A GOOD WEEK

Elder Bell caught me doing morning laundry.  We usually have to
give our dirty clothes to the Innsbruck Laundry lady named
Edith ... but we will be on the road too much this week .  So I
am catching up the old fashion way - hand washing. :)

Sad story ... We purchased this little
unit that acts as a diffuser.  I poured some
of the boiling water into the bottom chamber
(that used to be the same size as the top
1/2 globe) and melted it. :(    but we
melted it again and shaped it the best that
we could.    still works .... but
definately not nearly as effective.

A common site along the highway .   A little family traveling on the motorcycle.
the littlest one is in mom's arms or sandwiched in-between.  

A rice field in the process of being planted.  Amazing to watch the
process.   The bunches in the front part of the screen will be divided and singly
planted along the rows.    You can see the families out in their fields planting the rice plants.

We stopped into the Cagauyan Valley Hospital in Tuguegarou.  (This is a hospital that we will be beginning a new Wheel Chair Project.   The assessors training will be in mid-June.   I am in charge  ...... arrrggghhhhh.  Not my confort zone by any means!)      We delivered 50 receiving blankets to the mothers with newborns.   This new mother had to have a bed out in the hallway because the units were too full.

A new baby boy .... and a happy
new mom.

Meeting with 2 opthamalic Doctors, chairman of the Persons
with Disabilities Organization of Quezon, Cagauyan, the
Mayor, and Jimwel of Mabuhay Deseret.   They conducted
vision screenings, measured for Prothesis, and assessed for
surgery on cleft palate.  Elder Bell and I registered the people
and took photos of those needing cataract surgery and the cleft
 palate surgery.   5 hours in a hot, muggy bowry -
 but we loved the work.

A vision assessment in the little cafe we ate lunch in.
Today's menu : Pancit   (reminded me of Mongolian stir fry
on the hot wok..)......LOL(,not stir fry for the eye assessment - but for the lunch
we ate.  .)

This older gentleman had a severe growth over
his right eye.   Doctor was able to drain the
growth nodule, and performed an assessment on
the actual eye.

This is the poster we had hung up for the people to know where
to come.    We had over 250 people waiting when we showed
 up to the Senior Center bowry.     One of the Opthamologists
had also brought 300 pairs of reading glasses of varying
magnification.    209 went back with her.    They were also
traveling to another community out in the back areas of
 the province the next two days.

This mom brought her 11 month
old daughter to be assessed and
be put on the list for the free
cleft palate surgery.  Mabuhay
Deseret does phenomenal work. A
very good charitable organization.

We finally got a bit of a smile from her.  Cute little
girl.   We hope that her name comes up quickly on the list
for the surgeries.   11 months is the ideal time to begin the
surgery process.  At this age there is no need for Speech
Therapy.   We were so glad that her mother brought her
in to have her assessed.

This is Bishop Viernes from Pozorrubio.   He is working with 2 wards with a Member Welfare Project which is assisting the recipients in the two wards to work and be a part of a Pig raising farm project in which those needing assistance can work on the farm with the vegetable garden, and assist with the schedule of raising the pigs.   This will put meat on their tables and the pigs they take to market will generate funds that Rice and other Food Staples will be purchased and distributed.   It is a way to teach the members involved how to raise pigs and groom them for market.     It is to teach them ways to become self reliant.          The gentleman in Blue is Bishop Ty Johnson from Salt Lake.   He is a Church Employee and is the Director over Member Welfare Projects for the world.  He is here in the Philippines conducting a training in the Asian/Pacific Area with 4 Areas.       He spent two days with us out on our projects, asking many questions, and evaluating the MTC experience for Senior Missionaries and the Humanitarian training.     A great 2 days.   He is an amazing man who you can tell loves people and wants to truly serve in the way that the Lord would want him to.   

 

We are here in Tarlac, Luzon.   Another
Member Welfare Project.  Sister Nacpil
is explaining to Bishop Johnson the
deep rooted problem that these
Member Welfare Projects is helping
to solve.     

This is a field that we passed along our ride out from
Tarlac.   Very typical Philippines.  You can see the different
stages of the rice crops in the sectioned areas.  Some are freshly
planted, others are filling in and have a few weeks growth on
them. 

   Sister Nacpil was explaining to Bishop Johnson the problem of children not going to the schools because their parents must send them out in the rice fields, or out into the area to gather wood to sell, or to burn the thinner pieces of wood and make charcoal out of them so that they can be sold.   The children can be rented out to neighboring individuals to help in their gardens or in the rice field.    The families are just so poor, that the cannot afford food.   So they feel that the food is more important than the children learning to read, etc.    Most of these parents also cannot read.     Sister Nacpil is a 5th grade teacher.   Many of her students enter the 5th grade and can not read because of these problems.  There are a few that can not identify all of the alphabet.   This is a very common problem throughout all of the areas of the Philippines. It has existed for generations, and continues until the cycle can be broken.    The cycle cannot be broken until they are assisted and trained so that they can pull themselves out of the grips of poverty .... which takes resources.     I was so glad that Bishop Johnson was here to witness first hand and to listen and understand the depth and scope of the problems that these saints are struggling with here in the Philippines.  It will give us, as Humanitarian Missionaries,  more ability to submit projects that will allow us to assist those who are in these needy situations.

This is our Pozorrubio Saturday group.  20 families are involved
with this Member Welfare Project.  It was their turn to take care of the pigs, and to begin preparations for the rainy season by lining the walkway with collected rocks and begin the construction of another building to allow the pig pens to be added to.   Very sweet people.   Even the children will help carry the rocks and keep track of the chickens while the chicken coop is being constructed out of bamboo.    Elder Bell is in his element here, he is advising them with hints on increasing their egg
production from the little banty hens.   He has alot of good ideas that could be a great benefit to them.     They are praying that the rains will begin (off and on) soon.   It has been an unusually dry year this spring and summer, here on Luzon.

  

We love you all.    It always brings a smile to us as we read your comments and discuss matters going on at home.    
This is a wonderful work.    We continuously see tiny miracles and 'tender mercies' from the heavens.
Be strong and of good cheer.    What a blessed people we are .... to be living at this time, and for all of us living in America.   We are so RICH!