Orchestras and Orphanages

Today is my last day at my church, and my last day teaching children's church. I am going to miss these kids so much! I brought my laptop in and showed the kids pictures of the Philippines and the orphanage where I will be working. I hope they were able to understand at least a little of what I was telling them about my missions trip and the kids who I am going to help. Keep in mind my students are aged 4-6. Here is a little of how our conversation about my mission trip went.

Me: Do you know what an orphanage is?

Jackson: Oh I do. Its like when a bunch of people get together and they all play their instruments at the same time.

Me: Well actually that's an orchestra. An orphanage is where kids can live when they don't have any parents, or if their parents can't take care of them.

Kaden: I live in an orphanage!

Me: No Kaden, you live with your parents. I want to show you some pictures of the Orphanage I am going to be going to next week.

Marybeth: In Africa!

Me: Nope in the Philippines. Miss Jeri is going to Africa, I'll show you where that is too.

Kaden: I went to the Philippines once!

And so began our conversation of the Philippines, orphans and missions. The more pictures we looked at and the more we talked it became obvious that the little wheels inside their little heads were turning. They were very interested in this place I was going and begged me to bring them back pictures of giant whales and sharks.

Next week, when I get to the Philippines I'll be meeting new little ones to chat with and care for. Though I haven't been there yet, I know that there is one thing I can count on: Kids are kids no matter what side of the planet you are one. I hope that spending time with the kids there will remind me of the kids here and be little a little glimpse of home.

I will be on my way in three days. I can't believe how close it is! Luckily I am not too nervous yet. It still feels distant, even though it is only a few days away. Please pray for me these next few days as I am getting ready to leave. I still have many friends and family to tell goodbye. Wednesday, my family will begin the Road trip to Orientation. Then Thursday at 2:30 it all begins!

I want to thank you all again for the love, support and prayers! If you have anything that the girls and I can pray for this summer please let me know. I would love to put a list of prayer requests together for the summer.

Later,

Brittany

"Look around at the nations; look and be amazed! For I am doing something in your own day, something you wouldn't believe even if someone told you about it." Habakkuk 1:5 NLT

P.S. If you ordered my book and don't have it yet let me know. I have two more here that I need to give to people but other than that everyone should have theres. Also I have a few extras if you want one but didn't order one.

One last week

Hi there! It's 11pm and most of us are ready to jump into bed after a long Monday. But, for the children of the Open Door Orphanage it's 12 pm on Tuesday and they are already half way through their school day.

I hope all of you are having a happy Monday! I am. I spent my day with my cousin Kate, one of my favorite 2 yr. olds. As I cared for her all day I couldn't help but think of the kids that I will be meeting and caring for in just over two weeks! I cannot wait to meet them and see what God has planned for this summer.

I have quite a big praise today as well: I have almost all the funds I need for my trip! With the money I have now and a scholarship thank I will hopefully be getting this week I will have enough to pay for my trip. Thank you God! You are great! And thank you to all the friends and family who helped me out! I love you and couldn't have done it without you.

This is my last full week in the states for awhile. Tomorrow I am heading to the grocery store to get what I need for my trip, food, a pair of shoes, hand wash and all. It is hard to believe that I am so close to going that I am doing my last minute shopping. I got my suitcase out Saturday and have officially begun packing! In addition to stuff for the trip I get to see my little sister's gymnastics routine tomorrow and say goodbye to some friends I am really going to miss.

On Wednesday I am sharing where I am going with the kids at church. It will be my last sunday with those kids. Say a prayer that it will go well!

The last thing I have to share is a prayer request: That I will be able to handle the extreme heat. It got to about 85 degrees today and I was thinking it was pretty hot. However in the Philippines it is often much closer to 95 or 100 degrees. Just about everything about the Philippines is going to be different from my life here, but the heat is one thing I am dreading already.

I'll talk to you later,

Brittany

The details!

Hello Everyone!

I wanted to take a minute to share some of the details of the trip with you!

Here they are:

Location: San Pablo City, Philippines.
Island: Luzon
Area (like a state): Laguna

San Pablo City is often known as the city of seven lakes, because of the many lakes in the area.

The Philippines is composed of over 7,000 islands.

It is located in Asia, to the right of Vietnam, above Indonesia, and kind of below Japan.

I will be staying at Open Door Baptist Church.

Open Door Baptist Church operates Open Door Orphanage, Open Door Christian Academy, Street Children, and Feed the Hungry ministries. I will hopefully be a part of all of these ministries.

The orphanage website where you can see where I am staying

I will live and eat with the children in the Orphanage everyday.

Every day I will be working in the school. Every evening I will be working in the Orphanage.

Monday is my day off so look for updates on Mondays!

There are about 40 orphans in the home right now and one completely blind woman.

Nehemiah teams is sponsoring and coordinating this trip.

The Philippines are 13 hours ahead of our time.

Right now it's 1pm EST and 2am in the Philippines.

In the Philippines it is the rainy season and often very hot and humid.

They eat lots of rice, fruit and seafood.

There will be four other college aged missionaries with me: Grace Ramos, Chelsea Neal, Brea Jones, and Levi Weeks.

And my schedule for the trip:

June 3rd: Training begins in Rainsville, Alabama.
June 8rd: The whole team flies together to Manila, Philippines.
June 10th: We arrive in the Philippines.
July 30th: We leave the Philippines and arrive back in Alabama for debrief.
August 3rd at 3:40: I arrive home in Cincinnati

That's all I can think of right now, but if you have any questions let me know!

My Summer Home!

Hello Everyone! I hope you are having a good Tuesday night, I am so far! I wanted to take a minute and share with you how things are going with the trip. Finally, I am able to share with you my summer address! Here it is:

Brittany Bradshaw

c/o Open Door Baptist Church

P. O. Box 29

4000 San Pablo City

Philippines

On Monday I was able to purchase my plane tickets! I have been working towards this goal for quite some time and it feels amazing to finally have the tickets in hand! Now I didn't do this on my own, and I want to take a minute to thank all of my friends and family who helped me get my tickets. THANK YOU!!!!!!!

On Sunday I was able to speak to two churches about my trip. First, Hillsboro Baptist Church, who are so nice and I cannot wait to share with them everything I do while in the Philippines.

Second, my church had a Commissioning Service for me on Sunday night. I'm not use to being the center of attention, but it was a great experience and I loved all the prayers and support I received.

Also, if you ordered a book, they are ready. I got some of them in the mail and handed out at church, but if you don't see yours soon let me know!

Hopefully I will be able to send out some more information tomorrow! This is all the time I have for tonight!

Love,

Brittany

A blog for my mission trip!

Hello Everyone! I decided to create a blog for my mission trip. I have been sending out emails and will continue to do so but by creating a blog I can post all the information her and refer people to it instead of having to continually add new people to my email list, and anyone who wants can look up this info! Of course you can still reach me by email and I love hearing from you all!

In case you are reading this for the first time, I am going on a mission trip to the Philippines this summer. I will be working in the Open Door Orphanage, Academy and other ministries that Open Door operates. Please pray for me as I prepare for this exciting and life changing trip!

-Brittany