De-brief info for families

Debrief Info for families

The following pages are provided to resource you in receiving your students back home. Some of the information is directed to the family members and other parts of this information is directed to the students. We suggest that you print out these pages and re-read them several times to help you feel better equipped to help your student process the experience they have just had. We would also like to suggest that this printed material be handed to significant others so that many of your family are all working together to make the students growth and transition as smooth and possible. We have started the debriefing process aimed at helping prepare our students for some of the emotions and reactions that they most probably will experience in the coming days and weeks. It is a longer journey than we can hope to finish whilst away so we want to help you feel equiped to take up the supporting role that is needed at this time. It is our hope and prayer that you all enjoy the new person that is rejoining your home

Our hope in running this Philippines trip is to further equip these young people to became ‘extra-ordinary’ adults, and to grow a healthy ‘others’ mindedness. We also would like to assist families to pull together to share one another’s lives as we see this as vital in teaching all the children that move through Southern Hills Christian College.

If at any time you feel like you need some assistance with your students re-entry please make contact with the college to arrange a chat or meeting with Pastor Pete.

Re-Entry Stress 
Definition:
                   Re-entry stress is like culture shock in many ways - only in reverse. While culture shock is associated with a sense of disorientation brought on by a new and unfamiliar environment, re-entry stress is precipitated by returning to a setting you presume to be familiar, but which in reality is no longer the same because you have changed.

It is the unexpected nature and subtlety of such change that will cause stress for your student. Your once familiar and comfortable environment no longer appears the same. Something definitely has changed. But you don't easily recognise just what has been altered.

Suddenly you find yourself out of phase with your own culture. Your reaction may come in the form of bewilderment, dismay, disillusionment and perhaps even irritation or anger. Somehow, "things are just not the way they used to be.", "nobody seems to care.", "nobody really understands.".

There are several contributing factors to re-entry stress. One is that you are being caught by surprise - you do not anticipate change and consequently are unprepared to cope. Another factor is value conflict. Your values, once taken for granted and even highly cherished, now seem of lesser significance or of little importance at all. Your way of thinking, your manner and your responses to many situations have been changing. Often these changes are not apparent until you are back in your own culture.

Common symptoms and effects of re-entry stress

1. Disorientation - feeling out of place, not fitting in

2. Feelings of loneliness, isolation, or being lost in the crowd

3. Restlessness - a desire to "get away" from those who don't seem to understand or care

4. Feeling that nobody understands your experience or that nobody cares

5. Feeling tired, listless

6. Critical attitude toward home country - its waste, extravagance, wrong way of doing things, etc.

7. Loss of identity - just "another cog in a big wheel"

8. Inability to communicate new ideas, concepts freely

9. Feeling of superiority - standing aloof from others because of your overseas experience

10. Feeling of dissatisfaction

11. Defensive in responses

12. Retreat, withdrawal, lack of concern

13. Unnatural, uncomfortable responses to "ordinary" situations

14. Confusion over conflicting attitudes and responses

15. Rejection of overseas experiences or a desire to forget and not talk about them

Basic Debriefing Tips for Family and Friends 

1. Listen, listen, and listen some more.
            Student  will have many emotionally laden stories to tell. The most loving response family and friends can have is to sit regularly, without time constraints, and listen until all the stories have been told (and re-told). One great way to spend time unpacking the trip for your student is to spend time with them over this blog and/or their Personal Journal. Move through day at a time, the stories will flow and will really help your student to feel heard and understood.


2. Expect the student to be a different person.
             Global experiences change a person. Encounters with poverty, a new culture, inability to communicate in an unknown language, and being an ethnic minority possibly for the first time will alter the way your student views and interacts with the world, including you and your family. Seek to discover the changes in your student and help him/her to make adjustments to living in Australia. Also allow the changes in your student to bring changes in your family, if your student has grown, then your family will have to grow to make it meaningful. Also your student may be experiencing grief at saying goodbye to people with whom they have connected.

3. Help the student find places to share his/her story.
               Encourage returning students to speak at gatherings and help them to make contact with churches, youth groups and any other groups that would be interested in hearing about their experience. If a student does not like to speak in public, encourage him/her to invite family and friends over for small gatherings where stories and pictures from the trip can be shared.

4. Help students in their church and youth groups for service by encouraging them to:
a. Learn more about the nation they have just visited as well as any other nation they have on their heart

b. Commit to giving financially a regular portion of what they earn (a regular and defined portion assist people to fit their personal changes into regular life without it being forgotten or producing a fanatic)

c. Consider planning the next year so that a similar trip can be taken soon

d. Study the Bible for, and lead Bible studies about, God’s heart for the nations

e. Mobilise fellow students and friends to consider giving time and money to international mission service.




Between Two Worlds: Returning Home 
            Dr. Miriam Adeney, a Christian anthropologist, tells her students that they "will never be able to go ‘home’ again. They will probably always leave part of themselves behind, and thereafter will be split. And home may be in more than one place. But that is the price they pay for the richness of having experienced more than one culture deeply."

Some suggestions for Christian Families:

1. Help your student to find other returnees (short-term volunteers, missionaries) with whom you can share and have fellowship.

2. Give your student time to readjust. Be patient.

3. Recognise and accept which transition stage your student is going through, and remember that "reverse culture shock" or "re-entry shock" is a normal part of the process of returning home.

4. Encourage your student to have a good sense of humor. Be aware, though, that your student could feel that you are laughing at him/her and the mission experience if you make too light of their experience or feelings.

5. Use this time of re-entry as a growing process for your family to learn about your student, the people group/culture in which your student served, and how you can continue to minister to the people group from home. Re-entry provides an opportunity for you and your family to become bi-cultural or multi-cultural people.

6. Express to your student what God has done in your life and your family's life during your student's time in another country. Possibly the changes God prompted were the result of your student serving internationally.

7. Help your student find opportunities to share the story of his/her international mission service. Examples of this can be a church service, Sunday School classes, or other groups.

8. Help your student learn to tell his or her story well. There are many tips to help people effectively tell their stories, please spend some time researching these.

9. Review the most significant changes that have occurred while your student was gone on mission. Talk through the events and changes, show pictures and videos of events, if possible, and discuss the implications of those events and changes on your student's future.

10. Talk with your student about his/her great expectations in returning home. How relevant and realistic are they? What are steps your student can take, and your family can take, to meet the realistic expectations?

11. Keep a clear perspective and remember that God is with you!

Conflicting Values 

Preoccupation with materialism
              Back in Australia, the desire for material comforts and possessions is a dominant theme. Are you prepared to face this fact if you are returning from a culture where people are content with little or have only the basic necessities of life? Has your sensitivity to basic human needs been heightened by your experiences abroad? What response might you have to affluence, waste or overindulgence?

Suggestions:

1. Do not be quick to condemn; realize that others have not had the same exposure to another way of life. Their preoccupation with "their world" as they know it is only natural.

2. Be prepared for a sensory bombardment if you are accustomed to simplicity in choice and lifestyle. An overabundance of goods, choices, etc. can overwhelm you at first.

3. Expect others to not fully understand how you feel when their "materialistic ways" strike you as sinful.

Doing things the "best" way
         This is often referred to as ethnocentrism. It's only natural that every culture values its ways. Is bigger, better, faster and more accurate really best? Do other cultures have something to offer us? Expect to receive blank stares or an air of disapproval from your compatriots if you question traditional ways.

Suggestions:

1. Be on the alert for a "holier-than-thou" attitude. Do not be too quick to judge others for their ethnocentric stance or to think that your way is the best way.

2. Share your perspectives, but at the same time avoid becoming involved in arguments . Do not allow yourself to withdraw or refuse to discuss matters because of opposition.

Personal worth and recognition
           Possibly one of the most difficult areas to address is personal fulfillment. Your questions may include: Was my service valuable? Will anyone recognize my contribution or my sacrifice? Will I be just another fish in a big pond? What will the situation be like upon my return? Quite likely you are returning from a position where you were the focus of attention, where you felt needed, accepted and loved.

Suggestions:

1. Do not expect to be in the limelight for long after your return. Some may ask to see your pictures, have you speak, etc., but soon you will be back to your "ordinary citizen" status.

2. Realize that your worth and recognition comes first from God. View your service as service to Him, not something with which to gain recognition and praise from others.

3. Do not allow yourself to feel hurt or sorry for yourself when people do not notice you or your service. God does. Look for ways to meet others' needs; this will help you take the focus off yourself (Phil. 2:3-4).

Day 12 - Victory and Conquest

The Story of the 12^th Day – Victory and Conquest

It was a wintry sunrise when our brave volunteers awoke, preparing both mentally and physically for their appearance on local television, dressing to the nines, pulling out all the stops for the camera. To say the least, the majority was scared and terrified, but the minority, Emily Adams to be even more precise, was even more so as they had significant air time, while the others just sat, smiled, clapped and waved from the audience. It was like we were on the set of Shrek, as we had signs from the director to fake clap, and wave. During The Morning Show, on which we appeared, the four hosts took the mickey out of us Aussies, quoting the classic “I’ll throw another shrimp on the barbie!” After this celebrity role for the day, it was time to fully awaken with the assistance of the food embassy to the peoples of the United States, the Golden Arches.

After this point, we know not what transpired with the females, as we became separated, and not what was planned for our imminent future. However with gusto we drove towards our doom or joy.

When our short journey was complete, our victorious men stumbled upon a beauty salon, thankful of their service, Sir Beacham of the Third Order, bestowed upon them lavish gifts of either a manicure, pedicure or haircut, and later the worthy gift of massages for most, but manicures for the selective few. Although among them a squire one year their junior was given a male masseuse in lieu of the traditional female, but he enjoyed it all the same to say the least.

After having been prepped and pruned into perfection, the rich men  found in a sea of marketplaces, a set of particular bazaars with clothes, shoes, hats, glasses and food to the brim, and left nigh penny-less, for the most part. Favourite legends born of this time were the infamous Bad Hagglers who purchase items tenfold their worth, and the Farmers whose quest to find milk from the homeland was not left unfulfilled. Unbeknownst to them there stories would be repeated digitally, for their families at home to laugh at.

A constant through the entire voyage of our army of peace has been the attention which we receive from the locals, and as eighty five per cent of Bacolod, the city in which we dwell, watches The Morning Show, they appeared on every corner with cameras posed at the ready, not unlike the paparazzi that wait upon the King.

The schismed halves of the victors’ groups returned, lads and lasses reunited in full sun, as we sought to fill our stomachs with the spoils of war, in the Korean King’s Barbecue. Fusing unique selections of spices, meats, salads, soups and sushi to create a meal worthy of the Monarch himself, they reunited swiftly, albeit shortly.

Having lined our stomachs, and lightened Sir Beacham’s coin purse, we road confidently towards the final battle ground for our female companions where they would battle the strong people of the land, with muscles having muscle groups of their own. In the thick of the observation, some archers and swordsmen joined in the battle pushing back the onslaught for an acceptable retreat. After the defeat, our forces joined with the enemies? in a feast worthy of the Titanic, metre after metre of pizza.

Having returned back to the bazaars, our stomachs rumbling with eager delight, we ran to encounter the ruling monarch of this land of the realm The Governor in a feast of chicken on a stick, rice and T-bone steaks. Our stomachs now reaching over our belts, we returned to the Inn in which we resided to debrief from a day of both victories and defeat, with Priest Peter of the Royal Sect presiding over the Hallway of Happenings as stories were shared and emotions poured.

The events of which are yet to unfold, we foresee a swift bed time with bathing in the personal waters, for the Mountains of Mordor yet to undergo.

Before us bards wish thee farewell, us two and Knight Stephen of the Round Table would like to wish Mrs Paula Vardy a wondrous birthday.

Joshua: Hope everything’s going well at home, and with the family. I also hope that both SouthGate and Firebrand are rolling along great. Love you Zoe.

Reuben: hello to the Barham family including Freddi missing you all, especially Carrie because I’m missing a major part of your life, keen to see you walk down the aisle. Bought all the presents today so you guys will be looking fly when I arrive back home at the Bazza castle.  

Day 11

If you were to ask any one, one of the hardest things to do is to say good bye. If you were to ask the team, today would be one of those tough days were we had to say good bye to some of the most precious people we have met on the mission trip.

This morning a few girls woke up at 3:30am to help out at the bakery, which included packing and stacking the bread rolls. Then we went out into the town to help them sell their fresh pandesal.  Along with the excitement of waking up at 3:30 and helping out at the bakery, we were privileged to hear the sounds of the pigs squealing whilst being slaughtered by the boys, which had stayed the night at the IRC. With all the events of the morning, we ventured back to the white house to enjoy our last meal by the wonderful cooks, this included French toast, Bacon and eggs and Rice which was shoved down extremely fast as we wanted to get back to the IRC to spend as much time with the boys as possible before we left town.   

After breakfast we went back to the IRC where we were to make our last goodbyes to the boys which have impacted our lives so dramatically over the past 9 days. This was a very emotional time as our hearts took over our minds which allowed us to express our emotions that were being held in as we left half our hearts with those special boys, the community and the IRC. The faces of the boys as we left them tore our hearts into pieces and cuddles that they gave us made it all the more harder to leave the place that has changed many of our lives.

After the long goodbyes from the IRC family we went to the Ikthus church for our celebratory lunch, where we enjoyed fabulous dancing from the filipino’s and the youth group. We also enjoyed the baboy (roasted Pig) which the boys so enthusiastically helped kill (Elliot, Reuben, Nick and Drew) in the morning at 5 o’clock. The food for lunch was simply amazing as we enjoyed the last fried chicken and spring rolls provided by our wonderful cooks.

Once lunch was eaten we enjoyed fellowship with the people of the Ikthus family and the locals of Cabacungan community. This also stirred up emotions that contributed to the hard task of saying goodbye.

Once Lunch was eaten and we said our final goodbye’s we headed to the bus only to find two little boys, Junifer and Ariel which had walked from the IRC to see us again. The long bus ride to Bacolod gave us time to process our thoughts and to catch up on extra sleep. Once we arrived at Bacolod we had one hour to get settled in and to meet back in to lobby to go to the local shopping mall, This one hour soon turned into one hour settling in our rooms and one hour waiting in the lobby for Mr Beacham and Paster Pete to come back from getting hair-cuts. We caught Jeepney’s to the shopping mall and had to speak tagalog to the driver to get us to there. Once at the shopping mall we transferred our money and had one hour to spend looking around and shopping, after shopping we headed to a chicken house to have some more inasal chicken which was very tasty.

We then returned to the Hotel and wrote in our journals and had our daily debrief. We then went to our rooms to get ready for bed and our 4:30 wake up tomorrow morning for our 15 minutes of fame on breakfast TV.

Until tomorrow, keep safe xx

Emma xoxox

Day 10

Good evening everyone. Ms Kelly (Andrea) and Mrs O’Hara (Joanne) here. 

You may be wondering why we are writing the blog tonight and not your children. Well, the boys have gone off for a sleepover at iRC with the orphanage boys and your girls are upstairs having massages. With all the giggling going on upstairs it sounds like the girls are having way too much fun! We are hoping the boys are having fun too.

After our very late night we were allowed to sleep in till 7am with breakfast at 8am and then off to church. 

Our year 12 leaders went in one direction to the mountains for a service and food distribution (packs we made up earlier in the week with rice, sardines and noodles) and then mingled with the locals making balloon animals and an assortment of jewellery made from pipe cleaners and the other group went to the local church and then arrived back at the white house for lunch. For the leaders this was an amazing place to have a church as it was a 20 minute walk on top of the clay walls of rice terraces to get there. This required allot of balance and poise and surprisingly it was Nic Dawson who decided to test the depth of the water in the fields.

After lunch, most of us took a little ‘nanna nap’ to rest our weary bodies and then off to the iRC Community this afternoon. The girls joined the Sunday School class and kept the children entertained with a few songs and games and then once again, food distribution, balloon animals and pipe cleaners. It is so humbling watching the faces of families holding their food packages like it is a treasure and the children with their balloons. Their smiles melt your heart.

We were treated to a garden dinner this evening and then as it is the 1^st December (start of the Christmas Season) we received a large group of young ladies singing Christmas carols and dancing for us. Keegan and Rachel were quick to jump up and join in with Drew, Stephen and Abi quickly following. We all laughed and enjoyed some interesting dance moves from the boys.

For church this evening the girls were given a presentation by the local Barangay captain (The town Mayor) who presented us with a wonderful plaque and a beautiful speech thanking us for our hard work and encouragement to his town.  Although our stay has been short he was impressed by the amount of work we were able to complete.

We are off to Bacolod tomorrow and it will be very sad to leave this wonderful community. We are certainly going to miss the glorious view that greets us every morning too.

We would also like to say that your children have been delightful (most of the time J) and we have gotten to know them better and are privileged to have been able to share this amazing journey with them. They have shown their strength and courage to undertake many challenging events and we have watched their characters develop. You should all be very proud of them.

Joanne & Andrea

Ps:          To Kaitlin and Alex I miss you very much. To Hanna and Liv, thank you for being with Kait and Alex! Hi to everyone at school too. Jo xxxx

Day 9 - There's a hole in my bucket

Day 9: Bucket mania!

Today began a blissful morning as wake up was at dawn, 5:45am wake up call and an unami (yummy) breakfast at 6am. We prepared ourselves for a long day of work, the moment we had been waiting for… pouring the second story slab, by hand. The area to be covered was about 15m by 10m, with columns 40cm deep on the edges.

At 7am we arrived at the IRC in hope to begin the concreting, however were met with the ongoing task of reo-bar tying and washing down the slab to ensure the concrete will stick. The carpenters continued to work very hard boxing in the roof so that the real work could begin. The cement mixer which we had hired was being looked at by the mechanic for its faulty nature caused it not to start. As this was the case the Filipino workers started to mix the concrete by hand, a method unfamiliar to Australian builders (hah). Work began with concrete so everybody re-applied sunscreen, or in some cases (Georgina, Drew and Josh) extra precautions to ensure their sunburn from yesterday didn’t re-burn. We also used a barrier foam witch would help our skin stay protected, rather than being split by lime-burns or flying buckets. Gloves, safety glasses, hats and off we went. Two bucket lines, one full one empty transferred endless buckets up and down the building.

By late morning we had completed the second part of the stair case and began the far back columns, it was very slow. We were wishing the mixer would have a burst of motion just to give us more work to do while the sun was still out. Our stone was supposed to arrive at 10am however being in rural Philippines, on a public holiday (Bonafacio day) I may add, things just don’t happen on time. Hand mixed concrete continued to flow gracefully up the ramp and many of the IRC kids found themselves helpful in a return bucket line. The kids kept our spirits high for the effort we put in goes to their cause; we wish to give them a home.

Back to the guest house for lunch where we all found that we ate so much to replenish our tired bodies and supply us energy for the enormous task which still lay ahead of us. We were waiting for the truck to arrive with the stone we needed to mix more concrete, funnily enough many of us watched out the window as it drove past the house. After lunch with no break we headed straight back to the IRC, where we found a still broken mixer. Really wasn’t its day. More barrier cream, sunscreen, hat and back to our lines, to the building from the hand mixed concrete. Some of the boys by this time had learnt their technique and helped out using shovels. This was messy job.

By 2pm the mixer finally sparked power and so did a new routine which was more efficient. These loads of concrete we much bigger and our little buckets were struggling to keep up, although Pastor Pete had also learnt a new technique from Ramil (bakery director), making large and sturdy buckets. They were very proud of themselves and through flaunting their new skill we found they were very good for making big heavy loads of concrete which made quite a difference to a patch of our task. The mixer shot out again and again, which was very frustrating however during the patches of fixing the missing bolts and making a new load we were able to have small breaks and have a treat of some fresh baked pandesal (bread).

With only about one fifth of the work done we had to continue until it was all finished. By his time most of us were drenched in concrete and in some circumstances concrete was over-taking the colour which once glowed in our shirts. With small breaks we poured and poured buckets upon buckets of concrete. Some injuries which consisted of lime burns and a small blow to the head (Abi) from a passing bucket. We are soldiers and on through the night we went. By about 6pm we reached half way and with much delight the amazing kitchen ladies from the guest house had made and delivered our dinner to the IRC. Delicious fried chicken, soup, salad and rice, they said it’s a well-deserved meal. We knew that we were not yet finished, after dinner we stormed on, into concrete pits and up to the roof. The job was not finished until 1:00am! With great cheers and a sigh of relief we thanked our Filipino helpers, said goodnight to the kids and headed off to the community washing station. We rinsed off as much concrete as we could and began to compare our wrinkled fingers and lime burns. We drove back to the guest house and quietly head into our beds. We fell asleep instantly with a joyful feeling of accomplishment.

We apologise for blog being late, however a 3am post would also be unhelpful I’m sure.

Abigail: Hey everyone at home, hope we are all well, missing you all heaps. I’m having so much fun and can’t wait to tell you all about it. Not long now, keep us in your thoughts. Jason I love you and miss you heaps! xxxxxx

Day - Mountain Drew

3:00am WAKE UP for group Charlie for the last time in the bakery.  They arrived at the bakery and bagged the bread to sell. We then walked around the suburbs with Pastor Pete selling the Pandasal for two pesos for one piece. Then they arrived back for breakfast at 7:00am.   

Our food challenge started when we ate lugaw for breakfast, lunch and dinner. This dish is the local food that working families eat and depending on the income that depends on how thick the dish would be and whether it would just be rice or chicken and vegetables. We only had a single bowl each for breakfast, lunch and dinner to eat like the local Filipino’s. We all sat down at 7:00am and sang happy birthday to the oldie Drew. After breakfast we got changed into our work clothes and walked to iRC. It took us 10 minutes to walk there. Once we arrived we got straight into our rotations.  

We all started off with the construction and then broke off into groups with some continuing construction, others trying their hand at broom making and weaving. Unfortunately, there were 3 victims of sunburn today even though Mr Beacham gave us numerous warnings! In an emotionally challenging experience six of the guys and girls were asked to build a coffin for a local community man that passed away from sickness overnight. This is the sad reality of living in a community such as this as the locals only work for food and cannot afford plywood for a coffin.  The body was wrapped in a rug and but because the mountain people cannot afford cremations or funeral processions the body was buried in the afternoon within the grounds of the community.

Around 12:00pm we stopped and went to lunch and had another bowl of Lugaw. After lunch we got back into our work clothes and went to the sugar cane fields to harvest some of the sugar cane. We got to taste some and it was really sweet but tasted nothing like sugar. After we harvested some of the sugar cane with machetes (yes mum they let us have machettes!) we took the sugar cane to the truck and loaded it. We took photos of the group cutting down the cane and cleaning it.  It is really hard work and we found out that 90% of the islands people are employed to work the sugar cane fields at $3 a day, working 10 hours a day, 7 days a week.

We got back into the bus and went back to the house and got into our basketball and volleyball uniforms and went down to the local school to play. The students were so excited to see us and we were paraded around the town and the school, then into the court to get ready for the games. The basketball game was really close, but we lost 42-43, the guys were up by two then the other team got a three point shot on the buzzer.   It was a great game with a solid effort by Evan, Rueben, Elliot, Nic and Matt who don’t normally play basketball.  After the game we took a group photo and traded shirts. The girls played volleyball; the game was close as well but lost 20-25, but it was a significant improvement on the previous game. After the games we mingled with hundreds and possibly thousands of students and made balloons animals and bracelet with pipe cleaners. We then  got back into the bus and headed back to house.

When we got back to the house we all had showers and sat down for dinner, dinner was like breakfast and lunch, a single bowl of Lugaw! After dinner, Mr Beacham had a huge surprise, BIRTHDAY CAKE!!! The cake was a chocolate one and everyone sang happy birthday again to Drew.

Matt and Drew

Drew: Hey everyone, missing you all and I’m looking forward to coming home and seeing you.

Matt: Hey family, having a fun time but starting to miss you can’t wait to be home xoxo

Rach: CONGRATULATIONS KRISPAN AND CODY SIMPSON!!!! WOOOO IM SO HAPPY FOR YOU GUYS AND I DON’T THINK I HAVE EVER SCREAMED SO LOUD FROM EXCITEMENT!!
HOW DID IT HAPPEN?! IS THE RING PRETTY?! TELL ME EVERYTHING PLEASE! I miss you all so much right now and really, really wish I could give you guys a massive hug!
Feel free to pick me up from the airport on Friday and tell me everything!!
I am so happy for you guys and love you so much!! Have the best time in Bali! xoxo

Day 7 - The awakening of Carabao man

Title: #filipinolyfe

It was Group Bravo’s turn to wake up before sunrise;

3.30am, even before the rooster cries.

It was off to the Bakery for packing and selling;

“Fresh hot pandisal” (bread) is what we were yelling.

We returned for breakfast, eggs and pancakes;

Then off to work at iRC, no time for breaks.

Some did construction, building the Children’s Home;

Others worked in the rice fields, through thick mud they did roam.

They were up to knees and elbows clearing the fields with the beast;

Before heading to the picturesque spring to wash flour bags - no time for a feast.

We all had a go at each different Filipino trade;

Until the whole group came together, to get one step closer to the Children’s Home being made.

Then home we went. “NO SHOWERS!”, The Beacham yelled.

So we ate a yummy dinner then quickly crammed into a bus even though we really smelled.

Tonight’s activity was really hard to bare,

We were welcomed into the locals’ homes, their lives they did share.

We were given a new perspective into our lives and time here,

The reason we came has now become more clear.

To help and to serve, those who are in need;

Even if it is to put a smile on their face, or to provide a few weeks feed.

We then said goodnight to the beautiful children of iRC,

It was then we fully realised the reason for the construction work that needs to be.

Their beds consisted of doors, benches and bamboo mats;

Outside they slept, in the dark, among the monkeys and cats.

So tonight we go to bed, with heavy, thankful hearts;

Until tomorrow, the challenge has been set, and all the hard work starts.

-          The Leaders (Bek, Emily and Evan)

P.S – Hi to our families. 

Day 6 - We bought a Jeep

In the early hours of this morning, team Alpha (Reuben, Emily, Emma, Matt, Evan, Michaela, Drew and Naomi) arose at 3:30 to begin the bread delivery at the IRC. They arrived back at the white house as the rest of the group woke at normal time. The breakfast was slightly under par today compared to what we usually are served, after Jay made the comment that nothing was edible, we left the table slightly hungry and looking forward to lunch.

At 8:30 we headed into the mountain community  to the Ikthus ministry site to hand out 400 parcels of rice, noodles and sardines to those most in need in the community.  This was difficult for some team members as there were allot of young babies and pregnant mothers.  After everyone had received their parcels of food we entertained the kids with balloon animals and pipe cleaner creations.

After we  finished, we galloped down the road to a secluded natural spring where we were treated to a refreshing dip in the pool, it was a beautiful natural pool fed by a fresh stream of crystal clear water. The waterfall cascaded down various rocks and gullies almost 100ft high. After, we returned to the white house for a lunch that satisfied all our wildest hopes and dreams, a beautiful assortment of salads, fresh salmon, and gourmet pork.

 “Okay guys, time to chill” were the words spoken by Drew after lunch as we reached our favourite part of the day, nap time. After Ley, Keegan, Bek and I (Elliot) woke from an afternoon kip we then headed to the IRC for an afternoon session of construction. Today the construction session was different to others; we had a surprise visit from the Governor of Negros after he heard of the work we were doing at the IRC. This was a really big deal as he came along with a significant security team and numerous staff and photographers.  We kindly greeted him in the local tongue, and he invited us to come have Chicken Inasal (chicken on a stick) when we head into Bacolod city which in the Philippines is a significant honour.  

After we took many photos with them we carried on with our construction for another hour. Then we left the IRC and went back to the white house for dinner, delicious chicken and rice. We had a small break and prepared for our night activity which is always a surprise. Tonight, we went to a prayer meeting at the church down the road where Emily Peirce shared her testimony which lifted the spirits of many. The prayer meeting was followed by our night activity which included the famous filipino tradition, Karaoke.

It was lots of fun and it was Stephen and Josh’s time to shine.  They both belted out numerous songs and Stephen even threw in a few dance moves to get everyone laughing.  The youth from the bible study stayed on to help us with a few songs and we finished with Pastor Pete and his Queen rendition of ‘We are the champions’.  The surprise of the night was our Filipino co-ordinator Pastor Gary who belted out ‘Moon River’ with record quality vocals.  

 With such a late night and with Charlie group on bakery duties tomorrow we arrived back at the white house after completing journals and debrief. 

With special thanks to a number of supporters specifically the Beckenham ladies bible study group we were able to purchase a car for the IRC mission site today.  This will really help with their livelihood projects and help further their ministry with the mountain people of Negros.  So as you may have seen on the TV advert ‘we bought a jeep’.

Elliot Chase & Nic Dawson 

Day - 5

Day 5– First full day of hard labour.

Our day started as usual getting up around seven and straight up to breakfast, today we had to wait 10 minutes for Stephen to eventually find his way through the apparent maze and down to the breakfast table. Before we started, Nic expressed another side of himself by saying grace in French. For breakfast we had scrambled eggs, steamed rice muffins, toast and Filipino frankfurts. After breakfast we went straight up to the IRC community where we received matching work shorts made out of sacks of flour and then split up into our groups.

Team Alpha piled on the back of a jeep and went down to the river to wash clothes and sacks. It was a spectacular view that resembled a tropical paradise. The river had two levels, one was for swimming and one was for washing clothes. At the end there was time for a refreshing swim in the crystal clear water. There was a similar occurrence from yesterday as Evan was very popular with the locals. Team Bravo was working on construction first counting and moving the reinforcing rods that would be support for the concrete we will pour later during the week. As Team bravo were working up a sweat team Charlie was in the bakery crushing colourful bread in order to make new bread. Once all the bread was crushed finer than sand, they joined Bravo on the construction site. Both teams formed an efficient line to pass the metal rods from the floor up onto the roof on the soon to be orphanage.

After working hard and with the relief of some rain we finally finished and returned to the house for yet another delicious lunch. On offer was rice, nuggets, and a savoury jelly with corn and cheese dessert as well as soft drink. After lunch we had well needed down time, lounging around getting to know one another a little more before we headed back to the IRC for more hard but rewarding work. Almost all of us climbed back onto the roof and began the slow process of tying metal ties to the rods on the roof. The orphaned children who we are building the home for were eager to help and provided us entertainment as we worked with their unique bubbly personalities and beautiful singing. We finished the job and then spent a few minutes getting to know the children individually before we returned back to the house for showers and dinner.

Dinner was fulfilling and included rice noodles, fried chicken, rice and pork followed by a delightful mango and biscuit cheesecake. 

After our delicious meal we grabbed our journals and made our way off to the community church to complete a food challenge. There was a range of options starting with the pig intestines followed by chicken gizzards, chicken feet, chicken head and last of all the balut (partially developed chicken egg at 14days.) Emily, Emma, Abi, Keegan, Nic, Elliot, Rueben, Micalea, Chenoah and Drew braved eating the balut. Drew and Chenoah then decided to take on the unofficial world record and eat more than 9 in one sitting. This was an amazing and brave move and Chenoah succumbed on number 8 and Drew finished on 11.  What an amazing effort as most people struggle with eating one Balut.   They started off coping well but are now paying for it, and will be sleeping with buckets, also along with the other brave students that passed the 4^th challenge who are now not feeling %100. 

Goodbye from everyone in the group, today was a great day!

Tanika: Hey everyone, miss you so much, I just want to say I have felt so at home here, cant’ wait to come home though (: miss you xx <3

Georgina: Hey everyone! Having an amazing time over here, the people are so friendly and happy over here it is beyond belief! Can’t wait to come home and see you all again! Big shout out to Mum, Maddie and my closest friends, love and miss you all heaps! xoxox

Day - 4

Hey everyone back in Australia

Today's the 25th of November and we started the day with a breakfast that consisted of pancakes with a Filipino sweet cinnamon syrup, pork spam and an omelet and rice. After our breakfast we drove to the IRC and started our mission work,  team Alpha and Charlie did some construction work while Bravo worked in the bakery, near the end of our work, for last twenty minutes we worked very hard in the construction work, even the children at the IRC were helping us out with moving heavy bags of sand. We left the IRC at 10:30 am to go back to the guest house for lunch which was a variety of dishes including spring rolls, chicken dish, Filipino potato and sweet corn salad with rice.

After lunch we boarded the bus and left for a La Carlota, on our way we stopped at a supermarket where we were given P60 (Peso) to purchase anything we wanted, after that we were treated to time at a internet Cafe where we could contact the outside world. Once we had finished we again boarded the bus and headed for a school where we would compete in a basketball game for the boys, and a volleyball game for the girls. Upon arriving at the school we were warned about the students in the school, and that they would treat us celebrities. And, they were not wrong, we arrived to over 4000 screaming students  and I mean really screaming. We then started our games with a prayer and we went off to have a good time, we played three quarters of basket ball lasting eight minutes each with an end score of 49 (Australia) to 57 (Philippines team), the volleyball game had two halves ten minutes each with the end score being

25 for the Philippines team and 10 for the Australian girls. As soon as the end whistle blew we were swarmed by the 4000 students asking us for our pictures and names and autographs, four of the boys were really popular Elliot, Nick, Jay and Evan. Micaela signed a guy's face and Evan was asked by a girl if she could have his sweat towel. Sadly we had to leave our new friends and fame behind.

Before our hour trip home, we stop at a church where dinner was cooked for us, we enjoyed chicken on a stick, barbecued pork with rice. We stayed in the church for a while after dinner just talking to each other before returning back to the white house.  We then all had showers, wrote in our journals and reflected on our day as a group. Lights out.

Well that was our day today, see you all when we get home Jay and Stephen.

Day 3

Hey Everyone!

Today was yet another exciting day in Filipino land. We luckily got a Beacham sleep in (7am).  Well the girls did anyway. The boys on the other hand, due to their need to make sure they were all gwapo (beautiful) and that their makeup was flawless, chose to wake up mostly at 6:30 except for Nic Dawson who woke up at 5:30 just to make sure his makeup was especially flawless for all the Filipino ladies (and it worked). So watch out parents, it looks like all the boys are coming back with Filipino girlfriends.

For breakfast we had were given a delicious meal of scrambled eggs, French toast, spam (which was interesting for most) and of course rice. It was amazing. Everyone ate heaps and we left ready for a busy day.

At 8:30 we had church down the road. It was a massive service with over 1000 people and we were all made to feel very welcome. We all introduced ourselves on stage and Evan shared his testimony. We tried our best with our very limited local language experience. They were obviously enjoying themselves laughing at our attempts to copy their greetings. The service was very good. We were given the opportunity to meet so many amazing people. There were many selfies and group photos taken with the locals. It was heaps of fun.

After church we came back to ‘The White House’ (The place that we are staying at) for a lunch of fried chicken, chow mein and rice. Then we had a desert halo-halo (Filipino fruit salad). It was AMAZING!! After lunch we had a rest time. We were all relaxing in our rooms and on the balconies enjoying the breeze and the views.

We then went down the road to the IRC and went to our second church service. We got to meet a lot of the community members and children. They were all very welcoming. Ps Pete preached the sermon on thankfulness being a superpower from God while Ps Steve translated for him. It was a great word. During the sermon some of the girls helped out in the Sunday school.  After the sermon our team made balloon animals for the children who attended the service.

 Then we all climbed back onto the bus and made our way back to the first church that we attended and packed bags of supplies that could feed a family for a week or two. These bags consisted of rice, sardines and noodles. The whole group and some volunteer’s from the local church who helped us pack these bags. Between us we made enough packs for 800 families who will often travel a couple of days to receive the gracious food that we are giving them.  

After quickly finishing all the bags we hopped back on to the bus and went higher in to the mountains to a smaller city called La Castenella. On the way to the city we saw the most beautiful sunset over the rice paddies. Once we arrived in the city Mr Beacham allowed us to spend 60 Peso in a small store where we were allowed to buy some food and drink as an afternoon snack.

Once we had got a little something to eat and drink  we once again hopped back on to the bus and headed back to “the white house”, where we enjoyed a delicious dinner of spaghetti, chicken cordon bleu, Filipino style coleslaw,  sour  bread and  for dessert we had a mango cream dessert.  

After we had finished we sat down and wrote in our journals about how our days went, once we had finished our journals we went for showers (in our case we are writing the blog!)

Once we had finished shower time we started debrief, as we sit here and listen to debrief we are still writing the blog…

Tomorrow we start our first full rotation in our work groups, building an orphanage, working in a bakery or working in the chicken coups. We can’t wait to get started and show our hosts how hard Australians can work (hey we have Mr Beacham as a leader, of course we can work hard!!!!)

Love Micaela and Chenoah xx

Micaela – Hey Everyone! Missing you all heaps. This place is absolutely amazing :D Can’t wait to tell you about all the memories we are making. Js; Haven’t even lost a thing! Love you heaps!! xx

Chenoah – Hey, Hey J Missing you all heaps. This place is amazing, can’t wait to get back to and tell you all the stories that I have to tell. Miss you all xxx 

Day 2 -The arrival

Day two – The arrival

Early wake up is what started us off this morning. Except Drew and Evan of course, they were busy doing their make up while the rest of us were piling onto the bus. Our first breakfast in Bacolod was McDonald’s; a good start to the day.

We began our 3 hour drive through winding streets of Bacolod to arrive at our exquisite guest house. We experienced many new things just by sitting on a bus seat such as learning new things about the Philippines and our team members. The bus ride taught us that Filipino drivers have two speeds: stationary and furious. We were shocked at the sights we saw, felt and smelt. One of the many interesting sight that we observed were gold fish being sold in beer bottle. People were actually buying them too! Old men were flashing their bellies to us as we drove past to show their wealth. There was confronting visuals on top of the funny and exciting experiences including the state of living and many without basic needs such as limbs. La Carlotta was our morning tea stop at Jollibee, Filipino maccas where we had coke and ice cream. (Yes we are eating healthy don’t you worry mum!) Many team members got friendly with the local drivers and got group photos, they were pretty excited. Our last long stretch was to the destination of Pastor Day’s luxurious mansion in Beulahland, what a lovely place!!

We took a quick group snap in front of the enormous volcano which is just 12km away from our accommodation and then were allocated our sleeping arrangements. We quickly got settled and grabbed sunnies and hats and drove 2 minutes to IRC (Ikthus Redeemed Communities).

The greeting of the community was overwhelming! Children were running behind the bus with a huge banner reading ‘Welcome team Australia’ and waving ribbons and flags. Greeted by the sound of drums and confetti showers at the IRC gates we felt a rush of royalty. We were spoilt by their hospitality and massive feast of a rotisserie pig (lechon baboy), crumbed fish, hanging rice and sprite and coke in glass bottles. In-between our royal feast and orientation we met the gorgeous children of the community and learnt their traditional nursery rhymes and games. During orientation we got a glimpse of the hard work that is yet to come with manual labour. At 3:30 we stopped and got to play with the children, this included Evan recovery from his sleep in and winning the jumping competition and thong baseball which Emily, Emma, Matt, Georgina and others played. The kids experienced the excitement of hop-scotch for the first time today also. We departed from IRC eager for a nice cold shower and dinner. Which is what we are about to do now!

Tomorrow we are looking forward to church which is a 3 minute walk from our accommodation and introducing ourselves to 1000 people. Talk to you tomorrow night with more exciting adventures, Love Naomi and Rachel xoxox

Rachel- Hello everyone back home! Having such an amazing time already and the food is so good! See you all so soon! Love and miss you! xxxxx

Naomi- Hey fam! Having so much fun and having really good experiences! So many stories to tell already! Miss you so much guys, see you in 2 weeks. Love yous! 

Day 1 - The Beginning

The Beginning: Keegan and Emily

Our days began much the same as they were different. With Emily beginning her morning with an Outdoor Ed exam and Keegan driving her brother around the town of Perth to get his braces removed, its only now coming to the surreal moment when the juxtaposition of everyday life to now; our upcoming two weeks in the Philippines is hitting home.
With both our expert last minute packing, nothing seriously important has been forgotten. Arriving at the airport and joining everyone to depart Perth, we bravely faced three flights from Perth to Kuala Lumper, Kuala Lumper to Manila, then our final flight which was domestic, Manila to Bacolod. All totalling ten hours, all in one day. We  discovered that sleeping on planes is a talent held by some, including Reuben Barham completely taking up all Em's personal space and Mr Beacham straying his ridiculously long legs in the walking isle, accidentally almost tripping over fellow passengers. Curries received on the plane including a special fish one containing sardines and the special meals Keegan received were "inedible to say the least." The flights felt long and the thick humid clouds of the tropics made our journey rough and bumpy. On our last plane ride scenery contained lightening causing nervousness in the mind and unwanted thrills in the tummy.
After finally arriving in Manila the Filipino custom officers gave no mercy as to why so many "gubbas" (white people) were entering their country on tourism. After Elliot and I (Emily) explained we were here for missionary work they let us through still slightly unsure of our goals.

Matthew 6:33
"Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you."
Pastor Pete gave us the challenge of making this verse coincide with our day today. Keegan and Emily had their epiphany whilst writing this blog.
We feel like today we came to the inevitable conclusion that as relatively affluent individuals we see the world in tiny materialistic detail. After arriving in the Philippines we were reminded (as this is our second time) that these details are irrelevant and that physiological needs are the bigger picture and the one that we need to focus on. Whilst in the Filipino sky looking down on Bacolod we saw lights foregrounding blackness. To us, this represents the beauty that shadows the grim as in the happy smiles in the face of poverty. After spending the day with everybody we heard many comments that were unneeded as they reflected the materialistic ways we are trying to leave behind. The purpose of our trip is to serve the kingdom of God and by doing so we will all benefit from it. So from here on we will ignore all the materialistic details and serve the Kingdom of God ( the bigger picture) and allow the small things to be added to us.
Thankyou for reading.
Ps. We all arrived safely

Keegan: To everyone at home, and Harry, I love and miss you guys. xxx

Emily: So glad to be back. Miss you Mum, Dad, Taris and Lil xxx

Introduction

Welcome to the Blogspot of the 2013 Southern Hills Christian College service trip.  This year we will be partnering with Gary Visitacion of the Federation of Christian Athletes and Ikthus church and their project Ikthus redeemed Communities.  The students will be travelling to Bacolod, La Castenella and transiting Manila and Malaysia. The purpose of this trip is for upper secondary students to experience the culture of another country and assist in numerous areas where help is needed. Currently these areas involve teaching, building and food preparation and distribution to slum areas.

Whilst the majority of the trip will involve working in the above mentioned areas, there will be opportunities for the students to experience traditional work practices and personally experience life in a poor rural community. Other ministry areas include water purification projects and participating in a basketball/volleyball game at a local high school.

Thank you for your support. We look forward to your comments and prayers during the trip. Remember the Blogspot will be updated late every evening where possible.


God Bless


2013 Southern Hills Service trip team