How do you react when the power goes out? How about when the cable goes off right in the middle of a riveting movie scene? Not to mention being unable to fine a “signal” for your cell phone when you want one! Are you anything like me when something like this happens exclaiming “now what or what the heck” or perhaps a few other choice words we’ll leave to the reader’s imagination?
For most of us, after some huffing and puffing or a call to our friendly utility provider, the lights, the cable or whatever creature comfort has gone off is back on again. At its worst around here, during storms or a downed pole, our inconvenience lasts maybe a few hours. Now imagine you live in a place where electricity goes off on a nearly daily basis. Without rhyme, reason or schedule it goes off and returns in the same manner.
For us, we often have peace of mind when bad weather or crisis strikes there are people we can call and count on; 911, local fire and rescue, the Red Cross, the police. But where God’s Town is located typhoons can be a fairly regular occurrence, and unlike here, there are no government agencies to help out. Communications between Linda in PA and Purie, the director at God’s Town can be sporadic and difficult.
There being little or no infrastructure there, these daily power outages are a way of life. Something everyone young and old deals and learns to live with. Damage clean up after a typhoon or other weather event is left to the residents and their own resources.
In April 2008, the following was written in the church bulletin: A huge typhoon came and flooded the entire compound up to thigh high on the adults and way toooo deep for our little children. Everyone managed OK. Our piglets and chickens were moved to the top bunk beds by the older boys….those guys are so resourceful. Dan (one of the asst.) evacuated our mother pig and the carabaos aren’t called water buffalo for nothing, so they managed just fine. The water subsided, but left mud and difficult conditions. The weather continues to storm and it has been sporadic getting email or cell phone signals thru.
So the next time you can’t get a signal, experience a few minutes or even a couple of hours of “inconvenience”, think of our Sebio, his co-children and the adults who live at God’s Town.
One of the biggest reasons I’m glad I started sponsoring Sebio and working with Linda and the charity is that she and others involved believe in making the children and God’s Town in general as self-sufficient as possible. Funds have been spent on projects like planting fruit-bearing trees; FYI; the price of small fruit trees are apprx. $1 and take about 4 years to mature and begin to bear fruit. And while many fruit trees were planted one of the most recent typhoons caused about 50% of them to be damaged or lost completely. The flooding also causes food prices to go up. At one point it was noted that the price of rice went up 4 times from what it was the year prior.
But the damage and storms don’t seem to dampen the hearts and spirit of the residents of God's Town or those of us who sponsor children there. The mere cost of $30 a month to sponsor Sebio has been worth it in more ways than I can count. I will try to tell you more of those ways in future posts. If anyone at some point wants to join us and sponsor a child at God’s Town just let me know. There are still children not yet sponsored…and imagine being a child who needs and wants someone to care about them. I’ll close this post with something Sebio wrote to us in his own words:
Dear Dawn and Aaron, I thank you you’ve supported in me. I have no something to give you but this my letter.
And for us, that is more than enough!
Next time: The Pixie Sticks Connection
For most of us, after some huffing and puffing or a call to our friendly utility provider, the lights, the cable or whatever creature comfort has gone off is back on again. At its worst around here, during storms or a downed pole, our inconvenience lasts maybe a few hours. Now imagine you live in a place where electricity goes off on a nearly daily basis. Without rhyme, reason or schedule it goes off and returns in the same manner.
For us, we often have peace of mind when bad weather or crisis strikes there are people we can call and count on; 911, local fire and rescue, the Red Cross, the police. But where God’s Town is located typhoons can be a fairly regular occurrence, and unlike here, there are no government agencies to help out. Communications between Linda in PA and Purie, the director at God’s Town can be sporadic and difficult.
There being little or no infrastructure there, these daily power outages are a way of life. Something everyone young and old deals and learns to live with. Damage clean up after a typhoon or other weather event is left to the residents and their own resources.
In April 2008, the following was written in the church bulletin: A huge typhoon came and flooded the entire compound up to thigh high on the adults and way toooo deep for our little children. Everyone managed OK. Our piglets and chickens were moved to the top bunk beds by the older boys….those guys are so resourceful. Dan (one of the asst.) evacuated our mother pig and the carabaos aren’t called water buffalo for nothing, so they managed just fine. The water subsided, but left mud and difficult conditions. The weather continues to storm and it has been sporadic getting email or cell phone signals thru.
So the next time you can’t get a signal, experience a few minutes or even a couple of hours of “inconvenience”, think of our Sebio, his co-children and the adults who live at God’s Town.
One of the biggest reasons I’m glad I started sponsoring Sebio and working with Linda and the charity is that she and others involved believe in making the children and God’s Town in general as self-sufficient as possible. Funds have been spent on projects like planting fruit-bearing trees; FYI; the price of small fruit trees are apprx. $1 and take about 4 years to mature and begin to bear fruit. And while many fruit trees were planted one of the most recent typhoons caused about 50% of them to be damaged or lost completely. The flooding also causes food prices to go up. At one point it was noted that the price of rice went up 4 times from what it was the year prior.
But the damage and storms don’t seem to dampen the hearts and spirit of the residents of God's Town or those of us who sponsor children there. The mere cost of $30 a month to sponsor Sebio has been worth it in more ways than I can count. I will try to tell you more of those ways in future posts. If anyone at some point wants to join us and sponsor a child at God’s Town just let me know. There are still children not yet sponsored…and imagine being a child who needs and wants someone to care about them. I’ll close this post with something Sebio wrote to us in his own words:
Dear Dawn and Aaron, I thank you you’ve supported in me. I have no something to give you but this my letter.
And for us, that is more than enough!
Next time: The Pixie Sticks Connection
You're so right! I remember when we were going to leave God's Town, the children had rehearsed a dance for us at the worship service. The power went out on the CD player right before the service. Who needs music to dance anyway?
ReplyDeleteIf it was dark and the power went out, Purie would bring a candle to your room, drip some wax on the tile floor and put the candle on it to support it. It made a beautiful light!
Great post, Dawn! You write so well and make some great observations. Thanks for your continuing story. I look forward to reading more.
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