you've never had mango until you have Philippines mango

Here I am! At times it felt like I'd never get here, yet now I'm sitting in Cafe Manila writing to you. We've got a little internet cafe only about a minute's walk from the church we're staying at.

The flight wasn't bad at all, it was 13 hours from Vancouver to Taipei but it didn't feel like it. I slept a bit and actually enjoyed myself. I love trips. I read a lot of Isaiah on the plane, starting at chapter 57 and going to the end of the book. Try reading it, I got a lot of sweet revelation out of it. Taipei to Manila was only like an hour and a half, and as soon as we got through customs we all changed into our summer clothes, what a relief! I went to the bathroom, and there was no seat on the toilet, and a little hose next to it. It threw me off haha. I guess I'll have to learn how to squat, but for now I'm happy laying toilet paper down and sitting on it lol. Maybe thats too much information, but for those who'd be entertained by that, there you go.

There are a few rooms on the side of this church, and we're staying in those. I have a room to myself (lucky me), equipped with a fan, and its really comfortable. I have a large matress on the ground with sheets and pillows, and a bathroom on the side which I'm sharing with my team leaders. I'm so blessed, truly. We got our stuff settled, ate some mango with the directors of Super Kids, (a really cool ministry) and then headed off to a mall via jeepney. Haha look up a jeepney, you'll get a kick out of them. I've never heard Jason Mraz sound so brutal as I did riding in the back of this thing, listening to I'm Yours played LOUD over blown speakers.

We got to the mall and I made my first peso transaction (which was a success!). The rate right now is like 40 peso's to one canadian dollar. I got a pair of sandals there, really pretty, a nice little heel on them, for about ten canadian dollars. I LOVE shopping here haha. If you know me well, you know I'm very cheap, so this is exciting for me. I may find I'm coming home with 50 pounds more than what I left with lol.

I slept well, and woke up to the sound of a rooster at 6:20 this morning. Now it is noon and I have a happy belly full of rice and a spirit that is completely at peace, knowing that I am exactly where the Lord wants me to be. The smiles here are unlike any I think I've ever seen. I feel like when a little girl smiles up at me my heart changes a little. Anyway, my time here has been incredible so far, and I've been blessed more than I can say. I know this is where I've been called. There is so much goodness in that.

We're still looking for a house, so if you could pray that we find a cheap, furnished house, my whole team would really appreciate it. Also, we are looking to find God's heart for this city, and this collection of 7100 islands. We're praying to know what his will for our time here is. We don't want to act outside of that, so we're asking for discernment and a lot of wisdom. Thanks for you prayers everyone! It looks like internet is fairly available here, so you may here from me soon.

love your sister in christ, and free-will slave,

angela.