on guard

I remember when we first landed in Manila, back in 2009,

how startled I was at the profusion of security guards on duty in this country.

 Not only do they guard banks

and armored vehicles,

but just about every other place of commerce too.

Some are stern, as you'd expect,

but others are surprisingly friendly.

These two (below), guarding the entrance of a mall, 

were happy to have their photo taken!

Guards can be found at McDonalds,

on school campuses,

and at many store fronts and all malls.

Below the guard (left with the white gloves) checks our bags as we enter.

These men and women are a constant visual reminder to me to be on guard spiritually.  God's Word exhorts me to guard what has been committed to me (1  Tim 6:20), to be on guard against a grudging or contentious spirit (Phil 2:14), and against covetousness (Luke 12:15).   I'm to be on guard against falling back from God's grace (Hebrews 12:15), against false teaching (2 Peter 3:17) and against idols (1 John 5:21).

But, even more importantly, these guards remind me of God's faithful guardianship over His people!

He guards us from stumbling (Jude 1:24), He's put his angels in charge over us, to guard us (Luke 4:10), and His peace, which is beyond our understanding, will guard our hearts and minds (Phil 4:7).  He is faithful, and will guard us from the evil one (2 Thess 3:3), guarding until that day what we have committed to Him (2 Tim 1:12).

Michael poses with J, a local guard and friend!

With all these guards around the city, I feel pretty secure, 

unworried about my personal safety.  

They're watching out for me and others.

But they can't hold a candle to God's faithful guardianship.  

We rest safe in the hollow of His hand.

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say to the Lord, 

“My refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.

Psalm 91:1-2

hairy situation

As we anticipate leaving the Philippines next month,

and all that entails,

I find myself thinking about things that I will very much miss about this special place.

One thing I'll miss is this normally mundane event of getting a hair cut.

 Because here in the Philippines, it's not your routine Supercuts experience.

When we arrive at Alexandra's, one of her staff opens the door with a friendly greeting.

Another takes us back to the sink for a hair wash.  

The water's cold, but the scalp massage is warm and soothing.

She then leads us to a chair, provides magazines, 

and asks if we want a pedicure or manicure today?

After combing out our hair, if the stylist (there is only one) is busy,

an assistant will often give us 

a shoulder or back massage while we wait.

One assistant, the receptionist and stylist, all happy to pose with Amy

The stylist then goes to work, 

after which an assistant in purple comes back to dry our hair thoroughly.

The stylist then returns to go over it all again with a fine-tooth comb, 

making sure every hair is the perfect length.

The process usually takes about an hour,

and I've never before had such an excellent stylist.

So, what's the cost for all of that service?

250 pesos.

That's roughly equal to a grand total of

six dollars.

Yes, I'm going to miss this place.

team travel

Early last Wednesday morning our whole family arrived at the airport,

ready to join the school ISAC teams (International Schools Athletic Competition)

on a trip to Subic for the spring tournament.

We were excited...it was Amy and Elise's last tournament,

and our first time to go cheer them on!

 Sleepy teammates converge at the airport

The boys load all of our luggage on the bus

 In Manila we met up with our boy's basketball team;

they had taken an earlier flight that morning.

(What gentlemen.)

 And we started our 3-hour bus ride to Subic.

Much of it was through Manila traffic, 

but we also got to see some beautiful countryside (above).

Subic itself is unlike any other place we've been in the Philippines.

The strong American military presence here up until 1992

  left much reminiscent of America - 

military housing is now considered an upscale neighborhood,

and hotels and restaurants left from 20 years ago still dominate the landscape.

 Even our host school was once a DOD campus.

 Though our girls didn't place in the finals,

they played strong, and gave those teams a run for their money!

 We loved cheering our teams on,

and seeing their strong character and sportsmanship on the field and off.

Elise (center) warms up before a game

Amy warming up with a teammate.

Though Subic had a very American feel,

there were reminders that we were not in California.

The banana trees (above) right outside the soccer field fence attract monkeys.

We didn't see any during the games, but the athletic director told us that

occasionally monkeys will steal balls off the field during a game!

Michael and a friend saw some monkeys at the side of the road watching our bus go by,

and one host family told our girls to close their bedroom window,

because otherwise monkeys would come in to join the party.

Amy cools off after a game

 It was an intense three days, with three games the first day,

and the blazing sun required our girls to get lots of hydration, 

sunscreen and rest.

But it was also a fun three days filled with time sweating and laughing together,

supporting and encouraging each other, and experiencing life with host families from other cultures.

 It was a time to be built up and encouraged by our coaches,

 

all of whom helped our team remember to care for themselves
 physically, emotionally and spiritually,


and to find joy in the experience,

finding their identity not in winning, but in God.

Thank you, coaches!!

 "A life of frustration is inevitable
for any coach whose main enjoyment
is winning."
-Chuck Noll

A life of frustration is inevitable for any coach whose main enjoyment is winning.

Chuck Noll

Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/coach.html#dtrqQqALWuMYgSvr.99

A life of frustration is inevitable for any coach whose main enjoyment is winning.

Chuck Noll

Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/coach.html#dtrqQqALWuMYgSvr.99

A life of frustration is inevitable for any coach whose main enjoyment is winning.

Chuck Noll

Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/coach.html#dtrqQqALWuMYgSvr.99

A life of frustration is inevitable for any coach whose main enjoyment is winning.

Chuck Noll

Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/coach.html#dtrqQqALWuMYgSvr.9

crocodinner

By presidential decree,

as of last Thursday,

today has been declared a non-working holiday in Davao.

It's in celebration of Araw ng Davao,

the commemoration of the birth of this city on March 16th, 76 years ago.

Here's one unique way to celebrate...

barbequed croc on a stick anyone?

Incidentally, the city shares this birthday with my brother...

Happy Birthday, Steve!  Hope you celebrate with something more appetizing.

traveling salesmen

She greeted me not far from my gate, bottles of shampoo piled in a box she clutched,

wondering if I would like to buy some?

Shampoo.  

Just what I was hoping to buy out on the street in front of my house.

Then again, maybe not. 

I'm ceaselessly amused by the items sold on the streets in this town.

Bottles of water, sunglasses, oranges, jewelry, stick brooms - 

I saw all of these being sold on the street just this morning.

The neighborhood corner (above) became a casual jacket shop for about a week.

It's gone now. Maybe next week they'll be selling stainless cookware.

But then, I guess could just visit this new neighborhood lot full of stainless kitchenware for sale...

Vendors (above) walk the streets daily from early morning til late at night,

 hawking food like rice porridge, sweet corn, balut and pandesal, or bread.

These venders (above and below) strategically park their ice cream carts

right outside of schools at the end of the school day.

Every American kid's dream;

an ice cream man at the school gate.

We've seen many like these sales guys above (and below).

They are selling...shoes.

Yes.  Shoes.

Bet you could get a good deal - 

though whether they have your size or not is debatable.

 Or need those shoes repaired?

Sit down and visit awhile as they get stitched at the side of the road!

No city would be complete without 

a street vendor of saint dolls.

Forget your mattress at home?

No problem! 

This guy has got you covered.

 Family movie night?
I'll bet you could find Frozen for 50 cents here.

Yo ho ho...yes, they are pirated.

And if you need a quick snack after all that shopping,
you can buy a bag of boiled peanuts (above)

or pick up a fresh coconut or a sweet pineapple in a bag

at a portable storefront.

Who needs Walmart?

hello kitty

Just in case you were worried ....  

...Hello Kitty is alive and well in Asia.

She even made an appearance at last week's high school retreat...

*thanks, Mark and J.A., for the classic photos!

happy new year!

Happy Chinese New Year, that is!

It's a big event pretty much anywhere in Asia.
In some countries there are fireworks all day and night long.

Here in Davao it's mostly an excuse for a party,

a day off work, and some very colorful street dances.

I found myself in the middle of this one today while out with a friend!

caught by surprise

 We've lived in Davao since July of 2009, long enough to know this place pretty well.

How is it then that every time I leave our home,

I see new things that surprise me?

Enjoy a few glimpses of surprising elements of life in this country.

I only wish I was quick enough to catch the most amazing ones on camera...

a little boy watches traffic at a busy intersection

Recycling old TVs...it's an uphill job

Jacob had a pillow of stone; this guy's whole bed is just as soft

Somehow I think these guys have what they'd need to fix any radiator in town

Davao River at its best...the clouds were breathtaking!

Yes, the new city speed limits are pretty low...

Furniture Row.  This street is lined with furniture makers with their wares displayed for sale in the road

Make you feel like yodeling?

That's a mighty small lodge...

A shopper (in orange shirt) karaokes in the mall

Bags of ice water on a hot day

Who needs a mini-van?

Umm...are those what I think they are?

In the name of God, stop a moment, cease your work, look around you.
Leo Tolstoy

Have you seen anything that surprised you today??

This is post #600!  Thanks to all of you who stop by and visit us here!