Eight Ambassadors began their journey from Wisconsin a week ago.  We all were anxious to meet the children, not knowing who they were or how they might respond to our visit.  After many hours on the plane thinking about what we might say and what we might do, we landed in Manila with our hearts beating with excitement and anticipation.  We have met many friends along the way who have touched our hearts and left us with many good memories of our visit.  First to meet us were our trustworthy friends and drivers, Ramon and Felix, who have guided us through the streets and paths of Manila and surrounding areas with the utmost skills similar to the game of shoots and ladders.  Driving in Manila is a game of inches.  They are the masters at driving and giving us Philippine history lessons.  Then we met the children who greeted us with warm smiles, great hearts ...but with some questions regarding how we play a part in their lives. 

Along the way we met more friends.  There is Jeremy, a handsome boy who is shy and unfamiliar with our language...yet he overcame that challenge and was a joy to be with.  Jonalyn, with beautiful eyes and a warm smile who lights up a room with her outgoing personality and charm.  BJ, a leader, with a strong personality and spirit that makes you feel welcome and comfortable.  BJ is the life of the party and has a real eye for the photo arts.  BJ's sister, Honey Grace who is a beautiful young lady looking for a family that will nurture her creative skills and need for compassion.  John Mark, small in stature but big in heart.  He has a great smile and beautiful bright eyes that will invite you into his life.  John Rod, a boy that is serious yet has a good sense of humor and a gentle spirit.  And last but not least, there is Joshua, who's says that "this is his turn to be adopted".  Josh melted my heart with his warm smile and soft spoken personality..His eyes are wonderful and bright with a hope for a good future.  Josh told me he wants a family with a dog...a chihuahua

We met these children and they taught us many things, along our journey.  We learned, grace, dignity, respect for others, diversity, inclusion, community, partnership, honor, patience, and persistence........and many more lessons that only a child can teach a bunch of adults who believe they know it all.  Most of all they taught us humility and a perspective to be thankful for our families and what we have in the US.  The kids so long to be like us.  To have a loving family that we be theirs.  Someone to love them and for them to love.

As we end our journey, we are filled with appreciation for what we have and the desire to help these children find homes.  As Josh said so clearly.......It is my turn......it is their turn!

April 24, 2014

The boy whose time it is now.....

Josh has seen many of his friends and room mates leave for their new families.  He is now the oldest in his bedroom and has told the staff of his child caring agency this:  "It is now my time."  (Meaning that it is his time to find a family to call his own.)  He is a gentle soul and I swear that I saw him grow an inch in front of my very own eyes!  It truly did happen when he was introduced on our first day here and the director of his child caring facility said that Josh loves to run, and that he is a very fast runner.  In fact he won his school competition and competed in the regional races and earned third place there.  As he stood before us listening he really did grow one whole inch and there was a sense of pride that came over him.  During our stay at the resort he also conquered his fear of water and learned to take a few strokes in the pool.  He is a quiet boy, but a brave one who needs to be reminded that he has talents and that he deserves more - especially a kind and loving family.  So Josh, I agree - It is your time!  

Monday April 28, 2014

The other day an article came out in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel - the journalist did a great job of capturing the mission that we are on - if you haven't read it here is the link:

http://www.jsonline.com/news/religion/lutheran-ambassadors-head-to-philippines-hoping-for-adoption-success-b99252843z1-256634421.html

Ted is out walking this morning already - I don't understand how he can bear walking in this weather, traffic, smells, etc.  but he seems to love it.  I, on the other hand, am enjoying a cup of Nescafe 3 in 1 and listening to the sounds of traffic and roosters in our air conditioned room!  Definitely am not burning as many calories, however I will sweat a few calories off as we visit the other two facilities today.

Carol

Friday April 25 - Bakasyunan Resort, Tanay 

New experiences for all of us today.  Here is Grace - needless to say she has never experienced driving an atv - but she conquered her fears and after she had seen each of her friends - as well as her older brother drive one - she decided that this is the day to go for it and try something new.  Something that is a bit challenging, could be a bit dangerous, and something that takes bravery and faith.  

Grace, unlike her older brother BJ prefers to to be in the background - she studies the situation before jumping in.  She "eyes" things up before engaging in activities. And we discovered that she has quite an eye for the visual arts while we spent time at the resort.  Whether giving others a manicure, creating jewelry from the beads and supplies that we brought along, or taking photos with our digital cameras - she comes up with things that are eye catching.  Grace and her brother BJ have already demonstrated their courage by facing challenges - entering school as older students, learning how to become part of a "family" at their home with 18 others, and now meeting with 8 Americans who have promised to find a home and a family for them - they are survivors - they are ready to meet that new challenge - to take a next step of becoming part of a family.  

Here is the "Boy with the Strong Heart" - BJ.
The Cuya or older brother of Grace.  BJ is the "front man" of these two.  He is the first in the bunch to try something new.  He goes for all the gusto and gives 100% of himself to whatever he engages in.  He is physical and has quite the talents for choreographing routines to popular songs.  He is an instructor or leader of the group and spent time teaching them a routine that they all did while "Jamming with the Elders" at Haven for the Elderly.  (See Ted's entry about this experience - it was not anything like the nursing home visits that I have ever had in the past!)  His leadership skills were obvious when he asked to say a few words to the elderly during our visit there.  In front of about 60 people he was quite comfortable saying thank for you inviting us here - we had a great time.  He is attentive to others' needs and is the first to make certain that everyone has something to eat or drink when we sit down for a snack or a meal.  He makes friends easily - and his eyes sparkle when he gets praise and recognition.  He too has come so far from his early years of wondering where his next meal will come from.  He is ready to enter into his next level of learning - that of "FAMILY" and I am sure that he will do that too with gusto - because he is a boy with a STRONG heart.  (Carol)

Friday, 4.25.14
Departed from the resort this morning for a field trip to Haven for the Elderly.  This is a large senior home similar to our assisted living....but not like any assisted living that I have ever visited.  Capacity is around 200.  The home is a series of cottages nestled into the mountains surrounded by palms, jack fruit and mango trees.  Each cottage houses 20 residents.  I think the kids were a little uncertain about what to expect, and to be honest I shared their anxiety.  However, that anxiety quickly turned to amazement as we witnessed the blending of the generations.  The kids showed such respect and caring for the elders and the elders simply wrapped their loving arms around the children.  It was such a display of compassion and I felt fortunate to have been part of the experience.  Without hesitation the children approached the elders, entered into conversation and gave them small gifts.  In return, the elders held their hands with smiles that melted your heart.  It was simply amazing.  Music is such a significant part of peoples lives in the Philippines....It was no different at Haven for the Elderly.  They had a special room set up for singing, dancing and just listening to music.....called "Jamming with the the elderly." I thought of our son and friends at Bethany as the music starting rolling.  They actually had a small band with amps, mics and large speakers.  No room for wimps here!  The music is loud and rocks the entire room.......yes, rocked  the entire room.  Our kids danced for them, danced with them, sang for them, sang with them....and even the ambassadors got into the act with dancing and singing.  We preformed our own unique version of Hey Jude........The elders loved it and we thought we were rock stars.....what fun and what an amazing inter-generational experience. I came away with a feeling that these kids were special in many ways and it only makes me more resolved to find them a loving home.  Ted

Meeting new people - especially in a group setting, and especially when that group setting is in a new and unfamiliar place can be intimidating.  It can be a challenge and we all can have doubts about whether we are wearing the right clothes, or using appropriate table manners. Those thoughts coupled with the anxiety of wondering what to say, and whether one will make a good impression all add up to butterflies in the stomach.  Now, imagine that this was a lunch that held the key to your future - perhaps they are no longer butterflies fluttering their wings in your stomach but rather horses galloping in your entire body.  I know that for me they were butterflies - but how about the 7 kids we met?  This program may be a life altering experience for them. Perhaps a last chance for that big prayer to be answered - to have a family to call their own.  

This evening we (the ambassadors met) and shared our conversations with the kids.  As it happened, it was John Mark's birthday today and it was Joshua's birthday within the past week.  The event did not go un-noticed.  It was complete with cake and singing.  When asked what John Mark wanted for his birthday - his reply was that this was already the best birthday ever because he was selected to participate in this program.  

Fast forwarding a bit - those doggone butterflies are back - they are now fluttering with the responsibility that we have in this trip.  Yes, it is great to see familiar faces of friends made over the years that I have traveled here; and it is great to see the amazing, different, special places and sights that this country has to offer.  But, it is a bit daunting to feel the weight of responsibility that we have made to advocate for these children.  The hope in their eyes; their faith that anything is possible inspire us to be advocates.  

  

After a very long trip and the first night of sleep trying to get acclimated to the time change, we set off on our first day.  Long walk this morning along Manila Bay at  7 am.  Many people were already out and about exercising in most every nook and cranny that they could find.  The pending heat of the day prompts people to start early to beat the heat.  The sounds and smells of the city are hard to describe. First, it's hot and the air is thick with humidity that's in the 90% category.  Traffic early in the morning is bumper to bumper.....not sure where everyone is going.  The smells on the street are best described as pungent.....a blend of exhaust, stagnant water and humanity....sounds terrible.......but so typical of this beautiful country.

Met the kids today.......I'm sure that I was as anxious that they were.  Their curious eyes measured us up and down wondering who we were and how we could be a part of their lives?  I wondered the same thing. I hope and pray that we can do them justice.  I hope that we can accurately tell their stories, that we can describe their smiles, their fears, likes and dislikes and their hopes and dreams of what a family means to them.  I hope that we can represent them with honesty and integrity....with our heads helping our hearts to connect them with a forever family.  

We are just shy of 72 hours before we leave.  The packing is well underway.  The snow from earlier this week is melting and we continue to be busy with those last minute details of traveling 7945 miles (thanks to Google Maps and Delta for the mileage) for a 13 day stay. 

One of the youth that will participate in the program will very soon become ineligible for adoption.  Her story and photo was received just yesterday.  I have met her before and as I look at photos from previous visits to her orphanage I see how she has grown.  She is the oldest of the youth participating in the program - and as I read this - I remember why this program is so important.  I believe that every child deserves a family to call their own. So please let me share some of her story with you now in hopes that you will share it with others.   

JONALYN

Quezon City, Philippines

Jonalyn was admitted into orphanage care when she was five years old. For a long time, she wished to be reunited with her birth parents. After several years of waiting, Jonalyn has abandoned the wish of being reunited with her birth parents and her greatest wish now is to have a family to love and care for her.

We do not have much time to find Jonalyn’s forever family.  She will turn 16 years old in June of 2015, and will then be ineligible for adoption to the United States.  All efforts to find a family for her in the Philippines have been exhausted, so this is her only hope. Please help us spread the word about this beautiful girl and help us find the family she deserves to have. 

Jonalyn will be participating in the 2014 Philippine Ambassador Program from April 23 – April 30.  Please follow our trip to learn more about Jonalyn and the other children participating in the program at http://www.lssadopt.org/AboutUs/Blog/  and https://www.facebook.com/lssadopt

From Ted:  This will be my 4th trip to the Philippines and the 1st time as an ambassador volunteer.  As I prepare for this journey I am reminded of the wonderful experiences and dear friends that that I have come to know there.  I can only describe the Philippines as "organized chaos" in a beautiful country. While I am excited to see old friends, I know that we also have some serious business to tend to.  We will be meeting 9 children who will be looking to us to help them find their forever families.  As I think about that, I am scared, yet honored to have the opportunity to be their advocate and ambassador in the United States.  So, in less than 2 weeks a group of ambassadors heads out to touch the lives of children who are anticipating what might be next in their journey.  Please pray for our group that we travel safely and that our work in the Philippines will result in homes for the kids that we will meet.  Stay tuned for follow-ups as we journey between April 21st and May 3rd.

Many of you already know that Ted and I are traveling to the Philippines this spring.  We will travel this year with a team of volunteers.   LSS of WI and Upper MI, Inc Adoption Ambassadors helps older children available for adoption a chance to find a family.  The kids are between 8 and 14 years old and each month they come closer to reaching an age when they will no longer qualify to come to the US with a priority orphan visa.  We are grateful to have an opportunity to become advocates for them and I am smiling as I think of meeting them, spending time with them, and then introducing them to others who may answer their prayer for a family.  

There is a corner in our house that is growing in size.  It is filled with small gifts known as "pasalubong" in Filipino tradition.  Roughly translated this is "something meant for you when you welcome me back".  It is a way to share our regional heritage or culture with family and friends.  And in our case it is a way to bring a bit of Wisconsin with us.  

We are thinking of past trips - and images that come up are of the jeepneys, the traffic, the views of Manila Bay, but mostly the smiles of those we have come to know as friends.  Hopefully this trip will renew old friendships, and provide us with new ones.  But our prayer really is to make a difference in the life of the children that we meet - and our "pasalubong" as we return home to Wisconsin will be the stories of the children that we meet.  

Thanks to all who have made this program a success in the past, and possible now.  Special thanks to the monetary support provided by many and the in-kind donations that will fill our suitcases and bring smiles to the faces of many!

From the Hotel during a previous visit