Below is an email I just received from Marie and the team over in the Philippines now:

Hello all, I am just getting a chance to sit and let you know that we arrived.  The arrival trip went very smoothly but was exhausting. It was a 12 hour flight from Chicago to Tokyo - got old and no one slept all that much.  We all slept on the floor of the Tokyo airport until it was time to leave for Manilla.The girls are doing very well.  We were all out of it on the first day here.  All the girls have dealt with jet lag at different times - sleeping for long periods of time.

Meg had a cough when we left and Laura listened to her lungs and heard a little gunk in there.  After a day or so we went to get antibiotics and started her on those just so nothing progresses.  You can purchase antibiotics w/o prescription.

Of course everyone stares at us.  Kate seems to be the favorite.  All the kids come to the door asking for Kate.  She and Meg have played in the streets with the kids - playing their games etc.  If we were here for a longer period they would pick up the language the fastest.  Today kate came out in the afternoon and 20 so so kids gathered around her - it took her about 2 minutes to ask to go back inside “they are surrounding me” she cried - it is alittle much for a 6 year old to be in such demand.

Many people are barely making it here… if you can call going for 1-2 days with nothing to eat - “making it”.  It is very hard to take.  One thing when the person is a story half way around the world - another when they are in front of you, you talk with them and they bring food to the church “potluck” held in your honor.   The Lord is teaching me and i cannot relay all of it to you - it would take too long.  It is hard. I want to fix it - i can’t - God can… but do i truly believe that he will?
Jun and Laura are so wise in this area and are very strong in not jsut giving things out - that may help temporarily but may hurt them in the long run…..and that more than anything people need love and to know that they are important…..

and so we are loving them - we have done some specific things so far but i will not expand on that….it is enough to say that we are loving the people the very best we can.

On a lighter note - Jun is really great - I cannot describe him in words.  He is a chef and so we are eating really amazing dishes (how do you enjoy when you know that others are not eating?)  It is hard. 

It is very warm and humid - the worst Omaha days amped up.  Trying to keep drinking - the cold showers are no problem but a blessing.

thanks for your prayers  -  hope to write again - maybe not so heavy

much love
marie - for all the vasey’s

Hey all -

Here’s a great article on the North Hills Vineyard and Life Center written by Samaritan’s Purse > http://www.samaritanspurse.org/MP_Article.asp?ArticleID=153 

Check it out when you get a chance and praise God for what He’s doing in the Philippines! This makes me even more stoked to be working with Laura and Jun this summer.

Welcome to the Omaha Vineyard Mission Blog! This is where you’ll find the latest and greatest info about the upcoming short term trips that the O.Vineyard will embark on this summer.

This year poses a big and exciting challenge… count ‘em…. THREE …. cross cultural trips this year > Africa, Columbia and the Philippines. Yes -we know this sounds completely insane but this year is all about “God, wherever you want us to go.”  And these 3 countries came to the forefront. Please click on each link to find out more about each country, what God is doing there and how you can help!

Feel free to take a look around and post comments. Also, stay tuned to this blog for current updates and prayer needs.