Day Eleven: Monday 12th June- Church Outing

Monday started very early as we had to get up at 4:45am!!!!! (I still haven't recovered!) We were joining some of the members of CRBC on their church outing, to a place called Villa Lorenza, as it was Independance day. Everyone was meeting at the church at 6:30, (They like early mornings here!), as it takes just over an hour to get there and they wanted to spend as much time as possible there. So after everyone had eventually arrived we all piled into the minibuses, (it doesn't seem to matter how many seats there are, just squeeze in as many people as is comfortably possible!), and set off! Sarah and I were in the front, (there are two passenger seats in the front), with Sarah in the seat with the seatbelt and me in the one without!! Fortunately I trust Ate Fae's driving! On the way we drove past increasingly few buildings as we moved out of the main city and into a more rural, farming type area, replacing the shops and houses for rice fields and shacks.
At the villa we all congregated in a raised hut type thing next to a swimming pool for a time of worship and fellowship. We sang a few hymns and Pastor Mon read from the Bible, and spoke to us about the importance of spending time with your fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. (At least I think that's right, he was speaking in Tagalog, so I didn't understand the whole thing!)
Then everyone went off to do different things, with most people, including Sarah and Richard, heading off to one or another of the four or five swimming pools that there was there.
As some people had discovered that Richard is a lifeguard he was bombarded with requests for him to demonstrate his skills and teach various people how to swim! He was also challenged to a race by some of the other men, which of course, he won by miles as he swims like a fish!!!!!!
After a couple of hours it was time for lunch, which consisted of various dishes provided by different people and was shared out. There was even fish cooked on a grill at the villa! (with head and tail still on of course!) We weren't joined by cats for this meal, but by hundreds of flies, which was annoying because it took twice as long to eat as we had to keep swatting them away!
Then after a short rest it was back to the pools for the rest of the afternooon, with a short ice-cream break, until it was time to dry off and go home. We closed the day with a group photo and prayer.
The whole day was really enjoyable, and it was good to spend time with the people there, talking to them and getting to know them better!
On the way back there was a rather interesting incident when Ate Fae braked and I slid off my seat and into the dashboard!!!! I'm ok! Just a small bruise on my knee!
We also managed to go the wrong way once and had to ask for directions! So all in all it was an interesting journey back!
We were treated to a fantastic view as we came down off a hill we had just climbed, just before entering into the city- you could see buildings stretching out to the horizon almost.
Richard came back to the homes with us and we spent some time playing with the children before tea.
I discovered that I had gone a lovely shade of pink from sitting in the sun, mostly on my arms up to where my t-shirt sleeves came to, but also on the front of my legs! People here seem to think this is amusing as they only go a darker shade of what they already are, not bright pink!!
Well that's about it for Monday!
Cya soon!
Pixie xx
(or Becci for those of you who don't know me by that name!)