Day Five: Sunday 27 November

We started off the day by going to church at Victory Life, which was located in a shopping mall. The service started at 9am. Both the praise and worship was very fulfilling.  We headed off to Max’s with the Journey kids for lunch and ate traditional Filipino food.  We headed to get changed for the soccer game which was held in a cemetery. Despite the humidity and the heat, it was a great time bonding with the Filipino kids. Soon after, we split up and some of us headed to the shops to buy stuff for the people living on Smoky Mountain. It was an interesting experience pushing around a cart full of supplies. As there was no space was left in the car, the rest of the team took a jeepney back to the YMC. The group left to wait for their next soccer game were swarmed by the local kids who wanted non-stop attention from Cath, Sheisla and Ash. After countless games, the Reho team managed to get it together to win a game against the talented Filipinos. The sweat-drenched team headed back to base on motorised trikes (Took-tooks). We showered and ate dinner quickly, then started prepping for the gift packs for the residents of Smoky Mountain. We then headed out into the city for a surprise night, which consisted of getting drinks (mostly frappes) and donuts at J.CO and also a completely relaxing massage. It was almost like we stumbled on the city because the immediate change in the scenery was completely different. Everyone felt extremely grateful for the massage and beverages after a challenging day of soccer. We headed back to the YMC and now are hitting the hay at around 12am. Good night fellas.

Sara – Yo fam.  Hope everything’s going g. Pretty wrecked from the constant workload and early wake up times. Catcha!

Kate- Hi guys!! Hope you’re all good.  I’m having a good time, but feeling pretty exhausted. Miss ya J

Abel – Hi guys, miss u already hope everything is g. Exhausted, had a busy day today but just need to sleep it off. Miss u Catcha .

Isaac – Hey everyone back at Perth! Massages and J.Co donuts were amazing tonight! Can’t believe it’s half way through the trip already, time’s flying real quick.  Miss everyone back at home.

Mitch-Missing you all very very much and I can’t wait to see you all again. Love Mitch

Gwen -  Gwen is really really really having a great time here! Don’t worry about me!

Reuben – Time’s flying but it feels good to be doing something productive and beneficial with my time! Can’t wait to see you guys again, but will definitely miss this place when I’m gone. Hope all is well over there, stay safe J

Day Four: Saturday 26 November 2016

The entire team had a break from construction, painting and feeding as we travelled to Taal Lake, an active volcano, and climbed an extremely steep mountain in order to see one of the most sensational views some of us have ever witnessed.

At the crack of dawn, 5 am, the whole team was up nibbling on the classic breakfast of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and apples, all eager for the near 4-hour bus journey. Our first stop was to pick up the Journey kids. The majority of us slept on the bus trip, but those who were awake, got to see the City of Manila gradually change into a lush green landscape full of busy workers and relaxed animals.

We hopped out the bus, and into jeepies, Filipino public transport, to travel a steep winding road descending a mountain. A few minutes in them, and we were ready for a boat ride across the misty Taal Lake to an island where we would make our epic climb. As we ascended, we had the opportunity to gaze over and appreciate the luscious green landscape surrounding us, while dealing with the continuous downpour of rain, drenching us to the core. Our gradual descent of the volcano left some members extremely muddy and embarrassed, as the endless rain had made everything extremely muddy and hard to climb down.  On arrival to the base, most of the team members dipped into the hot geothermal springs and enjoyed themselves, relaxing their sore muscles after such a challenging three-hour climb.

We were then faced with the awesome challenge of lunch, which was a mix of musical serenades, pigs face, deep fried dried fish, pig brains, and in Yami’s case, an entire red chilli which ultimately made him cry.

It was an awesome day, going from lush green landscapes, to incredibly long bus rides filled with old cliché action movies, (we still don’t know how San Andréas ends, no spoilers please). It was definitely a memorable day.

Stay real Perth,

Reho OUT.

Day Three: Friday 25 November 2016

This morning brought refreshing rain as blue team headed out to construction, red to a feeding and yellow to the Journey Centre for painting.  On the construction site blue team smashed out the hard work in the first three hours leaving the red team with nothing to do after lunch. Drenched in rain, sweat and cement the team mixed, lifted and poured cement for Marilou (chef extraordinaire) and Dong’s (foreman in charge of building operations) house.  Although it was a struggle to lift the cement to the roof, the view was definitely rewarding. Under the same rain, the red team struggled with the wet while feeding the kids in Angona. The yellow team meanwhile stripped and painted the walls for the children at the Journey Centre.

While eating lunch a truckload of bed parts pulled up. The boys all helped to carry each individual, heavy box to the front of the YMC.

After lunch the yellow team headed back to the Journey Centre to continue their work. Annoyed at the barking dogs they sung Christmas carols, quieting them (they are now professional dog whisperers). While at Journey the team also had a chance to play with the kids, building off their contagious enthusiasm.

Blue team had a further chance to utilise their muscle, carrying heavy, awkwardly-shaped bed frames down flights of stairs. Switching up to lighter work the team headed off to a feeding. More laid-back than Tent City, the feeding provided the team with a chance to enjoy spending time with the kids as they gave out balloons as well as pipe-cleaner people and rings. Leaving the feeding site, a little boy ran after the car as they drove away. Heartwarming and touching it was definitely a highlight of the day.

In the evening the whole team headed off to the Journey Centre for the children’s movie night. The kids were full of energy and happiness, clapping throughout victorious moments of the movie Paddington, teaching the team an interactive clapping game and continuously providing smiles and laughter for the team. We then drove back to the YMC (courtesy of Miss Smoker’s driving expertise) for a good sleep ahead of our big day visiting Taal Lake tomorrow.

Day Two: Thursday 24 November, 2016

We woke up to a delicious breakfast cooked by Marilou and the other wonderful YMC ladies. We split up into two groups. One group went to construction where we pulled nails out of wood to be reused, mixed and poured cement, did some bricklaying, we cut grass with hedge trimmers. 

The other group did a feeding which was hectic and sweaty. Walking around the streets, the kids and their families were really friendly despite their tiny houses and hungry bodies. The kids massed around us and scurried away with bowls and cups filled with chicken rice soup. They came back soon after when we began making balloon animals. 

After lunch, one group of eight jammed into a five-seater car packed with lots of donations. Reuben had to sit on top of them with his face pressed to the roof. We went to the Filipino equivalent of Bunnings. We must have been a sight to see as everyone dropped their job and stared at us intently for 40 minutes, whilst taking sneaky photos.

 

When we arrived at Journey For Hope we cleaned the walls and painted them. We danced with the kids as they streamed into the room, flooding it with love and affection. We had a group dance party, including gummy bear and ra tap tap tap and guli guli. We did an improvised drama of the story of Samson. We did a colouring activity with the kids, and enjoyed spending time relaxing with the kids.

Mitchell lost an arm wrestle to Mrs Stewart.  Nelson managed to rip his shorts while doing construction. Thankfully he had undies on! He soldiered on and worked another 45mins shocking the rest of us and the locals alike.

We finished the day debriefing over tasty frappuccinos at Starbucks and sharing the highlights and lowlights of the day.

Reuben – loves his parents and wants to tell them that he’s having a really good time and that they shouldn’t worry about him running into low lying poles designed for smaller Asian people because that wouldn’t happen at all on this trip! He certainly doesn’t have a huge welt on his forehead now J

Mitchell – Tells his sister to not read another chapter without him.

Abel – Hey, I miss you fam

Isaac – Hey Mum, Dad, Grandma, Joy & Wendy! Having a great time over here, it’s great to see everyone again! Hope to see you all soon!

Kate- Hi, thanks for all the messages. I loved it!! I’m having a great time and it’s been great to experience it all over again. Miss ya J Hope Hosannah is saying Aunty Kate hehe

Calvin- Alaina, I’m following the rules. They guide me and shape who I am.