My first Build =))

Magandang Umaga! I just got back from my build in Batangas last Friday. And I thought it was so much fun and truly inspiring. The group of builders were younger, mainly in their mid 20s. They were from the US, mostly Fil-Ams, some locals, but there were also 2 non-Filipinos. Matt was Chinese-American and served Iraq. Tom was white from Chicago. Matt also gave a great sharing after the build about getting out of your comfort zone and his experience of how friendly and loving the Filipionos are. He expressed that its that kind of selfless giving amougst everyone that makes the difference. And GK is laying the foundation for that culture. Its so true. We all got along so well, had many laughs, and had a great time. During our down time we bonded playing games like, Charades and some card games. I really think we were the best group in the history of GK builds... haha just kidding. But seriously we were great. To work with them on such a mission was an honor and will always be treasured in my heart. And the Titos & Titas, ates and kuyas are the bomb! Shout outs to Tito Bert, Tita Ciony, Tita Lydia, Tito Raul, Ate Ning, and Kuya Dondi. You all made this experience that much richer and fun.

Just a little background… We stayed at the Reunion Village, which is the most progressed GK village, and we did our building at a nearby village called Gloria Village. The Reunion Village is a village GK wants to use as a template for other villages. The concept is that it is a hotel/resort and also home to the beneficiaries. It wants to attract wealthier people to visit and help generate money into the community. They will build a restaurant, pool, café, and other things for the visitors, which will also employ many beneficiaries, while marketing GK at the same time. It also has a pretty large farm for the productivity as well. We planted trees and dug ditches here as part of our building activities. There is also a small theatre stage where the youth can perform. It also is building retirement homes there for those who want to retire in the Philippines. So it will bridge together the poor community with the middle class and the rich, including foreigners. Tito Raul, also a caretaker, has a retirement home here. (The actual build took place at the Gloria Village not The Reunion.)

My homecoming experience this far has been very refreshing, inspiring, moving, knowledgeable, and confusing too. Sometimes I wonder if I’ll go back to the States lol! It is amazing to interact with the beneficiaries, who have been very inspiring, happy, friendly, open, hardworking, and amazingly hospitable. Their humility is extremely humbling. The beneficiaries are soo beautiful it hurts. (If that makes any sense.) You can see how much joy GK has been for them and especially the kids! They are so cute, playful, and helpful workers too! When we were digging and carrying pretty heavy buckets of dirt, it was inspiring to see some of the beneficiary children just picking up buckets and working. They didn’t have to and no one told them to, they just wanted to and did it with smiles. Enarly, the girl to the left was especially hardworking. And there were 2 kids, Kim and Zach, who were part of the build crew from Chicago, who were carrying these buckets too. I mean they were pretty young to be carrying such heavy buckets, so to see them so involved too was really energizing. Many of the beneficiary kids kept calling out to me with huge smiles and laughter “Ate Dianne! Ate Dianne!” any time I passed them or they passed me. You could really feel how happy they were that we there. I saw how it was true that our mere presence brings them hope and makes them feel they are special enough for well off people, from the states especially, to come and help build homes or just even spend time with them in their community. They are even sung for us as a farewell send off, and you could feel the gratitude and joy coming from their soul. When we were leaving some of the adult beneficiaries gave a sharing of their gratitude and it was truly heartfelt. There was one lady who was very social, hardworking and helpful in the build. She was always smiling and laughing and even danced with us when we were dancing to the music while we were waiting for the dirt buckets, her and her friend were center stage at one point, they danced really well! Upon our leave she started crying, not in a hurt way, but more in a bittersweet joyful way, because we were leaving and she just had so much fun and built sincere relationships. I was so touched I had to hug and thank her. I defiantly had that “golf ball feeling” emerge in my throat, from an emotional surge. It was truly beautiful. I'm confident that many of us will return, I know I’ll be back to this village to visit soon enough. And it feels good to know there are always GK “caretakers”, teachers, volunteers, and workers at these sites that are there to stay, committed to transforming and revolutionizing the way of life for these beneficiaries, committed to the manifestation of their true potential and selves.

God Bless GK, the Philippines, and the Filipinos. GOD BLESS THE WORLD!!!

(There are much more pics from the build but I haven't been able to track down the CD, but I'm working on it. Also I have added some pics of what some sites look like in the building process. (first 4 pics from the top) The sites in Manila have an urban style. You can tell because they are apt style due to the amount of space in the city. The sites in the provinces are much larger, so they have more space for a house. The province pic is in Marinduque. (top most pic) And the farms in the Manila, such as "Selecta Village" is a much smaller scale of course than the farms in the province. The province farm is the sixth pic down. This is actually the farm at The Reunion Village)

P.S. Thank you for all the words of encouragement and prayers. I am looking forward to your arrival here in Aug. and for Joanne in Nov. It will be exciting to start our journey together! I love you all! =)