One month in the Philippines

Hi friends!

Hard to believe, but we are actually entering our sixth week of living here in the Philippines! Our last blog post from late February announced our big transfer from Bucharest to Manila. After a few hectic weeks closing out our life and ministries in Romania, we boarded an evening flight on March 30 and arrived in Manila on March 31.

Overlooking Manila at sunset

Starting in August, Cameron will direct a ThM/PhD program in Orality Studies at a seminary in Manila and also teach at a Baptist seminary in Baguio. Jessica will teach math part-time at Faith Academy, where the kids will attend. Our teaching jobs will both be in English. However, the IMB arranged for us to do full-time language study through June. After that, we will drop down to part-time. We have now passed the one month mark of our three months.

Full-time Tagalog language study is intense. From 8-5 everyday, we have two hours of grammar class, two hours of language helper (practical expressions and naming everyday items), two hours of personal study, and two hours of community practice (go to the market and buy fruits/vegetables using our Tagalog). 

What about church? Our language coach connected us with some other missionaries working among the "squatter communities" here in our subdivision. Since it is outside, it can get pretty hot, although there is a good amount of shade. It is all in Tagalog, but we are starting to pick out words we know and use some Tagalog expressions when talking with people. 

Adjusting to life in a very different culture has certainly brought challenges - the tropical heat (95 degrees Fahrenheit today), living in a house (we've only ever lived in apartments since we've been married), learning how/where to buy groceries, early morning culture, etc. But we are also counting our blessings - IMB teammates, getting to know Filipinos, using the pool at Faith Academy several times per week, etc. And then of course the biggest thing is the miraculous way God answered our prayers for our transfer to work out. God is good, and day by day we are getting more and more used to our exotic new home.