Sometimes I have a flashback and I'm hanging onto the back of a motorbike, roaring up the mountain with the smoke of a hundred little fires in the air, and the smell of broiling fish rushing past me. Or I close my eyes, and I am holding a tiny baby who has just been born, and suddenly he cries for the very first time, and I am there to hear it. Or I'm in the storage room at the office, and I can smell the dim, sweet, juicy smell of Bahandi bags. And then I open my eyes. And I'm far far away, in Canada. It's cold... I'm wearing a jacket and socks. I'm in a minivan, it smells like halls and air freshener, and there is no baby. But I'm holding my pink Bahandi bag on my lap, the one made with orange juice packs. It wasn't a dream....it really happened.
Where have the past two weeks gone? I really am safely back in Canada now, enjoying large quantities of dairy products and walking long distances without anyone asking me what my name is or even telling me how very tall I am. I saw Amberly yesterday...she's just the same as ever, working hard at her greenhouse, and she even finished Moby Dick (which she started on the plane home.) I'm super proud of her. It was so weird and awesome being together again here; the last time we met up in Canada we were friends, but we didn't know each other that well at all. Now, we know practically everything there is to know about each other. We met in Value Village actually, and it was nice to have Amberly there at my first real Canadian shopping experience since I've been back. I was deliberating buying a book for $3.99. That's 176 pesos. That's fare, and meals two days. Maybe even a mango. "It's ok Anna, you can buy that. This is Canada, so actually, that's super cheap." I did buy it. I'm over it now. =)
At 7, we met Ate Rhonda at Starbucks. Wow, it is SO crazy that we were all together in the Philippines, and now we could be all together here in Canada. We talked for two hours straight and still had SO much more to talk about! I just was so happy to see Ate safe and sound, and alive. She's doing well too, and it was so great to just toss Cebuano carelessly into the conversation and be understood. And they understand other things too. Like the whole in my heart the size of the Philippines. They get that. Because they have that too.
God is good folks. Really good. Cause He was with me everyday in the Philippines. And you know what, He's been with me every single day in Canada. He's the same God, here, there, anywhere. And that is the most incredible thing I have learned from this trip, and I'm never, ever going to forget it.
Well friends, this is it....or at least it should be. For those of you who are reading this blog because you feel you aught, I thank you, and I release you from your task. But for the rest of you, I have a feeling we're not quite done yet. I have one more blog to write. Maybe two. We'll see. I have so many more memories I didn't have time to write about. But for now, Salamat kaayo; thank you. We are honored you read our blog, and we hope you have enjoyed it. Thank you for caring, and thank you most of all for your prayers. If you want to contact us, or tell us what you thought, you can email us at annakhankins@gmail.com.
Salamat friends. God bless you all!
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