Inspiration

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My inspiration from this trip comes from my motivation to use my time on this earth wisely and to give back with service to other people. Since the typhoon in the Philippines, I have felt passionate about finding a way to work on the ground in that country.

There are a variety of ways that I have felt motivated to provide my time, but music always seems to fill in the cracks and give me that extra boost of motivation.

Two songs have been on my mind and in my music queue the last several weeks while I have been pursuing volunteering in the Philippines.

The first, a thoughtful recommendation from my friend, Emily, is I Lived by One Republic. As much as I relate to this song, I encourage everyone to live these words (not that you 'did it all,' but that, in the end, you gave your life everything you had to give)!

Hope that you spend your days and they all add up. And when the sun goes down, hope you raise your cup. I wish that I could witness all your joy and all your pain, but until that moment comes, I'll say 'I did it all.' I owned every second that this world could give. I saw so many places, the things that I did...With every broken bone...I lived.

The second, is a very spiritual calling to go out (wherever we are) and serve. The word from Oceans by Hillsong United have popped up several times in the last few months. The chorus musters such a deep and potent calling to me. I hope that no matter where you find yourself, you are taken "deeper than your feet could ever wander."

Spirit Lead me where my trust is without borders.
Let me walk upon the waters.
Wherever you would call me, take me deeper than my feet could ever wander.
And my faith will be made stronger in the presence of my Saviour.

My life has not gone the way I had planned as a high school graduate. But, what God has provided is far richer (for better and worse) and more boundless than I could have imagined - so I wait in anticipation (appropriate during the advent of Christmas) for this challenging and rewarding trip to the Philippines.

Island of Leyte

Photo by Bulaclac ParuParu | Creative Commons | Unaltered 

All Hands' Project Leyte is on the Island of Leyte. I have detailed instructions to arrive there which includes flying to Cebu (with or without a stop in Manila), taking a boat from the Island of Cebu to Ormoc on the Island of Leyte, and hiring a tricycle to deliver me to the All Hands Base.

The Island of Leyte is known for the Battle of Leyte during World War II and was the historic landing site for General Douglas MacArthur's return to the Philippines in 1944 after the Japanese had expelled him. There is a life-sized memorial of he and his entourage wading ashore.

The major cities on the Island are Tacloban City and Ormoc City; the later is where I will be arriving to volunteer.

The island is sizable (2,845 square miles | 7,368 square kilometres) and home to more than 1.9 million people. The island is mountainous with forests, but supports some agriculture and several pretty sandy beaches. Tourism is part of Leyte's industry - though, for the purposes of this trip, those activities will be minimal!

The equatorial climate will be a a nice change from winter in Colorado, but will certainly overcompensate with humidity. I will be packing sunscreen. The evenings occasionally cool enough to warrant a jacket.

Information gathered from wikipedia.com, tripadvisor.com, philippines.hvu.nl/leyte

The Money

There are two elements of financially supporting my trip to the Philippines. In all, I would like to raise $3450 to support my volunteer efforts for this project.

ONE | The first is supporting the organization that I will be volunteering with. All Hands covers my "cost of living" while I am working with them, but I would like to contribute back to them with your help as much as possible.

My All Hands fundraising goal is $1450 USD. This will cover the following:

• $450 to cover the cost of me working in Leyte. I will be volunteering for 30 days and All Hands estimates that it costs about $15 per person per day to support staff on the ground.
• $1000 to support this relief project including materials, operations, and logistical support. 

To support my tax deductible Andrea + All Hands Fundraise for Philippines Earthquake | Typhoon Response fundraiser, click on this link (or on the link on the right).

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TWO | The second way I need support, is for the expenses that I will personally incur to get to Ormoc, Leyte in the Philippines with the appropriate workplace safety gear. While I am committed to making this trip work, due to my current "underemployment," I am humbly asking for additional financial support for this project. I have a list posted in the information bar (at right) with some items that I need to pay for myself.  I will update these as they are covered or to add items as required. I currently estimate that (with airfare) these expenses will amount to $2000 USD. If I am blessed to raise more money than I need to directly support the volunteer effort, I will donate the excess back to the All Hands organization.

There are several non-tax deductible ways to help me.

1. Click on the link to my Amazon.com 2014 Philippines Wishlist. Items can be purchased and sent directly to me prior to my trip. These items should be ordered by January 10 so that I know what I still need to purchase for myself.
2. Visit my personal fundraising page on YouCaring.com.
3. Send me a few dollars through PayPal or send check in the mail (message me for info and address).

If you cannot support financially, please follow my volunteer journey on this blog. I will appreciate your thoughts,  prayer, and emails.

Salamat | Thank you!

Time

As a traveller, International disasters always seem to get my attention. They occur in places I have been or could visit. After the typhoon in the Philippines on the 8th of November, I thought I should help out. Since I left my job in Hawaii in July, my "underemployed" income doesn't provide me with the ability to contribute much money, but I do have TIME to give right now. I started researching organizations that I could volunteer with (it is really difficult to to find an organization that will take volunteers on short notice).

Remembering that my friends, Dave and Chelsea, had volunteered in Haiti, and with some added initiative from them, I found the All Hands.

I was accepted into their organization today and I will put my business on hold for a month in February and March 2014 to give my time. Looking into 2014, I am excited to be able to contribute to Project Leyte in the Philippines.