Has it almost been an entire weeK?

So I've decided it's the little things while here that cause me to pause and reflect. Little things like storm clouds and an 11 year old boy going, "Jesus let it rain". Helping a little boy and his sister onto a swing and then giving them a push as they laugh and giggle- she's of about 9 or 10 and my guess is she'd never been on a swing that went so high. The things like 20 some children all singing in unison praising their Father in Heaven. "We have called you, and you have answered- then they belt out at the top of their lungs, "He who Rescued us"- we want to be near you." You can feel more of God's presence among these children than you normally feel in a crowded congregation of people Sunday morning at church. Their hearts are most sincere- these kids have the amount of faith and knowledge most of us hope to achieve in our lifetimes- and they mean every word they sing to their Savior- who has not only rescued them spiritually but also physically and emotionally from the street.
Well little do these children know that I've got such great "kid expertise" and that's how I made my way through college! There are a few that have tried and tested my patience- and they learned the hard way- exactly what that gets them- long amount of time setting facing a corner- in the middle of the day while everyone else enjoys their Friday afternoon! Needless to say- today they didn't test me, and neither did the rest of the kids (I think word got around!!) So that's great news for me- now the kids mind- at least for now...
We haven't been able to sneak away and get into the streets yet. But we hope to go Monday. We had it all arranged for Friday- but what we didn't know is that the staff at the school and the children's home all went for an overnight get away and so that meant we all had full time jobs Friday. I took charge of P.E. for the day for all the kids. Yes- this has been a challenging thing to do and try to assist the teacher with because the kids run around and yell and don't mind and are crazy- BUT they met "teacher Tessa" and most of the problem children discovered what setting on the wall and watching PE was like- I think they'll be much more apt to listen next time! I mean- I don't mean to be "the mean one" but they have got to have respect- otherwise I will become very mean!
Learning how to go day by and and not necessarily push myself to the limit everyday is a little different- I've always done short term trips- where you squeeze in as much as possible in the time you have there. Not to say that I'm not making everything I can of each day I'm given here- but the pace is a little slower and laid back. If you go full steam all the way through- I would either be exhausted by the end- or just plain sick of doing what it is I am doing. I don't want this to become a job- but want to enjoy every single day I am here.
I also apologize for not having a better update- I really thought I'd make these everyday- but I haven't been getting home until late and it seems like the days have been rather draining.
I will say I'm still very excited about work that will take place outside the walls of the orphanage. We plan to do the following for starters:
-visit the community by the river and hand out sandwiches and play games
-plan a day of fun and snacks for the "rugby boys of Alaban" (the children and women whose fathers/husbands have pretty much abandon them to live on the streets- and they use a glue solvent=rugby- to sniff and get high.
-visit the dump site either at smokey mountain or cavite city- to do the same games and snacks as we are doing in Alaban
-start weekly games and activities for the children that live right outside the gate of the childrens home.
-visit other orphanages
-go on outreach nights with a prostitute ministry and invest and continue the ministry another couple of girls have done for the past month and are now leaving.
-Pray more and see where God leads.

Will update more soon.
Thank you to each and everyone that is checking the blog- writing me emails and most importantly- keeping me in your prayers!!
Tessa