It's getting closer!!!

I got my flight information today and found out I'm leaving on the 19th of June, a bit earlier than I expected. But I guess you have to account for the fact that I have a 21 hour flight from Detroit to Manila.  This will definitely be the longest flight I have ever taken.  Luckily I have plenty of knitting projects to keep my hands busy and a kindle full of unread books.

So many vaccines and medicines! I have a few more doctors appointments coming up to be sure I'm ready for the trip.  My left arms a bit sore from my most recent visit earlier today.  But better sore now than sick later.  I've stocked up on bug spray and sunscreen which I believe I will need lots of.

I'm really excited to share my culture with the people I will be staying with and working with.  I've had fun coming up with ideas for things to bring as gifts for my hosts.  So far I've decided to bring salt water taffy and Tastykakes for regional foods for them to try.  I'm also bringing a Cornell Teddy Bear and some of the Gospel Bracelets I make.  The bracelets are made up of beads that each represent a part of the Gospel story.  I'm having the story for the bracelets translated into Tagalog as a special touch.  If you have any more ideas about regional things I could bring with me please leave a comment. :)

I want to thank everyone who has helped me with my fundraising goal! I am pretty close to my goal with only 3 weeks to go before my trip.  If you want to help me get to my goal feel free to check out my fundraising page linked to in a previous post.

These posts will hopefully be more frequent and more interesting once I reach the Philippines.  Feel free to subscribe at the bottom of the page to be updated when I write a new post!

Want to support me in my mission? First, I want to ask for your prayers as I embark on this journey. I also ask that you would prayerfully consider helping me out financially.  The link to my fundraising page is here!  All the funds collected will support the Advance, the designated giving arm of the United Methodist Church, which is how I am able to travel to the Philippines and do this great work.

Here's a bit more about what I will be doing this summer. 

The Global Justice Volunteer will be responsible for the following: (1) Assists to implement scheduled trainings/seminars and ongoing activities; (2) Attends invitations from ecumenical partners/networks for scheduled forums; Helps in the street families’ ministry through the Asuncion Perez Memorial Center [social service arm of PCC-UMC] in which the Board of Women’s Work is a partner; Serves as volunteers to ecumenical program partners if needs arise; Helps in the administrative work of the Board of Women’s Work Office such as running for errands, computer work and other needed technical support.
As part of our empowerment and leadership development program, the Board of Women’s Work intentionally trains young women for various ministries in the church.  We believe that our youth have their unique potentials, capabilities and talents which they can offer for the church.  The Board of Women’s Work facilitates those talents and gifts and offers spaces and opportunities for exposures, growth and development. 

tl;dr
I will be working with women and children this summer through the various programs the Women's Work Board runs. Should be fun!