I fell in love with this place, the rickety old shacks, the filthy streets, the laughter of children outside the gate, the endless karaoke. The Philippines is where I come alive. I was first introduced to this soul mate of mine a few years ago on a trip called The World Race. It was the last stop of my 11 month, 11 country mission trip and I was nothing but renewed there. Just a few weeks ago Nick and I got to take a trip around Asia, you can read all about it here. Our first stop was the Philippines and that week ended up being more than I could have imagined.

We spent our time working with Kids International Ministry in Manila. It was one of the best ministries I’ve seen in all of my traveling around the world. They are reaching their community by every means possible. I remember Jeff, the missionary who started KIM told me the first day we showed up years ago that their goal was not to make us fit into their ministry but to use our gifts to reach their community and with that he presented the endless opportunities they offered. We spent our days out feeding the slum kids and sharing devotions, working in the nursery in the orphange, joining in with countless sports ministries, teaching the slum kids to swim, sharing the Word with groups of young girls, helping out at the birthing clinic, supporting the church in the trash mountain community and spending time with the ladies who run their on-site spa. I am incredibly obsessed with this place and these people and know that a major investment of our gifts and lives will be at this place.

I could write endlessly about all that they do and what they stand for and how they are truly impacting the lives of the people around them but I’ll let the photos tell the story!