Pana-Ad

Hello all,

How are you all doing? I hope you are all healthy and well. We are finally on the mend. The majority of the house is feeling much better. There are a few stragglers with coughs and runny noses. Thank God we are all on the mend.

            This past week has been a fun one! Our part of the island, Negros Occidental, has an annual fair called Pana-ad. So all the kids could enjoy the fair we split it up into two days. Day one was watching the high school marching band competition. And the second day was walking around the fair to all the booths. The first day was such a fun chill day. Once we got there, we settled into a little spot to the side. We were able to watch the bands away from the hustle and bustle of the crowds. The little ones who would only sit down for so long, were able to walk around and get their wiggles out. As each band came forward, one of the manangs would describe where the city was and what they were known for. My favorite band, I don’t remember the city’s name, has wonderful white and blue uniforms. The xylophone members at one point did a wave with their instruments and the cymbalists looked like a bird waving his cymbals around.

            The second day we took the other half of the kids and walked around the fair. Walking around each city’s booth, seeing pictures from around the island was really neat. A quick and easy way to travel around the island. All the kids enjoyed walking around and doing something out of our normal routine. Probably the highlight of the day was the steel drum group. We stood and listened to them for around thirty minutes. The sound was amazing. The group of 10 drummers seemed to enjoy themselves too as we cheered for them. All parties were entertained. Myself, manang Laura and several of the little ones danced around to the music J All in all, both days were wonderful. Nanay and Tatay treated the kids to a treat both days making it special. We were able to use our new truck provided by Calvary Chapel Okinawa.

            Other than that, we did the usual stuff around here. It has been hot and sunny letting the kids get lots of play-time outside. We are still on summer break, hanging out and just being goof balls. I do like being able to help out in the kitchen and doing little odd jobs that need to be done, but I am looking forward to school and my next batch of kids to love on and teach. It is one of those things you don’t realize you love till its not there anymore. I, along with the kids, were ready for summer break, but now we are all looking forward to school again. I will have more students than last school year, but the challenge will be a fun one.

            We had a wonderful blessing this week. Two separate groups blessed us with milk for the kids. We got fresh full cream milk, it made wonderful hot chocolate which we dipped our cookies into J Then we got milk for the babies.

            One thing God has been putting upon my heart this past week is to be thankful for what and who God has in my life. To not be wishing that I had more, but to just to be content. My longing will not be satisfied by others or by things, but by him alone. It has been a hard but wonderful lesson.

    “…and be content with what you have, for he has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’” Hebrews 13:5b

God bless, Kels