Irish's story

This week Doug, Lilia and I were blessed to be able to take Four young people from the Downtown Church with us for our monthly outreach to the orphans of Negros. It was such a wonderful opportunity to get to know our new family and to share with them the work of Lilia's Place. You have read many times about our work through my perspective. I thought you might enjoy reading about the work so many of you support through the eyes of our Filipino Brothers and Sisters. The first story is from Irish Quijada. Irish (21) is a new Sister. She was baptized Sunday evening.

Negros Adventure

Negros- a beautiful, serene island just across Cebu. I have heard so many good things about it that's why I was so excited when the Simpsons invited us to come with them during their visit to the orphans there.

It was my first time to Negros and the experience was so wonderful. On our way to Negros, we enjoyed the ride with Doug and Liza together with their cute little Lilia. She was soooo charming that everybody couldn't help it but to just fall in love with her.

After we arrived at the Emperados' beach house, ate che and I started cooking our dinner. We prepared pork adobo hoping that Doug and Liza will like it. We added potaoes on it because we learned that they like potaoes so much. When we are about to serve the food, ate che and I were like criminals waiting for the court's decision hoping that they will approve of it and thank God they did especially the potatoes!!!hmmm... That was such a relief!(",) After dinner, they introduced smores to us.
I consists of mallows, chocolate and grahams. We were amazed because it's new for us especially the barbequed mallows. hehehe... It tasted so good and we plan on doing it again this time together with the young people of downtown. After that, we had a movie and off we go to sleep.

In the morning we took a quick dip in the water before we go on seeing the orphans. We had hot chocolate and sticky rice or what we call puto for breakfast. We needed that before we ride on the mini dump truck on our way to the mountains. We enjoyed the scenic view, the fresh air and the fruits along the way. Doug get to try marang and santol and he said he liked he marang better.(",) It was a roller coaster ride like what kuya onasis described it and he is right, it was a bumpy ride but we enjoyed it so much.

We came to meet the orphans and see if they're okay and to drop the supplies they needed for the whole month. After we meet them, we say a prayer for them before we bid goodbye. We were touched by their stories especially Jane who lives alone by herself. Those orphans are just blessed with people around them who did the job of their parents providing for their needs, who tirelessly love them just like Doug and Liza. That thought made us realize, me, alaric, ate che and kuya nas that God has already blessed us with so much more than those children and we just have to very thankful instead of complaining of what we have right now.

Indeed that was a very fulfilling journey knowing that God has used you to be an instrument in giving joy and happiness to people by just being there with them to let them know that they are not alone. God's family is with them and they have brothers and sisters who care for them and to make them feel that they are so loved.

(To Doug and Liza, thank you for taking us with you. May God bless you more! You can post this on the blog that you were talking about. To God be the glory forever!)

-irish-(",)


*Just a small note: The pork adobo they made for us was very delicious. They are excellent cooks!