Beautiful Sky

from Laura
I love it when the sky is beautiful. Here in Manila, we have been having some beautiful skies lately. As we left campus this afternoon, there was a stack of clouds above the downtown skyscrapers, with gold and white and bright blue and glowing orange streaking the sky around. As we drove into our subdivision, facing the other way, there was a rainbow over our neighborhood! It wasn't a complete arch, but the colors were brilliant, and it even had an echo off to the side. The tragedy was that our camera wasn't in the car. And, even worse, when we hurried inside and got the camera and came back out... the rainbow had gone. I was sad. But the light was still that kind of reflecting light that makes everything beautiful. I had to take a few pictures. I'm sorry I don't have rainbow pictures for you, but at least maybe these will let you enjoy a bit of beautiful Manila sky with us.

A Note from Home

from Laura

This week has been a LONG week. I’ve had something to do every day after school, and it’s mostly been something draining. Wednesday and Thursday evenings, we had something to do after the stuff after school, so we didn’t get home until past 9:00 either night. (Given that we’re generally getting ready for bed by 9 or so, these were late nights after long days.) Wednesday’s evening activity turned into the worst Manila evening we’ve had in quite a while. We reached Friday drained in every way.

This was scary to me. I can teach when exhausted, though it’s no fun—I’ve done it before. But Friday afternoon (today) was the first of several meetings that will stretch me in faith and ministry. There is a group of girls who have been struggling with a number of interpersonal clashes. The counselors and chaplains decided to put together some time for this group to name their problems, learn some conflict resolution skills, and pursue a new level of peace with one another. Because I know almost all of the girls and have had good relationships with them, I am one of the adults helping with this process. This is a big deal. These meetings have potential for much good within this group, but, as with anything about interpersonal clashes, it’s complicated and tricky, and things can go south with frightening ease. I am out of my depth, in terms of training. This will stretch me, and it was NOT something I wanted to do when I was drained. So, scary.

I was distracted most of the day, and praying rather desperately with every other thought. In the afternoon, I got my sub plans in order and left my classroom nice and early. On my way to the meeting room, I passed the mailboxes and, out of habit, I looked in ours. And look! An envelope! I laughed—because this is God all over. It was a card from a community group at our sending church, Elk Grove Baptist Church. They just wanted us to know they were praying for us “today.” For us, and our ministry, and those precious children. “Be encouraged,” they said. J So I was.

The meeting went well. I didn’t have much to do with that, though I did my part. I know Who was doing the work. Through His Body in multiple locations, praying and writing and talking and listening, God started a process that can bring healing to students, as they keep letting Him in to work. Please pray for those girls, whom God loves so much.

Thank you, EGBC home, for sending us into our work today. Thank you for letting God use your prayers and your words in your handwriting to lift us up. 

Summer Learning

from Laura


Along with richly blessing us this summer, God also taught us a lot. The different rhythm and experiences provided the contrast we needed to solidify a number of lessons from the year, and to begin a few new ones. Here are some of the lessons of my summer: (The pictures are of beautiful things from the summer, only sometimes related to the nearest lesson.)

On a jungle hike on Mindoro

1- In June, we spent a day with God, partly alone, partly together. (Our mission asks each missionary to do this at least once a year, as a way of letting Him clarify our vision and our goals.) I was reminded on this day of the power of God's presence in our lives, and the depth and breadth of His plan. He is changing my heart and Seth's heart, and has a vision for our marriage to continue to grow. God wants to work in and through our friendships-- close and long-distance. He has ideas about every area of our lives and refuses to be limited to just teaching us to be better teachers and mentors. (Not that He's stopping that process either!) Our God is both enormous and intimate, far-reaching both outside of us and within.


2- On our Palawan trip, we were not always comfortable. We especially noticed this downtown- riding trikes, shopping in the (only?) local grocery store, walking through the market, or exploring a few of the quieter 'sights.' There were a variety of reasons: Non-Filipinos are much rarer in Puerto Princessa than in Manila, so our white faces made us very noticeable. (not my favorite experience) Beyond that, as tourists, we didn't know the right prices for things, or where anything was, or how to get there. I'd forgotten just how many questions there are to ask, when you're truly new to a place! We hadn't realized how comfortable we've become in Manila, but Palawan woke us up! It was nice to see that our new home has become a home-like place to be, but it was also a reminder that we remain novices in this country, outside of our own neighborhood. We were challenged to remain learners!

The Baywalk in downtown
Puerto Princessa, with
friendly children

3- Over the summer, we got to the point in Tagalog where we can awkwardly accomplish a few things, and I was reminded of how bad I am at 'putting myself out there' to try conversations I'm not good at yet. It's hard! But as we have tried to use bits and pieces more, I have been convicted of the importance of this process. I am humbled by how graciously our stumbling phrases are received, and angered by my own reluctance. This is a lesson that has just begun-- God will be teaching me a lot as we wrestle with the challenge of learning Tagalog.

Cathedral of the
Immaculate Conception,
in Puerto Princessa

4- As we traveled and visited, we learned more about life in the Philippines, the complicated mix of good and bad and otherwise. Beautiful dances, generosity, humor, a sense of equilibrium, family love, superstition, poverty, fear, deception, crippling circumstances. I think a dual lesson is always learned as you get to know a culture. Your views of the possibilities of the culture and of its desperate need for God's help-- both of these grow and grow. This certainly happened for me this summer. Perhaps the biggest lesson was growth in my understanding of the spiritual needs here. For so many, a veneer of Christianity covers a terrible cycle of penitence and superstition and fear-- a cycle without the forgiving grace of God, without the power to free them from sin, without resurrection or life. I see the work of the Filipino evangelical churches, and of the missionaries who assist and equip them, in a new light and with a new urgency.

Jovar's family (missing some siblings)

5- My personal biggie, taught repeatedly all summer: I am not in control. I really like being able to do things independently, but I don't have that power or that privilege. In Puerto Princessa, I couldn't even hold a conversation without the grace of God and the help of others. It took both of those again for us to get lunch or get across the city. When we met Jovar's family, and I caught a glimpse of what it takes for a poor family to get through a week, I found myself praying for them with the fervor of the completely helpless. In that city, I recognized God as my strength and theirs, and my biggest job was to hang on tight. What is the difference between that and being in Manila? Only one thing-- here, I can sometimes forget about it. But it is good to be dependent. It is good to know that I do not run things. It is good to pray in helplessness and hope-- when I am lost in a new city, and when I meet with problems I cannot even begin to solve, and equally when I walk into my very own, very familiar classroom to teach a lesson that I have fully planned and prepared.

The view from Pandan Island

How does this boil down? We have a lot still to learn, and it is not always going to be a comfortable process. We are not called to be comfortable. Certainly we, O'Days living in Manila, are not. But neither are we, Christians living on Earth. That is NOT God's goal for us. Growth and holiness, obedience and service, are some of His goals. Joy, peace, and love. But not being comfortable. And my maturity is often revealed most clearly by how I respond to discomfort. On vacation, with few responsibilities, no real timetable, and no outside stress, I was ok with that...which is why God got these lessons going over break. Now the school year begins, and the lessons take the next step. My prayer is that I will not forget, but that what I learned in the light and the joy of summer will take root now and grow.

Summer Fun

from Laura


After the school year wrapped up, I had grand plans of writing regular thoughts here during the break... and that didn't happen. But this was a wonderful summer. Here is the first of 2 blog posts about the summer. This one is about summer refreshment. We were blessed in a lot of ways during these two months. Here are a few: (Click on the pictures to enlarge.)

Sister and friend hanging out at July 4 BBQ

1- We had relaxed time with friends. We had dinner with some different people, including some of the fellow staff who we didn't spend much time with during the year. We played games, and learned a few, too. (Quiddler and Wise and Otherwise, to be specific) We spent the 4^th of July with friends-- from America and elsewhere-- eating enormous amounts of food at a barbeque at Faith.


2- We read books. :) Even though I didn't stop reading during the school year, I wasn't breaking any page-total records. It was wonderful to sit and read away an afternoon, to finish YA books in one sitting, to have time to re-read something trivial and fun, to preview books for my classroom library, and to read books with professional ideas for teachers. A few summer reading highlights, from several categories: The Praying Life by Paul Miller; The Glory Field by Walter Dean Myers; The Book Whisperer by Donalyn Miller.


3- We slept enough. At first, this meant a lot. But mostly, throughout the summer, it just meant the ability to choose our bedtime or alarm-clock time based on fatigue rather than stress and schedule. This was truly a luxury and a gift.


4- We traveled in the Philippines. This is really at least 3 different blessings.

With Jovar and a really big croc skeleton

      *We visited a young man named Jovar, who I have been supporting through Compassion, International for 12 years. He lives in Puerto Princessa, Palawan. We spent a day with him, visiting his home, his church, his town, and the nearby crocodile farm. It was an amazing experience to put 3 dimensions together and get to know Jovar in person.
      *While in Puerto Princessa, Seth and I were also simply on vacation together. We visited the Underground River, went snorkeling in Honda Bay, explored downtown Puerto Princessa, and wandered the Baragatan festival (which was conveniently timed to match our visit). There is not much better in my book than exploring beautiful and interesting places with my husband.

Ocean and clouds from Mindoro

      *With my parents and sister (see below), we went to the beach! For having lived in an island archipelago nation for a year, we have spent surprisingly little time at the beach. Mindoro is an excellent island for relaxing beach days, and this was the first time that we had gone there. We swam, snorkeled, took walks along the sand, read books while sitting on beach chairs, and watched clouds roll in over the water. We also got (sort of) lost trying to find restaurants, showered without hot water, and had sand and seawater everywhere. All of which were pieces of a lovely family vacation.

After hiking to Aninuan Falls, before swimming

5- We were visited by family! My parents and my younger sister Kandy came from Chicago to visit us for almost 2 weeks. We got to share life with them for a little while. I didn't realize how big a deal this would be to me. I knew I missed my family and would be excited to see them. I didn't know how important of a time it would be to me. For them to travel the way we travel, go where we go, shop where we shop, share food and friends and adventures with us... it was amazing. We had so much fun together.


6- We had time to go back to work early. After about a month and a half of doing very little schoolwork of any kind, we started going back to school in mid-July. Some people may be appalled by this, and there are surely some years when teachers shouldn't do this. But we were ready, and it was an enormous blessing. We organized papers and other resources from last year, and from years before us-- making new and useful discoveries every day! We had time to think through our curriculum and classes at the level of underlying goals and yearlong layouts. It was refreshing to be asking questions like “What do I really want students to be able to do by May? And what can I do to help them actually get there?” instead of “What can I do with the class tomorrow to teach the next couple of pages in the textbook?”

On the beach near the Underground River, Palawan

With all of these blessings (and more that I don't have room for) behind us and lifting us up, we arrived at the first day of school ready, in each area of life. I don't know this year will hold, but we have been strengthened and renewed by our summer, made ready for whatever God has for us to learn and to do.

Making changes as I go

It’s April! We are in the 9th month of living in the Philippines, instead of in the U.S. It’s 4th quarter, a perennially crazy time of the school year. It is also Lent, with just a couple of weeks left before Easter. For me, Lent is often a time of self-evaluation. I generally have one habit that I’m focusing on forming or breaking, but I also tend to discover other places in my life that are ripe for change. Changing cultures and teaching in a new school, as we have been doing, are also experiences that force you to learn and to notice areas where you need to grow. So we are in a season of self-awareness and (hopefully) of growth.

Random bonus picture 1- A butiki in our sink

There is, however, a tricky temptation going on for me. This is a temptation that crops up for me almost any time I face the challenge to change, but it is especially alluring in times like these—at the end of the school year, 9 months into a year of transition, at the end of Lent. And the temptation goes like this:

When I see a change that I need to make in my life or teaching, I have this tendency to think that it will be… too difficult, or too confusing, or too embarrassing, or… to make the change this year. Maybe next year, when I set up a new classroom, when I’m living in a different house, when I’ve had a summer’s break, then I will pick up and implement this change. If I try to do this now, I’ll have to explain myself (and how I’ve been wrong), and that’s so awkward. If I don’t explain, I’m sure that the people around me will be thinking about how wrong I’ve been, and judging me for which of my many problems I’m fixing (and which I’m not). Or they’ll be thinking how silly I look, trying so clumsily to make a change I’m not good at yet. Or I’ll think that if I try to do this now, it won’t work. The students won’t respond right—I’ve been training them differently all year, after all. Or I’m in the middle of other habits, and I don’t know how to begin doing this new one. I’ll sit and think about it more first. I’ll change later, at a ‘fresh-start’ kind of moment, when change is easier.

Random bonus picture 2- Sunset from the reef site at Outdoor Ed.

Yeah, right. Laying these thoughts out in words makes it SO obvious that they are lies. Ridiculous lies, at that. And I know better! But it’s still easy for me to be caught by these thoughts and lulled into inaction. Which, of course, is what part of me wants, since making a change does mean admitting I’ve been wrong and re-forming habits. Which isn’t easy. It’s so much more comfortable to be lured into procrastination. So much more comfortable, and so dangerous… 

Lord, help me to change when you show me a better way, right away, not later. Teach me to try a new path without fear because it will bring me closer to You, the source of my identity and security. Help me to start… with what I know I need to do today.

Random bonus picture 3- Chuck Howard, missions pastor from Parkview Comm.Church, visiting the 3 PCC-supported families serving in Manila-- the Ruchs, the Hendersons, and us!

Tropical Colors

by Laura 

Recently I have noticed that something unexpected has been happening to me this year. As I live in Manila, in the Philippines, in a tropical country, my perspective on color is beginning to change.

 
I am not a visual artist. My awareness of the colors, designs, and styles around me is amateur at best. I do, of course, have certain preferences. I tend to like muted, deep colors—blues and greens and purples. I generally like homes, rooms, clothing, and paintings with understated color schemes. Colors that would be advertised as "tropical" in a store catalog are generally not what I would choose for my home or wardrobe. Those preferences haven’t suddenly disappeared, but I’m learning that they have been environmentally influenced! (Who’d have known? Well, maybe an art major would have, but not me!)

 









Now I'm living in a new environment-not the American Midwest but a tropical Pacific island. In Manila, pretty much everything is brightly colored. It’s tough to find clothes in the colors I usually buy. Clothing here tends to be in very bright colors, with lots of hot-this/that/the other, or almost-neons. This is for everybody—men, women, old, young. The houses here are brightly painted—turquoise or yellow or green, with deep red roofs. And commercial areas like malls almost assault the eyes with their contrasting, competing signs and decor.

In Chicago, I would probably find all of this garish, if not downright ugly. But not so much here—and that’s what has surprised me. I've decided it's because of the environment. The tropics work with a different color palate. The greens around here are everywhere, overtaking everything else. There are many hues, but the plants seem to favor the bright grass-green end of the spectrum over the deep pine-green side. On a clear day, the sky’s blue is stunning. Most flowers are bold—hot pink or brilliant yellow or bright orange-and there are flowers everywhere. One of my favorite trees is a flame tree—the whole top bursts into glowing red flowers when the tree is in bloom. When the sun is out, everything shines back until you could be swimming in color.

Here, in the tropics, houses that look tasteful, beautiful, and elegant in the States would look washed-out and faded. They’d hardly even register to the eye when you walked down the street! Here, the houses that are beautiful, tasteful, and elegant are the ones that people have painted brightly to show boldly among the colors around them. And the people themselves are the same. Bright clothes don’t look garish—even on a quieter introvert—they look right. I’m fairly sure that I often look washed out, with my current “classically understated” wardrobe.

My favorite color is not going to suddenly become hot pink. However, my eyes and color sense are adjusting to their new setting. I love the new kind of beauty I see.

Changing

from Laura

A just-for-fun sunset picture from our trip to Corregidor

In the first four months after moving here to Manila, I lost a little over 10 pounds. Since then, my weight has stopped changing—my current weight seems to be the new normal. I’ll admit that this was a happy discovery. (In all honesty, I think there are very few American women who wouldn’t be interested in losing a few pounds. Which is sad, but that’s a topic for another day.) However, when I look in the mirror, I remember another side to this coin.

I didn’t do anything to make this weight loss happen, except for moving. The only causes I can come up with are a different diet and a slightly different set of habits with a bit more walking because we don’t have a car. And my body reflects this. I may have lost weight, but the irritating things about my shape have remained exactly the same as they were. The fat is still in some unhealthy places, and I am no stronger than I used to be. If I want to be truly healthier and stronger, physically, then I would need to add regular exercise to my life. My actual habits would need to change. They haven’t, so I know that if or when God brings us back to the US, or gives us a car, those 10 pounds are likely to come right back. Because this is not real change.

Right now, I’m not too concerned about my physical health or about exercising more. It isn’t a high enough priority for me to give it extra time in this extremely busy season of life. But as I thought about the reality of this superficial change in my body, I realized a larger lesson that I had better be learning.

With my Outdoor Ed squad of 7th-graders

My life has changed drastically in the last six months. In fact, very few outer, obvious things are the same as they were one year ago! And the tricky part is that some of those changes look like spiritual weight loss. I’m a missionary now. I pray with my 1^st-period class every day. I’m finding ways to talk about God during class, and I’m mentoring a high school worship team. I pray with my colleagues and talk often with them about what God is doing. Pretty cool, right? Well, maybe.  

It would be all too easy to rest on those laurels and to think that those outward changes mean that I am growing spiritually—becoming healthier and stronger. But if I do that, then I am deceived, because those are superficial changes caused mostly by the new circumstance of teaching in a Christian school. The real question is—what happens if/when God brings us back to the US or changes the nature of my life here? Will there still be evidence that I am stronger and healthier, or will the ‘spiritual weight’ come right back?

If I look at my spiritual life more closely, I do see where God is at work on me. He and I are working on my prayer habits and on my temper, especially when I’m under stress. (You can imagine that we currently have ample opportunity to practice these skills…) He is using many of the superficial changes to teach me more lasting lessons, and I think that the weight will stay off. My prayer is that I will keep on pursuing Him. I never want to be tricked or tempted into thinking that superficial change is a substitute for real growth, even when that’s the easy perspective and the deep changes are hard. Because as much as I can get frustrated about my physical appearance, it is spiritual unhealthiness that’s frightening, and that is the kind of exercise that I cannot do without.

Holidays

We have almost completed our first Christmas/holiday season in the Philippines. After we finished grades for our first semester of teaching at Faith, we collapsed into the break from school. We have read a large number of books, held un-rushed conversations with friends and family, and slept a lot. We explored a few new-to-us areas of the city, successfully found and used a post-office, and replaced our front doorknob. With friends and with each other, and with much gratitude to God, we celebrated the birth of Jesus and the coming of a new year. It has been a high-quality holiday time.

Among other things, we had most of the other TEAM missionaries who are based in Manila over to our house for a pre-Christmas dinner. It was a really fun evening with MUCH food, singing, sharing, and a game of Apples to Apples. Unfortunately, nobody took any pictures. We also do not have any pictures of our Manila explorations or doorknob exertions. However, we do have a few pictures below that will show you some of the last couple of weeks.

Christmas morning we opened gifts- from each other and from friends here. Our holiday will be extended into January because some gifts from family will arrive then. We don't have a Christmas tree this year, so instead of gifts under the tree, our gifts were under the nativity scene and star.

Another consequence of not having a Christmas tree was the need to get creative with our lights and other decorations. So we made Christmas banisters! Our stairway has lights, ribbons, a few ornaments, and a number of cards and notes from students and colleagues.

 Christmas afternoon we had dinner with fellow teachers Katy, Nate, and Valerie at Nate and Val's house. It was a yummy meal with especially yummy turkey. Afterward we played games, so that made Seth and I very happy. We have been thrilled to find many game-playing friends here.

 For New Year's Eve, we went to a fondue party at the home of some friends who live right next to the Faith Academy campus. There were a lot of different families there, so we thoroughly enjoyed talking and eating. Here, we were chatting with Nate and Meg. (Meg is one of the teachers who we met this summer at our training in New York!)

At around 11:00, we walked the rest of the way up the hill to Faith's campus. It's a good place to sit and look out over the whole city of Manila, which is worth your while if you're ever in Manila for the new year! Here we are settling in to enjoy the show.

These are a few of Laura's 7th-grade girls who were hanging out on the tennis courts right behind us. MANY Faith Academy families (student and staff) come up to campus to ring in the new year. It makes for a fun and energetic atmosphere, and if you look below, you'll see why we gather there.

New Year's is a holiday for fireworks in the Philippines. Families buy all kinds of fireworks, from little sparklers through bottle rockets and on up from there. They set them off in streets and neighborhoods and parks all over the city. If you're IN a neighborhood, it's very loud and smoky and probably a bit scary, and you can see only the fireworks nearby. From the vantage point of Faith Academy, it is still remarkably noisy, but you can see firework displays going on all around the city, all at once. It was quite beautiful. We could tell how close it was to midnight by how intense the fireworks were getting, and right at 12:00, you had to yell to be heard above all the explosions!