31/03/2016 – Goodbye to KIM Manilla

Thursday 31st March Goodbye to YMC Mission, Manila

Alarms were set for 06.00 as we were leaving for the airport at 8am (Traffic in Manila is the most busiest I have ever seen) Breakfast was outside under the hot morning sun, am very thankful.

It was time to say our “Goodbyes” to all our students and to Pastor Klumpp Karen Klumpp and to some of the street kids that gather outside the gates of YMC. Our “Thankyou’s” to Melua and all her ladies who work hard behind the scenes to keep the YMC ticking along. A final Goodbye to Jeff and Colene Long the husband and wife who makes it all possible with the extraordinary work and service they provide to the orphans and the street kids, babies, young mothers, adults. The huge amount of work in providing for all the students and visiting helpers from overseas, the logistics of transporting us all to the various locations where we able to visit and provide help and support to the local pastors. We said a short prayer for everyone we were leaving behind, who were leaving on Saturday.

A few photos before we climbed into our Mini Bus, along with us flying back to Hong Kong was Daniel, his wife and son Mica. Ramello who had become  great friend whilst in Manila was also travelling to the airport with us and was then travelling on to meet up with his family. It was with sadness and a heavy heart to be leaving, we had been closely involved and there was reflection on the children. But of course it was also a happy departure knowing that everyone left behind were carrying on God’s work and looking after the children, orphans and the people in the various places we had visited. The local Pastors were all doing such a fantastic job keeping everyone, especially the children, in touch with Christianity and the great feeling that was being passed to them.

Before I arrived in Manila I thought that one problem would be the children becoming too attached to us, as a group and as individuals, but it was in fact the other way round, I found myself becoming very attached to the children, especially the orphans who we saw most days, and the street kids that come in to the YMC to swim. The children of course are used to seeing “new” people on a regular basis. As I leave I take many many amazing memories with me and will sty in touch with Jeff, Coleen and Miles, and I wouldn’t be surprised that I return one day.

“As for God, His way is blameless; The word of the Lord is tested; He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him” Samuel 22:31

Arriving at the airport for our flight to Hong Kong, the check-in and security took a while but soon through to a vey busy departure concourse, not many seats but we waited patiently as there was a delay boarding the flight. Just a short flight (2 hours) we took the MTR from HK Chep Lok Airport to my friends home where we all showered quickly and changed, as we had a meal booked with the family at a restaurant, (already late)

It was a lovely evening with friends and I remembered where we had been this past week as we walked back through the bustling streets of Hong Kong.

There was much reflection and prayers before I slept that evening.