A bit of a step down.

For those of you who do not know, I drive a 600cc CBR Honda Crotch Rocket when I am in the states. This is just to give some reassurance to the stories below…
I have been provided with a 100cc Honda automatic motorcycle for the time I am here. It has been a little difficult getting used to the fact that there is no clutch and all four gears you have to shift down instead of up… Several times today I would go to down shift and actually end up in third or fourth gear, making me bogg down and not actually move anywhere… I understood very fast each time and was able to correct my mistakes. Most of the roads here are that I have been driving on are kind of gravel… not so much gravel as small boulders. I run into a lot sandy spots or roads that are covered in limestone. I have been warned that Limestone feels like ice once it gets really wet. It hasn’t been raining here at all yet. In Manila they are experiencing issues with flooding.
The first thing I did on my new ride is head to the market. I was able to purchase some more fruits and veggies. However, I still get pretty nauseous from the smell of the different kinds of meat. I really appreciate the women who stand by and shoo the flies… yet I am still not so sure I will buying my own meats.
I did get lost for about 20 minutes. I thought certain places were familiar, but a lot of the things look the same. There are many churches, basketball courts, pot holes… it is hard to tell if you are on the right track. I did eventually find my way.
I met many new Deaf today at the Deaf church. It was quiet an experience and I am excited to attend each Sunday. Also there is a staff bible study here that I have been invited to join. I am very excited to be involved in all of this.
Dennis asked me if would like to have a spot on the website writing about my experiences and taking pictures to go along with it. So I am preparing for what to write that will help better the organization as a whole. They have had some bad experiences with volunteers in the past and they are no longer to willing to accept volunteers. He said I was pretty lucky because they haven’t been accepting anyone recently. I hope to change that perspective.
I will be paying for the bungalow I am staying in as well as the gas for my motorcycle and all the food I will eat. I am not so sure I have enough to cover my finances but I will continue to be faithful. If any of you are able or feel like you may be able to help support me I would greatly appreciate it. I will be updating often as well so you know what to pray for me about.
Speaking of prayer requests…
I had some work done on my teeth right before I left and my dentist reassured me that it would be fine. Several times already I have had some severe pain in the teeth he worked on. I have been just praying and the pain goes away. Please pray that this will subside all together.
When I am on this mortorcycle (pictures to come) I do not have a very good helmet( it is a bicycle helmet) I wear my flip flops, shorts and probably my tank top. I will also be expected to ride in the rainy Filipino wheather… this I am not used to. The license test I will be taking seems to be pretty easy. In the states it took me a year and a half before I would take the test. However, here you have to pee in a cup and take a blood pressure test. That is it. I am not sure what they would do if you don’t pass the blood pressure test… Anyway… I should be able to pass my license test no problem. The prayer is mainly for safety on these roads. Anyone who has ever been in a third world country knows how they drive here. There are only two rules, Don’t hit any one and Don’t get hit. Seem pretty easy to follow.
And of course, for finances.