An Extreme Response team of 12 from Sunrise Church in Sacramento, California arrived in Manilla on December 1st - with suitcases full of beanie babies, hotwheel cars, crayons, coloring books, toothbrussh, toothpaste, bars of soap, kids sunglasses and Disney toys. They had enough to make 1400 kids’ gift bags. The first party was held at the Smokey Mountain dump site. The party was held outside in the street for about 500 energetic kids. There was a carnival with 10 different games, ice cream, sodas, cotton candy, the gift bags and food bags for the parents. It was a wild and crazy event.

Over 600 children attended the Olangapo party in a big covered arena. The kids were so beautiful, respectful and smiling from ear to ear the entire time. When the gifts were passed out there were children all around the arena hugging & caressing beanie babies, holding up their crayons & coloring books and pushing, zooming and, of course, crashing their hotwheel cars. This went on for nearly an hour. Later that night the team slept on the floor of a local church, underneath colorful mosquito netting.

An hour drive and a 45 minute hike up a mountain trail is where the final party took place with the 200 kids of the the Kanawan Tribe (plus their parents). The team had an amazing experience being in such a remote place with such appreciative people.

Thank you 2008 Philippines team and all of you who gave to make all this possible!

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