the Fear of God.. I talked to them a lot about my desires to marry young, and to find someone who will not only be a man of God who can lead me spiritually, but someone who will treat me right. I believe they were all encouraged with what I shared.

This journey has even changed me in some ways and I believe the Lord has put me through a lot on this trip to prepare me for what He has for my life.. I'm just thankful that my dad and I are here. The Lord has truly used as vessels to help these people in this nation. God Bless!

The Girl Indiana Jones

I've Grown Up Before The Philippines Eyes

This is when I was 16 months old and was my first trip.

4 years old in Baguio City, Philippines

8 years.

13 years old.

17 years old

Philippine Update- Week 1

Our first week back in the philippines was difficult but still fruitful.
On our way to the Philippines from Seoul, about 30 min into our flight, My dad almost passed. He started to have a seizure. At first, I thought he was just joking about something, but he started twitching like he was crippled, his eyes were rolling back and drool was all over. I immediately called for help. The flight attendants of course had no idea what to do..and neither did I, but just pray.. When he became conscious again, He had no idea where he was or what happened.

All he could say was "I'm okay" but he wouldn't respond to anything I asked.. I was crying and so scared for my dad. Then about 5 min later, he had a 2nd seizure.. This time, he started to vomit everywhere.. All the flight attendants were around him now.. They wanted to turn the plane back to Seoul, but when he was conscious he refused to go back..

So just when I hoped he wouldn't have another seizure…He did. and this time I really thought I was going to lose him, because it got worse.. At this point, I couldn't handle it anymore, but I couldn't have done it without the Lord, because He held me together..

It was hard because I was all alone. I had to set order with the flight attendants and take care of my dad. I couldn't talk to my mom or anyone. So for 4 hours straight, I prayed over my dad. I think that's a record ;) At this point I was so tired because I was going on my 2nd day without sleep but I couldn't take my eyes off him..
I know the Lord had mercy on me, because my dad didn't have anymore seizures after that. He only vomited. I know this might sound like it's not a big deal, but to me, It was. I have never gone through this before

We got into the old Clark Air Force base in Pomponga, Philippines at 11:45. I was so thankful to get off that plane. It was the most traumatic 4 hours of my life.My dad got some strength back, but he was very sick to his stomach, Our missionary families were waiting outside for us when we got there. It was so encouraging and refreshing to see them, especially after what I was put through..It's been four years since I've been back to the Philippines. Everyone and every thing has changed.

When we got to our home in Olongapo City, that I've been living in since I was 16 months old, My dad immediately went and laid down. I was so thankful because one of the missionary families, Vincent and Sharon, stayed with me overnight just in case something happened. I stayed up all night checking on him. I was then going on my 3rd day without sleep.
To make the long story short, My dad has gotten his strength back and has been able to do ministry.. I've been trying to tell him to rest, but he can be stubborn at times :)

It was a blessing because on Tuesday, we took the missionary families to the old military base, and took them shopping for food and whatever they needed. They were so happy, and it brought my heart so much joy to see them be blessed, Especially since they have sacrificed everything in life..

So, it's been nice and refreshing.. Except, I am very sick. I think because I was so tired and everyone else was sick, that I caught what they had. So it's been a setback for me, but I believe the Lord will heal me soon.
I'll be writing more updates soon. God Bless!

~Kenya-Nicole

Some of the kids at church :)

My Journey Begins

It's been 2 years since I have gone back on the mission field.
My last trip was to Siaya, Kenya {Africa} and I lived there for 6 months. I am now at the San Fransisco International Airport waiting to leave for the Philippines!! I have not been to the Philippines in 4 years and it will be my 12th trip there.

For those of you who don't know, I have been traveling to the Philippines since I was 16 months old. We have 3 missionary families now living there from our church here in San Jose, The Baucoms, The Medinas and The Castenedas. I love those families with all of my heart and I am so thankful and proud of the work that they do. They have sacrificed everything to live in a third world country to spread the gospel. They lack a lot which I will expound more on later on my trip, but they never complain. They are always blessed with everything they get.

So I am looking forward to this Journey. I know it will be the refreshment I need. I've just felt like I've needed to escape lately and being on the mission field brings me strength. I am nervous/excited for this trip because I know God is going to do an awesome work in our hearts but I also know that so many things/people have changed. So I don't know what to expect, but I know that in the end, It will be a fruitful trip. God Bless You.

Love and Prayers, Kenya-Nicole