Please Note: This mission is now FULL!
Please email Christine at chris@equityutah.com
Contact Christine Davison for more information at chris@equityutah.com
Join us for this Mission to the Philippines to see our very favorite children at Shepherd of the Hills in Zambales. When you meet the kids you will fall in love. This is my personal favorite of the AAI missions as we stay at the orphanage itself.
Check out our Sponsorship Program HERE
Reserve your place! You may pay the Deposit $100 and/or the full Balance $675 HEREHere is the general mission description:The theme of the spring mission trip will be Community Building. In the past we have painted children’s homes. This time we will be fulfilling Tay Nathan’s wish to incorporate the community children “SOTH MAS” into the education, music and art program at Shepherd of the Hills. Mission Cost is $675
The price includes our first day at Abatex, transportation from Manila to San Antonio Zambales. The drive is on a bus or a van and it takes 4 hours. Lodging at SOTH and meals are included. The $675 also pays for all of the activities for us and for the children while we are at Shepherd.
Not included in the mission price are flights, transportation from the airport to the hotel in Manila (usually $15to $20 each way), the hotel stay in Manila (for many this will be May 2nd, 3rd and the 8th). I will send a link to the hotel in a couple of days when the website is up. And finally, snacks and/or meals while in Manila and while in transit from Manila to Shepherd of the Hills. Many of these things are tax deductible because you are a volunteer on a humanitarian mission trip.
AAI Spring Philippine Mission 2017
Time is approaching for our trip to Shepherd of the Hills Children’s Foundation (SOTH) in the Philippines! Thank you all for paying the balance. We are almost ready to go! Please print out the Release Form and either scan it and email it back to me before April 27th or fill it out and bring it with you. I will have a couple with me too that can be filled out at the Elan Hotel before we leave on the 3rd. Make sure you have all of your information (passport, etc) ready if you need to take care of this before we leave. I am traveling now, but you can find the Release Form on the last group email that I sent out a couple of weeks ago. If you cannot find it, I will send you one early next week.
Please let me know if you are a vegetarian or have food allergies.
Shepherd of the Hills Children’s Foundation usually puts us in 3 out of the 4 air conditioned rooms inside the main house. I have requested the fourth room as well to accommodate everyone more comfortably. All 15 of us are staying right at SOTH. This is a little crowded, but I believe it is a better overall experience because there is more time with the kids! Please let me know too if anyone is open to staying in one of the cabins (fan only) if we do not get the 4th room. I personally like the cabin for privacy but it does get a bit humid during the daytime. It is pleasant at night as long as you don’t mind little critters sharing your home!
As many of you know in a imperfect world, these accommodations are subject to change:
Chris (me): cottage, Brian: cottage, Monica: cottage
Inside room accommodations with air conditioning:
Hugo and Philip
Karen, Lucy, Jade and Kim
Jamie, Heather and Megan
Patty, Sarah and Casey
Packing List:
Copies of passports and emergency contact information. Make a copy of your Release Form too to keep with you.
Sunblock, hand sanitizer, all medications, Imodium and Pepto tablets, bug repellent, reading glasses, fabric softener (helps keep bugs away), plastic baggies to keep all food items, antibiotic cream, lip balm, sunglasses, water, feminine products, lotion, small hand soap, shampoo, conditioner, tooth paste and brush, extra batteries for cameras, flashlight, umbrella, hats, bandaids, hair accessories, comb or brush, shaving kit, vitamins, small towel, and small amenity bag to take to and from the bathroom. Oh, and don’t forget the marshmallows…..
Flip-flops, sandals (remember that in the Philippines we take our shoes off inside the house) bathing suit and cover up (since this is an orphanage, please wear a whole piece bathing suit with shorts or a cover up). Sneakers for walking/hiking, church attire for Sunday (remember it is really hot, so sundresses or short sleeves for men are fine), conservative clothing (shorts are great but not too, too short), hats are very important in this climate, light rain jacket, walking pants, comfy sweat shirt and pants for hanging around in the evening.
Please Bring Gifts for the Children: (we will make a stop to buy some items on the way to SOTH) Also, please bring a couple of stuffed animals for the kids at Abatex. I will check on the number of kids, but if you can, please fit 3 or 4 in your bag that would be great. I know that this is short notice, so no worries if you cannot do this. These can be hand-me-downs and gently uses stuffed animals of any size, but they must be cute, ha ha!
Gift Bag Items (bag size is only 6 by 9 inches, so keep these items small). There will be ones for younger boys and girls and older ones. They are growing up fast at SOTH, so keep this in mind!
Tooth brushes, combs, hair accessories, little toys, balls, cards, socks, games, books, underwear, bandanas, hackysacs, puzzles, games, flashlights, candy, gum, nail polish, pens, notebooks, pencils, markers, coloring books, small stuffed animals, bracelets, t-shirts and anything fun that you can think of! Please be prepared to make bags for around 60 kids. There are a few of the teachers kids there and I would rather have too many than too few. I have 70 bags and will use the rest for the teachers. I will provide something small for them as a gift from us.
Thank you all so much for participating in all of this! I have posted the itinerary below. It has not changed much since the last time. I may have a revised one once we arrive. Connex and Leah are the two social workers at SOTH. They will be there to assist us and they are officially in charge while we are at SOTH. Tay Nathan (minister and father to all of the children) will be there but he is very busy, so please go through me and/or Connex or Leah with requests. As many of you read in my Christmas letter, his wife Nay Ruth, just passed away in November. It is still a very difficult time for the children and staff at Shepherd. For those who knew her, please share something about Ruth (if inspired) at one of our gatherings!
Remember that this is a Christian orphanage. There is no smoking and refrain from drinking alcohol in the presence of the children.
ITINERARY:
Tuesday, May 2nd:
Arrive in Manila and check in at the Elan Hotel. I know that some of you will arrive very late and that is okay. Phil, Kim and I will be at the hotel, so if you arrive early, feel free to email me. Otherwise, I will see all of you in the morning. I will be down at breakfast by 9 a.m.Wednesday, May 3rd:
8-10:00 a.m. Breakfast at the Elan Hotel. Some of you have breakfast included with your room. You can also purchase a breakfast ticket at the front desk later.
10:00: Meet in the lobby of the Elan Hotel at 10. Bring your Release Form if you have not given to me already. Please bring your stuffed animal donations for the kids too. Bring only a small bag or back pack (with sunscreen, hand sanitizer, drinking water, copy of you passport (leave original in the safe or at the front desk), hotel key, light jacket/ umbrella, camera, etc…). AAI (through the continued efforts of Cheryl Robinson) is providing a McDonald’s lunch and fun activities for the children at Abatex. We will participate in music and games with the kids too. Riza will provide a lunch for AAI members afterwards.
2:00: Transportation back to the hotel in Manila. This could take up to an hour depending on traffic. The traditional market is open across the street until 8 p.m. This is a fun, cultural experience, as well as a good place to buy small gifts, etc. Many of you will be tired from traveling, so once we return to the hotel, it is free time. There is a mall with lots of shopping and restaurants across the street from the hotel. It is an upscale, tourist area and safe to go at night (it is always a good idea though to go with two or more). If I have neglected to mention this already, the Philippines is a safe place and the people are very kind. But like any big city, do not wear expensive jewelry and be aware of your surroundings.
One final note about the trip to Abatex on Wednesday the 3rd. If something goes wrong with your flights and you are delayed a day, don’t worry! Please just send me an email: chris@equityutah.com. When you do finally arrive, please leave me a note/message at the front desk. As many of your are aware, our sleep patterns are difficult on the other side of the world, so please do not call the room unless it is an emergency. I will check with the front desk periodically for messages. If you have missed us on our trip to Abatex, you can just relax and join us when we leave for SOTH early the next morning.
Thursday, May 4th
7 a.m. Breakfast at the hotel. Connex and some of the children from SOTH will come to the hotel to greet us! We will all check out, bring luggage to the lobby and be ready to leave at 8 a.m.8 a.m. Bus leaves for Shepherd of the Hills Children’s Foundation (SOTH)!
The bus ride to San Antonio Zambales takes about 4 hours. There are plenty of stops, so don’t worry. We will spend one hour at the Olongapo Shopping Center. For those of you who are not checking luggage and are not bringing small gifts from home, this is where we can buy most of the items for the children’s gift bags.1 p.m. Arrive at SOTH, Welcome Lunch.
2:00: Community Building and Painting Project
This activity will include the children from the neighborhoods around SOTH. This a fun project where we are each assigned a table with 6 to 8 children. We help them mix colors, write their names and clean up spills. At the end, we display the artist’s work for all to see. This is a very special time for the kids, and for us, to experience all of theses wonderful creations!
During this time, my focus will be “Community Building.” Tay Nathan has asked me and AAI to help make his vision of offering music, art and theater to the community children a reality. I will be taking pictures of the kids, and my daughter Kim will help me by writing down information about them and their families. As many of you know, we have a very successful sponsorship program in place now. I am happy to say that all of the children at SOTH have sponsors. My focus (and our project) this trip is to start a program and help raise money for Tay Nathan and and his extended family: SOTHMAS.
4:00 p.m: Creative Time: Theatre and Music
Puppet Show: Karen, Lucy and Jade will work on a puppet show with 4 to 6 children.
Music and Song: Uncle Philip will teach a song to 4 to 6 kids who already play the guitar. Heather may have a song in mind too to teach the kids at this time?
Theatre: Kim will need a volunteer or two to help her create a scene from a play. She will also need several kids to participate in this activity.
Everyone is welcome to get involved with these projects! We will need a volunteer or two to keep things organized and focused. There is also a possibility of creating a dance (Megan, Hugo, Heather, Casey and Monica), so let me know if you have any ideas? If you do, please bring music with you along with choreography ideas. Brian will teach juggling, ha ha (just kidding unless you know how to do that??).
6:00: Dinner
7-10 p.m. Free time!
Friday, May 5th
7 a.m. Breakfast8 a.m. Visit local market with Mobi (the orphanage dog).
10 a.m. Leave on our excursion with the young children on the big bus to Olongapo and have a Mc Donald’s party form 11-12:30.
1 p.m. A movie with the younger kids. This will be their first time in an actual movie theatre!!
4:00 p.m. Movie with the teens. This will be a long day of movies, but there are too many children and age groups to fit them into one time frame. Many of these kids have not been in a theatre. They have never seen snow either, so if anyone can bring some (ha ha) let me know…..
7:00: Dinner with the older Kids in a nice restaurant. This is a special request of Uncle Brian and he offered to contribute a bit extra to make this happen. Thanks Brian!
8:30: Transportation back to SOTH
Saturday, May 6th
7:00: Breakfast
8:00: Leave for Canoe Beach Resort
9:30: Coastal Clean Up (my favorite activity)
10:00-12:00: Swimming at beach and/or pool with the children.
Please remember to wear a cover-up over or shorts over your bathing suits. Thank you.12:00: Lunch
1:00-3:00: Games
This is great fun! We play all kids of games: tug of war, potato sack races, ball games, etc…
Monica, please bring the game that you suggested to play during this time!
4:00: Bus to SOTH
6:00: Dinner
7:00-10:00: Fellowship, free time with kids, movie
Sunday, May 7th
7:00: Breakfast
9:00: Church Service (please wear something a bit dressier than usual).
11-12: Fellowship
12:00: Lunch
1:00-5:00: Practice puppet show, play scene, guitar music, etc… with kids. Make and bake pizzas, cookies and butterscotch. For those who do not bake, join me and some of the older boys for a hike across the river and up the mountain. I have made it to the waterfall and it is a worthy endeavor! Watch out for the water buffalo, they are tethered but some have very long lines. They seem more curious than anything….
6:00: Dinner
7:00: The Big Event: Our Last Night Program. The children will provide a farewell show and we will present out puppet show, play scene and music!
9:00 Bonfire (Bring marshmallows if you can and remember to refrigerate them once you arrive at SOTH). If you are really adventurous, bring all of the s’mores stuff…..
Monday, May 8th
6: 00: Sunrise River walk (another one of my favorite activities).
8:00: Breakfast
9:00: Fellowship and Farewells…
10:30: Bus leaves for Manila (have a tissue in hand!).
Thank you all for being a part of this! We will have a wonderful time once again with the children, teachers and staff at Shepherd of the Hills Children’s Foundation. This is our extended family and a place we call home!
See you soon. Please feel free to call or email me with any questions. I am out of the country this weekend in São Paulo, so email me with questions or call Monday through Thursday next week: chris@equityutah.com or 801-718-4791.
Peace Love and a BIG Hug to you ALL,
Auntie Christine
