#8537

Dear Friends,

After the discernment weekend is over, the MPO begins to place the young adults in various ministries around the world. Placing 27 or so young adults in those ministries based on their respective skill sets and hoping they correspond with the needs they may have, as the MPO puts it, "is an art not a science," and I must look rather abstract.

I'm a Certified Nursing Assistant with a lot of experience working in a Hospital, I have a Business degree, and experience working with youth and various different music ministries. So where do I end up? Where does that put me in the masterpiece that is YASC. In the Philippines of course!

8,537 miles from the upstate of South Carolina, lies Santiago City near Luzon which is on one of the 7,000 islands that make up the Philippines. The Philippines was a Spanish colony for more than three centuries until it was taken over by the US in the 20th century, and gained its own independence in 1946. The islands are spread over 115,831 sq miles and populated by about 96.5million people. Filipino and English are both official languages of the Philippines though their are 12 other languages that have official status on the regional level.

After having conversations with, what I've been calling "my handlers" at the MPO there are still some uncertainties with my placement. I will most likely be in Santiago City working with St. Mark's Episcopal church. They have various micro-finance projects that help locals get business loans to start their own businesses and help build a foundation for a stable and sustaining local economy. And I've heard from the YASCer who is there currently, they have a McDonald's that delivers. There is still a chance, however, that I end up in the southern Philippines working with some of the local farmers.

Wherever I end up, I have put it in God's hands, I'm trying to "let go and let God." I have prayed that wherever I may end up, it is his will, and I can serve God's people and see God's love in a new community.

Peace,
Kayla