Manila - Day 2

So today was much more hectic than yesterday. We started with a trip to the fresh market. This isn't your ordinary American Fresh market. There were freshly butchered things all over the place. I had to breath through my mouth most of the time we were there. I didn't get any pictures of the market, but I think we will go back, so I hope to get pictures then. Not only was everything freshly butchered, there were other live animals waiting their turn on the butcher's block. Most of it was fish, but the chickens were what caught my eye. The guy was still plucking feathers on his current kill, so I wasn't able to watch the actual death blow!

That brings me to my next point...I am going to have to write a blog just on food. I will do that after my trip is over so I can collect all the pictures and put my thoughts in order. Paul and I have posed for pictures with food several times already and I have other stories that do not have pictures for backup support. So when I get home, I will compile the pictures and dedicate one blog to the adventure of eating in a foreign country!

After a couple trips to the market on the back of a tricycle (no picture yet, but I will get one!) we were off to visit a local bible institute that is training young leaders to minister in the local churches. It was a great experience. Carson Oaks Community Church sponsored 3 students last year and they are doing very well.

After our visit there we went to a local mall where you have to be frisked by a guard to get in. The lady guard who frisked me but her hand on the small of my back, looked into my eyes, and said "Hello, how are you?" Needless to say, I was a bit uneasy with her friendliness. I quickly moved on and found the other guys who were with me. We enjoyed a dessert called "Halo Halo" (pronounced like hollow) and stood around and laughed about how bad the trashcan smelled!

We then went to the prison and I preached to the men and women incarcerated there. That was a first for me on a couple of fronts. 1. I have never preached in a prison. 2. I have never preached through an interpreter. Both went surprisingly well. The condition of the prison, like most of the Philippines, is drastically different from the states. There were 8 to 10 men in one cell. There was no air conditioning. It is about 95 degrees outside and the humidity is about 65%. There are 3 beds for the 10 men and there is a chance that more men could be placed in the cell. Last year there were closer to 18 men in the cell. It was a humbling experience to say the least. The men were very respectful as is the entire culture here. I led the men in a prayer to receive Christ and encouraged them to make a change in their life. Pastor Gary did the translating and really made me sound good...at least from my perspective.

I have attached a pictures from the prison to help you put the experience in perspective.


I hope to be able to post tomorrow, but not sure if I will have a signal. Keep praying for us. We are going to the mountains in a couple of days and it is like a 6 hour drive. (In America is would be like 2 hours, but the driving is a subject for a blog all by itself!!!)