School Children, Projects, and many Kilometers

Primary Fashion & Talent show on a Saturday afternoon.  

We have been richly blest this past 2 weeks as we have been on the road for hours on end, but met wonderful school children and humble Priesthood leaders along the way.

Elder Bell meeting in council with this past Branch
President, and present Branch President as
we discuss ways to assist their members who
are struggling with financial problems.

Our second meeting with Priesthood
leaders and committee as these 2
Wards discuss the possibility of
a Member Welfare Project raising a
Large Vegetable Garden and having a
piggery..

This member was thrilled to have a new wheelchair
delivered to her home out in the mountainous region.  She
had suffered a stroke and had been unable to leave her home
and attend Church and go into the city.

This was a little lizard skeleton atop the gate of one of our Churches
that we needed to visit.    We waited for the Branch President to come
open the gate and let us in .... and I noticed this.    Tharon could not
figure out what I was attempting to take a photo of.

I have been noticing many of the schools
have uniforms for the children to wear.  They
are simple, but look so cool.

I liked the ties that went with this uniform

This one has a lighter blue skirt.  The boys
wear darker slacks and a white shirt.

This is a dark blue skirted uniform.  The
shirt/blouse is white.

Many are just a simple skirt of a particular fabric, and any white top.

These two girls are from different schools, but are awaiting
the 'trike' to pick them up after school is over.

I really liked this green material and the
pink on the little boys shirt added
'pizzaz' to his uniform.   The schools send
the kids home (or out) for lunch time for
1 hour.  The schools do not have funds for school
lunch ... and so the families have to provide
for their children.    Some of these kids only eat 2
meals a day.  Rice, some protein.  Maybe some soup.

I also liked this one.   The tie sets it off and looks fashionable.
The other two girls have a 'light' colored top.

These young men were excited to have
their photo taken ... just prior to a
performance for LDSC.   We were
honored with a special performance
by the 6th graders of this school that
the Church donated computers, chairs,
and construction supplies
for repairs after Storm LAWIN at
the first of the Year.

These children are not used to seeing an old blonde woman
taking photos of them in their school.  They were all smiles
and high fives.    I loved their smiles.

I caught this beautiful young lady's contagious smile.

Receiving these two boxes of precious reading glasses that this young Elder's family has
sent to be distributed to the needy here in the Philippines.  As Humanitarian Missionaries we
accepted these and have arranged with Mabuhay Deseret to bring them to a Vision screening
that we will be assisting with next week.  This is Sister Hiatt, and President Hiatt,
of the Cauayan Mission in Northern Luzon.  This Mission covers most of the East Coast
of  the large island of Luzon.   Most of it is extremely mountainous.    We have been
warned to not be out driving through the mountainous areas after dark ... the Filipinos
have a vigilante group moving about.          Sister Brett is the Office Secretary and was so kind to
assist us with our needs in the Cauayan City area. 

Dr. Jacinto .... we are working together on the
Wheelchair Initiative project up in Northern Luzon.
Cagayan Valley Medical Center just signed a new
Memorandum of Understanding with LDSC and they
will receive more training so that they can provision
supportive chairs to Cerebral Palsied people, and those
who need a more technical wheelchair for their
disabilities.

Tharon is with the school superintendent
and school principals to sign over the LDSC
donations to the 2 Elementary and 1 High
schools.       The school building we are
in had its roof torn off and a large part of
it demolished in the LAWIN Storm.   LDSC
has helped supply materials to put the roof
back on and repair most of the building
so that it is usable for the children.

When we came to Baguio, this plant
was really not healthy.   2 months ago
I placed it outside on my balcony - so
that I did not kill it from lack of water
because we are gone so often.  As you
can witness ... it is thriving!    I love it!!
I am hoping that it shoots up a long
stem and we have a beautiful orchid
bloom before we leave next July!!

This is outside our balcony.  The storm has socked in hard and
we are surrounded by clouds.  It has rained, rained, and
rained.  

This is the little 'guard station' in front of our apartment complex.  There is
a guard here 24 hours a day/ 7 days a week.   If you ever mail us a package or a
letter, this is our private mailman.   He receives all mail for the building and
will then hand deliver it when we are either coming or going out of our parking
area.    This is common at almost all establishments, stores, hotels, and even
the fast food establishments (yup, a guard at McDonalds).    This is to serve
people, but also to prevent theft and corruption.


August is almost at its end.  I look at our September schedule, and it seems strange not to see so many trips planned for MANILA.   We are excited for the potential for more Member Welfare Projects ..... resources that can bless the lives of these people who are humble, who trust in the blessings of following the counsel of their Priesthood leaders.  We continue to pray that we will be found worthy to be instruments in the Lord's provident hands in assisting these people in the needs that they so desperately have.

We send our love across the miles.  School is starting back in the States, and we know that our grandchildren are getting back into the routine of school and Carter has his learner's permit.   Brayton is back full swing in High School Varsity Football .... a very valuable and strong player.    I have loved watching his and Hunter's games over the years.    Hunter is at Utah State University and excelling in his studies.   This handsome, wonderful grandson is aiming for Medical School.     In so many ways it is hard to be away during this wonderful year with our grandchildren  (we will miss Kole's first steps & snuggling little Boden as he learns to crawl and prepare to walk ; Jake's 8th Birthday and Baptism is quickly approaching, oh my heavens -- many amazing and special big things happening in their lives)   ...... but we also know that God's angels are watching out for our children and grandchildren while we serve here in the Philippines.     

Beginnings and Endings, and meetings, oh my!!

     It has been an interesting few weeks.     Beginnings because Elder & Sister McIver have arrived to serve in the Philippine Area Office as Wheelchair specialists - and endings in that now we are able to give up 5 of our 8 wheelchair partners and plan to spend much more time in Central and Northern Luzon, and not have to deal with EDSA travel into Manila area.     Elder Bell is 'much grateful' that his hours on the road in Manila Traffic is coming to a 75% closure rate.      I have to admit, he is a champ at his willingness to drive daily in the madhouse of Metro Manila traffic.

     Most of our time the past 2 weeks has been in meetings and training Elder & Sister McIver (from Boise, Idaho) on what an In Country Coordinator and Wheelchair specialist does.     So you will see pictures of many meetings .............BORING, Tell Me!!      The best part about it is that we have grown to love these amazing Filipinos and working with them has been a great experience.       

Many meetings to put together
new Wheelchair projects.   Elder
and Sister McIver at the head of the
table observing and learning the
partners and the what the
LDS Charities Wheelchair
Initiative is all about.

This was a meeting with all of the
CSMs (Church Service Missionaries
serving in the Manila Area.   They
are a key part of the success of
the Philippines Wheelchair program.

One of our Church Service Missionary couples.   Sister Casaol is
responsible for all of the record keeping for the Wheelchair
partners.   She and her husband are instrumental in keeping this
work moving smoothly and keeping the Partners wheelchair
inventory in correct order.

This is another of our dear Church Service Missionary couples.
They were with us in the Tuguegarao training and we will be working
with them to train other CSMs up in that area.  I love these
sweet and dedicated Filipino saints who are willing to give
of their time and talents to move the Humanitarian work
to a higher level.

This is Sister McIver sitting next to Elder Dennis Smith.   He is
the LDS Wheelchair Specialist for ASIA and a few of the other
countries (11 he has stated).         I already have a deep love and
appreciation for Elder and Sister McIver.   She is a powerhouse
of a woman and will be a grand asset in the wheelchair program
and in the Area Office.    (Have to laugh, all she has to do to get
Filipinos to let us change lanes in traffic is to stick her head out the
window and ask if we can move in front of them.   They are taken
back to see this pretty blonde American woman with a big smile
talking to them in traffic.)     They will be great.

Elder Bell and I had a down day - so we stopped by the
Member Welfare Project in Pozorrubio and spent some time checking
up on the activities and breathing the fresh air.   This place has a
very special spirit about it.    2 wards are working together to
provide for 15 families who have been on the 'Church Assistance'
program.   Now, they are self sustaining and working together to
continue helping each other and extend out warm hands of
fellowshipping and encouragement to 'lift up' others in the
Wards who could use some help.

With all of the rains (every day for at least 2 hours), the
duck pond is full and they are loving it.    The members here in
Pozorrubio are preparing a lunch with watercress and calamansie
as they work on the piggery farm today.   

A meeting of some of the committee who oversee the
piggery project.    It is almost time to close the Project and
we are going over the obstacles and the successes that they
have encountered.    Good people, wonderful friends.

This is just a knick-knack that caught my
eye when we were at Banaue a few weeks
ago.    This was a typical home a century ago
here in the Ifugao area.   On stilts because
of the rains and flooding here in the
mountainous area.

Yes, another meeting.   This was one
of our wheelchair partners located
in Navotas City ... right on the coastline.

A very common site as we attempt to weave our way
through traffic down very narrow streets and the street is filled
with people and motorcycles.    That blue semi DID turn onto
this road and it was inches between the two vehicles as we
attempted to pass.   I held my breath as the sideview mirror
was centimeters from the side of the Semi.

Another Wheelchair partner meeting
as we prepare to sign another Project
together.   In many ways, it is hard
to let my time go with these amazing
women who masterfully run these
programs that bless the lives of so
many Persons with Disabilities.   

Yes, another meeting.    Working with Physicians for Peace
to establish another Project with them for provisioning
wheelchairs.    They are the partners who will travel through-out
the Philippines to assess and provision wheelchairs in the
'hard to get to' areas.    These are extraordinary Filipinos.
This organization is probably my hardest to turn over to Elder
and Sister McIver.    Can you tell that I become attached
to these good-hearted people and want to be able to 'cheer' them
on and  continuously watch them improve and bless the
lives of those in need?

This was the 2nd of two 'big' meetings with Department of Health Hospitals
in the Philippines.    They each are getting prepared to handle and provision over
1000 wheelchairs a year.     This one will be in Metro Manila, and will be
under the responsibility of Elder and Sister McIver.    Ours is in La Union,
just North and West of Baguio.    This will be our second large hospital to begin
in a 6 month time frame ... so we have plenty of wheelchair partners and
trainings to continue to keep us busy.

We will soon have more time to be out teaching more of the Branches and Wards about the blessings of the Member Welfare Projects .... so we will see more of those being prepared for approval from Salt Lake .... and then blessing the lives of LDS Members (& non-members get involved, also) who are struggling with finding the resources to feed their families.    These programs are such a great blessing.

Another 2 weeks gone by.   In many ways the time is flying and we continue to see so much needing to be done.   In other ways we continue to miss home and family.   The grandchildren are growing so fast and we are missing precious times ..... but we also realize and are deeply grateful for the blessing of being here to assist others and to allow the blessings available to be gotten out to those who are in real need.