Tis The Season

Sorry, I didn't realize it had been that long since I posted, my apologies. I will start by saying that I hope I can truly convey the thoughts and feeling I'll be putting in this post. They really do come straight from my heart. This has been an incredible year and I really want to acknowledge and thank people who made it all possible and truly made a difference in my life.

Probably most appropriate is to start with some of the people who made my trip possible. Actually the trip wouldn't have been possible had it not been for the God's Town presentation, then "gentle" nudging of Linda and Becky. Linda first and foremost for encouraging me to move past simply sending money to sponsor Sebio and actually going and meeting him and all his co-children and the staff at God's Town.

Becky just added more icing on the cake with her humor and "let's just do it" attitude. You really both have come to be very special women in my life and I thank you for helping me see not only that I can help others but myself as well by doing things I never thought possible. (can you say big freakin spider in the toilet bowl at 3am) It's much more than that but honestly who really forgets something like that!

He probably should have come first but I thank and appreciate Aaron for allowing me this experience. And no I didn't need permission but he understood how important this was to me and took care of the home front, as did all the spouses while we were gone. He also encouraged  me when I had doubts about going at all and I love him for that.

And of course there is our Sebio who often writes that he has nothing to give us. I tried to explain to him while I was there and I've written in letters that he gives us great joy in allowing us to sponsor such a good young man. His love for us and being like the son we never had is gift enough. Also his doing well in college now makes us so proud and happy.

I'm thrilled to share with all of you his first report which he sent by email I might add. Here in his own words:

Hi ma'am I'm here in Internet cafe I want you to know of my Rating or my Grade of all my subject on my first semester

SUBJECT. RATING
AIT111--------------------------------------------88
AIT112--------------------------------------------86
MATH 111 ---------------------------------------86
MATH 112---------------------------------------81
FILIPINO------------------------------------------88
ENGLISH------------------------------------------84

How cool is this not only handsome, kind and hard working but smart too. This picture accompanied his message and grades.

I also must give thanks to others who gave generously to help put smiles on the faces of everyone at God's Town by giving money or the infamous cocoa we took with us. These special people include: my big sis Mary Blease, Linda Robinson & Edna Chafy my co-workers and Diane Roberts, Aaron's co-worker, along with my friends Josie Geiger, Kristine Maberry and Arlene Horner. I would be remiss if I didn't say special thanks to Mary and her husband Bill for coming to see me the night before we left. It meant a lot to me and our recent reconnection means even more, love ya sis!

Special thanks to all those known and unknown people from numerous countries and US states who have visited the blog to read about not only my adventures but the wonderful kids and staff at God's Town. Very special thank you to the person from Belgium who reads the blog on a regular basis. I don't know you but just recognize by my stat counter your views on a regular basis. I would love for you to friend the blog and say hello.

And even though the year of my big adventure is coming to a close I don't think this journey is going to end any time soon. I say this for several reasons;

1. I want to go back again. I really miss everyone there. And if his letters are any indication Dan, the assistant director and just the sweetest guy keeps saying he wants me to return. Probably not in 2011 (sorry Ma'am Linda) but more likely in 2012. And I love getting mail from my new family there.
2. Aaron wants to go.
3. I really love not only the people but their food. Our big news at home is we had a local Filipino woman from our development open "Manila Cafe' and Asian Mart" right down the street. We're talking walking distance to a real turo-turo; small eateries in the Philippines are lovingly called "turo-turo". The exact literal translation of which is "point-point" simply because all you need to do is point the food you want to eat from the selection of food displayed in a table, I hope to post a picture of this eatery soon. Arlene, who grew up in the Philippines is also to blame for my love of Filipino foods because she was the first one to introduce me to it even before my trip.
4. And of course there is Sebio and we hope Eric as well. While I was there and with Purie present to interpret I told Sebio what he meant to us and offered if he ever wanted to come visit us we would be happy to have him. The onus is on him to do the necessary paperwork etc to come but the offer is out there.

So as I tell Sebio and hopefully as you can see, you don't have to be given "some thing" it's all about the relationships and the people you are loved by.

To All Who Read This

Happy, Safe & Joyous Holiday Season & New Year

Christmas Comes Early for Me

For those of you who know me I'm a big kid at heart. I recently received 2 presents related to Sebio. The first came a few weeks back when I was asked along with my travelling companions to speak at the church about our trip.

When Linda arrived she had a red folder for me. In it was something I'd been waiting for, a copy of Sebio's high school diploma. I will find a frame for it to proudly display in our home but here for all of you to see is the proof of his accomplishments.

 The following is a photo of Sebio first with Dan, the Asst. Director at God's Town and with Purie, the Director. As always he appears his shy, apprehensive self. But handsome none the less in our eyes. We are so very proud of him even though we couldn't be there to see him that day. I almost was but missed it by I believe about a week.

Just a note about the background on the photos, that is made from the husk of coconuts. It is a page from a book that was filled with photos and some notes made for the 3 of us on the day we departed God's Town. Each book was personally made and if we first thought they were photos taken earlier that was proven wrong by the fact one of the photos in my book had me in it! They were very covertly and creatively made and tied with some other natural material I'm not quite sure of its origin. It was also a gift and remembrance of the trip I will always treasure.

Now I mentioned 2 presents, Sebio's diploma copy being the first the second came recently and sent me into quite a 'tizzy' around the house. I suppose the precursor to the big surprise came in the form of an email from Sebio. Yes, our first technical communication. The funny part was thankfully I always check my email spam folder. In it was an email with the subject line of "I Am Happy".  My first assumption was oh well another Viagra ad for me to delete. But there was something about the senders email address that I kept reading before automatically hitting the delete button. Then it hit me: that is Sebio's name. So with great excitement I opened it and sure enough here was our first communication via email:

Sent: Fri, September 17, 2010 11:10:41 AM
Subject: I'm happy

Hi ma'am Dawn and sir Aaron
I'm happy this DVD and letters that I recieved yesterday, you show me your love and to my co-children here I'm happy also that sir Aaron would like to sponsor for Eric.

Not only was this message monumental being our first email but it confirmed his support and approval about our decision for Aaron to sponsor Eric.

This inaugural email arrived as a duplicate message in my Inbox but also, in duplicate was a request for me to sign on and add Sebio as a contact on Yahoo chat. I figured ok but what were the odds that was ever going to happen? But I obliged his request and added him onto my Yahoo contacts. I haven't used or been on Yahoo chat since Aaron was deployed in Iraq. It was our lifeline while he was there but I haven't had the need for it since.

Sebio's first email came some time during the night on a Thursday. This past Thursday we had left our home computer on a bit later than usual and I went to turn it off before bed. I figured if Sebio is going to the Internet Cafe' as part of his college course on computers just maybe there might be another email message from him. Well in my Inbox again was another double request to add him on Yahoo chat. Well ok, thought I did that but just in case I log onto Yahoo and check to make sure it's done. Suddenly and for me my second present I literally yelled to Aaron: "SEBIO IS ONLINE". Sure enough it showed our guy was online so I immediately typed in a message; Sebio is that you?  And after what seemed like forever it was confirmed it was. He was at the Internet cafe' but our connection seemed to go in and out. But we exchanged a few words back and forth that he was doing well and liked school.

Unfortunately it was getting late and I had an early call for a work event the next morning so I tried to tell him why we had to log off. Not sure if he got or understood our message but to my surprise and happiness came our next email correspondence:

Dear Ma'am Dawn and Sir Aaron

Thank you for the letter and DVD that you sent to me that I received last week and we watch the Pirate movie it was good continuation of the story about pirate number 1and 2.


I want you to know about my studies, College is a lot of work in school but it's fun,
I got 24 speed above accuracy per minute in my type writing and I focus on computer so I know about the parts of computer and when the computer was made and Involved so I enjoyed this course because more Information we studied.


Ma'am Linda said that Eric does not have a sponsor, I'm happy that Sir Aaron would like to sponsor with Eric.


I hope you read this letter


THANK YOU AND I MISS YOU
SEBIO

What better presents could a person get, except maybe some hugs, but I'll just have to wait until my next visit for those.

Next Post: Meet Eric, our new addition to the family.

SO WHAT IS A BALIKBAYAN BOX?

A balikbayan box (literally return to one's homeland box) is a ubiquitous corrugated box containing any number of small items and sent by an overseas Filipino known as a "balikbayan". Though often shipped by freight forwarders specializing in balikbayan boxes by sea, such boxes can be brought by Filipinos returning to the Philippines by air.

These boxes might contain nearly anything that can fit and that the sender thinks the recipient would like, regardless of whether those items can be bought cheaply in the Philippines, such as non-perishable food, toiletries, household items, electronics, toys, designer clothing, or items hard to find in the Philippines.

Shipped boxes are delivered directly to the recipient, nearly always the family of the overseas Filipino.

Part of the attraction of the balikbayan box is economic. If the items were sent individually or in smaller boxes through postal services, the cost could be significant. The trade off is a long transit time by container ships, typically taking several months, and the lack of a solid delivery date.

Another part of the attraction is the cultural expectation that returning travelers will bring gifts to family, friends and colleagues left behind in the Philippines. In this way, it is related to the practice of "pasalubong" or a souvenir brought for loved ones or friends.

Balikbayan box started with the law enacted by former Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos during the 1980s during the resurgence of Filipinos working overseas. The Philippine Bureau of Customs Circular allowed the entry of personal goods to the Philippines from Filipinos overseas, tax free. This was done by asking friends and co-workers who were coming home to the Philippines to bring gifts with them.

The balikbayan box business started in 1981 in Los Angeles, California by Mr. Rico Nunga who at that time was working in a shipping company and started REN International. Mr. Nunga brought up the idea to Mr. Monet Ungco who at that time was based in New Jersey and put up Port Jersey Shipping.

Why did I go to my favorite resource Wikipedia to bring you the history and definition of the balikbayan box? Because Aaron and I are preparing to send one over by the end of September. We would love for anyone who would like to participate and send items over to please join us. Since it will hopefully arrive in time for the holidays a note can be put in for the home's director Purie to put items away to be used as Christmas presents. Just imagine the arrival of a big box just stuffed full of things for everyone?

 
Since my travels there I put together a list of items I know they would like or could use. Regarding any food items remember it's a long trip over. Be mindful of items that could spoil, expire or melt. And since they love getting mail, cards and notes are always welcome for inclusion. These are suggestions if you have other ideas we'd love to hear them.
 
FOOD ITEMS:
Canned foods: corn, meats, Spam etc
Spaghetti
Hard candies, pixie sticks etc

RECREATION/ENTERTAINMENT
Jigsaw puzzles
DVD movies: list available of what they already have compliments of Sebio
Balls

PERSONAL CARE ITEMS
Shampoo, hair products
Toothpaste, toothbrushes
Dove Soap
Toilet paper

GENERAL ITEMS
Funnels
Ice cube trays
Tools
Nails, screws etc
Kitchen towels
Wash cloths, bath towels

Dog & Cat treats, toys

Plastic totes

Long wooden matches

Aluminum Foil (Reynolds)

Ziploc Bags

Saran Wrap

Candles (taper kind)

Silverware

CLOTHING

Boys/men's small items

Girls/women’s small

Anything you care to contribute to put a smile on the faces of the children and staff at God's Town will surely be appreciated. I can say that with all certainty. The shipping cost is not cheap but we will take care of that.  If you have items for the box please give them to me or Aaron by September 24th.

From Aaron and I we say thank you and from those at God's Town, they would say Salamat.

** And if you live in PA and are a member or associated with PUCC, my other 2 travel companions; Ma'am's Linda and Becky are also collecting and preparing a box for shipment. See one of them for details regarding their box and deadline for submission.