My Mind is Blown!!!

This has shaped up to be an incredibly heart warming, and encouraging week.
     To start with irony: my team mate and I had our first open disagreement. (I know what you are thinking... how is this encouraging?). The awesome part comes from the open communication and respect that was exchanged during this disagreement. As with any team we don't always get along, but I would just normally chalk it up to no big deal and then continue to be frustrated. Luckily for me, Daniel is more confrontational and called me out on my frustration, and it ended with a really honest and personal conversation about different insecurities that we have in our ministries and how we can encourage each other a little bit better throughout the week.
    Another awesome part of my week came during our children's bible study. Throughout the week I struggled with whether I felt like these kids were learning anything about the bible, or anything about the love of God. On friday though, Dan and I were burnt out so decided that instead of prepping a new study we would just do a review study. Low and behold the kids remembered a lot of things that we went over during the week, and were even able to come up with specific examples of things that we had said from throughout the week. It was the first time that I felt like these kids were understanding what we were sayings, and it warmed my heart because it allowed me to see the fruit that God is using us for.
     Friday was in general just an awesome day. In the afternoon Dan took a nap and it rained so most kids were inside their houses and it allowed me the time to have a sincere and awesome heart to heart with the one of the women in the community. I was able to share part of my testimony and ask her about her own. It was really incredible to get to share such an intimate part of my life with someone so soon after having met them. After that we went to Kuya Willie's house (our filipino team leader) and ate dinner with them, and then i just got to relax with Jon my other team mate and just watch a little TV and read one of the books that i brought with me, and just enjoy a little down time before teaching school the following morning.
     It is a little sad to think that I only have a little over a few weeks left here. The people here are just such incredible, generous, giving, kind, compassionate, and just amazing people. I have so much to learn from them and such little time to acquire all the knowledge. They have set an example of how to live that you can't find in America. I can't seem to shake the uniqueness of this culture. I had a conversation the other day with my team mate Jon about the different ignorance that can be found between America and the Philippines. In America we are ignorant to all that we have, and all the blesses that are provided even in the midst of our struggles. In the philippines it is opposite, they are ignorant to what little they have. One of the girls that I live with had to write a short paper in english about her family that she let me read. In it she described how her family wasn't poor, but middle-class. She talked about how close her family is, and how much time they take to spend with each other (The girl is being raised by her aunt because her mother has too many kids and can't take care of them all). With all said and done, by the end of the paper I was speechless. This girl didn't see a lack of anything in her life. She has enough food to eat most days, a roof over her head, and a family that she can spend her time with (biological or not). That is all that she needs, and therefore she considers herself middle-class and lucky because she doesn't see how much she is missing out on compared to my American perspective.
     Thats all I have time to write for now, and I may not have time next week to write very much but then we will be in debrief so I will have time to write again.
I hope everyone on the east coast the best of luck with the weather that is going on. I heard about the major storms and I am glad that everyone is Ok. We will be praying for everyone who doesn't have their power back yet.

(PS Mom and Dad, I am going back to the community today ( a day early) so we can't Skype, but I will call you on my birthday)