Prayers and Boxes

Hello everyone,

            I trust this finds you all well. How are you all doing? Well Life has returned back to our normal routine of school, devotions and naps. Just a little update on the earthquake we had last week. Here in Bacolod, there wasn’t any damage or deaths. Closer to the epicenter, roads were torn apart, landslides covered houses and our volcano has a giant crack in it. Thankfully the death toll wasn’t too high. Unfortunately we have had a few storms, so all those who lost their houses or trapped by the landslides, had the added heartbreak of downpours. The kids still ask everyday if we are going to have an earthquake. They don’t understand that we have no idea when they are going to come. They think its like a typhoon, it comes with a warning. Some of them are still afraid to sleep next to the walls. Even I’m still a bit on edge.

            God is amazingly faithful to give you a bit of home when you need it the most. I have received two boxes recently. One from my best friend, with over a pound of chocolate!! And tortillas, nailpolish and confetti (a belated birthday present J) I received a Christmas card from a highschool friend which gave me a much needed laugh! And then this week, I got a surprise forex box from my best friends from college!! I totally and completely broke down. I couldn’t even open the box all the way till after school. It was filled with a lot of goodies from home (which are now spread throughout my cabinet, three freezers and the fridge), crafts for my kids (yay!!!!!) and a beautiful pillow. Let me explain the pillow. I saw it at my friends house about half a year ago and fell in love. It’s an embroidered map of California. But since I was saving my money to come here, I couldn’t afford it. Recently I showed one of the manangs a picture of the pillow and asked if she could teach me how to embroider so I could make my own. Well, now I don’t half too, I have the real one!! But we are going to make one for the Philippines. A few of the manangs are going to help make them and teach me, so excited!! Oh and just so you all can understand how large a forex box is if you’ve never seen one, I fit inside one J I have included the picture to prove it. The box was a very needed piece of home. THANKS!!!!

            For Sunday school this week I taught on Hannah from 1 Samuel 1. I was completely amazed by her faith in God and consistent prayers for the child she desperately wanted. The Bible said she prayed for years the child. She was constantly mocked by her husbands other wife who had children, and when she came to that point of despair she turned to God. I thought about my own life and how I haven’t prayed consistently for anything for years. It took 5 months of up and downs before I realized what God wanted me to be in the Philippines and by month 4, I was completely discouraged and ready to just give it all up and do nothing. What small faith I had. Thinking four months was a long time. Hannah knew and showed patience and waiting on the Lord. Finally, rewarded for her faithfulness years after her first prayer. Psalms 27:14 “Wait for the Lord; be strong and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord” has lately been a verse that has been a comfort and assurance to me.

            Oh and let me explain the ruins in my last post. I realized after that I left them completely out of my post. The ruins are an old hacienda from when Spain ruled the Philippines. Rich Spanish families owned sugar plantations and lived in these beautiful haciendas. Sadly, few exist today. The Japanese tried to gain control of the Philippines by sending sleeper cells into the country as servants. Once they had gained the trust of many Spanish families, they attacked and took over the plantations. Many of the hacienda owners decided that it was better to burn and destroy their own houses than to let the Japanese use it as a fortress or base. This particular house took three days to burn. So that is how they became ruins.

Well I think that is it for this week.

God Bless, Kelsey Ball

my box!!

some of the goodies

my beautiful pillow!!

even more of the goodies!

See, its huge!!

much more comfortable this way :)

oreos from the box+peanut butter=happy manangs