First off I would like to welcome all my Filipino friends who apparently read my blog, blog stalkers. I'd like to say that if you find something that I write offensive, it was unintentional and maybe then you should stop reading! :)
I was talking to Ray yesterday and he pointed out something to me, I gush. People who gush over things are sickening so apparently I need to work on this. I do have a tendency to go a bit overboard with my description of things and that definitely happens here. He also was a bit worried about me. I have said such good things about Filipinos in general and he hoped that nothing happened here that would change my views. However, I would like to point out that I am not dumb. People are not a specific way just because of their nationality. Not all Canadians are polite and nice and not all Americans are rude or dumb (look at me stereotyping!!!) in the same way not all Filipinos will be extremely considerate or happy to see me simply because of the colour of my skin. If I am stupid I could have my purse stolen here and who wouldn't want a Canadian passport? In general though I have been well received by all the people that I meet here and I do enjoy that.
About serving... before I left Lethbridge one of my friends told me that he thought he needed to tell me that I needed to be humble while I was here and that if I would not focus on myself and take pride in my own doings than it would allow God to do amazing things through me. I have always had an issue with pride and it can be harder to be humble in a culture such as this. The Filipino culture has a grasp on serving that I am lacking and I think Western culture is missing in general. Here families serve food to visitors first and and wait to eat until they are finished. This is not my favourite thing because I prefer eating with everyone and having good discussions over dinner but that is not often the case here. However it is a respect thing here, an example of putting others before yourself. How often do we actually do that? As Christians we should be focusing on serving the needs of others before ourselves but that is not often the case. I am trying to take a lesson from these people here and learn to serve, it is interesting to see. There are many opportunities to minister here and I want to, that is truly my desire but I am not quite sure how that should look in my life here. I think my life style in general is a witness but more than that I need to rely on the leading of the Holy Spirit.
I hope to find a spirit-filled church to go to in San Agustin but it might be difficult because I want to do some trips to surrounding areas as well on the weekends. Maybe they'll have a midweek Bible study which would be excellent. Going without church for 6 weeks would be excruciating. Tomorrow I leave for Romblon, 3 hour bus ride, 12 hour ferry ride, 2 hour jeepney ride and then a tricycle ride. It should be an adventure.
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2 comments:
I won't stop reading!
hey, so that's why you asked me earlier if you were like that gushing character on parent trap. you are sooo NOT like that. and there's really nothing wrong with gushing, anyways. have fun in romblon.
(p.s. and this is not blog stalking. it was right there on you facebook, it was like an open invitation! lol.)
(p.p.s. keep on writing!)
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