Monday, March 29, 2010

Beginning, Middle and End

Tomorrow is officially my last day as an IJM Fellow. Instead, I have taken a position as the Clinical Director of "My Refuge House!" As most of you know, I've worked very closely with My Refuge House (MRH) for the past 9 months, training and developing their staff and writing protocol. Although I've very much enjoyed my time at IJM, I believe that I can do more good for the aftercare community in Cebu by taking this role and assisting the shelter to provide the best care possible for victims of trafficking.

I will be sad to leave IJM, I've grown very close to many of my co-workers here and enjoyed the work and the organization very much. But I'm excited to continue the partnership MRH has with IJM by taking on this role. I've committed to a two-year term, and I definitely covet your prayers as I move into this new role. If you would like to learn more about this organization please visit www.myrefugehouse.org and, of course, feel free to ask me any questions!

Thank you all for walking with me on this journey over the past nine months. I'm happy to say it hasn't ended yet! I hope you will continue to walk with me through the next two years as I collaborate with the MRH team to provide the best services and care possible to this vulnerable population.

Monday, March 15, 2010

Chatter

Here's an article that was written about me in September 2009. It was posted in "Chatter" which is a publication of Irving Bible Church.

http://www.chattermag.com/crystal-in-cebu/

Enjoy!

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

More Highlights


Some Highlights of my life in the past month...

Current Favorite Fruit: Mangostein

Current Favorite Cebuano Phrase: Pag-sure oi?! (Are you sure?!)

Favorite part of the past weekend: Borrowing a friend's motorbike and cutting my commute in half (there are essentually no rules for motorbikes, you can go around and through traffic and will always end up the first in line at the stoplights)

Most missed thing from the states: Mexican food

Most looking forward to: Jennifer (my wondeful co-worker from Fort Worth) coming to visit in April!

Most awkward moment: Being the candle-lighter in a wedding for someone I didn't know. My co-lighter wouldn't talk to me at first (he was "shy," a cultural phenomenon that occurs with 80% of people I meet), but then, when we starting walking, and for the rest of the ceremony, the 23 year old cousin of the groom wouldn't stop talking! There were seven bridesmaids and 7 flower girls. I've never seen so much pink satin in my life.

Lastest Island Adventure: Apo Island! 10 hour boat + 30 minute bus + waiting for 1 hour + 45 minute small boat= tiny island with no electricity and diving with sea turtles! Totally worth it :)

Saddest moment: When my camera shattered in the bottom of my bag and my MP3 player stopped working :(

Favorite work project: Managing 10 volunteers in the intake for the biggest IJM Cebu operation to date, and teaching Career Counseling to 30+ aftercare partners.