Andres Valenzuela

Our Wedding Video

2009-08-27T21:24:00.003-04:00

We have been soooo anxious to get this video from our video man Rob Adams. He has blown us away. The way he captured our wedding day is just awesome. It feels like he is floating all throughout the wedding day!

Rob we are forever grateful to you for documenting our day in such a unique way.

MIL GRACIAS!!!!!

Kimberly and Andres - Highlights Video from Rob Adams on Vimeo.

Our Wedding Day Photos....

2009-08-02T18:34:00.004-04:00

After going over 6,000 photos numerous times, narrowing down and narrowing down again, here's what Kimberly and I have been able to put together from our good friends and great photographers' collections. Just a few here and then below is a full slideshow of our favorite images.

If you're viewing on facebook you can see the full slideshow here.

We can't thank our photographers Kenny Kim, Tomas Flint and Vanessa Joy enough!

Enjoy!!

A taste of our Wedding Video....

2009-07-31T17:14:00.003-04:00

Our fantabulous videographer Rob Adams put together a teaser trailer of our wedding video up online. It's such a tease cause it makes you want to see more!!!! As soon as he's done with the full video I'll share with everyone. in the meantime here's a taste.....

Updates, Updates, MAJOR Updates.....

2009-07-26T20:00:00.006-04:00

So much to update you all on!!! So I think I have to split this up into a few posts.

First the most important of them.....I'm married to the amazing and beautiful Kimberly Webb Valenzuela. :)

Our wedding was sunday July 12 and we got a beautiful, beautiful day. We had the whole thing outside in Nyack and were so thankful for no rain.

Being a wedding photographer you get to see the whole wedding unfold and you are so in tune with what is going on. However being 'IN' a wedding as the groom is a whole different ball game! The day flew by so fast and even though I loved every second of it, I really didn't get to fully see, talk to everyone and experience the day in it's entirety. Throughout our honeymoon Kim and I kept saying that we could not wait to see our photos and video to actually see what the day was like!

I highly recommend any future bride and groom to put a good number of eggs in your wedding photography basket! Getting our day well documented was priceless! We have found that after the wedding was over we had nothing to remember the day by except photos.

We were so grateful to have three fantastic photographers and great friends capturing our day. Kenny Kim, Tomas Flint and Vanessa Joy were so great to work with and they documented every detail of our day.

We now have to go through over 6,000 photos and are working on narrowing them down to plenty for you to see. In the meantime here's one from the thousands that we liked.

More photos from our wedding and also from our amazing honeymoon in Ireland and London coming soon. Can't wait to share with you all!

Jessica and Davey - Wedding

2009-06-21T01:40:00.004-04:00

Jessica and Davey gave me the task of capturing their wedding today. We were afraid it would rain and it help off for a good chunk of the day but we got hit with some light rain during the photo session. Which I usually secretly love because the photos turn out so unique and fun!! but I never tell the couple this until after of course! :)

These guys were both so easy on the eyes. Good looking couple and good looking bridal party, together with some shnazzy shoes and a touch of rain!!

here's the result......

If you want to see more photos see the slideshow here:

www.avcphoto.com/slideshows/jessicaanddavey

where have I been.....

2009-04-03T00:21:00.002-04:00

My goodness it's been forever!!!

Lots has happened in my life the past few months. Lots to update, lots to talk about. If you have seen me on facebook you know a lot of it...I hope to post some more details and since wedding season has officially launched there will be more photos to post and more fun things to talk about.

Here's my first wedding of the year to get things started. Luanna and Phil had a great day, sunny a little chilly but not cold enough to keep us indoors. They braved a bit of the wind to get some really nice shots outside. We all had a great day celebrating the two of them and I remembered why I love wedding so much!

enjoy....

One night in Hong Kong.....

2009-01-24T15:08:00.007-05:00

So we landed in Hong Kong safely and will be staying here one night. We get to check in to our hotel, eat then explore! Not all of us went exploring cause some of us wanted a nice shower and bath for the first time in 2 weeks, others just wanted to rest on a bed with a mattress and not an inch thick mat. But those of us that did go exploring will not forget how worth it it was to go see the amazing skyline of the city of Hong Kong and the sights we saw on the way. We are only 3 hours from Cebu by air but yet t seems like a planet away.....

riding the train from the airport to downtown...

Good thing they speak a lot of english here and just about everything is translated so we can figure our way around the subway...

This nifty little contraption shows our progress towards each stop in the train. We actually stayed in Kowloon, which is the mainland section of Hong Kong overlooking the island of Hong Kong, which was the last stop.

walking through the trains station it was evident we were now in a first world city. That's my fellow christian brother and world player of the year (2007) Kaka(that's in soccer for those of you not familiar!). :)

We decided to walk our way from the train station to the hotel. We thought it was a bit closer than it ended up being but the walk was awesome to be able to see and experience the streets of hong kong.

Newspaper and Magazine stand in Kowloon.

They have some mega cool phones. Technology in Asia (specially Japan and China) is further ahead than the US. Most of these phones can play live TV and have the latest and greatest gadgets in them. Coming soon to america.....

duck anyone?

Our hotel..wait till you see the view.....

First the inside view of our suite! We got the upgrade! :) That's me watching soccer! YESSSS! Finally a country that loves it's soccer! :)

THey drive on the left hand side of streets here and the steering wheel is on the right hand side of cars. Very interesting to see....

Billboards....

around the district we were in Kowloon there is lots of shopping and it's very fast paced...very New York Cityesque....

Could be times square eh?

Dave took us to his favorite place to shop. He has been going to this guy every time he comes to hong kong. THe salesman is this funny guy who has a twitch and makes these funny faces as he tries to tell you his stuff is amazing and good price! See Dave and his negotiating skills here...

I love the city lights at night....

My man Bruce Lee is revered here and he has this sweet statue right on the Avenue of stars overlooking the skyline.

A close up of the skyline of Hong Kong Island.

A full view of the skyline. One of the best I've seen!

Walking back we ran into all sorts of 5th avenue like stores...

It's about $7 Hong Kong dollars to $1 US dollar. So that makes these dishes about 2-3 US dollars. Too bad I can't read any of them...

Before I went to bed I looked outside my window and thanked God for how good he is to me....

Philippines Day 13...Final Day..

2009-01-24T14:26:00.009-05:00

This morning was our last few hours here in this community. For some of us it may be the last time we ever come here. For others it may be only one of many. Regardless, the people here have left a deep and lasting impression on our hearts. Their hospitality, love and care for us has been astounding.

We often go on these trips thinking we have something big to give and usually end up leaving knowing we were the ones who received so much more than anything we could ever give. However I do believe that the people here feel like they received so much from us and so I'm realizing it becomes an amazing interchange of cultures, lives and love that happens. I'm excited and looking forward to the next one already!

Yesterday as the students went around all the homes we told them that we would be doing family portraits in the morning. We weren't sure how many people would show up but a lot of them did. The following photos are probably my favorites from the whole trip. I am captivated by their eyes, their look, their glances, their faces, they reveal very little but say so much about the depth of life they have each lived. Full families, single dads, single moms, just kids. They all have dreams, hope and a future. It's hard to look away....

Philippines Day 12...

2009-01-24T14:19:00.003-05:00

Our last full day here and we had one more stop to make. We went to a Drug Rehabilitation center. To our surprise we found a python!! Apparently it's their pet here with all the men! crazy! Very soft skin!

The men here spend 6-12 months willingly. One of the things they do is work making fish floaters for fishnets. They all have different jobs and it aids in getting them back into enjoying work again.

This was our guide for the rehab place (House of Hope). Ruque (pronounced rookie), told us of his story of being a drug user and after having gone through rehab he wanted to stay here helping others gain the freedom he received. A strong believer in Jesus his resilience and compassion for fellow men here was inspiring.

We met so many people like Ruque during our time here; Filipinos laying down their lives for the betterment and salvation of their fellow brothers and sisters, communities and country.

Philippines Day 11...

2009-01-24T13:31:00.006-05:00

Today we got to walk around in the community and went to visit Lionela's home in a nearby community. A lot of these photos were taken as we walked through this beautiful country. I was fascinated by observing everyday life unfolding around us....

Everywhere we went we saw little kids laughing, smiling and loving life. One of the things that every kid around here plays is this game with their sandals. They put one of them upside down, throw the other one several feet away and then pick it up and try to hit the one and make it fly. So fun! but so hard! They laughed at me the first few times I tried it!

I love the street art. Hopefully there's no profanity here!

Some of the older kids and teens love arcade games. You find these in many spots throughout the different communities here. It costs $1 peso (1/3 of a US penny!!).

This is the neighborhood where we stayed, Purok 7 in Nangka.

I never did find out this boy's name but his eyes were so captivating to me. Just beautiful!

Taking a break.....

Women sit in this position as they do laundry or wash dishes for hours!

In the neighborhood near Lionela's house there were kids everywhere. This is another little girl that smiled every time she saw me with the camera. so cute!

A lot of homes are built up. Here's some kids looking down from theirs.

I just can't take enough pictures of the children here....

I love the contrast here....

Kitchen....

This dude had some cool looking hair. Very unlike most of the other boys I had seen here. He even kind of posed for me.

These are the stores that are everywhere where people get a lot of their daily needs.

This evening we ended up at the mall to do some shopping before we headed back. To our surprise they were having a photo session and dancing for the annual Sinulog festival. Celebrating the Santo Senor Nino (the saint pictured here with one of the queens). There were some photographers in this section and I snuck in to the section to get some shots myself! :)

Another one of the queens of the Sinulog....

and I found ANOTHER apple store!

One of the only nights where we got to ride in the back of one of the Jeepneys so I was able to get some night traffic shots....

Back at Joy Ful Jiji got an opportunity to thank the group for coming to Cebu and share a bit about her life. Another great day.....

Philippines Day 10...

2009-01-24T13:10:00.003-05:00

This was a light day for us. The students went around doing interviews of the different homes, meeting and learning about life in this community. Here's a couple images....

This was our last evening doing the tutorial and we got to hang out with the older kids. Rick is great at showing them some cool physics tricks!

This is Justin in his home.
Another view inside Justin's home. Shaquala and Andrew were interviewing the family. I love the family portraits on the wall and of course as poor as people are here, TV is a staple in most homes. :)

Update from Hong Kong....

2009-01-17T10:45:00.003-05:00

We got to spend a few hours this evening in Hong Kong. Some of us went wandering the streets and ran into this amazing skyline of Hong Kong Island! What a great city!

We leave tomorrow early for the airport to head back to JFK.

More updates to wrap up the Philippines trip in the next couple days...

Philippines update...

2009-01-16T19:19:00.002-05:00

It's Saturday morning and we are all packed and ready to head back. Words can't describe what each of us has experienced these past two weeks, but we will all try in coming posts. We will wrap this trip up within the next couple days as we head to hong kong then to NY.

For those of you following us, thanks for praying and checking out our progress.

We head out to Hong Kong today at 12:45 pm (arrive at 3:25pm). Then stay the night there and leave Hong Kong at 9:25am and arrive in JFK at 12:10pm (it's still a 16 hour flight!!!).

See you all soon!

Students Speak...Jerrel Burney...

2009-01-15T09:23:00.004-05:00

Joyful Fellowship Friday Night Youth Service

It's been a while since I saw Sister Mary Clarence (Whoopi Goldberg) put on a Class ACT amognst all the sisters. But humorously enough, in youth group half way across the world the film 'Sister Act' was shown at the friday night service and was later discussed in small groups.

Some of the highlighted discussion points addressed the relevance of church ministry, worship, and outreach. With the students identifying this the critical responses that Sister Mary Clarence for her unconventional methods and free spirited approach with matters traditionally treated with a more conservative touch. Hymns to Gospel, high fences torn down and colorful murals painted on walls, relationships built with youth using laughter and dance and building community by dwelling amosngt the residents rather than being seperated/ set apart from the people whom they are called to be beacons of light and service.

So simply we asked, do you think that church is boring and for the super religious? And we talked about being relevant yet maintaining a lifestyle of holiness in our words, entertainment, and sexuality.

Students Speak...Tou Thao...

2009-01-14T10:45:00.003-05:00

The House of Hope is a drug rehabilitation center and a non-profit organization that offers a program carefully designed in directing the change of “residents” within. It aims to give ex-addicts an inner desire and strength needed for transformation towards a new and better life. House of Hope offers their services to ex-addicts for free. The program lasts for eight months and is composed of spiritual therapy and work therapy. The spiritual therapy builds the character of the residents in areas of morality, integrity, and discipline through daily Bible study classes. Work therapy teaches the residents to make use of their time constructively by assigning them to kitchen duties or secretarial work and teaching them special skills such as book binding.

I can't stop thinking about the faces and their reaction when I walked to the front with a yo-yo. It was great! I gave a short Testimony about a part of my life and played with my yo-yo at the same time. After the service, I shook many hands of past Drug Dealers and Drug users. I really didn't get to meet any of them but, we all get a chance on Friday and were taking a tour of House of Hope.

Students Speak...Diana Marino...

2009-01-14T10:27:00.006-05:00

Balay Pasilungan

is a temporary shelter for boys in need of special protection. Established in 1997, this is a project of FREE LAVA: Free Legal Assistance Volunteers Association. This shelter is for boys ages 13-18. Overall I am very joyful to have had the opportunity to set foot on this home and to have gotten the chance to learn about it. I am glad that it exists. I am sure that without it hundreds of boys would be and have been in much worse situations and perhaps even have wound up dead because their families were not present to protect and guide them and they could not do so themselves. I am positive and I hope that the boys experience love there and that they will have a lasting effect on those whose lives they touch.

What struck me most about this place was that the boys seemed to be happy, comfortable, protected and had a sense of belonging in this home/shelter. My image of boys' homes has been challenged by this place because whenever I pictured one, I thought of angry, scared, hurting, vengeful boys. Proof of the effectiveness of this program is that the boys come back after school, they do not run away because they are pleased and comfortable. Another proof of its effectiveness lies volunteers; currently 4 boys who successfully rehabilitated came back to serve.

Students Speak...Andrew Ignacio...

2009-01-14T03:14:00.003-05:00

Buying Shoes For The Kids

Picture thirty or so kids and seven multicultural college students walking through alleys, over to the market place to buy slippers. It surely was a sight to see! The children were grouped together by grade range, so we will say about seven each. The group that I led included seven second and third graders. But along the way to the market we managed to pick up two more kids and a random youth, who was not supposed to be a part of the group, but was a great help anyhow. The children were nice, quiet and obedient, following each other to the market place. I have never seen children like them in the U.S.! The random youth that came along with our group became our translator and took charge of the kids, helping them try on slippers and finding the right size for them. It was great not having to worry about how I was going to find a way to organize the children. Afterward we took all the kids to Jollybee (the Philippines version of McDonald's) and I thought it would be chaos, trying to find out what the kids wanted. But the youth helped out again and it was smooth sailing getting the kids food and sitting them down. It was great to see the kids save some of their food for their siblings and for some, it was the first time they ever went to Jollybee.

Joy in Full Church service

The service was in the normal Western structure with the prayer and singing to start it up, then the reading of Scripture, the message and the benediction. Dave's message on the story of Samuel and Eli was a call for the men and women of the church to seek out the voice of God for their families. It was practical but at the same time profound challenging both parents and youths to follow the calling of God in their lives.

Students Speak...Abe Emile...

2009-01-14T02:58:00.003-05:00

Operation Second Chance Center

was truly a place of second chances. I was amazed to see that the Central Government in Cebu, Philippines would see the children as victims rather than perpetrators of civil unrest. Usually when you do the crime you pay but those working with the children acknowledged that the children did not pick the hand that they were dealt in life, the simply played what was given to them. These young boys in operation second chance committed crime not because they wanted to but because they needed to--for survival. I really believe God has provided these children with an opportunity to find grace that is sufficient for them. No child should be without parents from young but these children were and they need hope and operational second chance provides them with opportunity to receive proper skills training, psychosocial spiritual intervention in the lives of these children, structure, responsibility, education, a safe community, and hope for a better future. Operation Second Chance begins with the end in mind--dealing with the troubled youth that they meet by reintegrating these children back to there family and prepared to be assets to their society and community rather than problems. Truly a wonderful model to be exemplified.

"Injustice anywhere is a call to justice everywhere"

Martin Luther King, Jr.

Street Children

may just be the most heartbreaking reality in Cebu. We have heard countless anecdote of children who have been either forsaken by their parents early on in life or their parents were so overwhelmed by the reality of poverty that they succumb to coping with their stress in socially acceptable ways in Cebu which are unhealthy (i.e. alcoholism) which ultimately led to abandonment of the child or beating of the child which led the child to run away from home. Cebu City Task Force on Street Children is doing a marvelous job caring for street children. This agency is providing hope and restoration for these children...providing them with love, care and an opportunity to get off in the right path. The agency provides a haven for these children where they rejoice in a loving community and grow to be hope and success stories for other street children in a world where the number of street children are rapidly increasing.

Students Speak...Shaquala Fields...

2009-01-14T02:47:00.002-05:00

Family Fun Park

It was so cool to see the children get along together without arguing. They played together (see-saws, swings, slides, volleyball, etc.) and we went to the zoo with them... way different from the zoo's in the New York! :) Seeing them with their big smiles as we took the to the swimming pool was so heart-warming. Although these kids may not have as much as we have in America, they still know how to smile and stay happy. It was such a blessing serving the ice cream as they thanked me with a smile. Manners is something that these kids do not lack.

Olive Grove Church

It was interesting to see such a contemporary church that spoke total English here in the Philippines. It was a short reminder of home. Just to see the people in total worship within such a welcoming atmosphere was so amazing. After service it was cool to see how after they were dismissed people still stayed to worship joyfully. And how they all came to greet us; the hospitality was amazing!

Students speak... Andrew 'Scooby' John...

2009-01-14T02:34:00.004-05:00

Cemetery Church, Lorega

Going there was definitely satisfying for me, since I was there just a year before and had also made a video about it. Remarkably, the pastor as well as the congregation remembered me. It was just rewarding to be back at the place that really lit a fire in me for the Phillipines. This is a place where most folks would never step foot, even if they had the chance to. Pastors are picking up their cross and going to where no one goes, amongst the broken, dirty, filthy and homeless. That's real ministry!

Home for Prostitutes

Honestly, this to be the most touching moment for me on this trip. Just sitting there, listen to their testimonies, stories, and what it is exactly that they do for the prostitutes. Two things though, hit me like a uppercut to the face. One was what was said by a lady named Rhonda, a missionary from Canada who lives in the Phillipines. The comment she made went SOMETHING like this:

"This is so touching for me, and at the same time changlening. I was raised in a christianity where the main aim was the seek out truth...nothing but truth so you can make sure that your on the right track and not like those 'other people.' But here, you just love them. You don't shove anything down their throat, your just hear for them. That's different for me. Tt breaks me, but yet uplifts me, and I'm so grateful for the ministry you have towards the prostitutes."

That hit home for me, because in today's age, the quest is to make sure you have the right doctrine and all your points together so you won't be like "those guys." That was the way I was...and to be honest, there is still a little bit of that in me. It's amazing...who just LOVES anymore? I know people that instead of just being there for the prostitutes and showing love and compassion, would've probably set up shop and preached from morning till night everyday...made sure they got all their doctrine in...five points, etc, instead of just sitting down to talk to them and hear their story. Instead of being Christ, they, I probably would've done what we thought was the proper method...without doing it Christ's way.

At the end of our time their, everyone got up and fellowshipped. I just sat down and cried. tears just began to flow from my eyes. It amazed me that i was crying, but more importantly, why i was crying was what stuck out to me. Yes, I was crying for the prostitutes...but my tear weren't mainly for them. They were for us! They were tears of repentance for my society, my culture, the western church as a whole. We sit down and argue, split churches, manipulate and pervert scripture, make doctrines, agrue furiously over the word, build our own little kingdoms and think that we're doing "God's will" when people like this don't even cross our minds. We are so concerned with which pastor's doing what, calvinism vs armianism, whose denomination does what, which church is more anointed than the other...the list goes on and those whom God's heart breaks for never get mentioned...let alone sought out. It brought me back to the main thing, winning souls, going after those who are on God's heart. the oppressed, the downtrodden, the broken, those with no voice. That was my experience, and I pray that we as the body of Christ would get our heads out of the mud and throw them against the chest of our father to hear what his heart is saying...

Philippines Day 9...

2009-01-13T22:00:00.008-05:00

Our days here are drawing to a close and we have finished visiting all the non-profit agencies we had planned on it so far. Today was the last visit of two significant agencies that are doing some incredible work here.

On our ride over to the street kids shelter we were serenaded by this blind man and his little guitar. He had this sprite bottle tied to the end of his guitar to collect some money. Any time there is someone with very little willing to do something to earn a living it moves me.

One of my favorite places to visit was this street kids shelter. The following kids are all from the streets. This agency drives around a bus regularly looking for kids in the streets and brings them in here to be fed, taken care of and get a good nights sleep on a bed.

This little girl was so cute. She kept peeking in and out of walls smiling!

Boys being boys! I love this shot! The boys were trying to cover each other's eyes so they wouldn't be in the pictures.

This little guy was so shy. No matter what I would say or do he would not look at me. Makes me wonder what he has gone through...

This little girl was so full of life! She was running around everywhere smiling and laughing!

I've met so many beautiful kids here. This dude is a stud!

One of the older boys in the shelter.

When we all came in we met Michelle. A blind girl found in the streets and brought into the shelter.

Several of the students were moved to love on her and pray for her. You could see her complexion change as she was being prayed over and loved.

The kids got a basic meal for lunch.

We take so many things for granted back home.

This is one of the buses that they drive out in the streets looking for kids.

On our way to lunch downtown Cebu, you are faced with the reality of many people, homelessness.

Street vendors are common and here they sell sticky rice (didn't sit right in my or Scooby's stomach!)

At the end of this month there is the Sinulog (annual celebration of a saint), so everywhere there is preparation for the festival.

This was one of the coolest street vendors. Guitars for about $20!!

Tabloids and newspapers are found on the streets...

Our final stop was this temporary home for Prostitutes. Scooby will be writing more about our experience here in a blog post coming up....

We got to pray for the ladies and the social workers in the home.

Back in Nangka we got to help out with the construction of a wall and cementing the floor of Connie Lynn and her family's home. Dave Jennings has known Connie Lynn for 10 years and when he gets an opportunity he likes to help them. This room you see here is a tiny room bottom floor of their house. Same size room is upstairs where she sleeps with her husband and two baby boys. I'll post a picture later this week with the finished room!

Philippines Day 8...

2009-01-13T21:26:00.007-05:00

We had an interesting day today visiting a young men's jail and a children's detention home. Both places had a special focus on helping the young boys get reintegrated into society. Read on...

This was part of the view on our way up to the first young boy's detention center.

This is from the roof of the adjacent building where the young boys where practicing for the annual Sinulog celebration later this month.

I love mountains and we have gotten a couple chances to see some here. This is from the top of the juvenile detention center.

The boys in the second home we went to shared with us a little bit about themselves. It was neat to see these homes where they long to rehabilitate and get these young boys back into society.

These are the beds where they sleep at night.

On the way back Dave bought these cool shades from a street vendor. He looks like the Terminator!

Back in Nangka we got to interact with the kids in the tutorial time. Jerrel is playing a multiplying game wit the kids here.

This is a view of the garage area of the tutorial center where the kids get on computers and do some learning games and also get to have fun and play foosball.

The third room in the tutorial center is the kitchen where the kids get to do puzzles and play with other educational games.

Philippines Day 7...

2009-01-13T09:22:00.006-05:00

It's been a while since I got to attend 3 church services on one sunday but today was so much more than just that. Read on......

Josie got all done up and was wearing her sunday best today! You can't have enough pictures of her!

The first church service was at Rick and Jiji's church (Olive Grove Church). Pastor Jung gave a great message and it was great to worship with our Filipino brothers and sisters. Very refreshing!

We went to the mall for lunch and guess what!?!? Yes I found an apple store!!! YEAH!!

After lunch some of us got to visit the 'cemetery church' in Lorega. More about this below. This rooster was in the middle of his routine cook-a-doodle-do ing which reminded me of how we wake up every day at 5am!!! A concert of what seems hundreds of these dudes going nuts in the morning!

Kids are never lacking around here. These guys posing for me as all kids tend to do here.

Lorega is a community built on a cemetery. You see the tombs on the foreground of this picture. This is a picture of a church that is in the middle of this community. It was our second worship service all in Cebuano (language of Cebu area). This is a community that is being transformed by the people that are serving and loving the people here. One of the Nyack students will be writing more on this tomorrow here on the blog.

The basketball court is never lacking in any community! You can see the basketball court, a couple homes and the tombs they have built this community on.

one of my favorite pictures! The kids love to get in pictures!

Part of the reason why there is roosters everywhere is because they are grooming them for cock fights like this one. Pretty interesting to watch!

Pictures don't do justice to show you this place and how incredible it is to see houses built all around a cemetery!

Our third and final service was back in the Joy in Full center where I have had some of my most inspiring and rich worship experiences. Worshipping with Filipino brothers and sisters and to see the intensity of their worship is so uplifting!

Dave Jennings got to preach to a very captive audience. Pastor Roy translated for him.

The worship band was rocking!

A word from Dr. Yun....

2009-01-12T07:44:00.006-05:00

"It was a little easier to walk around the Lorega community in the second time. I didn't find much resistance in me as I shook hands with its residents who live among tombs. Probably worshiping together with them helped me relax, and even enjoy a brief interaction with the children after the service. As we were greeted by women and children, I noticed a group of young people looking at us. Suddenly I had an urge to take a picture with them, and asked Andres to take a picture of the scene.

Later, Abe asked me, "Dr. Yun, do you know you took a picture with gang members?" Hmmm, I wasn't aware of that exactly... but who knows what God had done through that moment."

Philippines ..The Crew...

2009-01-11T11:02:00.009-05:00

You've seen and read my perspective. Here's the perspective from each of our 10 team members.

"Love is a force that can drive you to the ends of the earth. And also give all you got, till you have no more. I'm very bless to be on this trip. I gotten to see what the word "poor" really means. In my western thinking of the word "Poor"; not having food, not having somewhere you can call home, not having money or even status. But, from what I have seen; words can't really say. And what words would you use? Deficient, Inadequate, Weak, Unfertile, Unfortunate, or Unhappy? I don't know? From my point of view; I can see what "poor" really means in the eyes of these kids.
Interacting with thses kids; God is creating me a new found passion for childern. And it not from hearing these sobie stories or seeing there situation but, it's the way the Lord Loves his childern and he let's them come to him. I'm falling in love with Childerns Minstry. I'm having a great time and I seeing God moving here in Cebu, Phillipines. I've already starting to plan for next trip to the Phillipines."
I Love you Mom, I Love you dad.

- Tou Thao (senior)

Intercultural Studies Major

1st Hmong Alliance Church

Aurora, IL

MY fav was having to get a Filipino woman to walk me through the stray dogs... Five of them stood there in the dark barking at me. Oh, and the cock fight... scariest thing on earth.

- Shaquala Fields (Sophomore)

Social Work Major

Christ Tabernacle Church

Bronx, NY

So far, my favorite experience has been going back to the Cemetery Church. The first time I came here (Jan 2008) I was so shocked and overwhelmed. Simply at the fact of where it was, then coming to find out that this is not just a location for a church because folks have no where else to go, but that this church was slap in the middle of an actual community! My heart was so touched and convicted the first time because it hit me that "this is why Christ came and died...these are the people that are on his heart." Walking around and seeing trash that had been there for years, roosters and goats, drugs and other hazardous substances, but in the midst of that, God raised up men and women with a burning passion to reach out to those that most "western sunday church goers" wouldn't dare come near to. It brought me back to reality, back to what really mattered in life. Lost souls coming back to God, and us walking in Luke 9:23.
SO going back for me really put a smile on my face as it once again helped to awake the unquenchable passion on the inside of me that is sometimes stumbles in the fog of America's "ME ME ME" society. I can definitely see myself coming back and giving away my life, if it's God's will...

- Andrew 'Scooby' John (Junior)

Theology/Communications Major

Miller Evangelical Christian Union Church

Brooklyn, NY

The smell of feces, mother goats nursing their young sucklings, squawking cocks stand as champions on top of their elevated platforms, plywood and tin roofs lean on each other creating haven for a whole village. webs of wires connect houses to electricity and serve as clothing lines where sun bleached linens are left to hang and dry. kids run and climb, duck and hide in this village, as most kids do, playing in heaps of trash making the most unusefull items useful. the property value was ideal in this neighborhood, of course for those seeking residency for eternity. the land is rich, but a different kind of rich. you see, this is a community that has inhabited a cemetery. Dilapidated tombs serve as ally walls, and are like brownstone stoops familiar to urban youth hanging out. Lorega, a cemetery filled with squatters, stray dogs, cats and debris. And in the midst of that was "The Cemetary Church" where we joined the people of Lorega for worship. The kids had a blast saying hello and gracing out hands with their foreheads as if accepting our blessings. I walked away distraught and hopeful, in holy discontent.

- Jerrel Burney (2nd Year ATS student)

Urban Ministries

Shepherd's House Open Bible Church

Harlem, NY

Today is a week since we arrived to the Philippines and I have had so many great lessons that it is hard to chose one. I have concluded that my most favorite however is of the day in which we took the kids from Rick and Ji Ji's tuttoring program - who have the best attendance - to get new pairs of sandals at the market. It was quite a significant day for them because affording a pair of comfortable and fitting sandals does not happen very often as it does for us. For them it was a major event. In addition, after purchasing a pair of their choice, we surprised them by taking them to Jollibee -the MacDonald's of the Philippines. They were smiling, cheering and jumping of joy. The majority of them had never been to that place.

This great and heartmoving experience was a major eye-opener to me; in it I was able to see how happy the things that we take for granted made them. It also called me to humble myself more and to have a greater heart for the poor.

- Diana Marino (Senior)

Social Work Major

Iglesia de Dios Ministerial

Woodside, Queens

Favorite Part of Trip: The tutorial: Sitting in a burning hot kitchen with at least 15 kids helping them do puzzles and book work. Also seeing old friends again and reminicing about last years experience and finding out new thins about them.

- Andrew Ignacio (Senior)

Intercultural Studies Major

Teaneck, NJ

I don't know where to start...I came not expecting anything but that God would show me his love and grace in the people of Cebu, Philippines--those he has made for his image and likeness. It has been a week and God has allowed us to participate in tons of His work while here--in Cebu. Though I can't share all, I will share one. We had an opportunity to meet a lot of kids...but there was one girl who has down syndrome in the community and one thing about the culture and norms of Filipino's is that they are always in a group. However, this girl since I've met her our first week hasn't been in groups but lonely in front of the church or even in youth group meetings. I had the opportunity to introduce myself and minister to her by letting her know that she is beautiful. At first she was very very very shy (like most Filipinos') but as I sat next to her in youth group meeting and had Andres take pictures of her and us...she is feeling special...so special that when I asked her a simple question and placed my hand on her shoulder she began to whip her tears. Constantly tearing because she is someone, she is being served and loved. She is noticed and admire for her dignity and worth and she has been told more and more that she is beautiful. Now when I see her, she has the biggest smile out of all the children that run to us. She puts her hair down and can't stop smiling...I believe all was possible because we love....because Death is at work in us so life can be at work in someone else...that is the Gospel my friends!

- Abe Emile (Senior)

Social Work Major

Beraca Baptist Church

Brooklyn, NY

" We think we are helping the children in this impoverished neighborhood. In fact, they are giving us more than we give. They are teaching us how you can have hope and dream in distressed condition, how to greet and accept people, and how important each one of us is."

- Dr. Kwi Yun

Head of the Social Work Department at Nyack College

Field Professor for Trip

Central Presbyterian Church

Merrick, NY

I have been coming to Cebu since 1996 and this is I beleive my tenth trip to the Philippines. I love the country and its people for the love and hospitality that they so openly share with you.
This is the second year that I have had the privilege of joining a class of Nyack College and Alliance Theological Seminary students for a Winterim course in the Philippines. Once again I am amazed at the quality of students that are on this trip. Their spiritual vibrance, compassion, ability to engage the people and culture, and the depth of discussions about what we are experiencing and learning is remarkable.
For me personally, I am encouraged by the faithfulness of those that we have partnered with over the past twelve years and how God has done incredible things in and through their lives. In particular, it is great to see the impact that Rick and JiJi Harner (both alumni of Nyack College and ATS) are having with children and youth through educational ministry. I am challenged once again to consider my commitment to investing in those closest to me.

- Dr. David Jennings

Executive Vice President and Treasurer at Nyack College

In Country Guide

New Life Church

Queens, NY

I have so many memories and images etched in my mind and heart I will never forget. I love the third world and this beautiful country is no exception. My favorite time is spent with kids, loving on them, hearing them, watching them, photographing them and learning from them. Despite their dire circumstances I see them always smiling, being content with the little to nothing they have and loving us like we are celebrities. We don't deserve this love poured on us by these people, yet I am so grateful and humbled to be able to experience and learn so much about contentment, about compassion and about love.

- Andres Valenzuela

Director of Student Financial Services at Nyack College

Photographer for Trip

Risen King Alliance Church

Quito, Ecuador