The week of February 8th was coming around which meant we would have to move soon. I did NOT want to move. This place (tondo) was my home. I expressed this to my team and leader and asked repeatedly to stay, because things can always change. I was holding onto the hope that maybe, just maybe we would get to stay. But repeatedly the answer was no. Which was followed by a lot, a lot of tears. Pretty much every night for a week. Part of me wanted to check out then, stop trying, it would be easier to say goodbye then. But one of my close friends on the squad encouraged me to keep giving all that I had. To keep loving people even if it would be hard when it was time to leave. Then the day came to leave it was so bittersweet. The youth and I got to write each other encouraging notes and this truly gave me life. Then they prayed over us and we said goodbye. I cried again, shocker.

We got to the YMC (in cainta) with our host so it didn’t feel like completely unfamiliar territory. Then the next morning two of my favs from Tondo came down because they had meetings that day. While I was in a new place, I made it a goal to give everything I had. To connect with these people as well as I did with the people in Tondo. At first it was scary because I didn’t want to overshadow those relationships I had built. But I dove in anyways. I chatted with many visitors at the YMC hearing about their lives, their churches, and their interests. While I may have only known them a short while, their lives have given me so much encouragement and joy. Friends for life even if I never see them again on this side of heaven.

I also dove right into relationships with the locals and missionaries in Cainta as well. From kids on the playground, to local community boys, to the high schoolers, to the people in youth lab, to Rockfish Church, I got to connect and love so many new people. Then a few days after being at the YMC, I moved into the boys home for space reasons. I loved it there, the boys and the nanays have my heart as well. From all 21 boys and the nanays and ates they made my experience in Cainta so wonderful. They loved and treated me as their own. I got to spend lots of time with them and get to know all their personalities.

A week later I had to move out of the boys home and back to the YMC, which was filled with lots of tears again. It had only been a week but my heart was so there. It’s really hard to leave something that you care deeply for and love much. Especially when you don’t know what it’s going to look like once you leave. I felt it in Tondo and then I felt it again at the boys home.

God knew what I needed and when I needed it. When I left one family in Tondo, he gave me a new one in Cainta. The love I have for all the people isn’t lessened when there’s more people but increased. He has taught me how to love better and more than I ever thought I could.

During that week at the boys home, I got to go back to Tondo 3 times. Twice while hosting a team from Hong Kong for a feeding in Tondo and once when I got to give a message at their youth night. I’m so grateful for the community that constantly surrounds me and builds me up in Christ.

Then my mom came to the Philippines for a week. She grew a lot in a very short amount of time. I’m glad she got to see life in a way that’s much different than what she is used to. Please ask her about her experience, what God did and what He is currently doing in her life through that experience. While she was here, she got to see what I have been doing for the past month or so and it was very fruitful.

Saying goodbye to my family in Tondo and Cainta was very hard but I trust in God’s plan for the next season.

And stay tuned, but Mieko is currently praying into returning to the Philippines in the near future. Please be praying for clarity on my future plans.

Mahal Kita,

Mieko :)