May-

The Filipino people are so…..wonderful! As we travel around they are very warm and receptive to our message. Most everyone here has some kind of business, even if they work for someone else.

I recall when we were a young struggling couple we did many things to add to our small income. I tended children, took in washing, ironing and sewing. Elder Green cut fire wood or haul hay to sell in Las Vegas. He bought cars and traded them. We even bought and sold our houses just right when the bank transferred us. We would buy a house low, fix it up or finish the basement thus adding to the value.

I was very careful when we shopped at the store, using coupons and following all the store sales. I made whatever we needed if I could or doing without. All our meals were made without mixes. Those days we were busy with children, stretching our time with all its demands and making ends meet. As we work with the people here I can relate some to the struggles they are making to survive.

Homes are very different they are made of bamboo, wood, cinder blocks and galvanized steel or concrete or any combination. Many homes are built right up to the sidewalk with a small business in the front or on the other side of the front fence. Some have Iron doors in the front of the store or garage. Some people have barbed wire fences around the yards which are usually very small about a eighth of our lots, but lot sizes differ.

 

This home is one of the nicest ones I have seen.  It is in our neighborhood, ours is not this nice.

Many people wash their clothes by hand. If you are lucky enough to have a washing machine it is very small. Two towels and a few wash clothes will fit in ours. It is very old and rusting out. The landlady has ordered another one, but it is on back order. Maybe we will see it before we are done with our mission.

Our church houses are so beautiful and striking in comparison to the little fragile house built around them. They are very functional with tile floors and gated windows and doors. Some have air-conditioning while others just have electric fans.

This church house sits on a hill in Vallehermoso, Negros Occidental, Philippines. A branch meets here, they will soon grow.

The Kalibo, Panay, Philippines chapel is located deep in a downtown neighborhood surrounded by simple homes.

Here at the waterfall we found some cute children selling dried fruit and candy coconut cakes.  How can one resist?

President Lopez has cautioned us about buying food from the street venders, thought we would sure like to help them make a sale, but we don’t want to get sick.  We shared our goodies with our class. 

 

Jollibee’s is the Philippine’s version of “Kentucky Fried Chicken.” Above in the wrapper is rice not a burger.

There are many good credible restaurants here, so when we are out and about we are ok. We also take some food just in case we don’t find any place to eat. There are a few large modernized grocery shops here which we were pleasantly surprised. We can get many American brands here. Kellogg’s cold cereal is packaged in Thailand! Peanut butter, Smacker’s jam, Best foods Real Mayonnaise, and other brands are found here. Many street venders have bakeries. There are many small businessmen which use the side cars to make their stores a mobile business, selling where ever they go. Sorry, I can’t find the picture of that.

We are truly blessed to be to be here.