TRAVEL REPORT
Hi!
I'm Susanne, 28 years old and I live in Bayreuth. During my studies in Cologne I met Joana and knew: I definitely want to do a traineeship at buhay.
The arrival in Manila
As soon as I caught a glimpse of Manila from the plane, I felt butterflies in my stomach. An impressive sight that made me curious and excited at the same time.
The taxi ride to Sorrento gave me the first opportunity to process the many new impressions. The hot, humid air, the many colors and smells, the traffic chaos. On the streets of Manila, I immediately saw how close the rich and poor live here. Luxurious high-rise buildings stood right next to poor huts, and the people seemed to somehow manage to make do in this chaos.
When I arrived, I was given a warm welcome and gifts. On the very first day, I had the opportunity to meet the team at a kids' event. The children laughed, danced and sang, and I felt an incredible joy.
My time at buhay
The following four weeks were an intense and enriching time. I learned about Buhay's various projects and was able to immerse myself in many of them.
I especially remember the daily work with Meann and Kathrin. Every morning we cooked together for the school children whose parents couldn't afford lunch. Chopping vegetables together, chatting and laughing in the kitchen, all of that gave me so much joy. During these hours I not only learned a lot about the country and the culture of the Philippines, but we also exchanged ideas about our faith.
My personal highlight was taking part in the kids' events. We sang, danced together and encouraged the children with short biblical inputs. The language barrier was a challenge, especially with the younger children, but it was amazing how well we could communicate with our hands and feet.
A highlight of the week was the "Walk Mission". Once a week we packed bags full of food and water and set out to visit homeless people and extremely poor families in the area. It was a moving experience to talk to them, pray together and share food. These seemingly small gestures had a huge impact and often left me feeling ashamed.
In the silence & nature
A special time was our three-day trip to Tanay, a place in the mountains outside of Manila. I stayed in idyllic accommodation with Joana and the other two volunteers. Surrounded by palm trees and a beautiful landscape, we were able to enjoy nature, relax away from the hustle and bustle of the big city and recharge our batteries in God's presence.
Luckily, a team event was also taking place on the island of Mindoro during my stay. It was an incredible opportunity to experience the beautiful palm-lined beaches of the Philippines and to get to know the Filipino employees better. Here, too, we met families supported by Buhay and I was able to see how the help is actually being received.
During my time at Buhay, I experienced how God reaches people every day through His Word:
"My word will not return to me void, but it will accomplish what I please and it will succeed in the thing for which I sent it."
– Isaiah 55:11
For me personally, the time in Manila was intense and formative. I was so close to the suffering, hardship and injustice that it changed my perspective. I am incredibly grateful for the privileges and wealth in which I grew up. At the same time, however, I also developed a deep appreciation for life and the people here in Manila.
My time with God was also very intense during these weeks, as I was able to take more time than usual every day for silence with Jesus. Joana's spiritual teachings (devotions) gave me new inspiration and I enjoyed the opportunity to discuss spiritual topics with the team.
Looking back now, I can say: The weeks at Buhay challenged, touched and inspired me at the same time. I returned to Germany with a new perspective and a deep sense of gratitude. Thank you for the great time!