Unsolicited Mail & A Sincere Request

If  you've been following along you know how much I love my mail, be it email or letters, from my special friends in the Philippines. Well, I recently got a little of each.

The first was a letter from Dan, the Asst. Director at God's Town. Now the normal course of our correspondence is I write, I get an answer. This letter arrived totally out of the blue and not in response to anything I wrote or sent. What a joy to find it in the mailbox. Well actually Aaron found it first and did his usual "close your eyes, hold out your hand, I've got a surprise for you". Which by now I've learned means mail from someone there.

After smiling like the Cheshire Cat I read over my letter. He was just checking, saying hello and telling me a few things like how Ming Ming had kittens which I knew. Boy I would love to see some pictures of them. This letter seemed to indicate all was well.

My next surprise communication was email from Sebio...It did not appear to be in response to one I had sent, at least not recently. Since his Internet usage is so sporadic I never know when he'll receive email. And when he wasn't in school I figured he would have no Internet time.

Here is the extent of his contact....remember he is a shy young man of "few" words.

June 5, 2011
Subject Line:  This is Sebio

Hi ma'am Dawn
I'm here in catbalogan in Internet cafe
I excited to school because I'm second year college

Good thing for that subject line and email addy, he never signs off on his emails! I wrote back asking how everyone was and probably a few other things and the response.

July 8, 2011
Yes ma'am I'm doing well at school
we are a good healthy

So there you have the update, school good, everyone healthy. I really don't mind the brevity of the messages, it's always the fact of being thought of that counts for me.

Before I sign off this time I'd like to ask my blog followers for some help. If you take a look to the right you'll see a lovely pink block. If you click on that pink block it should take you to a donation form where, if you are able, you can sponsor me in my efforts this October to walk 60 Miles in 3 Days during the Susan G. Komen 3 Day for the Cure. I've been training hard and appreciate those who have sponsored me so far, but I've got a ways to go before reaching my $2,300 fundraising goal. So any help you can give will be greatly appreciated.

As my Filipino friends say, Salamat or thank you for reading and any help you can give for this new challenge I am taking on

What Nice Young Men

What arrived in today's mail made it my birthday, Christmas and every other holiday all rolled into one. What came was the cutest little card, not big or loaded with words but huge on heart. Inside that card were wonderful sentiments and a picture. And it doesn't matter that my birthday was a month ago or that words are misspelled but when you think about who it came from none of that makes a difference.

Telling you what they said wouldn't do it justice so I'm posting it here for all to see and feel. I love those kids, they are so special. We are so lucky to have those boys and all the kids in God's Town in our lives.



Here is the card, isn't it sweet.



Sebio's words inside the card.



 The picture was from Eric and with him is Dan, the Assistant Director and Purie, Director of God's Town. We're both so proud of them as if they were our own.



Everyone is smiling as always.




This was found on the reverse side of the picture.


Wish I were there to hug them both and say salamat po or thank you for being so loving and kind. Love you guys, now I'm off to write some letters of my own.

Update, Random Thoughts, Pictures & Memories

I've been remiss in posting any updates. The one real update I have is that Ma'am Linda returned safe and sound from her trip back to God's Town. She did cut it short due to the many problems from the earthquake in Japan and fears of issues related to that. But she did come back to us safe albeit very tired, extremely jet lagged and a bit sick. Last I heard from her she's doing well now.

As for God's Town she said although her plan was to go over there and help out with recovery after the severe flooding they had (I posted pictures here previously), she actually found they were in relatively good shape. There were of course things that needed replacement but she noted they are such resourceful people. They managed to save all the electronics etc and cleaned up really well. They actually hoisted their full size fridge up on the counter to keep it dry, which it did, saving a very valuable appliance.

School activities like classes and graduations were delayed but it sounds like everything got back on track eventually. There was fear that while Linda was there she would get flooded in at God's Town due to more severe rain but they took precautions by her staying in town on many nights.

Sebio's birthday is coming up soon. I recently mailed him a singing birthday card, new dvd, (the original Karate Kid) and a letter. Due to my procratination it probably won't make it there in time but I know he'll appreciate it whenever it does.



Me & my adorable peeps

 I'm surprised I hadn't posted this picture before because its one of my favorites. I orginally thought of this as one of "me and my BFF's" but that was until the last minute when Mr. Nathanial slid into the photo hence making it the girls plus 1 guy!!  It's now been over a year and I truly miss them all. I can't wait to go back next year. I'm not sure how many will still be living at God's Town but hopefully if they are at least nearby we will get to see them. Purie the Director has the girls live in town with a family once they start to mature too much. Very wise so that she does not have to worry about any boy/girl adolescent issues that could occur at God's Town. 



Our favorite local place for all
foods Filipino

 I miss the good Filipino food just a little less by now having the Manila Cafe' and Asian Mart within walking distance of where we live. I have amazed the owner, Arlene at how many of their dishes I am familiar with and/or know how to make myself.



Here it is, a little H2O & it's
coffee ma'am!!



But not only am I happy to have delicious Filipino meals such as adobo chicken, my new favorite bicol express and caldereta cooked and ready to purchase at Manila Cafe,  my biggest thrill came when I found she was carrying the 3 in 1 coffee just like I had while there. This coffee, everytime I drink it, takes me back and provides memories that are so real I can hear Ester at our door in the morning..."morning ma'am, coffee ma'am". And there she would be with a tray containing 2 hot delicious mugs of this prize that Becky and I covetted every morning. Of course there was the morning Dan, the Assistant Dir. tried to make us some more during breakfast....sorry Dan but not quite like Esters. This coffee is a mixture of coffee, sugar and the creamer all in one neat little package. Of course I do believe Ester worked a little magic into hers.

Phone Call & News from Linda

As I mentioned previously Linda is in the Philippines and currently at God's Town. We came to learn she landed in Japan the day before the devastating earthquake. But from her emails her trip was troubled even before she left the US. She learned, at the airport  because she was scheduled to stay in the Philippines for a month she needed a visa, something she didn't know prior to that time. She worked things out and was permitted to leave anyway.

There were other issues she faced in her travels but got to God's Town only to be faced with mother nature once again raining down on our friends there. She said it was cold and rainy something she didn't exactly pack for. They were also taking some precautions and she was leaving God's Town I think at night and traveling into the nearby town of Catbalogan to stay so that she didn't get stranded at God's Town in case it flooded again. This was due to the last time it flooded the transportation stop down the road from God's Town was only accessible by boat.

Much to my delight last night we got a phone call...initially from Linda saying there was someone dying to talk to me and yes it was Sebio. Now I'm not sure how much he was "dying" to talk to me because he was his usual quiet self, but that's ok because I know it's just him. It was nice to hear his voice regardless of how much he actually said.

During my conversation with Linda she said it was indeed raining again and that they were taking a Filipino shower in the rain as was evidence by M-D, the youngest running around in the rain buck-nekkid.

Unfortunately her troubles have continued she's sick and got bit by Ming Ming the cat while trying to give her a shot and worm meds. She is also preparing to leave early due to the crisis in Japan. Her husband Frank is working on the arrangements. We of course continue to send good thoughts for her to come back home safe and sound.

We're still preparing our next box for shipment to God's Town. Linda mentioned the boys looked a bit thin and that fresh fruits and veggies were in short supply due to the flooding. She also said many of the local residents had lost their chickens too. It just sounds like they can't get a break over there. The one good piece of news in one of her emails was they only lost some small things during the flood and a specific note to me that Sebio's drums were fine. She said Purie can probably pack things up from damage in her sleep when the flood waters start. They are amazing and resourceful people.

New Photos & Safe Travel Wishes

Before I post pictures I wanted to send out a safe travels message for Ma'am Linda who is going back to God's Town on March 9th. I really wanted to go with her but she's going for a month to see how she can help God's Town get back on track after the recent flooding. I requested that whether they want them or not (just kidding) she is to give everyone there hugs from me. That is more for Sebio but she says they are more welcoming to those now than in the past. I'll post updates as to what she finds as I get them.

When I spoke to her on the phone, Linda relayed one interesting note about how resourceful Purie is when faced with these adverse conditions .  They actually took their full sized fridge and hoist it up on top of the counter. It only got slightly wet and probably saved it from being destroyed completely by doing that. She's so smart.

I always love mail from the Philippines and the newest arrival was no exception. The following, as best I could scan them, are pictures of them digging into the balikbayan box that Aaron and I shipped over. The pictures arrived in a thank you card with wonderful words of appreciation, love and Valentines Day wishes written inside. I didn't even know they celebrated V'day but I do now.  One note the pictures unfortunately are a little blurry.  I am including a couple of shots of the notes Sebio wrote on the back of several photos...enjoy, I hope they make you smile as they did Aaron and I.

Front of the card



Inside of card, some of these guys have
great penmanship


















What I love about the pictures are seeing shirts on some of the boys we either bought or sent that had been Aaron's. The box included a bunch of donated sunglasses  which as you can see were a hit along with the pixie sticks I'm assuming is in one of the photos.

Pixie sticks "always" a ton of fun & smiles; Sebio left
and maybe Eric on the right, not sure



Sebio working on the backpack strap, M-D in yellow
Junjie trying on shades and Dan far right






New Superman aka Abraham
courtesy of Aaron

Apparently intently reading the letters that went in the box with all the goodies. This made me want to get the next box ready for shipment right away, which we have been doing.  We are thankful to have gotten a donation from Jack & Jean Lucas to buy items for this next box along with money to cover the shipping costs.

Back of photo

Too cool, we found that shirt with all boom
boxes on it.

As always they truly appreciate everything.

I really do miss each and every one of them and can't wait to go back next year.

First Rain, Now the Mud

Here are some updated photos of what our friends are dealing with at God's Town, Philippines. As Linda said they even make mud look good, they are such beautiful people.  By their smiles, even in the midst of cleaning up after this disaster, they just have beautiful spirits and deal with whatever they must. I'm not sure how much I'd be smiling let alone laughing among this muck! And I'll remind you, unlike here there is no FEMA, no Red Cross to their rescue or recovery, they are basically on their own.

I still don't know about little Ming Ming the cat, I did learn they lost their new puppy.  I'm also yet to learn about what "things" they lost; appliances etc.  If I also find out, which I suspect might be the case, I'd like to raise some funds to replace any of their entertainment items they might have lost; TV, DVD player, Sebio's drums, Dan's guitar etc. Linda is going over in March so I plan to send some money to replace any of those types of items. I know they may not seem like a high priority but personally I feel, they are kids and should have things that make them happy and entertain them.

Here are the latest photos....


That appears to be Abraham (left) Sebio (right).
Notice the makeshift tools in several of the photos.


















Dan & Eric cleaning and repairing a bed.



Someone said Emma must be an Angel and a
happy one at that!






Eric (left) and Sebio (right)



Jacob doing a bit of surveying it appears.

Appears everything that could be salvaged has
to be cleaned and probably all by hand.

Emma just soldiers on, probably with a smile.



And seriously, would you be laughing?
Not sure I would!



There Don't Seem to Be Any Words

I'm really not sure what to say. I was so happy sharing pictures with all of you about the trip but now I must share some that make me very sad. I believe having been there with the kids and staff of God's Town and feeling like a part of their family it has an entirely different meaning for me.

The following pictures were sent to Linda I believe by Purie's son Kenneth. Here is part of the message that accompanied the pictures:

...the whole San Jorge is in water now good for the house beside up-hill and highway the are safe of the water, the houses who are near the field are still in water...the two building are still in water knee deep in the outside of the building, the water beside the wall are still high 5 feet high the first day was so high even outside the building almost 5' 4" feet high specially if you are at the back of the building. we use the tarpualine to cover us outside that we were able to sleep a little sleep...Thank God everyone are safe except Delia she got fever I gave her ASPRIN that help her. we still have rain but not heavy rain that will stop the water to dry up. any way we will up load you more updates photos

P.S Jacob made a little canoe from a babana tree and use it to roam around the property...but I stop him because the water is so dirty. the Boys did a great help. Dan take good care of the Pigs and some of our boys. Delia and Emma do the washing of the clothes and clean the building little by little with ken and his friend.


Thank you. help us pray for the sun to shine.

 

Look how high the water is. This is right outside where I stayed.





Makeshift living quarters.

  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 I do believe that is Jacob!





I'm not quite sure who this is, Junald perhaps, but take note of
Moses the dog in the back there. I hope Ming Ming is ok.



That's Purie and I'll remind you the room I shared with
Becky is the doorway on the far left in the back.



And thru all this I swear that is a smile on someones
face in the back.





I already had thoughts running through my head but Linda added to the list of "what abouts" I was having: as in what about the refrigerator, what about the sewing machine, what's in the water they are having to walk and stand in, where are they going to the bathroom...and the list goes on.

They have been thru floods before. I never thought of the other affects of floods but last time everyone got foot fungus. I have no idea if Sebio or any of the kids are getting to school, I'm thinking no but I'm not sure. If everything is flooded how could they get there. To say I'm worried about everyone is an understatement.

My dear friend Kristine in CA asked what could be done. I wish I had an answer. I hope the box Aaron and I sent gets there soon since it has food in it. Since the only type of package we can send is a flat envelope I'm going to look for vacuum sealed foods that will mail like Spam, tuna etc. I'm also going to send over some sealed packs of aspirin etc. And anything else I can think of that will mail in an envelope and could be useful. I'm also open to suggestions of what might be useful and fit in a flat envelope.

I'll keep you posted and put up more pictures. Linda can wire funds over so if you'd like to make a monetary donation checks should be made to One Heart and a notation that it is for God's Town specifically.  Donations can be sent to the church at:

 PUCC, 56 Banks Street, Harrisburg, PA, 17103

For now I'm taking the water tower thermometer down. I know that process was started at some point by more important issues and necessities have cropped up. That might be another "what about" to add to the list. Thankfully the answer to one question what about everyone's safety has been answered at least for now.