Hotter Than Hale, Day 2

13 October 201531 August 2024

It was a great day to sleep in and after breakfast, Grandma brought out the bubbles. The backyard was perfect for the children to swim in their inflatable pool and play games. Erika and Grace had a fun time blowing bubble for awhile, but the boys were more excited to watch from the deck.

I guess all of that playing wore Gunnar out as he fell asleep during lunch.

I was excited to venture out and take a drive to Lake Huron. Only 30 miles east of Hale, my sister Joy and I wanted to find a beach. The weather wasn’t really all that great for sunbathing, but we thought it would be a great change from hanging out at the lakehouse. I hopped on 65 south until we reached 55 heading east.

We arrived near Tawas City where we found a beach and boardwalk. Surprisingly, we had the place all to ourselves, even at 2:30 in the afternoon.

We walked the beach for an hour and met some friendly seagulls before deciding to make our way back to the lake.

We stopped for a few moments to photograph Tawas River.

When we arrived home, we saw Erika on the deck enjoying a predinner snack. Tonight we were having tacos.

Bennett has been fascinated with his bellybutton lately and with black beans all over his face, he looks like a silly little boy.

One of the kids’ favorite activities was the water table on the deck. Uncle Scott loved to spray the kids and watch them giggle.

Erika couldn’t resist one last swim in the pool.

Gunner enjoyed every moment of watching all of the kids run around the deck.

With the sun starting to set, the kids were also settling down. Soon it would be time for bed.

Have you been to Hale, Michigan? Stayed on Long Lake? I would love to hear about your visit if you would kindly leave a message in the comments section below. Many thanks for reading about my family vacation to Hale, Michigan and wishing you many Happy Travels!

What to See and What to Do:

Relax on the lake…swimming, boating fishing

Where to Stay:

We went through VRBO to find this lovely lake house in Hale, Michigan.

Where to Eat:

Boathouse Beer Co. & Boozery
450 W. Lake Street
Tawas City, MI 48743
Telephone: 989 984 5233

You must try the Korean fried chicken sandwich made with fried chicken, aioli, napa cabbage slaw served with French fries. My sister and I split the butter lettuce salad with pork potstickers, oranges, cashews, wasabi vinaigrette and crusty bread. Yum!

What to Eat:

Better Made potato chips
Biggby Coffee
Chipati – pocket bread stuffed with salad
Detroit-style pizza where the toppings are under the sauce and loaded with cheese
Hummer – drink made with kahlua, rum and ice cream
Pasty – pastry shell with savory fillings
Vernor’s Ginger Ale

Hotter Than Hale, Our Michigan Vacation – Day 1

6 October 201531 August 2024

Each year, it becomes more and more difficult to find a vacation home that will accommodate our growing family. With nine adults and four young children, we would need some extra space and rooms for sleeping.

My parents found a place on Long Lake in Hale, Michigan for the second week of July. Since it would be part of the hottest time of the year, we wanted to be near a lake where we could swim and fish as well.

Leaving from Columbus, Ohio, we made a quick stop in the adorable village of Frankenmuth and had finally arrived in Hale towards late afternoon. We stopped at the grocery for some items that we would be using for the week and learned that the weather had been extremely hot. So hot, in fact, the cute little town of Hale could not keep their ice cream cold. We realized that there was no other place hotter than Hale.

After unpacking, we checked out the pontoon boat that we would be using for the week and found the firepit where we would later make s’mores. It had been a long day of travel, so we found our rooms and slept in until the next morning.

Reflections on Long Lake were our early morning views from our back yard. There were geese, rabbits, chipmunks and the sound of frogs that kept us entertained.

I decided to walk close to the rental home with a trail around the perimeter of Long Lake.

Happy Gunnar kept us entertained posing for photos and enjoying his toys.

While Erika liked to pose on the balcony.

We had finished unpacking and settled into the house after breakfast. The kids were eager to blow up the inflatable pool for a late morning swim.

We were able to distract the children for a little while when we promised them a ride on the boat. Everyone was excited to cruise along the lake, find a great swimming spot and a place for to fish.

Long Lake is 4.5 square miles with an average depth of 26 feet. With 88, 272 feet of shoreline, its maximum lake depth is 88 feet. Surrounded by beautiful homes, Long Lake has been a vacation spot for many residents of Michigan. Nearby, there are thousands of acres of white pine, oak, ash, cedar, maple and beech trees, providing lumber throughout the state as well as Ohio, New York and Canada. Lumbermen were known to haul wood across Long Lake transporting to various locations.

After we docked the boat, the kids were excited for another swim in their kiddie pool, so we watched them until it was time for dinner. Of course, Bennett was the last one out of the pool.

Erika snuggled up with Daddy after a long day of vacation.

Gunner hung out with grandpa, while

Grace played one of her games.

Bennett finally came in from the pool and dried off before dinner.

We played a few games before bed and it was time to watch the sunset over the lake. What a fun day packed with watersports and we’ll be ready for another activity-packed day tomorrow.

What to See and What to Do:

Relax on the lake…swimming, boating fishing

Where to Stay:

We went through VRBO to find this lovely lake house in Hale, Michigan.

Where to Eat:

Long Lake Bar & Grill
5002 E. Main Street
Long Lake, MI 48743
Telephone: 989 257 2017

Dock your boat at Long Lake Bar & Grill and enjoy some hamburgers and fries. Check out Uncle Kracker’s “Smile” video which was filmed in this area.

What to Eat:

Better Made potato chips
Biggby Coffee
Chipati – pocket bread stuffed with salad
Detroit-style pizza where the toppings are under the sauce and loaded with cheese
Hummer – drink made with kahlua, rum and ice cream
Pasty – pastry shell with savory fillings
Vernor’s Ginger Ale

Hotter than Hale, Our Vacation in Michigan – Travel Day

29 September 201531 August 2024

Our family vacation began with a stop in Frankenmuth, Michigan where we decided to have lunch at Zehnder’s, famous for their chicken dinner. We took an afternoon stroll to walk off our giant portions of homestyle cooking, exploring the Bavarian architecture of this charming village. With a deep German heritage dating back to 1904, this is one of Michigan’s most visited towns offering exciting festivals throughout the year.

Within an hour and a half, we arrived at our rental house in Hale, Michigan where we would spend the next ten days of vacation. Situated on the shores of the lake, we had access to a pontoon boat and a small ramp for fishing. Grace couldn’t wait to drive us around.

After a long day on the road and settling into our rental house, we were blessed with a beautiful sunset. We sat around the fireplace enjoying the solitude as the sun slowly drifted behind the lake and tall pines.

What a beautiful way to spend our first evening in Hale after a long day of travel.

What is your favorite family vacation? I would love to hear about your travel memories if you will kindly provide them in the comments section below. Many thanks for reading about my family vacation in Hale, Michigan and wishing you many Happy Travels!

What to See and What to Do:

Walk the charming town of Frankenmuth

Zehnder’s of Frankenmuth
730 South Main Street
Frankenmuth, MI 45734
Telephone: 844 802 8323

Where to Stay:

Zehnder’s Splash Village
1365 South Main Street
Frankenmuth, MI 45734
Telephone: 844 330 1715

Where to Eat:

Zehnder’s of Frankenmuth
730 South Main Street
Frankenmuth, MI 45734
Telephone: 844 802 8323

What to Eat:

Zehnder’s Fried Chicken
Schnitzel
Sauerbraten

What to Read:

Frankenmuth: A Guide to Michigan’s Little Bavaria, by Lynn Marie-Ittner Klammer

Photo Guide for Frankenmuth:

Bavarian Belle Riverboat
Frankenmuth Brewery
Illuminated Village Christmas Zehnder’s
Lager Mill
Old School House Brick

Plan a Visit to Buckeye Lake Winery for Ohio Wine Month in June

22 September 201531 August 2024

What better place to enjoy a bottle of wine than alongside the beauty of Buckeye Lake in Ohio? Buckeye Lake Winery was my first choice for a girl’s day of wine tasting, so I called a couple of my Columbus girlfriends to join me and began our 25-mile road trip to Thornville.

We arrived at 11 AM when the winery opened and was met by the winery’s proprietor, Tracy Higgenbotham and a large truck of fermented grapes arriving from Napa Valley. Tracy welcomed us, provided us with menus and excused himself for a moment while we decided on what to order for lunch.

Within minutes, we had ordered several wine samples, the charcuterie plate, Boursin with Pecan & Honey and the Fig and Gorgonzola flatbread. Several other options we considered were the Brie Wedge with fruit and a house made port reduction, Buckeye Lake Winery’s signature Winery Chips with a garlic cream sauce, bleu cheese, Parmesan and scallions as well as the Caprese Flatbread. One look at the brunch menu and we all agreed we needed to make reservations soon to share the Bananas Foster French Toast.

Chatting it up with Tracy, he was eager to tell us about the winery and his previous experience visiting California’s wine country on business trips. With his passion for great food and delicious wine, he and his wife Laura opened the winery to bring the Napa Valley experience to Ohio. Tracy explained that he works directly with vineyards in Napa, Sonoma, Lodi and the Russian River Valley, personally selecting the grapes that go into making his wines. Wine production begins at custom crush houses where the grapes are fermented and then he coordinates the shipping of the product to complete the aging, blending and bottling of the wine in Ohio.

While most of Buckeye Lake Winery’s wines come from grapes in California, Tracy knows that the Ohio wine drinkers like their sweet wines and has collaborated with local Ohio grape growers to make the winery’s popular Sweet Lake View.

White Wines

Lake View White – Dry White Wine, California: The winemaker’s selection is a limited release blend of Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc and is clean, bright and fruity $23 / $7
Pinot Grigio, Russian River Valley: This wine is aged in stainless steel tanks and is minerally rich. It has a honeysuckle and pear taste $24 / $7
Sauvignon Blanc – Napa Valley, California: Bright floral notes with tropical fruit, honeysuckle and a clean finish. $26 / $8
Chardonnay – Napa Valley, California: This wine is barrel aged for 10 months and is clean and bright with hints of smoky toasted oak vanilla, green apples and pears. $32 / $9

Red Wines

Lake View Red – Dry Red Wine, Lodi California: The winemaker’s selection is a limited release blend of Petite Sirah, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon and is full bodied with a soft finish. $29 / $8
Cabernet Sauvignon – Lodi California: This wine is barrel aged for 18 months and has hints of black cherry, blackberry and oak with a soft finish. $32 / $9
Zinfandel – Lodi, California: This wine is produced with grapes from 100 year old vines and is barrel aged for 18 months. It is jammy, spicy and rich with a velvet finish. $43 / $9
Cabernet Sauvignon – Napa Valley, California: This wine is barrel aged for 18 months in oak barrels and is rich, robust with black cherry flavor and a hint of dark chocolate and tobacco. $75 This wine is sold by the bottle only to Wine Club members and is not included in wine tastings

Ohio Wine

Sweet Lake View, Ohio Wine: Sweet Lake View is produced and bottled at Buckeye Lake Winery. The wine is aged in stainless steel tanks and has hints of citrus, peach and honey $18 / $6

Prices are subject to change, so visit Buckeye Lake Winery’s website for the most up-to-date information.

Our lunch had arrived and we could not stop raving about our selection. The Fig and Gorgonzola flatbread was spectacular with a perfect mix of saltiness from the bacon, the sweetness of the figs and caramelized onion with bursts of garlicky goodness. The charcuterie plate was a generous portion of meats and cheeses (homemade goat cheeses with either apricots or blueberries), a few grapes, olives and French bread with a delicious marmalade. We could not wait to dig into the Boursin with Pecan & Honey but waited to make it our dessert to this divine trio of small plates.

While it would have been lovely to have dined inside of the wine cave, we found a table outside so that we could enjoy the soothing view of Buckeye Lake. We shared a bottle of Chardonnay, Zinfandel as well as our meals while catching up on the latest gossip. We shared photos, secrets and happily stayed longer than planned. Feasting on spectacular meals and delicious wines, enjoying the spectacular views, we couldn’t help but feel that we had truly arrived in Napa.

Have you had the pleasure of visiting Buckeye Lake Winery? What did you think of the fabulous wines and food? What were your favorite wines and menu items? I would love to hear about your experience sampling wines at the winery if you would kindly leave a message in the comments section below.

Many thanks for catching up with me at Buckeye Lake Winery and wishing you many Happy Travels. Cheers!

Disclosure: Please refer to our blog disclaimer tab for more information.

What to See and What to Do:

Buckeye Lake Winery
13750 Rosewood Road
Thornville, OH 43076
Telephone: 740 246 5665

Where to Stay:

Best Western Lakewood Inn
122 Arrowhead Drive
Hebron, OH 43025
Telephone: 866 599 6674

Where to Eat:

Buckeye Lake Winery
13750 Rosewood Road
Thornville, OH 43076
Telephone: 740 246 5665

Buckeye Lake Winery has extensive menu of starters and meals that have been customized to pair with their wines.

Here are more of my favorite Columbus Classics:

Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream: Known for her unique flavor combinations, Jeni Britton Bauer has made ice cream famous in C-Bus!
North Market: A one-stop shop for universal cuisine, Columbus’ North Market is worth a stop in the Short North District of the city.
The Thurman Cafe: The Thurmanator is the burger of all burgers at this longtime local cafe in German Village. There may be a wait all burgers are made to order.
Schmidt’s Sausage Haus and Restaurant: While the sausage at Schmidt’s is the official food of Columbus, it’s the amazing Cream Puffs that have the locals lining up at the door.

What to Read:

Columbus: The Story of a City, by Ed Lentz
Columbus, Ohio: A Photographic Portrait, by Randall L Schieber and Robin Smith
Ohio in Photographs: A Portrait of the Buckeye State, by Ian Adams
Secret Columbus, by Anietra Hamper

Photo Guide for Columbus:

Coffman Park: small ponds, bridges, white barn, pavilion, landscaping, public art
Columbus Museum of Art: the grounds, inside artwork and special exhibits
Everal Barn and Homestead: landscaping, white barn, beautiful lake
Frank Fetch Park: gardens, brick paths, beautiful trees and landscaping
Franklin Park Conservatory: beautiful gardens, artwork, flowers and special exhibits
Gantz Park: barn, beautiful trees,
German Village: brick streets, landscaping, parks, charming architecture, Old World charm, historical buildings
Grove City: brick roads, small town, shopping area
Hayden Falls – wooden walking path, waterfall
Historical Village of Hilliard: a small village to include a schoolhouse, train car, chapel, log cabin, covered bridge, gazebo and granary
Homestead Park in Hilliard: walking path, covered bridge, barns, trains, tractor, pond and pet park
Inniswood Metro Gardens: gardens, lily pond, herb garden, play area for children, secret garden
Ohio State House: rotunda and landscaping (photo permit required)
Ohio State University: campus, landscaping, Mirror Lake, Ohio Stadium (you can pay a small fee to take photos inside)
Park of Roses in Clintonville: various types of rose gardens
Riverfront Park: city view, Scioto River, landscapes, fountains, walking paths
Schiller Park: gardens, walking paths, stone columns, wooden bridge, small lake
Scioto Mile: city views, Scioto River, landscapes, fountains, walking paths
Scioto Park in Dublin: statue of Chief Leatherlips, river views, landscaping, and paths
Short North: restaurants, italian village, shops, city views, murals
Topiary Park: depiction of George Seurat’s 1884 painting, landscape, fountains, small pond, gazebo

Visit Historic Dublin, Ohio

15 September 201531 August 2024

I settled into Dublin, Ohio after moving from San Clemente, California and loved the charm of this lovely Midwest neighborhood. While I have since moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, here were some of my favorite places to visit.

Historic Dublin, Ohio is located on the corners of Bridge and High Streets. Once an area home to the Scioto Indians, Dublin is a sought-after suburb in Columbus. There are several business districts, a large number of restaurants and shopping venues with a historic district that has maintained its appeal.

La Chatelaine, a French Bakery and Bistro, made its debut in Dublin in 1991. I couldn’t wait for Saturdays to purchase Brioche rolls for the week and choose from their large selections of fresh pastries as well. From chocolate croissants to coconut macaroons, I enjoyed selecting a few for a late afternoon indulgence.

Happy Hours are best spent at the Dublin Village Tavern. Before prohibition, the Tavern was only one of the many pubs that lined the street. Considered one of the rowdiest, it is most certainly referenced in this ballad. “Dublin, Dublin, city of beautiful roses, Gouged out eyes and bloody noses, If it weren’t for the solid rock foundation, It’d be gone to hell and damnation!” Fortunately, this lovely town is not as rambunctious as it once was and the Village Tavern is a great place to meet up with friends and make new ones.

Jeni’s Ice Cream (now Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream) was also a frequent stop throughout the week. When out-of-town friends would stop for a visit, it was always such a great excuse to visit. The company makes “one-of-a-kind flavors with Direct and Fair Trade ingredients and super fresh milk from family dairy farms”. My favorite flavor was Queen City Cayenne which was a spicy, chocolate ice cream, but I am also a fan of the Brown Butter Almond Brittle, Salty Caramel, Gooey Butter Cake and Buttercream Birthday Cake. There are so many amazing flavors!

For an amazing steak in historical Dublin, my favorite restaurant is Oscar’s Bar and Grill. With a lovely, rustic setting, this restaurant offers an incredible selection of entrees, but in my opinion, their finest dish is the 8 oz. filet. For a side dish, my go-to options are either the cranberry balsamic salad or the fried Brussel sprouts.

Looking for an Italian restaurant in historic Dublin? Look no further than Mezzo. From Arancini to Winter Squash and Radicchio Salad, there is a large number of dishes to satisfy that Italian craving. For starters, the Truffle bread is one of my go-to selections but I am also tempted by the Cheese & Charcuterie board when I am dining with a friend or two. My favorite soup and salad option is the Wedding Soup and Salmon Kale salad, but if I want a hearty meal that tastes like Italy, I can’t wait to dig into a Margherita Pizza or the rich, filling Carbonara. Somehow, I always find room for the Spumoni or an after-dinner Limoncello liqueur.

J. Liu is the perfect place when you are craving Asian-inspired dishes. My only problem is that the offer so many delicious appetizers, that I have a difficult time making a choice. My favorites include the crab rangoons, spring rolls, potstickers and the lettuce wraps. However, if I’m in the mood for an entree, I can never go wrong with the miso salmon or the poke bowl.

What to See and What to Do:

Le Chatelaine French Bakery & Bistro
65 W. Bridge Street
Dublin, OH 43017
Telephone: 614 763 7151
Hours: Monday – Saturday from 8AM to 3PM
Tip for your visit: Arrive early for the best selections and breads and pastries.

Dublin Village Tavern
27 S. High Street
Dublin, OH 43017
Telephone: 614 766 6250
Hours: Monday – Saturday from 11AM to 11PM; Sunday from 12PM to 9PM;
Tip for your visit: Order their eggrolls and house-made chowder!

Oscar’s of Dublin
84 N. High Street
Dublin, OH 43017
Telephone: 614 792 3424
Hours: Lunch: Tuesday – Friday from 11:30AM to 2:30PM; Dinner: Monday – Saturday from 5PM to close.
Tip for your visit: Make reservations ahead as this restaurant books up during the summer.

Mezzo
12 West Bridge Street
Dublin, OH 43017
Telephone: 614 889 6100
Hours: Monday from 4PM to 9PM, Tuesday and Wednesday from 4PM to 10PM; Thursday from 11:30AM to 10PM; Friday and Saturday from 11:30AM to 11PM; and Sunday from 11:30AM to 9PM.
Tip for your visit: The restaurant is now serving lunch!

J. Liu Restaurant and Bar
50 West Bridge Street
Dublin, OH 43017
Telephone: 614 718 1818
Hours: Monday through Thursday from 11AM – 9PM; Friday: 11AM – 10PM; Saturday: 4PM – 10PM and Sunday from 4PM – 8PM
Tip for your Visit: Bring lots of friends and order lots of appetizers!

Naomi’s Heart Mission: To Market, To Market

8 September 201531 August 2024

It was early morning when Kristi from Naomi’s Heart Mission suggested we visit the Filipino market downtown. We were so excited to venture out to explore General Santos City and to experience everyday life in this beautiful part of the world.

We prepared ourselves for the adventure by bringing our pesos and a roll of toilet tissue, as public restrooms are not typically stocked with toiletry items. Boarding the “Mystery Machine”, we had plenty of room to stretch out and open-air windows to take in the sights. We could see the mountains in the distance as we traveled through the countryside and passed by tuk-tuks and motorbikes downtown.

Entering the grocery store, we strolled through the produce section. With so many unusual fruits, we decided to purchase a few so that we could try each one back at the mission. What was also interesting was that they displayed a cooler of unpackaged hotdogs that shoppers could select one at at time. Kristie picked up a few items that they would prepare for us later that evening.

I purchased sunscreen, a couple of make up items and a cake so we could celebrate. My favorite item was the pineapple Tang, a perfect drink for breakfast not available in the United States.

We ate lunch at a local restaurant with Kristi helping us select items that would be most familiar to us. The food freshly prepared with a variety of spices which was a very enjoyable meal before returning back to the mission. With our groceries in tow, it was best that we leave sooner than later to refrigerate the meals that we purchased and were ready for another scenic drive through General Santos City.

Have you been on a mission trip to another country? I would love to hear about your experience if you would kindly leave a message in the comments section below. Many thanks for reading about my visit to Naomi’s Heart Mission in General Santos City, Philippines and wishing you many Happy Travels!

Naomi’s Heart Mission is an organization that feeds the local families of General Santos City, Philippines. For only $25 per month, Naomi’s Heart Mission can feed one family for the month. For nearly 20 years, NHM has been supporting the Filipinos by feeding them and educating their children. If you are interested in learning more about their programs or provide support, please visit their website at www.naomisheartmission.org.

Naomi’s Heart Mission, Philippines: Feedings and Fellowship

1 September 201531 August 2024

Each day at Naomi’s Heart Mission, we had the opportunity to feed many children. From visiting several villages or setting up a meal from the compound, I loved the amazing fellowship we experienced with the volunteers as well as serving the local families in need.

These little children were so interested in us and not a bit shy to come up with a bowl or cup in their hand. With a big smile on their faces, they were thankful for the small amount of food that we brought to their homes along the river. Their little faces were so adorable and I couldn’t help but want to take them all home with me.

Naomi’s Heart Mission has a number of volunteers who give of their time and heart to helping out their local family and friends. They are generous in their giving and I am humbled by their willingness to offer a hand in so many activities.

The local churches were extremely involved with the community feedings, preschool and devotions. Merlie was one of my favorite pastors’ wives, who loved to make each activity so much fun. She had such a fun loving spirit and a deep love for her community. I was so excited to learn that her birthday was a day after mine. What fun to meet a kindred spirit.

There were two security guards (Tanods) who lived at the complex with their children. They adopted us as their aunts (Titos), which was absolutely endearing. We had late night slumber parties with the girls and they would put on plays and fashion shows. They made us feel like we were right at home.

There were so many opportunities to pour ourselves into ministry and worship, but spending the afternoons with the local ladies and evenings with the staff and their children were some of the most rewarding experiences of my trip.

For More Information about Naomi’s Heart Mission, visit their website at http://www.naomisheartmission.org/.

To Give to the Mission, visit their website at http://www.naomisheartmission.org/ways-to-help—contact-us.html.

Naomi’s Heart Mission
Purok 2 Lanton Apopang
General Santos City
9500 Philippines
Telephone: 937 304 8110

Disclosure: Please refer to our blog disclaimer tab for more information.

Naomi’s Heart Mission, Philippines: Prison, Porridge and Preschool

25 August 201531 August 2024

There may be times in life that we set out to bless others and realize that we are the ones who are actually being blessed. That is how I felt during my mission trip to Naomi’s Heart Mission in General Santos City in the Philippines.

We were offered the opportunity to visit a woman’s prison for a time of Bible study and worship. I had never been to a prison, much less one that was in a foreign country, so with my only point of reference was what I had seen on television, I was pleasantly surprised at the relaxed atmosphere of the facility and how close we could interact with the women.

They sat on the edge of their chairs listening to every word that we said as their hearts were open to the Gospel of Christ. Many of them would never be able to leave the prison but others had hope that one day they would reunite with their families.

They performed a cute little dance for us and we left them with personal items that they are unable to purchase in prison. I imagined what it would be like to be incarcerated and realized how difficult it would be to have earthly hope, but they spoke of the hope that they have in Jesus Christ. What unimaginable faith! I was truly blessed.

We then boarded the bus for a short drive to the local kindergarten that has been working with Naomi’s Heart to further develop their preschool curriculum. The children were at recess but we were able to sit in the classroom with one of the teachers so that we could gain a better understanding of the Philippine’s educational system.

The schools are expensive so it has been Naomi’s Heart Mission to assist their students from preschool to college. For Naomi’s Heart to even have a license to teach preschool, they were required to become accredited which took many years and a lot of money to secure.

It was amazing to watch the children as they lined up outside of the door to enter, just in time for us to depart. Our final stop was for another feeding which happened to be in one of the poorest neighborhoods in the southern Philippines. The children arrived with plastic and metal cups in hopes to receive their local staple of lugaw. We tried to replace the metal containers because the heat from the rice could potentially burn the children’s hands but sometimes, this was all that they had as they begged for food.

My heart was heavy each day as we fed hundreds of neighborhood children. Living in open communes, there are not many resources for some of the squatters and a large number of children die each year of disease and malnutrition. For only $25 per month, Naomi’s Heart Mission can bring in food for these families to feed them for the month. Such an amazing mission that has been working with the Philippines for nearly 20 years, if you are interested in learning more about their programs or provide support, please visit their website at www.naomisheartmission.org.

For More Information about Naomi’s Heart Mission, visit their website at http://www.naomisheartmission.org/.

To Give to the Mission, visit their website at http://www.naomisheartmission.org/ways-to-help—contact-us.html.

Naomi’s Heart Mission
Purok 2 Lanton Apopang
General Santos City
9500 Philippines
Telephone: 937 304 8110

Disclosure: Please refer to our blog disclaimer tab for more information.

Naomi’s Heart Mission, Philippines: Preschool and Pampering

18 August 201531 August 2024

Waking up early, we had a delicious breakfast of eggs and fresh fruit then prepared for the preschoolers to arrive. There were close to fifteen children enrolled in the preschool program and Naomi’s Heart Mission also pays for the children to continue their education until they reach college paid for by the generosity of their sponsors.

Preschool classes start early, so we greeted the parents as they dropped off their children and led the little ones to let them entertain themselves before beginning their studies. With plenty of toys donated to the mission, we had time to play with the preschoolers before they made their way to their classroom.

While the students are attending classes, NHM sponsors a wide range of activities for some of the parents as they wait for their children. Kristi leads a Bible Study for the women while fellow Filipino men offer trade instruction.

While we visited Naomi’s Heart Mission, Dawn Willis, one of our pastor’s wives, gave the local volunteers haircuts. Kristi was so thankful that she could give back to these beautiful women for giving of their time and hearts to continue the ministry.

Following preschool, NHM feeds the children at the mission as well as the local neighborhood with Lugaw, the local rice porridge. Served hot, this household staple is best when made with chocolate. The kids absolutely loved this and would line up for seconds.

As we were leaving to feed a community outside of the mission, there were several volunteers who began preparing our dinner so that we could eat when we returned.

NHM’s Preschool Children:

Local Feeding from Naomi’s Heart Mission:

For More Information about Naomi’s Heart Mission, visit their website at http://www.naomisheartmission.org/.

To Give to the Mission, visit their website at http://www.naomisheartmission.org/ways-to-help—contact-us.html.

Naomi’s Heart Mission
Purok 2 Lanton Apopang
General Santos City
9500 Philippines
Telephone: 937 304 8110

Disclosure: Please refer to our blog disclaimer tab for more information.

Visiting Naomi’s Heart Mission, Philippines: A Day of Travel

11 August 201531 August 2024

I was so excited for the opportunity to visit Naomi’s Heart Mission on a missions trip. Located in General Santos City, Philippines, our flight would leave out of Dayton, Ohio with stops in Hong Kong and Manila.