Agape Art

We made it to the Philippines!!

Hello!

Just wanted to let you know we arrived in the Philippines!!!  Hooray! It's Wednesday here (1:50 am) - yes, we flew into the FUTURE! We're spending the night in Manilla, then we'll head back to the airport and take yet another flight to Dumaguete City at 2:00 pm tomorrow. (2:00 am - Ohio time) We're soo looking forward to arriving at the orphanage and meeting the Filipino girls.

Also I would love to have a calculator right now - trying to figure out the conversion rates, the time change, etc.... has been ruff especially after only having 3 hours sleep in the past 30 hours... my brain is barely functioning, so if I don't make sense or spell a word incorrectly - don't hold it against me :)

Our team will have access to the internet so we'll be updating our blog about our experiences every few days while we're gone, so check back every so often :)

Thanks everyone for all of your supportive kind words, prayers, and donations.  This could not be happening without your help along the way.  We're so thankful for friends and family like you.

I'll write to you soon,
Christiane

PS- one hour of internet service is < 0.50 cents.... wow everything is soo inexpensive here.

Hello!!!  We made it safe and sound!  God is good!  I am so happy to be here and see what He has in store for us.  Thanks again for all of your prayers and support. 
We were well fed on the planes.  We are now in Manila for the night and head to Dumaguete  tomorrow.  We were mistaken already for being Australian, Swedish, and Italian. :)  Good times.   Natalie needs sleepy.

Nighty-Night,

Natalie

Becky Introduces Agape Art

In June of 2004, I traveled to Dumaguete City in the Philippines to spend a month serving at an orphanage called Rainbow Village.  It was there that I seem to have left my heart.  In the three years since, the Lord has continuously affirmed in me a desire and passion to return.  Through patience and perseverance, over time the details have been revealed to me.  It eventually became clear that an art ministry camp for the Agape girls was the context in which I was to return.  The Agape program has been designed as a place of refuge, healing, and growth for these teenage girls that have been removed from their homes due to sexual abuse.  During our visit, we were simply amazed by the creativity of the girls.  Much of our time was spent making bracelets, weaving palm branches, creating flower arrangements from our surroundings, and designing stationary.  It was in this context that we were able to develop trust and intimacy with these girls.  The memories and mentor-like relationships developed with these young women in the 4 short weeks of my original visit have grown into continued friendship through letters and stories even years later.  It is through the sale of artwork from local artists that we will return, and through the sale of the artwork created by the Agape girls that we hope to continue this program annually.   As we begin with our first camp in May 2007, I am excited to motivate these young women in their creativity while teaching them a way in which their gifts can contribute to sustainability in their futures.  To see some pictures and read some of our journal entries from my initial visit with a team from Bethel University, you can check out www.bethelteamphilippines2004.blogspot.com.