First let me make correction on last update...I typed that Daryl had been a bigger on the street...meant beggar...I know I make many typo's and can't blame it all on these ancient overused keyboards and the many interruptions...so please overlook my errors!
Tidbits:
Philippines was named after Prince Phillip... and the people are called Filipinos....yet their language does not include the f sound and they do not pronounce the f sound!!
We see lots of dogs in cages here & as we walked by one, one of the boys said it was a Filipino dog & for birthday party. ..you can probably guess what that means. I asked, "Cats??" Yup, we eat them too. (Note to Karen & Terri, don't come to Philippines on your birthday!)
School: There are 3 sessions each school day: 6 -10, 10 - 2 and 2 - 6. All are taught by the same teacher and each session has at least 50 students in each!! (Note to my fellow elementary teachers---rejoice you don't teach here!!!)
Since litter surrounded our condo, we decided to clean it up some. A couple of the CG boys joined us. It soon became evident we needed a shovel..so quit for the day. I worked with some older guys today and each time I explained what a word meant, they'd say Wow! When I explained Pentecost saying it was like when they came to CG & became courageous about sharing their love of God, JP's eyes lite up and he grinned from ear to ear saying, "WOW, I DID have a Pentecost!" And always the boys left after many Thank Yous. Earlier I'd told one of the boys the 3 Bears story and used Rog as the example of Papa Bear, me as Mama Bear and Chan as Goldilocks. So later, one guy ran to me, interrupting my lesson saying, "Papa Bear, picture!" Figuring Rog wanted the camera, I gave it to him & went on with the lesson. A few minutes later he came back & showed me a picture of Rog getting a haircut by JayVee...I went to see & found Rog surrounded by boys grinning & pointing, "Papa Bear, haircut!" JayVee got paid 50p for a fine job!! Even trimmed his beard. Rog encouraged him to set up a barbershop, sell coffee & donuts and it would be a great avenue for him to minister to his customers. It seems most everyone hear has some little business. As you walk down the street you pass many small stores selling many things...and all just in front of their home or right in their home. At noon, Chan left on the back of a motorcycle driven by a local volunteer--2 other bikes with staff on them joined & off they went to see some countryside & eat lunch. She came back about 3 hours later with great pictures of rice fields & lakes. She'd love the fact that there was no such thing as traffic on a motorcycle...you just weave in and out. They even weaved their way through a parade in a small village. Here most people don't know how to drive & we haven't seen a girl driving yet. You do need a license. Later, toward evening, we took Chan for Halo Halo (translated means Mix-Mix) and is considered a favorite dessert). In USA I'd call it Hodge Podge. It's a mix of: shaved ice topped with coconut milk, purple Ube ice cream, red tapioca, green jello squares, sweet red & yellow beans, chunks of flan, candied banana with a wafer stick to boot! It's a favorite around here...Chan & Rog are now avid fans too! I really liked the flan...got a dish of plain flan...plain Jane, as usual. We picked up some popcorn & Tang for the boys to enjoy during their movie tonight (Fri treat) and when we got back, they were gathered ready to sing to Chan and then several boys told her how she'd helped them. Finally, all the boys stood around her, laying hands on her and prayed aloud...some in English but most in Tagalog...all with passion..they thanked God for her, prayed for her safety, faith and future. It was like sticking your wet finger in an electric socket...electrifying and yet at the same time very humbling. How quickly Chan had bonded with these boys...how tough to say good bye...
