Flashback to 2016, I have been in the Philippines about an hour. I am melting and man I had never met picks me up from the airport and is bringing me to his home. Everything about that moment, the sights, the smells, the sounds, the language was all unfamiliar to me. That nice man who picked me up was Andy Lee and helping missionaries that were entering or exiting the country via Manila was one of the ways that he served God.
We zipped and zigged through traffic. I was pounding on the imaginary break under my feet as Andy started telling me about his country. He mostly talked about the awful traffic. I was bleary eyed and agreeing the traffic was astonishing. I remember adding to the conversation by asking if the lines on the road are only suggestions. Andy had a good laugh and said yes. I saw the best parts of Manila flash past me that day and every time I had to be in Manila. Andy made sure I saw the best parts.
Andy is serving Jesus in heaven now, so he was not here to greet me. I walked across the street to my hotel with the assistance of three good men and an airport cart. After a shower and a good sleep my adventure really began. I took a Grab (think Uber) to my Air BnB and meet my head of field. I will post some picture in the photo section. I tour Faith Academy and after two nights I headed to meet some other members of my team.
I spent one night with the good folks at IGSL. IGSL offers degrees in theology. They were on a winter break and were hosting students from all over Asia for an English intensive. There were students at varying levels of English proficiency. The day I was there was the coffee time. The students would have a prepared topic and attempt to hold a conversation with the English speaking volunteers. I was assigned to the beginners. Between the language barrier and my hearing impairment it was a challenge! I met men from Laos, Mongolia, and Vietnam. I got to learn about their countries, their families, and their culture. It was fascinating.
Then it was time to get another Grab and head to the airport. It was FINALLY time to head to Tacloban! At first no driver would pick up my request. The driver who did pick it up has only worked at the company for a short time. It showed. He stopped for Gas and air in the tires before we headed out. He asked me if I wanted to pick music and I told him to pick. He played 90s worship songs and we both sang along. This was his way of sharing with me that he is a Christian too.
He asked for my permission to take the Skyway, which is a toll road, and made sure I understood I would need to be the one to pay for the toll. I gave my consent and off we went. Onto the lovely Skyway and it wonderful view. Then we got off and something seemed wrong. I had not seen this side of Manila before. The buildings were falling down and people are living in them. There was piles of trash as high as the roofs of some of the houses. I saw some of the trash piles acting as a cave, providing shelter for families.
This was not the Manila I was accustomed to seeing, I knew it was there but I had been sheltered from it. My heart broke for the kids that I saw. I wondered what kind of future they would have. I prayed for the people as I saw them and took in the reality of life in some parts of Manila.
Then something cause my attention. It was the Grab app. It was asking me if I was okay and if I needed them to send me help. Kidnapping is such a huge problem here that the app follows your planned route and if you go off of that route it starts asking questions. It never occurred to me until the app asked those questions that I might not be safe. Even when the driver made sure the doors were locked I never really felt I was in danger. I trusted God was bringing me to Tacloban and my privileged life in the USA taught me a sense of assumed safety. I waited until I was back on the Skyway before I told the app that I was fine. I paid the toll a second time and made it to the airport in time for my flight. I was once again in the beautiful Manila.