Shelly Venema

NAME:

Shelly Venema

AGE:

14

IF YOU HAD TO INTRODUCE YOURSELF TO A GROUP OF STRANGERS, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY/HOW WOULD YOU DO IT?

“Hi! My name is Rachelle, but I prefer to be called Shelly.”

DESCRIBE YOURSELF IN 3 WORDS:

Enthusiastic, Over Dramatic and Creative.

HOW DID YOU RAISE THE MONEY REQUIRED FOR THE MISSIONS TRIP?

I inherited money from my Great-Grandfather.

WHAT MADE YOU DECIDE TO COME ON THE 2007 PHILIPPINES MISSIONS TRIP?

I have never left Australia and I wanted to see more of the world. It also sounded like an adventure, something really exciting.

WHAT ARE THE SORTS OF THINGS YOU ARE EXPECTING TO SEE/RECEIVE FROM GOING ON THE MISSIONS TRIP?

Hopefully this trip will increase my faith. Also, I hope I can be blessed while I do work for God.

WHAT DO YOU THINK WILL BE THE BEST THING ABOUT THE MISSIONS TRIP?

The adventure, excitement and joy of working for God.

WHAT ABILITIES/TALENTS DO YOU HAVE THAT YOU CAN CONTRIBUTE TO THE ACTIVITIES THAT THE MISSIONS TEAM WILL BE PARTICIPATING IN?

I am creative, I’m not a bad singer, I am good at acting and I love playing with young children.

WHAT ABILITIES/TALENTS DO YOU HAVE THAT YOU THINK CAN BE IMPROVED BY GOING ON THE TRIP?

My public speaking skills. They need improvement and with all the public speaking I will be doing, they will certainly improve. Hopefully by the end of the trip I will also learn to wake up at the right time NOT AN HOUR LATER!!!!!

Hi everyone!!!! I hope you are all good. We have been to outreaches, we have been to churches and we have been to Jollibees (really good fast food). It has been hard work, but we are doing it for the LORD.

We did a film crusade in a sort of village called Sumlang. We showed “Passion of the Christ” over two nights. Over those two nights there was preaching. There was also singing and people giving their testimonies. Also 43 people got SAVED over those two nights. We also prayed for the people.

We went to an outreach in PNR. The living conditions there are terrible, but the people still smile. WE HAVE NOTHING TO COMPLIAN ABOUT IN AUTRALIA!!!!!!!!!!!!! We went to four houses and gave testimonies and stuff like that. Then we did some performances for the children.

We also had an outreach in Ginovatan. There was a feeding program going on for the children. I told them my story of David and Goliath. I also showed them the pictures I drew. Then I watch the children collect their soup. It is amazing how happy the children are for their position. How beautiful all the children were.

We attended a church in Bula. Bula is 3 HOURS from Legazpi by jeepney (sort of a small bus). On Sunday we attended the church in Legazpi. IT WAS SOOOOOOOOO
COOL! Filos have put way more passion and life into their church than any church I have ever been to. At night we had the youth service. There was so much energy in it. TOO COOL!

Mum, if you are reading this, I LOVE YOU!!!! Tell Amanda and Kaity I love them too! Dad, if you are reading this, I LOVE YOU AS WELL, along with Cherri and Dyarne. I hope you are all being blessed. It is HOT here. I hope it is not too hot in Australia. Amanda, there are big cockroaches here. There are a lot of coconut trees here. OK, YOU ALL ROCK! I miss you guys. (Amanda and kaity, don’t freak out because I said “guys”)

 from SHELLY VENEMA!!!!

Entry 2
Hi, how are you all? I am good. We have been in the Phills for about a week now. I am getting used to the heat. I am learning so much that I will tell you about when I come back. I hope you are all good. I also hope you guys do not have summer weather anymore.

Monday was our day off. We went shopping. MUM, I got you a B-day prezzie. I am NOT telling you want it is! (mu ha ha ha) we had jollibees for lunch (yyyyyyyyyyyyuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm). Later on we rested. At night we performed at a concert at the church. We did “the chair” and I was a minor part of an interpretive dance. People here dance so well and the musicians practice for hours. Hard workers they are.

Tuesday we went to some outreaches. The conditions people live in are terrible. They are poor, yet they do not complain. IN AUSTRALIA WE HAVE NOTHING TO COMPLAIN ABOUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! They do. There is so much they go without. EVERYONE listen: we are so blessed. We do not even see how blessed we are. Even little things like toilet paper, or things we take for granted, like actually having toilets (do not worry; there is a toilet & toilet paper at the church). Mattresses, tissues, computer games, clean drinking water, FOOD, A DECENT HOUSE and so much more. Count and see what the LORD has given us.

Today is Wednesday. We are going to youth camp today. THIS WILL BE SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO FUN!!! I miss you all. Dad, I love u, Mum, I love you, EVERYONE I LOVE U! send a comment on this blog because I want to hear from you.

SHELLY

HI!!! Shelly here! We have been in the Philippines for nearly two weeks now. I am a bit tired, but I am ok. We have been to a few outreaches, done some church performances, did a film crusade and been in a three day youth camp. There is still more to do.

We have been to a few feeding programs. Children get the most decent meal of the week from a feeding program. They get soup or something like that. The children live in terrible conditions, yet they smile so much (and they are very cute). They suffer o much. In Australia, we give a bit of money and think it is all good, or we do not give any at all and think it is ok. We have so many blessings, AND NOTHING TO COMPLAIN ABOUT!!!! Perhaps we could share a bit more with those who truly need it. You need to see what these people go trough on a daily basis to truly appreciate what we have in Australia.

We went to a youth camp about two days ago. The amount of organization and work that the church put into those three days was incredible! It was worth the work they did though. About 30 people got saved!!!! Lots of people received the holy sprit, and lots of people got baptized!!! Wow!!!! Talk about revival! On the last day of youth camp, we went swimming! There were TWO waterslides, both the same size. It was so fun!

I now have a new friend called Grace! She is nice. She comes to the Legazpi church (Word of Hope). She was one of the people who got saved. She also got baptized. I have got her address and I am going to write to her.

Today is our day off (HA HA, yeah right, they CALL it a day off, nah, it is ok). There is a youth rally tonight. It is at the church. We are attending it. It involves loud music, worship, praise and a whole lot of jumping.

Message to MUM: I love you very much. I hope Amanda and Kaity haven’t blown up my room! I miss you. I also miss your cooking.

Message to AMANDA: There are huge cockroaches here and no hot water showers here! I hope you are not bored without someone to annoy! 

Message to KAITY: Hey! Kaity I hope you are not too bored. DO NOT DESTROY MY ROOM. I love you!

Message to DAD: I miss you, even your bad jokes. I hope the house is coming along alright. I love you!

Message to CHERRI: Hey! I hope you are good! I hope you are not to bored without me! 

Message to DYARNE: Hi! Hope you are energetic and happy as always!