Day 6: Poo Big to Handle

Our Friday began the usual way with a traditional Filipino breakfast consisting of spam, eggs, some fruit and vegetables, and of course rice... a lot of it. It was then a long (and squishy) ride with chauffeur Pastor Earl to the Cebu City Women’s Prison. With a quick work out walking up what seemed to be the worlds steepest road and largest number of stairs, we arrived not knowing what awaited us inside.

We entered a small, overcrowded room with inmates clad in yellow and eager smiles, treated like celebrities in a room of women who don’t receive many visitors. After introductions and devotions, we witnessed the inmates’ worship followed by our not-so-good Australian bush song before sharing some church songs and carols together. It was surreal to see how music connected two cultures and two groups of people moving all those present in the room. Delivering bakery treats we began to meet the detainees. Very juxtaposing experiences were shared in the time at the prison, with some finding mutual ground in song and dance and some sharing meaningful and emotional conversations with the women. Regardless, this visit was one to be remembered and one to be cherished.

Next stop was lunch at Jolli-Bee before having some time at the hotel, dinner and heading out to the Church of God Youth Service where we sung and worshipped, as well as sharing a message with them. It was an amazing experience to connect with students of similar age and even have a little fun afterwards.

We couldn’t end today’s blog without the mention of a certain situation in Room 12’s bathroom. Details can’t be shared but can be left to the imagination, however we will give you some teasers: man power and a lot of air freshener was required. It was a very ‘crappy’ situation which was “poo big to handle.”

​Emily Ireland and Phebe Mills