I LOVE New Years. I'm a major dreamer, so anything that signifies fresh starts and the opportunity for new hopes and plans is a WIN for me.
My Christmas and New Years here in the Philippines was really, really really, really awesome. Although as I've mentioned before it's hard for me to really get into the festive spirit when it's +30 degrees, but I still managed to have a lot of fun. It was celebrated with some of my favorite people here, so it really helped erase any signs of homesickness!
Let me show you what we did....
The partying all started with the Meadows Preschool, the preschool I help at a couple times a week:
Next there was the 13th Anniversary party of Love & Praise, the Church I attend!
Above is Pastor Pancho and his wife Jeanette (Jeanette is the daughter of the family whose house I live in, and also the owner of Meadows Preschool, and also my exercise partner..when we go!)
Below are the young adults/youth/kids of L&P
NEXT we proceed to the birthday of Pastor Pancho combined with the L&P Christmas party!
Above: Carolers from Christians Haven came and sang for the party!
Below: The dancers of L&P performed another great dance
Pancho loving his birthday lechon! (roast pig...kind of a big deal!)
Directly after that, we (did I mention Rhonda came to Cagayan for Christmas..woo!) sped off to Christians Haven to enjoy a CH Christmas! All the T-House kids (the CH college students who are in Cagayan for school) were there also...so it was basically the best time ever!!
Above: The view of CH front yard...the whole place was beautifully decorated. Each house (consisting of 12ish kids+house parents) went all out in a decorating contest.
Below: On the 23rd the CH kids held a program for neighboring kids
Below below: They even handed out Compassion Shoeboxes!
Above: On Noche Buena (Christmas Eve) there was a series of awesome events, including a great meal.
Below: Everybody loves photos and Christmas!
Also occuring on Christmas eve: Talent show and DANCING!
Above: Rhonda, Ryan and I being the awesome talent show judges
Below: My personal favorites (shh) the T-House!
And here was the dance I got take part in with some of the other staff. It was a hula, if you can't tell. I just love dancing, and CH is never short of it!
Finally, December 25th rolled around, and it was a day of rest after all that celebrating. But Rhonda and I managed to celebrate it home-style with some stocking opening.
Phew, well I realize this blog post is more of a picture book than anything else, but that's really the way I prefer it haha. Unfortunately, I forgot my memory card at home for New Years! Fortunately, it was with all the same people...so I'll just post some of my favorite photographs with them from Christmas.
New Years was also spent out at CH and we had a blast together, eating, basketball playing, movie watching, blessing, worshipping, fireworking, gaming, and of course, some more dancing. I feel so blessed to be able to join this community for these kind of occasions, and to take part in life with them for this period of time, both the struggles and joys. I LOVE them!
Above: Christian, Rhonda and I. Christian is a cool friend and GREAT cook!
Below: Ernesto, Jennybee and I. Ernesto is one of those people who makes me laugh just by laughing, which is one of my favorite things ever. Jennybee is one of the girls I've been able to connect with the most at the T-House, and I was able to give her blessing on New Years : )
Above & Below: Here we are with a bunch of kids from the orphanage (most between the ages of 12-18). These kids are so much fun. And I can't describe how happy they make my heart.
