IN THE PHILIPPINES

The last post got cut short because the computer at the hotel in Korea started writing in Korean and I didn't know how to make it go back to english. I'm in Manila now and will be heading to the base in Calapan in a few hours. Three out of seven of our team is here now. There has been a lot of problems already with pick ups at the airport, it seems that the shuttle service has given everyone different directions on where to be picked up. Please pray that we can find the other four members of our team and that there is no more delays or cancelations.

Traffic here scares the beans out me, they have lanes but don't use them and pedestrians don't have the right of way. There is no seat belts and nobody signals. Most people speak at least sme english, so that makes things easier. I have only seen downtown Manila but already I am shocked at the poverty. I can't wait till our first outreach when we can reach out and help these people.

Also pray that I will not melt or burn to a crisp. Yesterday was about 39C with the humidity. I can't wait till I see snow again!

I have to go but before I do here is a few tips for anyone planning international travel.
1. A 12 hour flight is not the time to be adventurous with your food choices.
2. Don't allow someone who does not speak your language cut your hair, even if it is only 3$ Canadian
3. Stay away from BALUT, unless you like the taste of poultry fetus
4. Learn to like shrimp before you leave because that is the only thing that looks famiiar
5. Learn the money conversion so you can tip more than 12 cents
6. Be prepared to encounter a variety of smells

Love You All!

JUST ABOUT THERE

Right now I'm in Korea. So far nothing really weird has happened. I'm staying in a really nice hotel, you know the ones with the elevator dude that pushes the button, and I'm on the 20th floor with a sweet view of Seoul. I just had supper, I don't know exactly what it was, and I don't want to think about it. It was called soup but it looked like one on those cancer lungs they put on cigarette boxes. The fliㅑㄴㅇ롸냐ㅗㅗ마ㅓㅑㅕ

ONLY 3 DAYS LEFT

It's Saturday night, and I am losing my mind as I realize how unprepared I am and how much I have to do before I leave. I'll be heading to Edmonton Tuesday, my flight leaves at 6am Wednesday.
I just bought a suitcase so at least I can start to pack now. I'm mostly prepared to go there, I've gotten my tickets, VISA, insurance etc., I'm just not prepared for life when I get back. I still don't know where I am going to school, I seem to keep taking one step forward two (sometimes three) steps back. Until I figure this out I can't apply for my student loan, scholarships, or a place to live. Oh boy! I'm having a mild panic attack thinking about it all, but I'm trying to trust God with it. It's hard though when you're a control freak, perfectionist and over-thinker. I wish God hadn't made me this way! :)
Despite this I can't wait to get there and start class. I never thought I would spend school vacation doing more school but here I go. This is school with a Jesus centered purpose, so it should be a little more enjoyable than taxonomy and chemical equilibria. Anyway, I really have nothing to say but I needed a break from the mind boggling work of preparing to leave.

I have been counting down the days until I leave since I got my plane tickets, only 7 days left. However, it is just occuring to me how short a week really is and that I still have no idea where I am going to school in September. I have applied to three different institutions and have received conditional acceptance but I can not be accepted completely unitl my transcripts have been processed. The time frame I was told would take until the middle of June. Having gone to 2 different colleges before hand makes things difficult, especially since one was a bible college. I have been waiting (im)patiently for months to finalize this portion of my life, but find I am no closer than I was 3 months ago. My marks are such that I am sure they won't turn me down, but if I have to wait until I come back (first week of August) finding a place to live will be quite difficult. I want to go to the school that will accept the highest number of courses from other colleges to save time and money. I only have three business days left before I leave to get this organized, the sooner I know the better so I can go to Saskatoon or Edmonton to find a place before I take off.
Please pray that everything will come together before I go, or that I will be patient and trust that God will have everything sorted out for when I come back.

HAVEN'T EVEN LEFT CANADIAN SOIL YET

I've heard that in a lot of foreign countries men find white women attractive. I've never gone to far from Canada so I have never experienced this but it does scare me a little becuase I'm really pale.
Well the weirdest thing happened to me at work last night. I was just standing at my till talking to one of the janitors when this little Filipino (I think) man came in IGA. He came in the exit doors so he was behind the tills. He looked a little lost so I asked him if there was anything I could help him with. He asked me my name and told me his was Russell. I told him if he needed help to ask me and I went back to my till. He just kinda stood there for a while, I think he was looking at me, I never looked back at him but ya know when you can feel someone looking at you.
Then after a few minutes he came over and asked me how my night was, and if I liked working at IGA, etc. Then he asked me what I was looking for in a man.
"Uh, what?"
"What do you look for in a man?" he repeated
"I don't look, I'm to busy for boys." I replied.
Then he tells me he is doing a survey of what Canadian women are looking for in a man. So at this point I thought he was intoxicated. Whatever, I had nothing better to do so I played along. We talked for a bit, then he askes, "Are you sure you do not have any time for just a coffee."
"Sorry, no. I should really get back to work."
"Okay, thank you for your time." He said as he left.
Rather befuddled, I went back to the janitor who heard the whole thing. The janitor told me that Russell was watching me as he left, he was sure that Russell was sober and smitten with me.
Perfect, I haven't even left the country yet!
The weirdest thing though, was this guy didn't come in to buy anything, he didn't even look at any of the shelves. He just talked to me and left.