Mission Trip to Manila

Here are some details about the trip. My roles are highlighted in yellow. What a coincidence! My fav colour! Must be a sign from God...

1, Objectives:

• Leadership training & to growing the heartbeat for the Great Commission & missions
• To support and bless Hope Manila, Alvin & Jace and the local community

2, Roles

Nilla Team leader

Florence Assistant team leader, administrator

Judith Food/logistics manager

Myrna Worship coordinator, human GPS

Paul Financial manager, human GPS

Allan Creative director, first aider, translator

Shaun Fellowship coordinator

Hani Local communication

(Point 3 not related, so it was removed)

4, Things for you to take notes of:

• Please adjust the flight time if possible, as most of the team members will arrive around 10am – 10:30 am on 08 Dec. Also on 15^th Dec, most of the team will leave after 5pm, but if you can’t change this, that shall be fine
• QT (Quiet time) arrangement – Please refer to the highlighted session of the itinerary
• Fellowship with the committees of CCM Philippines on 11^th Dec (Sunday), after church. Main purpose of this is to fellowship and exchange ideas and experience with CCM Philippines. Shaun to be in charge of this, please prepare some materials as a showcase of CCM Monash or even CCM Melbourne. E.g.: 20 Photos of CCM events, sample brochures, videos, etc. (Brisbane side will prepare some materials from our end)
• We have arranged accommodation (renting 2 apartments), it will cost around $85 per person for the whole trip if you join us.
• We will prepare some gifts and possibly love offer for Hope Manila & its 2 sister churches, as well as Alvin and Jace. We will have a love offering session during a combined Sub-D LG this week. But I foresee that the team may need to top up a bit for all the costs.
• Budget: To prepare at least AUD $350 for the whole trip, please do the money exchange before the trip. We will have a team common fund which we will use to spend on things that the team share together. E.g.: Transport, food, drink, etc.

5, Proposed mission trip itinerary

Date and Day	Morning	Afternoon	Evening
08-Dec (Thursday)	Arrive in Manila	Short Orientation (Do's and Dont's)	Team Session / Prayer and Rest PIC: Nilla
09-Dec (Friday)	QT (PIC: Paul) Pamantasan High School Laguna	Visiting and blessing the less fortunate families	Team Session / Lifegroup PIC: Paul
10-Dec (Saturday)	QT (PIC: Myrna) Meeting Alvin and Jace, together we travel to the meeting place for carolling performance, short preaching and gifts distribution to poor families	Workshop about P&W with Hope Manila	Team Session / Lifegroup PIC: Myrna
11-Dec (Sunday)	QT (PIC: Florence) Sunday Service	Workshops and fellowship with CCM Philippine​s committees headed by Renee PIC: Shaun	Team Session / Prayer Meeting PIC: Florence
12-Dec (Monday)	QT (PIC: Allan) Pamantasan High School in Pasig	Prayer walk/Evangelism	Team Session / Meeting PIC: Allan
13-Dec (Tuesday)	QT (PIC: Judith) Community work at Handicapped Center Lourdes (TBC)	Evangelism at Universities / Visiting church offcie (TBC)	Team Session / Meeting PIC: Judith
14-Dec (Wednesday)	QT (PIC: Shaun) Prayer walk/Evangelism	(With Alvin and Jace) R&R for sightseeing, shopping, fellowship and Rest
15-Dec (Thursday) Prison Ministry	QT (PIC: Nilla) (With Alvin and Jace and a local church) Performance, short preaching, and gifts distribution to around 500 prisoners (Details to be provided soon)		Leaving Manila

My first impression of the trip was that I was amazed at how quickly they have integrated me into the itinery. Furthermore, they saw that I was CCM president and immediately made in charge of the CCM fellowship session with Hope Manila. Needless to say, I was as cool as a cucumber in a pressure cooker.

Alvin and Jace were originally from Hope Brisbane, but they were called to lead hospital and prison ministries in the Philippines a few years back, so they left Hope Brisbane to start their own ministries. Everyone in my team (except for me) knew them really well. They currently reside/work in a bible college together. Jace is expecting, BTW.

Nilla was our fearless leader. She was ultimately in charge of the whole program. When we have questions over what is happening next, she is the first person to go. We really appreciate her extended periods of discussions with the various contacts to solidify the upcoming plans. This means that the actual program in the end may be completely different. This also means we sometimes had to wait for nearly an hour for her before we can go for dinner. She’s currently engaged, BTW.

Florence was the one who settled administrative stuff like the accommodations, gifts, etc. She is also multi-talented as she can play the keyboard and the guitar very well. She must be into music.

Judith is the unit leader of Allan, Florence, and Paul’s life group. She is a sincere and gifted speaker, being able to quote from the Bible and speak on spiritual topics fluently. She comes from Hong Kong.

Myrna is in the same life group as Nilla, with Nilla being the unit leader. I am guessing she leads worship in church and life group because she has a nice voice. She also sings the high notes in the carols we sing., as she seems to be the only one to reach them.

Paul was the treasurer. Every night, he would meticulously sort out payments and reimbursements, sorting out between the mission funds and pools for different finances. Ever since he arrived in Manila, he became addicted to the sweet dessert known as Halo-Halo. He's a cool guy.

Allan was our local translator. He translated what the locals said and he was also a Filipino. He enjoys singing and playing the guitar. He also is passionate about encouraging the locals and children with his life testimony. He reminded me of Antonius Thambrin who was previously from Hope Waverley.

I was the fellowship coordinator. As I looked back, I don’t think I actually did much fellowship coordinating with the exception of that CCM workshop on Sunday.

Now that the introductions are out of the way, I can now go on with the story...next time.