Loving All and Serving All in the Philippines!

 Today was a difficult Monday because it was back to school after an incredible spring break! I spent last week in Boracay, an absolutely beautiful island in the Philippines, with a great group of high school students as a part of TCIS's LASA service trip. We did various activities including laying concrete on a community center, visiting public schools, going to feeding sites around the island where we fed kids and did basic medical, led children's chu rch, and spent time hanging out at the Jungle Barn, our home on the beach. :) I know I had at least 1 mango shake everyday. It was wonderful!

Some highlights:
- we visited a public high school where they welcomed us as the "Korea International School Delegation." After the ceremony, we played volleyball against their teams. We lost, but it was fun to learn about Filipino culture and get to know some older kids.
- On Tuesday we visited a small, isolated mountain village of the Ita people, a native tribe of the Philippines. They were the most impoverished children we met, but also the easiest to love.
- Beautiful sunsets almost every night!
- God was really working in the lives of our students this week. My small group had amazing devotion times; the kids all really opened up to us. It was quite an eye-opening experience for many of them who had never seen poverty firsthand.
- Mango shakes, massages, Mongolian grill, and henna! I love Boracay!
- Getting to know and spend time with 16 high school kids. We had so much fun with riddles, mind games, and rock-paper-scissors. :)
- We set a record at the construction site...along with GSIS, we layed 75 sq. meters of concrete in one day to finish the 3rd floor.
- Returning to the construction site for the first day of work was awesome. The last time I was there, 2 years ago, we were just starting the 2nd floor of the building and now they are holding preschool there!

Compared to last time I was there, this trip was so much smoother. No one got sick, no travel problems, cooler weather. Be sure you check out the pics here. It really was a fantastic week!

¡Cumple 25!

That's right...I have made it 25 years. A magnificent quarter of a century. This week I was reminded at how many people have influenced me and changed me along the way into the person I am today; how many friends have shown love and support; and how blessed I have been in 25 years of life. I want to thank many of you for the facebook messages, cards, gifts, dinners, and parties this week. By the end of it, I was actually "partied-out" if that's even possible. I also want to thank everyone for playing a part, whether big or small, in my life these past 25 years. They have been wonderful, and I honestly can't wait for what the next 25 hold.

Here's a brief summary of what my amazing friends here in Korea did to help make my birthday week special:

Monday: Dinner (TGIFridays) and movie (Adjustment Bureau) with Ellen and Anna
Tuesday: Papa Day! --> even though it doesn't really exist :P
Wednesday: Professional volleyball games...go Blue Fangs!
Thursday: Mexican dinner and Thai massage :)
Friday: The Goonies - which everyone felt was the necessary way to spend Friday night since I had never seen it. Plus, Sarah came to visit from Suwon!
Saturday: Leggings party which included dinner at Indy and a photo scavenger hunt around 둔산동 (complete with a leggings cake...pictures to come)
Sunday: Picnic lunch and Yaewon roof party to enjoy the 60+ degree weather!

I can't think of a better way to spend my birthday week. Although I'm pretty exhausted from having such a busy social calendar, everyone made me feel so special. A few of my friends even ate live octopus for me! :P It is now 8:16 and I'm heading to bed. That's what old age does to you! (kidding!) I need some energy to get through one more week and then spring break. What a great life!