the game plan

it's been a while, hasn't it? internet access is not regular, so i'll use that as an excuse.
so where do i even begin to update... life in the philippines.... we're definitely being stretched, definitely out of our comfort zone.. i don't want to sound complain-y but... let's put it this way: i'm realizing just how much of a luxury comfort is. also realizing that to learn a lesson, you sometimes have to be more intentional about it. doesn't always happen on it's own.
sorry if i'm being vague or not making sense, but there is so much to say and i don't even know where to begin. i have not intentionally been neglecting the blog, but i really don't get on the internet much.
ok, good, i'm off the hook: kendra is writing an update, so instead i will talk about our upcoming plans. my internet time is very limited so i'll have to be quick about it and try not to get distracted.

so during ILF (International Teams leadership conference) we had the pleasure of SEEING OUR PARENTS AGAIN!!!!! (and elle, kendra's baby sister!) it was just SOO nice to see them again, and we stayed with them in their hotel too, so got a little break from the heat and from our closet-sized room (i'll really have to post pictures soon...)
during this conference is also where we got to see some people from our past! people we had met from our visits to austria and to costa rica - SO great to see them again!! we also got to meet a bunch of new people as well - good times!
so, i know we had thought in the past that ILF would be a good place to meet new missionaries to make contact with after our time in the philippines, but really it seemed to happen so effortlessly, it is almost as if they happened over night. one day i don't know where i'll be in two weeks, and the next i'll have plans to visit 3 different countries!!! some exciting plans coming up. allow me to tell:

so here's how it goes: our visas allow us to stay here until june 10th. that gives us 3 more weeks here and then we will be on our way to visit the refmin (refugee ministry) in melbourne australia - never even thought of going to australia! we asked someone from sydney if they could use us there in there ministry and pretty much got a "....not really, check with melbourne" (it wasn't rude, but i'm trying to keep it short) so then louise (from melbourne) starts talking "so when you guys come to melbourne..." - the plans just kinda happened to us! i love it when that happens! SO we'll chill down under (cuz that's what all aussie's do...they chill) and be a part of their refugee ministry there for a few weeks. after that we'll hop over to sydney, start training for a few days with a team heading to zambia!!! it's really amazing how fast this zambia thing came up. i briefly met a lady from IT australia at ILF and the next day she comes up to me and says "I had this idea..." and a few days later plans are being made for kendra and i to fill the last two available spots on a 15-person team heading zambia for three weeks of a youth camp. i'll have to give more info on this trip to give you. i have it, but i don't have much time right now, so i'll save it. don't worry, you'll be hearing about it...
things are getting exciting, no??
so far: melbourne, sydney, zambia.
now...remember those plans to kenya in july that got canceled because of the civil war going on there? WELL, thanks to ILF we also had the opportunity to meet dotun and ami, an african man and his filipina wife who are the leaders of the team in nairobi. we got to talk to them and dotun basically said "if i thought it was unsafe there, i would not have left my team alone to come to this conference." you know what that means???? OUR PLANS FOR KENYA ARE STILL ON!!!!!

i am so excited to see how the next 2 and a half months play out. there is not a doubt in my mind that God had this planned all along, it all seems so sudden to me tho. i'm just still amazed at how it's all panned out so fast!

so, that's the planning, now we have kendra's dad talking to our travel agent, helping us with booking the flights, and that will be done..this week i'm assuming. it's not like these plans are so far into the future! so, the flights are being planned, now we just need the funds to back us up. we are trusting God to help us finish out the remainder of our trip. please pray about helping us finish off our vision trip. tax deductible donations can be sent to:

411 West River Road
Elgin, Illinois 60123

just specify that the gift is for Rebecca Sirinides or Kendra McCracken

thanks for your patience, dear readers, i hope that we will not keep you waiting for so long again for our next blogs
PLEASE BE PRAYING FOR US!!!! for our time left in the philippines as well as our up and coming plans