New Kitchen
Temporary kitchen set up. This is where school and the kitchen collide. It has a pocket door to keep out all the pets. We get pretty fancy here.
Prayers
At 7:30 this morning Friday the 8th of December my dad will undergo the first of his two surgeries. Please pray with us. My sister is flying in from Georgia to be with my mom and dad after the surgery.
New Gate
New gate primed and hung. The old gate was getting a little tired and tapped out. It had been reworked a couple times already and was held on by thick fishing line and metal wire. The two bigger pieces that make up the fish were going to be handles but I didn’t like how they turned out (to big for my taste) so they were welded together and repurposed after Joy’s brother said they could make a fish easily. I kind of like this welding thing.
I have been debating...
I have been debating over sharing this with all of you or not but realize that I shouldn’t share just what I want to but the real road that we are on. I will leave some of the details and names out because this doesn’t have to be about the person and what they did. With that being said we entrusted a dear friend of ours with a sizable amount of money (at least to us) to buy something that we would use every week if not everyday. That person lives in a big city and could get better selection and prices on that particular item. Where we live used are rarely in good shape and usually still costly. Since we knew that we were going to use it right when we got here we sent the money ahead for a agreed upon item. When we arrived that individual couldn’t meet with us but said they would send it in a few days after some paperwork issues were resolved. I had kind of a funny feeling about it but since we were like family I let it go. A couple weeks later I contacted them again to see about getting the item and got the same response. This went on for two months of them giving different excuses for not sending the item to us. I knew something was up but couldn’t get myself to call this person out on it. Everyone around me that knew that we were supposed to get this item told me that this individual didn’t have the item and was just lying to me about it and asked why didn’t I just confront them on it. Even with being very confident that what they said was true I didn’t want our friendship to end that way. I told them that it was on that person if they stole from me and were lying to me about it but didn’t want to be the friend who accuses someone of wrongdoing and hurt our friendship if it wasn’t true. I always hoped that they really were telling the truth. So I waited another two and half months and the truth was finally told to me. This individual was hard on money and decided to use me to get ahead a little bit. It didn’t solve their problems (money rarely does) but caused more that money can never fix. I share this with you not because I desire pity or judgement but transparency. I didn’t want to share because I don’t like losing, my pride hates coming out looking weak or taken advantage of. The thing that I learned through all this is that once I got past the frustration and emotions of this deal (four and a half months is a long time) I realized that I was more sad. Sad that a friend couldn’t tell me the truth that I wonder sometimes who can I trust now? There is a fine line between being taken advantage of and a good friend. I also realized that I don’t want to waste my time being angry or cynical. I forgive that person even though I have to remember that over and over again (maybe forgiveness is kinda like love in that way). The question that I haven’t figured out is how this all impacts our future relationship? Do I not trust them anymore? I don’t want to be cynical but how do I trust them? How does forgiveness work if you don’t trust them? I know that many people have wrestled with these questions before and still do today. Maybe like God forgiving me for my many sins and knowing I am going to fall short again it’s not about the one at fault but the of heart of the offended. I know one thing for sure though, that is no matter how I try to safeguard my heart from betrayal it won’t really work. I will be let done again, feel betrayed, wronged and down right hurt again. So I guess it isn’t what others do to me that damages my heart the most but how I react to it when they do. No anger, hate, payback, jail time or penalty will fix my heart only God does that. So I need to trust Him in my mountain top experiences as well as my low low valleys. For He has something for me in all circumstances Romans 8:28 “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” Hurt isn’t what causes the most pain it is when that injury gets infected that it damages more and hurts more. Now I know that this betrayal is very minor (its only money) but I believe that no matter the source of the pain in your life God is the answer to your heart healing! Here is Boaz’s minor bug bites that got infected. I hope and pray that my heart doesn’t look like or feel like that when I’m done with my journey here on earth.
Lying Awake
Just over five months after the big move and here I am awake at 2:15 am and unable to sleep wondering why I am awake. Is it because I am well rested and ready for the day yet (not likely)? Maybe it is because there is no breeze and I am sweating and find my pillow saturated (not uncommon). It could be because my shoulder aches and I can’t find a comfortable position. Possibly I have too much on my mind and am overwhelmed. Or it might be combination of all of these. Even with all of these possibilities I think it is because I am to busy during the day to hear God speak to me.
It is now after 2:15 and I have been awake for at least an hour and am past the frustration of being tired, sore and awake at a time that normally I would be sleeping. I have had time to go through my prayer list (the one in my head), read a couple chapters in my Bible and spend some time thinking about being here and so here are some of my thoughts.
This morning in my reflections I noticed that I no longer wonder why we are here but see clearly why me/ us and why now. I may not completely understand it but I can at least see how we are impacting the community in little ways right now. I am also able to see that the dreams and visions of programs that we had are really needed and will be something that inspires and changes lives (not just ours) if we see it through to the end. At first this was hard to see for a number of reasons one being that I was uncomfortable and struggling with the transition of giving up what I wanted and was comfortable with.
As I read from John 3 this morning I was struck by the words of John the Baptist “He must become greater; I must become less.” and “A person can receive only what is given them from heaven.” I think that was the major part of my struggle. I wanted to get greater and make my own way in this life and still do sometimes. I want to be comfortable and have security but to live the life I am given I won’t always be. It is hard to explain but I didn’t choose this life. Just like I didn’t ask to be born, I didn’t choose the Philippines now or the first time. Life was easier for me in the States but I am meant for here right now, maybe not always but right now. He has called me and my family to be here now, it is our place. To be here and make a real difference I must become less and He greater.
You would think that after getting married it would be easier for me to be less and someone else greater but it isn’t. Then having children should help me to think about self less but it didn’t. If anything it made me claim my own space more. I still struggle with that childhood desire to be first and probably always will. The choice was follow His plan or my comfort and security. The move here was another step in declaring me less, God’s plan over mine!
Now back to bed I’m sleepy again.
November 29th
After three full days and two nights in Cebu with real running water and hot showers we are ready to go back willingly. The boys never really wanted to come but I thought it would be good for them. It was a good experience for them but I think that they wouldn’t want to come back for at least 5 more months or until we get some visitors, they are going to need a Folkertsma boy incentive to leave the country life again. They were not really excited about anything that there was here to do, maybe they will be more thankful for their country life when we get home. I was able to scout out where to go to get many different things for future projects and catch up with some old friends that we hadn’t seen for a long time. We didn’t get everything done that we desired but that rarely happens, 24 hours a day never seems like it is enough. But once again it is a good reminder that this life is about so much more than me and my desires. Tough to remember sometimes in the moment! Anyway I don’t think that I could carry anything more onto the boat myself.
November 24th
Work, work and more work! But the truth behind all the work is that we (the Folkertsma 4) are really getting into the new norm of life here. For the most part life isn’t as hard for us as when we first arrived and are enjoying the new norm. That doesn’t mean that we don’t miss Michigan or family and friends in America but that life is good and we can see that more clearly most days. We still struggle here and there but bounce back way quicker. Talking with family in America no longer makes the rest of the day harder but is now a treat that makes it sweater. Struggles are more like what we faced in Michigan, like school not being the favorite part of the day, the boys saying that they are bored or picking on each other. We have been able to start developing good relationships with our neighbors and co-villagers. I (Adam) have been able to start mentoring some young men. The boys are enjoying learning how to play basketball and watching the church league play every Sunday. All in all we are doing well, thank you for all your prayers and encouragement! Words cannot express how blessed we are through you.
Some Traveling
We are now in the big city Cebu after a 1 hour truck ride and a 3 hour boat trip. Time to do some exploring and see what fun we can have and what hardware for future projects are available and prices. First time back here since we arrived in the Philippines, we are not really city folk.
Flowers
Orchids are blooming!
Our Side Project
Joy’s uncle caught this dove that can’t fly anymore and gave it to us. I guess the word is out that we are animal lovers. We had some old mesh laying around so the boys and I took it and made this cage one afternoon. Fun little project for us! I think we will get some more and make some rat traps next.
A Face Only a Mother Could Love
This fish is called planzaplanza which when translated is iron fish. It’s sides are very hard and is made up of fingernail sized shields that are hexagonal. They form a hard shell which protects it from predators. The local fishermen give them away. They are grilled over charcoal or coconut shells. What a wonderfully creative Creator we have!
The New Normal
Work, work and more work! But the truth behind all the work is that we (the Folkertsma 4) are really getting into the new norm of life here. For the most part life isn’t as hard for us as when we first arrived and are enjoying the new norm. That doesn’t mean that we don’t miss Michigan or family and friends in America but that life is good and we can see that more clearly most days. We still struggle here and there but bounce back way quicker. Talking with family in America no longer makes the rest of the day harder but is now a treat that makes it sweater. Struggles are more like what we faced in Michigan, like school not being the favorite part of the day, the boys saying that they are bored or picking on each other. We have been able to start developing good relationships with our neighbors and co-villagers. I (Adam) have been able to start mentoring some young men. The boys are enjoying learning how to play basketball and watching the church league play every Sunday. All in all we are doing well, thank you for all your prayers and encouragement! Words cannot express how blessed we are through you.
Blessing
Dad update:
