Day 17 – We had fertilised egg, we’re not yolking!

Our last day of ministry came to an end today.
Starting with another trip to Cebu prison, this time visiting the youth section. There were around 100 young guys, most aged between 15-18, who were all sitting and waiting for our arrival. We started off with singing ‘Days of Elijah’ and then continuing on to show our ‘Kapling’ skit. The guys really got into it and enjoyed our presentation. Then it was their turn to present for us; with a song and some mad beat boxing, which was awesome! After it was finished, our girls left to visit the female youth located upstairs, while the guys stayed; playing basketball (with Andrew blocking people left, right, and left again), watching dances and chilling with them. Being able to see guys our age in prison made us realise how real the poverty cycle is and how fortunate we are. It expanded our minds of the world.

Note from the girl’s side (by Tali):
After leaving the boys to play basketball, we were able to sit and chat with the girls from the youth prison but only through the window as they were not allowed out that day. The ice was quickly broken when one Filipino girl blurted ‘your nose is so big!’ and all of us enjoyed a short time of singing random songs and just hanging out. On a more serious note, many of us found it confronting to see girls our own age in prison and some with children of their own. Overall, it was a great experience.
 
We said our goodbyes to the prison and headed down the mountain for our last time. A bit down the mountain we took a pit stop at a bakery and shared some Mountain Dew, sweet bread and had “more than pretty good, they were incredible” donuts (quote Andrew).
Though the joy and happiness of one fellow customer at the bakery, was short lived and took an awkward turn. He was sitting in a booth behind a few of our team, by himself minding his own business, munching away at a sweet roll. According to witnesses, he was loudly allowing gases to escape from his body through the oesophagus (burping), when suddenly the young woman (Sarle) sitting with her back towards him, turns around and full on yells “Ewww!” in his face, believing it was fellow team member Andrew. Laughter erupted around the incidence, and the embarrassing moment turned into a good memory.
 
We then visited a Chinese temple on the hillside, having a gander at the architecture and view from the top. The view was incredible, being able to see Lapu-Lapu city from a distance. The steep steps, after a long morning, made everyone quite tired so we took the bus back after a short enough visit.
 
Last dinner at COG consisted of deep fried chicken, cooked veggies, classic rice, pawpaw, and even a fresh green salad and tortilla chips. Dinner was rad. We got to meet and thank the cook for all her efforts and meals. Then, to our surprise, we received two massive ‘Thank You’ cakes from the COG team, which we all really appreciated.
 
Farewells were exchanged and we left for the motel, just chilling, in wait for Pastor Earl to swing by to thank us again. He came by, gave a touching speech, then he shared a Filippino delicacy that “we could not leave the Philippines without trying”: Balut. He surprised us by coming prepared with salt and his special sauce: chilli, garlic, ginger and vinegar. By the way: ‘Balut is a developing bird embryo that is boiled and eaten from the shell’. Much to our relief, Earl had brought 5 eggs so we had to share and not get a full one each. Most of us had a mouthful of the ‘delicacy’, finding the taste different and interesting… No one threw up, thankfully. Everyone appreciated the new experience.
 
That concluded the last night in Lapu-Lapu city.
 
Tag Team Tuesday (TTT)
- Josh & Sweeden feat. Tali