And onward to Manila

I should have mentioned that whilst most of the team were resting over the middle weekend, at the beach resort in Sipalay, Josh was not with us. He had intrepidly decided to go with a whole crowd of young people from Payatas in Manila, to attend the International Leaders Conference (ILC) in Tagaytay, south of Manila. He is really the best person to describe that, so come on Josh, get typing!!!!!

So he was already in Manila, and we joined him early on Tuesday morning, having spent our final day at Joyland, finishing off the verandahs (well, all but, as we ran out of corrugated iron for the third one). We caught a very early flight (such dedication) so were in Manila early. Still it is which never sleeps, so it was plenty lively enough. We went for breakfast (we even managed to find a Subway outlet, to tmake a few of us feel really at home), and then on to the Mall of Asia, the biggest mall in this area of the world. Plenty of shopping opportunities there, though I had the dubious privilege of watching Anna, Ellie and Chris "performing" on the ice skating rink, much to the amusement of many watching filipinos. The rink bills itself as the place where Olympic dreams are born..... Well, all I can say is that I was not watching three budding champions!!!

We had pizza and drinks for about 18 in Shakys, and after more shopping, most of the team were driven top the overnight accommodation for the next four nights in Bulacan, north west of Manila. For most people it was their first full taste of an extended journey through Manila traffic. An experience... Emma, myself and Ellie stayed back for meetings with Father Paul and Mhel, the youth worker, both regarding the build which would be taking place over the next few days and about Heart of the Father issues. That meant we had a very interesting and long journey back to Bulacan by public transport. It is worth describing, another time, perhaps...