Recent events!
Well......firstly apologies for lack of blogging but as you will see things have been a little busy around here including weddings, accidents and illnesses!
Let’s start at the very beginning! Having waved goodbye to Mum and Dad and sending them on their way back to the UK it was time to get back into life at City Gates Academy and we certainly had a lot to be getting on with.
Every year City Gates Academy holds a mass wedding for any parents wishing to get married. In the Philippines many couples opt to ‘live together’ rather than get married not for ideological reasons but financial. A wedding can be very costly on a family as it is a traditional expectation that you must invite not just close family but the whole neighbourhood also. As I have said so many times before City Gates is a community and we not only care for the children but also their parents too. Research has shown that children are more likely to succeed in their education and have greater security and life chances when raised in a household where their parents are married. So on 20th January 2012 City Gates was beautifully transformed into a wedding venue where 8 couples tied the knot!
It was a spectacular day and such a privilege to have been part of. Everything from hair and make-up to marriage licence and catering was all covered by wonderful sponsors making it possible for these 8 couples to have the wedding they have always dreamed of. Who would have thought that when I agreed to come to volunteer at City Gates my role would included wedding coordinator, wedding cake baker, florist and finally wedding singer!!!! 
I’m not sure how I managed to volunteer myself for so many roles....especially the 8 wedding cakes! Trying to ice in temperatures of over 30 degrees was no easy feat as no sooner had I taken the icing out of the fridge that it started to melt! Nevertheless I persevered and although not perfect I know that all the couples appreciated them! All those times helping Mum with cakes actually came in useful.....God is so amazing, He provided me with the training and skills years before so that when the time was right I could use them to be a blessing to others! Incredible!
Again, it was such a pleasure to be serving alongside members of City Gates church in real community. Most of the couples getting married were unknown to the church members yet they gave up their time, working till way past midnight the night before cooking, decorating and making sure these couples get the perfect day for their wedding. True servanthood! I think sometimes in our consumer driven society where it’s easier to buy than give up our time we miss out on these important moments that really foster and develop community and real relationships. I know I have often been guilty of that and whilst yes it would have been easier to have bought 8 wedding cakes than make them the time I spent with my friends and the message of love and care for the recipients was worth something money just cannot buy. Please remember these 8 couples and pray for them as they begin this new chapter in the lives together.
After the excitement of the weddings it was time to get excited about training! I know I know I am so sad getting excited over teacher training but for me I really was exciting! It had been months, literally months in the planning and at times I felt like it was never going to happen. Cancellation after cancellation, rescheduling after rescheduling but finally at the end of January I held the first of what has been 3 teacher training sessions for the local pre-school teachers. As I wrote months ago in my blog I really have a desire to make an impact on this community, to use the skills and training I have to be a blessing and an agent of change to make a difference. The training sessions have gone really well, despite during one of them being unable to hear in one ear, which was really frustrating! It has been an opportunity to get to know the teachers better and build friendships and community with them. As the training sessions have gone on I can see them starting to warm to me and open up and we certainly have enjoyed a lot of laughter and fun too! There are more dates scheduled and I am already looking forward to next academic year where hopefully I can get even more involved. I am always learning to be patient I think it will be a continual life lesson for me. But many times I would despair and think it was never going to happen but this testimony to God’s faithfulness just shows you should never give up on what God has called you to do. It will happen in His perfect timing. Whatever you are waiting for don’t give up, if God has called you to do it be patient and wait for His direction then all you do will succeed! Please continue to pray for this opportunity that God would continue to extend His favour in our community.
Finally, it has not been an easy few weeks for me recently and it has felt at times like one thing after another and me questioning “what’s next?” The past week especially has really knocked me for six causing me to take some enforced rest, much against my will! I have never been one for lying in my bed all day! It started a few weeks ago when I got a blocked ear that was frustrating to say the least, but was quickly followed by a rather nasty accident involving my new sandals and a set of stone stairs and a trip to A&E. Which, considering my track record in the UK, I am surprised it took 10 months before my first visit there!!!!! Thankfully X-rays showed no broken bones although my arm needed to be supported in a sling for a week. I must admit it was incredibly painful! One week later and looking forward to being back to normal when I start to feel really sick! Oh no! Sickness I can sort of cope with but I did begin to panic when my arms and legs were completely covered in a rash! Back to hospital we went, thanks to my great friend Nadette for coming with me and keeping me smiling despite all! Following blood tests it was thought that I most likely had some sort of tropical measles which meant that I had to be isolated from everyone for at least 5 days and most importantly.....rest! Not a word I am overly familiar with!!! I am just at the end of those 5 days and feel very drained and sleepy still! It’s not easy when you are such an active person to feel so lifeless and lacking energy to do anything. However, I am sure that there will be a lesson in all of this and no doubt I will blog and let you know when I receive it!! For now I know I must rest so that when I am ready to get back into things I will be more effective in what I do for His glory! I have learnt in all things to give thanks and I will never fail to sing praises of how great God is. He certainly has been my tower and refuge and strength over the past few weeks when I could easily despair. I can say in good times and bad that “it is well with my soul” and He has never left me!
I pray that no matter what you face, you too can say “it is well”. Have a blessed week. Lynette x
