Training-I feel Philippino already!

Okay..training..wow..there is so much I wanna say about it. First off, swell weekend! I was scared that I was so underqualified and just too young and you know the whole bit...But, after the weekend I felt more confident that maybe I could make it thru...I met a guy who was a native Philippino(he is gonna minister somewhere else this summer though which I thought was awesome) and he told me that the people on Camotes are incredibly friendly. He said they love to get all up in your personal bubble and are just sweet people(Chelsey Reinhardt Island). He said they are receptive to the Gospel but just as in America some choose religion over Jesus. The first night we played a game called cultural bingo and broke the ice between everyone through the game. We talked about how our worldviews could be wrong and how we should be completely open to other cultures if we expect them to be open to our message. Never had that thought before then. (One girl I met smiled and put her hands in prayer position and did a quick bow for me while I looked down at my empty hand ready for a shake. She said she is spending two months in India this summer and was trying to practice some of the things they do now.) Then we prayed over different regions of the world in different groups all together out loud. It sounded like a swamp, but the cool thing was I wasn't at all intimidated and I found myself praying like I do in my own bedroom. God worked, because for some reason I feel awkward praying in front of people normally. then we paired off with one other person and were told to pray facing eachother, for each other, with our eyes open looking at eachother. Me and an amazing girl Sara went outside and prayed under a wooden cross just sitting on the grass and looking up at the stars. I have never felt more grace and wonder and awe. God just loves me and I don't deserve it, but He does. Sara's prayer was touching. She looked into my eyes and asked for God's protection for me. While I prayed for her, I asked Him if he would give us funds for our trips and I felt a weird sense of peace come over me. As I looked up at the cross I felt paid for. I told Sara what my thought was and she said she felt the same way and both of us felt assurance that money was not an issue God couldn't work out. I will never forget that night- when we prayed for the world and each other and sat under the stars and the cross.
The next day we learned alot about Culture shock and how it might affect us while we are over there. I hadn't even given that thought either so to hear about how to cope was probably good for me. Plus, a former journey'woman' taught us. She had gone with the IMB to India for TWO years. Her stories were so neat. I could write an entire blog on just those.Some legendary stuff.
Then that afternoon for lumch we all were corraled into a little house on the beach and given numbers. The numbers represented different tables of food. High class, middle class, lower class, poverty tables. Big shocker, I got seated at the poverty 'table', which was actually a rug on the floor. Our table description said,"You are at the lowest class table-In Poverty. Eat what is given and then you may choose whether you will beg from those more fortunate or not". we were given a giant bowl of rice with no seasoning or butter and told to dig in. While getting a handful with the rest of everyone in poverty, I had to watch people being served fried chicken, Cokes, and mashed potatoes at the highclass table. Once I realized the rice was gross and I was still hungry (and thirsty) I begged. But, when I did the 'waiters' screamed at me and told me to get back. At the end of the meal all the leftover food and drink from other tables were put in one five-gallon bucket and served to us. Needless to say, I learned alot about what it must be like to be in real poverty.
The rest of the afternoon we spent doing a five-hr Survivor training(glad that rice stuck to the ribs). We worked in teams on the beach mainly and had to fish, catch crabs, build a fire using a few things only, and also build a sandcastle to cover the entire firepit with three levels and four turrets in each level. It was so much fun, even if our team didn't win. I learned how to cast a net for fish(a big net too). Did I actually catch one? Nope. But cast it in the water? Oh, yeah.
After that, we got snack and then were given a gracious eating challenge in a circle with a missionary wacthing us try different countries foods. I ate dried tofu,jackfruit, other random stuff, and the worst, a dried sardine-get this-with an eyeball!!! However, I was told I looked at the little guy too long before actually eating it. He was looking at me too.
That last night we watched a video on tribal missions called Etow. I cried when we watched an entire village in Papau New Guina come to Christ. Then we filled the night with worship by a bonfire on the beach.
The next day we were prayed over and 'commissioned' by the local church. After, I had a few tearful goodbyes, but some of the people I grew close to are headin to the Philippines so I will see them again, but still. All the kids had a real heart for missions and none seemed to care that I was the ultimate rookie out of everybody. Great times, but just pray that God will continue to stregthen me. At the risk of sounding paranoid, I have felt an intense battle for my affections and plans lately and just darts thrown at me by the devil. He does not want me to be on fire or hyped for God,the Saviour. I am trying to stay strong but spiritually I know things are gonna get rough and I am feeling it now. I am a young person, now with God, and hoping to share Him with Camotes this summer. Satan doesn't like it and I totally feel that, so just pray for God's protection and grace in a big handful. I need it. But, I am pumped about the summer and trying to trust God on everything and the suffiency of grace.