First Week: Travel, Typhoons and being a Teacher

Well I've been in the Philippines for just a little over a week now and I think it's about time for a blog post. It'll be a long one, since I've been slacking in my blogging so far. Here's what I've been doing all week. Monday was spent in the air and in airports; since I crossed the international date line at some point I actually landed in Manila on Tuesday night after leaving New York on Monday morning. In the airport I was picked up by Fray, an employee of the church here in the Philippines and an excellent friend and guide. Manila is a fantastic city. It reminds me of New York City, except in Manila I would be much too afraid to jay walk, and the people in the stores are much more polite. I only spent a few days in Manila, and one of them was lost to jet-lag, as I settled down for a nap and ended up sleeping all day, an accident I've repeated once or twice since. Mostly in Manila I wandered around the lovely grounds of the Church center, an island of greenery in the busy metropolis, and sat in the Starbucks down the block, trying to get used to people calling me "Sir".

 The Episcopal Church Center in Manila. By the way, there are dogs everywhere 

 Filipinos are good at Graffiti 

Metro Manila peaking up from behind the trees of the church center 

On Thursday evening I was sitting in Starbucks when it started raining, the kind of downpour I associate with short summer storms back home. I tried to decide whether I should get wet or try to wait it out, and after about 20 minutes decided to just get wet. It continued for four days. This, I would learn, was Typhoon Mario. The next day Fray drove me through it for the six hour drive to Baguio, through the flooded streets of Manila and the rain soaked roadside towns where children sat with fishing poles to catch tilapia in the rising swampland. So my first introduction to Baguio was to a grey city with water running in streams down the hilly streets.

 Typhoon Mario flooding the streets and yards of Manila

Long rainy drive

I have since found Baguio to be a beautiful city. Brightly colored houses crowd each other on the steep hillsides, overlooking the steep and narrow streets where brightly colored jeepneys (a kind of public transportation looking like a stretched out jeep, driven with the aggression and abandon of a NYC cabbie) battle for space with cars, motorcycles and pedestrians. Wherever there is a break in the slightly ramshackle buildings one can see lovely views of the Cordillera highlands.

I am staying now in the Easter College Hotel, in one of the four rooms maintained by the School of Hospitality. I haven't started teaching yet, that will begin on Monday. This week is intermurals for the high school department (Easter College has an elementary department, high school, and college) so yesterday was a pep rally and field day, and today and tomorrow is given over to ball games. I was asked to judge the cheering competition, which was truly impressive. Each class had planned and choreographed their own cheer, complete with matching shirts, and painted arms and faces. The theme for this year was super heroes, so I was privileged to watch the classes being led in their cheers by Wonder Woman, Hulk and Batman, among others. Since that introduction to the school it has been my pleasure to walk out of my room in the morning to be greeted by groups of students saying "good morning sir"

So that's all for now, mostly I've been exploring Baguio, sitting in the canteen drinking coffee, and practicing the guitar. Next week will be challenging as I begin my teaching for real, but I am excited for it to start, and it seems that the students are too, I've been approached by several of them asking when I'm going to start and if they'll be allowed to join.

These lovely people have been showing me around

Of course I would be remiss if I didn't mention that I'm still fundraising. Any amount donated is greatly appreciated, checks can be sent to Mission Personnel, attn Yanick Fourcand at 815 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10017.

Thank you and blessings from Baguio!

Hello friends,

I think it's time for an update. I'm still in the U.S.A, working hard at my fundraising, and starting to realize that I need to worry about doctors, shots, papers, and learning some Tagalog. The fundraising is going well, I'm getting close to 50% of my goal, $10,000. I have been so blessed by the kindnesses of the churches and individuals in my diocese, it makes me realize how much like a family the church is, full of aunts and uncles and cousins who want to help me share that love. I'm trying to start now, but I can't wait until I'm there.

Anyway way, where's there? what am I doing? I will be in Baguio City in the Philippines. Baguio is on Luzon, the largest island, about 6 hours north of Manila, in the mountains. In Baguio, I will be a teacher at Easter College, an Episcopalian run-secondary school, which is to say high school level. I taught Sunday School for a season, and I've had music students, but I really wouldn't say I've ever been a teacher. Still, there was a time when some of my friends called me "Professor", and I'll admit I enjoyed it. I enjoy telling people that I'm going to be a teacher. After all, the disciples called Jesus teacher, I figure it's a good thing to be. I can't wait to learn from my students. It seems to me that learning to teach someone is just learning how to communicate, learning all you can about their lives and minds. And isn't that the whole point?

Here's some pictures of Baguio from the internet.

In missionary training we did a daily bible study in the mornings. One day we tackled the story of Jesus walking on water. I don't have my bible handy, so I'll paraphrase,

"The disciples were in a boat, and a storm picked up. They looked out and saw Jesus walking on water, they were understandably freaked out, but Jesus said 'Don't be scared! I"m not a ghost'. So Peter got out of the boat to try walking on water, and it totally worked! But then he started to sink, so Jesus pulled him out and said 'if you hadn't doubted you wouldn't have sunk'."

I feel that I have a pretty good idea of how this story should go. Peter should have sunk, and swum back to the boat disgraced. The other disciples would have tried to see if they can do better, and whoever walked furthest would be Jesus's Next Top Disciple. That is not what happens. Jesus pulls Peter out, and says, "You of little faith, why did you doubt?" (I found my bible). So it was only Peter's doubt that sunk him, neither his worthiness or the power of Jesus are in question, only the strength of Peter's belief. 

I see myself in Peter, taking my first shaking steps out of the boat with my decision to serve with YASC, and feeling the support of the diocese and YASC under my feet. And then I start to sink, as doubts about whether or not I'll be able to meet my fundraising goal plague me. Sinking, I feel Jesus' hand in the form of donations from throughout the diocese, from old friends and from new friends and even from perfect strangers, all wanting to be a part of God's work.

We are all here to do God's work, and are given the power to do it. The only thing which can ever stop us is ourselves, our lack of faith. That is true and will always be true, but it is harder than it sounds. Jesus knows a platitude when he hears one, so he is always there to pull us out when we need it. You just have to get out of the boat. 

So I would like to thank everyone who has contributed so far. Please understand that you are giving more than just money, you are extending a hand of support, and you are joining God's mission.

Also if you'd like to donate, contact me at davidholtonharp@gmail.com, or send checks to 815 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10017, attention of Yanick Fourcand.
Thank you, and blessings

An introduction

My name is David Holton, I'm 22 years old. Brown hair, pale skin, small build and frequently bearded. I hail from the suburbs outside of New York City, am a harpist, and my favorite cartoon is the Pinky and the Brain.

I think that's enough bio. In the fall I will be travelling to Baguio in the Philippines as part of the Young Adult Service Corps. I continue to exist in a state of nervous excitement, nervous because I still feel very uninformed about what I'll be doing and how to go about doing it, excited because this all is a dream come true. My dad has been asking me for a concise summary of why I want to serve with YASC. So far this is the best I've come up with,

"The world is getting smaller, nations are jostled together like commuters in a crowded subway, everyone in each others space and everyone annoyed. I want to be a friendly smile in that subway, connecting with the individuals which make up a nation, and being a force for world peace through individual friendship."

The personal connections start in this country though. I am attempting to raise $10,000 to help fund this trip, the number is scary, but the number of people who have already started to help is a true blessing. I am travelling as a representative of the Episcopal Church and of the USA, a representative for you all, and as people donate money I feel a community being built around me. I will not be travelling alone, I go surrounded by the love and well-wishes of everyone who gives money, or prayers, and who stays abreast of my life via this blog and the letters I will send. So please, if you feel called to, donate some money to my trip. Checks can be written out the the DFMS (Domestic Foreign Mission Society) with YASC and David Holton written in the memo line, and sent to me at 91 Greenwood Lane, White Plains NY 10607. Please send your prayers as well, and continue to follow the blog! I've always wanted to be writer, I'm excited to have something to write about!

Peace,
David