Maayong Buntag!!! Orientation and deployment

Hi, its Kaylee. Finally. I am in Cebu City in an internet cafe. We had four gruesome days of training.They put us physically mentally and spiritually to the test. After one night in a hotel(one star) we were driven out to the jungle in a jeep. And I mean the jungle. The boonies. From there we got a bag and a partner. A bag with a little tent in it. The first night in a makeshift tent out by a river in the middle of the Phillippines jungle was probably the worst of my stay so far. Me and my Camotes teammate Leah found ourselves at 2 am flooded by the heavy monsoon rains of the Philippines. Our bedding and pillows were saturated. I have never felt so dirty and wet and gross. We brought our lanterns out and looked around the tent to find our luggage all the way down to our backpack completely emerged in water. Wettest wet. I won't lie, I wanted to leave this place. It flooded so much for about 9 hrs I would say. All night. I probably slept two or three.I am still drying out my luggage.
Orientation included learning some Cebauno langauge and how to share with your people group. There were fifty two of us missionaries out there. We bathed and washed our clothes by buckets. Also, on the last day(yesterday) we climbed a huge vertical playground and I had a panic attack in the air. No joke. It was very high and I was in a harness but it was scary. Then I ziplined over the river from a station across the water. I loved that and did it twice. The games were meant to push us to the limits. They did me at least. We were trained also by a team who volunteers in schools and plays games with the kids and then in turn uses them to evangelize. Also, we went through True Love Waits Training with a counselor. The highlight had to be the five o clock morning wake up time. Nope. Overall, the training was awesome though. I met my team who I am with right now. We are boating over to Camotes in about six hrs. Right now we are just sightseeing.

I have never been so in awe of culture. The people treat us americans like celebrities. The children love us especially. Outside of a Mcdonalds in Davao the homeless would stand outside and do dances for us to see if we'd give them money. It was eyeopening. They sleep in huts and the villages are very poor. the land is beautiful. Mountains and beaches.

Oh, I will hopefully write in a few days from Camotes. Can't wait to see it. I am gonna peace out now. By the way, I am having the time of my life even though this is the hardest thing I have ever done before.

Day of

Well, the day is finally here. I am gonna have to sleep for a couple hours before I leave, so this will be short. I am packed. I am excited. I am nervous. Can't believe this is happening actually. It's good to be here. I could probably properly enjoy it if I wasn't in a fog of sleep-deprivation.

Tonight Amy and Emily showed up from Graceville as a surprise. Glad I will get to say goodbye in person. I spoke on the phone with Ashley,a good friend from Graceville, and we cried and said goodbye. Had a long powwow with Aaron, Micah, and Kaley and the family left awake in the house-which was pretty much everyone except Mom and Dad. I am gonna miss everybody a heck of alot.Today is gonna be hard. I can't think of anything profound to say right now. I just wanna rest. So, maybe I will. Later on I will get my last shower until August. I am gonna enjoy it too. I am going to write when I can at an internet cafe over in Camotes. Most likely once a week. Just pray for me through the everlasting plane ride over the Pacific! And that God would go ahead and be at work in hearts of the Filipinos so they'd be ready to hear the greatest message of their lives.

Wanted to post some lyrics of the song playing on my blog...I want this to happen to Camotes Island.

Did you feel the mountains tremble?
Did you hear the oceans roar?
When the people rose to sing of
Jesus Christ the risen one
Did you feel the people tremble?
Did you hear the singers roar?
When the lost began to sing of
Jesus Christ the risen one
And we can see that God you're moving
A mighty river through the nations
And young and old will turn to Jesus
Fling wide your heavenly gates
Prepare the way of the risen Lord
Open up the doors and let the music play
Let the streets resound with singing
Songs that bring your hope
Songs that bring your joy
Dancers who dance upon injustice
Did you feel the darkness tremble?When all the saints join in one song
And all the streams flow as one river
To wash away our brokeness
And here we see that God you're moving
A time of Jubilee is coming
When young and old return to Jesus
Fling wide your heavenly gates
Prepare the way of the risen Lord

12 am Monday- ready to journey across the earth

I have one more night after I (finially) turn in tonite- or this morning. I am tired but I wanted to get out a quick blog. Today was an interesting day all around. I found out that my dufflebag was so heavy I could barely lift it-unpacked and repacked three times. Downsizing stinks. But, loading a heavy bag around in hot island weather doesn't tickle my fancy either

Earlier tonight, at church, I spent my last service taking communion and getting things straight with God. I basically just told Him I was gonna try to trust Him completely this summer. And also that I wanted this summer to be special, different. Not just an emotional high, but a real life altering expierence. My eyes got wet as I drank from the cup and bit the bread. If He can die the way He did, I wanna live because of Him and for Him. I poured out my heart to Him. Just got real before Him. This is it, God. Me and You traveling across the world together. Help me tell boldy of the love I have come to know.
After church, I was in the parking lot of Sports Authority, getting sprinkled on and headed to the car. Bailey said,"Kaylee, look quick!" Above us was one faint rainbow and one that lit up the cloudy sky. I am normally not the type who looks at something and compares it to something spiritual. Alot of bloggers have a natural talent for this skill(anybody remember pluthpastor's 'weavils in my raisins' blog?) I don't consider myself very observant in that way. However, tonight, as I looked up at that rainbow, I thought about how the sky was so dark and cloudy but God shined through with a rainbow. Corny, I know. But, it was beautiful. I felt filled with wonder at God. He will never leave me or forsake me. That was a special moment. Luckily I had my camera and snapped a picture before it faded out. I am trying to say what I felt like God was saying through that rainbow to me, but I can't explain it. I was just so comforted.
Rainbows aside, I leave tomorro..which sounds weird because I haven't gone to bed on Sunday night yet and it is monday morning now...hmm..tommorro. whoa.
Oh, I am hopefully going to post some specific prayer requests on the blog before I head out for the summer. Maybe anyways. Tommorro is gonna be busy. Hope I get to blog, if not, talk to ya in the Philippines! Peace.

Four and no more

Today I woke up in Kaley's livingroom, in a chair, with her huge cat/lion in my face. (She graduated last night and I slept over. It was a good time.) I looked around and realized I had fallen asleep watching a movie last night and now the light was pouring in on me. The reality hit me, like it does daily, that I was leaving in such a short time. 4 days. After me and Kaley oohed and awed over her graduation present(a new laptop), she drove me home. Saying,'See you at the airport' wasn't the funnest goodbye either! Gonna miss her this summer.

When I got home, Bailey and Ginny informed me that I was in the newspaper. I laughed and asked them what they were talking about. Mom explained that she had gotten an issue of The Florida Baptist Witness "newspaper" in the mail today. There was an article about the 2008 summer missionaries working through the Southern Baptist Convention. The magazine is sent out to different churches for prayer. It is incredible to know people are praying for you. I am so grateful for prayer. It's giant for me more now than ever. I can say that I appreciate it more than I ever have before.

Hey, there were 63 of us trained at the end of March. Alot of the kids I met over the weekend already left for other countries. If you are praying for me, please pray for them when you think about it as well.

I can't wait to get on that plane Tuesday! So excited.

Just five

Last night was my last night in the youth group. I knew it might be emotional for me leaving and all, but I had no idea to what extent. I was holding back tears all through the songs, and then through Aaron's message on prayer, and then he asked me to come forward and the leaders and the seniors stood around me and prayed for me on my trip.Once the tears started, I cried the whole time. I didn't even try to suppress it. I felt so touched by the whole expierence. Wow. I haven't ever been prayed for like that. It was exactly what I needed. I thought about the people surrounding me..I am lucky to know you all. Thanks, Aaron and to evryone who prayed. Thank you. I know I cried, but it wasn't because I was sad, nessacarily. I mean I have never been so touched. Alright, I am about to change the subject because it's that or cry again. But, just wanted to let you know how huge it was for me.

Kaley is graduating tonight. I am so excited for her and proud of her. Kaley and I have been friends for a long time and I know she is gonna leave soon for college...alright, this is turning into the most depressing blog ever. I will miss her. She is gonna do great things, I can feel it. Excited for her. Alot of bittersweet times lately. Geez.

Okay, well, I have just five days. I won't lie, even though I am leaving all I know here in the US, my excitement is mounting for what is to come. Inside I have peace about the trip. God is so good. All day long I have been singing this little chorus we do at church sometimes.

Be at rest, be at rest once more
O my soul, for the Lord has been good
Be at rest, be at rest once more
O my soul, o my soul
Be at rest once more
For the Lord has been good to you

SIX DAYS REMAINING!

I am finally, after one of the longest days I have had yet, packed. Packed. It sounds good. I lack some freezedried meals that I need, but the rest is all in the duffle. Today we drove all around town picking up all kinds of items I needed-medicines, camping equipment, shoes, clothes..the list goes on. I figured out we were missing my malaria prescription so we had to drive across town to get it! I have so many different meds with me and prescriptions! I have actually turned into a walking pharmacy...or a druggie, take your pick!

I had to buy durable shoes today that could hold up through whatever. I ended up with these shoes from Wally world that make me look like a Philistine. I feel like the Gladiator when I wear them. It's pretty thrilling. I only have seven-wait- six days until I leave. I cannot sleep! I am steady thinking about the Philippines. A couple nights ago I had a dream that I when I came back I brought a little kid who I fell in love with on the island! hope that was just a dream..ahhh!!!

Anyways, I have purchased literally everything you could ever need on a camping trip-including a sleeping mat which is currently taking up 90 percent of my dufflebag. I guess it is important though=) I am so grateful for the people who gave me funds or I wouldn't of been able to shop today! Thanks so much. Ready to go where people haven't heard of Him! This is my dream.

Going away sneaks....

Well, I am gonna miss my sisters. I leave in a week. Geez.

Tonight, as Bailey and Ginny were headin to bed they asked me to read them a bedtime story. I agreed. They picked out this book about a Japanese girl leaving America in the wake of Pearl Harbor. This had no real relevance to me, but when I read about the girl looking for the last and final time at all she loved in her country I started tearing up. I looked at Bailey and Ginny and that really sent me over the edge. I will miss them so much.

Then, I decided even though they had been told to go to bed, we should stay up and relish in the final days of being together. Over the years, this trick has been our favorite. Mom and Dad say to go to bed and we quietly sneak out of bed and make dessert, take pictures, try not to laugh out obnoxiously. Good memories. Tonight was most likely our last "sneak"(Baileys word for various, exciting disobediences) for awhile.

The icecream truck has finally begun playing its music down our streets(Dad used to tell us that if the song played they were out of icecream!). While I was gone Sunday, the girls rode the golfcart down to it and bought themselves and me Screwballs. This blue icecream sherbet type snowcone looking thing with a big gumball at the bottom. My favorite since childhood. I have been so busy with my trip these days I didn't have a chance to eat it. Well, for our final "sneak" we tiptoed past bedtime to the freezer and snuck the blue goodies. Very dangerous, I know.=) Bailey and Ginny thought it was. Especially, when we snapped that tasty pic up top and I promised to have it 'published' on my blog. They crack me up. They couldn't stay awake another second, even to see the finished blog with their pic. They just turned in.