Philippines update: the Leadership Summit in Amish country

HELLO EVERYONE!

I am excited. And I had lots of coffee. Tomorrow I will be boarding a plane to go to Lancaster, Pennsylvania to attend HOPE's annual Leadership Summit (this includes the Celebrating HOPE dinner, which is open to anyone). This summit is where all the HOPE leadership from 16 different countries comes together for training, discussion and other such organizational things (I actually am not sure what it is yet). Most importantly, this summit acts as an orientation for all the HOPE interns. Half of these interns will be staying in Lancaster, PA to work at HOPE's headquarters. The rest will go out to the four corners of the earth. I, being the only one going to the Philippines, am quite excited.

A lot has developed (pun intended) since my last blog post. I have talked to a former HOPE intern who was very helpful in preparing me for what awaits in the Philippines (thanks Walt!). Most importantly, I have some things to report about fundraising:

• I found out that I am 67% of the way to my fundraising goal!
• I don't need to have all my funds raised until the end of the internship. Sorry to everyone who got a letter saying there was an early May deadline. I thought I would have to have the money before I left.
• I am still on track and HOPE says I am doing well with the fundraising.
• MY GOAL: raise all the money before I leave so that I don't have to worry about it while on the other side of the world.
• AMOUNT LEFT TO RAISE: $1,200

Needless to say, if you want to give and haven't yet, please do. =) And to make it even easier, here's how:

Directions for online donations:

• Go to www.hopeinternational.org and select the “Donate Now” green tab on the right-hand part of the screen.
  
• Under “Allocate your Gift” select “Other.”
  
• In the box beside “Other Gift Designation”, please type in “Intern: Josiah Meneghini”
  Directions for Donations through Mail:

Directions for mailed donations: 

• Make checks payable to Joan Bauman, Donor Care Administrator, HOPE International. 
• Mail check to:

Joan BaumanHOPE227 Granite Run Dr. Suite 250Lancaster, PA 17601

• Write ‘Intern Donation – Josiah Meneghini’ in the memo line. 

As you may or may not know, microfinance is all about financial accountability. Therefore, if you have any questions about how all this money will be used (I need to raise a total of approximately $3,692), please email me or comment on this post and I will send you my budget.

Now back to fun stuff.

Here's a map of where CCT is:

View Larger Map


This is a picture taken from CCT's doorstep. It looks down the street on which the CCT headquarters are located (unfortunately, the great google has not street-mapped Manila yet):

This picture is taken a little ways down the road. Interesting fact: the colorful looking tuck/bus thing in the foreground is a common form of transportation called a jeepney. They are the most common form of transportation in the Philippines and can be very flamboyantly decorated. 

Prayer requests:

• Again, safe travels.
• Passion: For some reason, I am exhausted from the semester and need to be motivated and rested for this internship.
• Vision: my work (I will explain it more fully in another blog post) is going to require a lot of vision, creativity, and experimentation. I do not have what it takes to do it... on my own. So pray that the Lord gives me the vision to do it.

Prayers answered/praise:

• Money is coming in for the trip and the wrecked car has been replaced. He gives His children so many good gifts.
• Goodbyes are almost over. Next comes hellos (that could be its own requests).
• All packed. It all fits. And Delta gives me 2 free bags! Lots of room to bring presents back =)