Back in Town

This picture is of me and my beautiful roommates in Cebu.
From Left to Right: BJ, Rhonda, myself and Jona.

Well friends, I'm back! Back in cold Canada! I have now officially completed my onSite experience in Cebu. Though my time there may be over, the things I learned and the growing I am doing is not close to over.

April was an incredibly difficult month as I wrapped up Stepping Stones ministry, had some final speaking engagements and did my best to say goodbye to as many people as I could from around the city and the country!

During Holy Week I was able to spend the week with my Cebuano language teacher, Ate Anita and her family at the house where she grew up in Bantayan island. Bantayan is a tiny island located just off the north west of Cebu island. To get there, we took a four hour bus ride first to the very north, than about an hour boat ride straight to Santa Fe. It's absolutely beautiful on that island! The week was designed for a few different purposes. Firstly, one of the assignments for onSite is to write a life story on a local of our host culture. I chose to study the life of my teacher Anita. So being able to spend a week with her was a great way for me to practically shadow her and observe her as she interacted with her family. I feel I got to know her in a really deep and meaningful way. Second, it was a test of sorts for me to see how I would do with the Cebuano I learned over the course of my nine months. It was a way for me to put what I learned to real good practice especially with my teacher watching! And I passed my test!
And thirdly, I was in Bantayan for one of the most famous Holy Week celebrations in all of the Philippines. In the days before, of and after Easter, there are numerous religious processions that Filipino's from far and wide come to join in. There are huge floats decorated with flowers and images depicting the events leading up to the death of Jesus on the cross. Then on Sunday morning for Easter, they celebrate His resurrection by having a final procession ending with children dressed up as angels throwing flower pedals and singing Hallelujah. It was a really neat and certainly unique Easter experience for me. It was amazing to see the dedication and faith of the thousands of believers come to that tiny little island, and celebrate the most important time of the year for a Christian person.

After I made my way back to Cebu (after a 10 hour wait for a boat ride!), it was just straight busyness again until my last day. Rhonda threw me what is called a "Despedida" which is a going away party at her new office. Many friends came for the party and said their goodbyes. It was an emotional time but a blessed one!
I then had to begin packing up my things and prepare myself to leave Cebu. Rhonda and I decided to take the 24 hour boat ride up to Manila because that was the way I first came to Cebu all those many months ago: on the SuperFerry boat ride! I think it was the best decision we could have made. It was 24 uninterrupted hours of debriefing my internship, praying, laughing, crying and resting. After that trip I felt closure. I felt like I had finished well and for the first time I was ready to come home.

Now that I am home, I will battle reverse culture shock in its different forms. I will find a job somewhere in Okotoks where I'm staying with my family and slowly adjust back into Canadian life. The other day when I was feeling overwhelmed and missing Cebu a lot, I happened to be in Wal-Mart and hear two Filipina's speaking Cebuano standing right beside me. I could have cried,.it was like a small gift from God reminding me I'm not alone and I'm going to get through it. This summer I'm looking into finding a job that can connect me to immigrants and work with those not native to this country. I'm hoping that there is a job available where I can use my experience and show love to those who may feel they have no place to call home.


I suppose I will keep this blog for now on even though my onSite is done. Thank you all for reading these updates throughout my time. Thank your for your prayers, support and encouragement. I hope you will continue to keep in touch! Thank you for journeying with me and being part of the greatest experience of my life. God is good!
Salamat kaayo sa tanan!

Love,
Amanda Joy Kneeshaw

April na!

Pictures above are some of the youth going swimming in the ocean and me with Pastor Bong and his wife, Evangeline at the day care graduation I spoke at.

Maayong Gabii sa tanan!
Thanks for checking in. As the days tick away here I continue to wrestle with processing what I'm feeling.
I've already been saying goodbye to people or have been making arrangements for a time of formal "goodbye." Goodbyes are hard, but they are needed and actually help me to know what I am feeling. They are proving to be an important way to finish my internship well.
Recently I have been wrapping a lot different ministry things and attending a lot of graduations of my youth. For our final youth event, Mark and I treated the youth group to an afternoon of fellowship with another youth group in a different part of the city. There were close to 100 in attendence. We had a program for them, with worship, dances, games, a Bible Study, and some great snacks. And to top it all off, we took them swimming in the ocean to cool down. It was a fun day. I'll miss those guys a lot, I really spent a lot of time with the youth group and they taught me a lot.
I was also given the privilege of speaking at the graduation of the kids attending the day care at our church. I spoke to the 10 graduates and their families and was able to hand out their awards and diplomas.
I've now successfully completed all my Cebuano language classes and my reward is spending a week with my language teacher Anita and her family in her home island of Bantayan. We leave early tomorrow morning by bus to the north of Cebu than take a boat west for Bantayan. It's Holy Week here and the party begins! Bantayan is known for having large festivals, prosessionals and parties during Easter so a lot of foreiengers and tourists flock to this island during Holy Week, and I guess I'll be one of them also. But I'll be staying with the locals which is the best of both worlds.

So, I was surprised by Rhonda with a concert by the famous Filipino Christian singer, Gary V. There was a "God Bless Israel" worship concert here in Cebu where a few thousand Christians came together to pray for peace and bless Israel together. And there was a surprise appearence by Gary V at the end. I feel like my Filipino experience is now complete with a Gary V concert because every Filipino takes pride in him. It was such a treat to see him live. I hope you all will also be converted to Gary V fans. Sorry the picture is a little dark, but there he is.






So, my last month is looking very exciting, busy and difficult. Please continue to pray for wisdom and protection as I gear up for the end. Financial provision is still an important prayer request. I apologize for not getting out those newsletters to you. Due to a lot of technical difficulties and missends, it has taken a lot more time than I anticipated. But I'm working on it, I have some people helping me out now.

God Bless you all,
Hope Canada is starting to warm up! I know I'm going to be so cold when I come back.
In Christ,
Amanda