I apologize for not being able to blog in the last 3 days, you can blame it on jet-lag, a busy schedule, and just the iphone typing fatigue. Now that I got a chance to type in a laptop, I think I'll try my best to catch you guys up to what has been happening here. 

Members of the Group in Nokuphila from the Philippines
1. Porferio "Dodong" Lagunday Jr.
2. Seth Esmeralda
3. Mark Cajegas
4. Arne Murillo
5. Florina "Florrie" Murillo
6. Ruth Rivera
7. Dominica "Minnie" Agno
8. Regina "Bongga" Agno
9. Aimee Grace Tapeceria 

note: Pastor Dodong is the Youth Director  - North Central Mindanao Conference and Pastor Seth is Youth Director of the Central Visayan Conference



Day 2 (part 4) - after the airport

We arrived in Nokuphila and got introduced to the kids before eating our lunch and going to the homes that adopted us for the week.  The video below was taken when we first arrived at Nokuphila... and the kids welcomed us. 

I'm roommates with Ate Regina Agno aka Bongga in the same house, and our house mother Auntie Gift (Gift really was her name) was nice enough to drive us to the nearby "Checkers" (the South African version of SM Supermarket, I think) to find an adaptor (from the 3 pronged SA to the 2 flats of the American/Phil plug) so that I could charge my now low-bat phone. We also got to meet Bontshi, Auntie Gift's daughter, who comes home late at night. 

Day 3 (Tues) - Orientation, play-time (with some shopping), and survey

We were fetched from our different homes and brought to Nokuphila to have breakfast. While eating we talked about how we could help the center. As we made some plans, we were able to talk to some of the Nokuphila's volunteers and staff about the objectives of the place. After that we went out, and played with the kids, and maaaan, were they energetic. They had songs, chants, games, and stuff that made me want to just observe and record to take home with me to AIIAS. 

After playing, we were brought to Carnival Mall so that our other groupmates could also buy adaptors for themselves... and where I was able to find Nando's Extra Extra Hot Sause. :D 

That afternoon, we went to the township (in the phil, its considered relocation sites for the poor), and together with the youth of the local church, we were able to talk to some of the poorer citizens of South Africa. A very insightful afternoon and one that served as an eye-opener not just for me, but for some of the young people there who realized that there is a mission field right in their backyard. 

Day 4 (Wed) - Games, Distribution of goods, and Sharing of Testimonies

I assisted Ate Bongga as she tried teaching the kids here in Nokuphila some songs we sing in the Philippines (check video below - teaching "It's a good thing to serve the Lord). Later, we played some parlor games such as egg catching and towel volleyball. 

Hope Channel came that day, but since the 2 of us were busy, the other delegates were interviewed, and also the group of delegates from New York (who had just arrived). They also shot us going back to the township and giving some goods to the parents of the kids in Nokuphila. 

Later, we headed back to the center, and there we had a little sharing time with the local youth, and the group from New York. Needless to say, i learned alot about the delegates in my group and in the others, especially when it came to the work of the Seventh-day Adventist church in their areas. 

1:50pm(MNL time) or 7:50am(SA time)


Standing in the winding lines of immigration, i now understand Ingrid's abhorence for the SA passport's line in immigration. (like those lines in EK's Space Shuttle when 10 schools decide to visit at the same time)

Finally, after 11 hours of flight and 18 hours of travel, we see the sun rise when we arrived at Johannesburg, just in time for us to get a glimpse of the scenery.

Oh, and so far, I'm not shivering (i'm not even wearing a jacket).

The president of the Seventh-day Adventist church speaks about the 2013 Impact South Africa event.

In 2003, the 1st trip I took outside the Philippines was to attend the 1st ever World Conference on Youth and Community Service a.k.a. Impact Thailand.  In 2007, I attended the 2nd one in Taiwan.  It was there, during the closing ceremony that they announced that the 3rd conference would be in South Africa. It was then that I decided to go. 

So, after 6 years... and on and off saving for this event... I will finally be attending the 3rd... but this time, in a country (South Africa) and continent (Africa) I've never been in... that a climate I've never had (winter).  But this time I would have a more significant part in the whole event than just a youth delegate. I will be singing with the praise team organized by the General Conference. So I will be taking you to some "behind-the-scenes" of the convention (if possible).