9+more go to the Philippines!

Many of you will know this already, but we arrived safely at 6:15am yesterday morning where William and Libby Mather were kindly there to meet us.

I think I must be suffering from a bit of jet lag as it is now 5:55am on Sunday morning as I write this! Still I don't really mind as its good to be home. I'm sure that by tonight I will have readjusted to UK time.

The flights were mainly OK, just long - though there was some bad turbulence, due to the Monsoons, as we flew over India which was not very pleasent.

There is much more to be said about our trip which will need to be said at some point. But at the moment its just good to be back, though we miss all our friends that we have made in Manila.

I guess this really is the last post on this blog, and I shall miss that too.

Thanks again for being part of what was an amazing experience.

Mark

Well, we've had a great day today. Just relaxing before the journey home really. Some people have had manicures, been to the pictures, shopping etc. Then we had a bible study time together before going down to the Malate Centre for a farewell to the children. Finally we went to a really nice restaurant in the business district which included excellent chocolate fondue (but its OK because I had the healthy fruit-dipped-in-rich-chocolate-sauce option!

We need to leave for the airport at 11am Manila time (that's 4am UK time) so there won't be much point in posting again in the morning.

Thanks once again for all your support on the blog while we've been away, it really has made a difference.

This has been an extraordinary trip, thank you for being part of it with us.

Next post from Milton Keynes!

Mark

PS I will check the blog in the morning, so if you want to post anymore comments, please do!

OK, just for clarifictaion here are our flight details (times in Brackets are UK time)

Depart Manila 29 Jul 15:30 (8:30am)- Flight GF0155
Arrive Bahrain 20:00 (6pm)

Leave Bahrain 30 Jul 01:10 (11pm) - Flight GF7
Arrive London 30 Jul 06:25 (6:25am)

Will post more later

Mark

Had a great day at Tunasan today ... the end of our formal programme! Its a drop-in centre which works with kids in the area. There is no residential there, the children live at home but come to the centre for education and to make paper, cards, etc. so that they can earn some money. This keeps them from just being on the streets - and away from glue sniffing and substance abuse.

We spent the morning there, had a great lunch,

then went to see where some of the children live, down each side of the railway line. We had a ride on a trolley down the tracks, you just have to make sure you get off if a train comes (though don't worry, none did!)

Then we went to visit some of the people in their houses and bought some flowers.

Now back at the hotel, we will eat later, then rest tomorrow before going to say goodbye to the Malate children tomorrow night and a meal with the staff.

Inevitably thoughts start to turn towards home, what it will be like to get back and how this experience will change us. I think its fairly safe to warn members of St Mary's & St John's that you can expect to hear somehting about it in my sermons over the next few month! Plus it may be that those of you reading this blog back in the UK may wish to respond in some way. The project here is always in need of on-going financial support and has great plans for the future if the money is available.

On other matters, Helen has told me that our caravan has been damaged in its storage yard and I'm waiting to here if its usable (we have someone coming to inspect it). Please pray for her, its bad enough this happening two days before New Wine when she has been planning her work there for a year, but for it to happen when I am 1000's of miles away is extra tough.

Anyway ... photos of today below, and I'll update soon on flight details home.

Thanks

Mark

Update ... just heard the caravan is damaged but roadworthy, so that is good news!

Thank you so much for the blogs. I dunno which friend has bitten me but i'm hunting whoever it was down lol.
Thank you for the passages dad and for the stories they did make me smile and have abit of a giggle which got me strange looks from the people around me hehe. Send my love to sadie and mum.
Right only 2 days left so making the most of it. Had swimming today which was lovely and had such a gd time, got totally burnt tho :-s so slapping on the after sun oh well it'll turn brown lol.

see you soon love lorna xx