BUNDLE OF JOY

When the month of December starts, all people was excited because Christmas is a month of giving, they giving gift to their love ones and some are excited in there employer for there “Bunos” 13^th month pay, Christmas is the time of happiness, Filipinos has a tradition that  all of a family members even your in abroad or any far places every (“Pasko” ) Christmas they going home to celebrate christmas together, and it’s the time of bonding together with the family and friends, eating “noche Buena”( a meal at midnight of December 24) and a tradition of  Filipino preparing a different 12 kind of round shape fruits in the middle of the table , But”Pasko” it means of giving every Filipino children is very excited  asking a Christmas gift from their “ninong” God father “ninang” God mother.

The Loboc Family Christian fellowship was happy to Give a bundle of joy to the people in the barrio the bundle includes  the primary needs of Filipinos can goods, sugar,noddles and more there are more than hundreds of the families was given,by the Support of MOM members.The fellowship members and Pastor Neil helping each other in Giving of bundle . it was started at 1pm and Done at  5pm.All the People happy upon Receiving his/her bundle of joy the Childrens of the fellowship received gift a pair of t-shirt and  also the fellowship members receive as well the bundle of joy each family the  day of our  Sunday service they are very and thankful for the gift they receive, We also prepared a free lunch and a fun games for the children on same day.  They are happy going home with a big bag of bundle.. Laarni

“How beautiful are the feet of

those who bring good news!”

Romans 10:15

Today was our last day here for for awhile.  Of course it was full as usual.  The day started out with Denny and Along reviewing the budget – of course, followed by lunch at 1130 at the school with the teachers.  We arrived to find a welcome sign with our names on it and lots of children and all the teachers greeting us warmly.  They had prepared a wonderful lunch for us and so we induldged once again in more delicious Filipino food.  Near the end of the meal Denny asked if he could just have an informal meeting with Ma’am Evelyn – the head mistress and the teachers.  He just wanted to find out what they saw as their needs and tell them how we are hoping to partner with them in some projects.  Denny asked about the government feeding program at the school.  We were unprepared and shocked at the answer.  There are 184 students at the school and the teachers told us there are about 30 plus students who are malnourished (we think the number is greater).  The teachers are the ones who weigh the students and determined who needs to have the free lunch.  Apparently the government gives the pesos and according to Ma’am Evelyn it’s enough to feed 20 children for 40 days only out of the school year!  We asked about the other 10 children and they said they don’t eat!  The parents are supposed to help cook the meal but if they are busy they just tell their children to “never mind”!  We couldn’t believe our ears!  We asked the question again and the answer was the same.  They don’t eat!  I could hardly sit at the table.  I was choking back the tears and had to take sips of water just to compose myself.  Can you imagine being a tiny child at a hot school all day watching your classmates eat lunch and you have nothing!! We still can’t believe that this can happen.  Ma’am Evelyn said the government won’t be giving the funds next school year – it will go on to another school.  The amount they give is 2000 pesos – about $40.  Denny plans to get more clarification about this outrageous news.  We can’t bear to let this go on like this.   An there we were consuming more food than we needed with the new knowledge that 30 plus children were likely hungry outside.

After further discussions we toured the computer room – which isn’t functioning right now – to see that the termites are eating up the library and the classrooms!  In classroom after classroom hugh sections of the ceiling have fallen out!  There are big gaping ugly sections just missing out of the ceiling!  Denny has pictures of the chalkboards etc. being eaten.  There is apparently no permanent solution only the possibility of a schedule maintenance spraying to restrict the damage.  The teacher have hung pictures in front of these eyesores just to brighten the situation.  This is an incredible group of professionals.

After the school Denny and Along proceeded to Loboc to meet with Mayor Leon Calipusin.  Denny just wanted to explain to Mayor Leon about the survey we took around the barrios and how we hope to be able to help in some way and how we hope that MOM fades more into the background and that the Family Christian Fellowship Loboc becomes more prominent.

I came back to the house myself but stopped by Marilou’s house to say hello.  Marilou is caring for 7 children by herself!  Her three months old baby was lying on blankets on the floor and Marilou sat watching her.  Marilou and Joy now have 5 children of their own and they also are raising two older boys whose parents divorced and dropped them at Aunt Marilou and Uncle Joy’s house and are now gone.  There is no financial support given by the parents.  Joy works far away so only comes home on weekends – sometimes.  Marilou cooks, cleans and watches these kids.  She exhausted!  I asked her how she was doing and the response I got was tears running down her cheeks – which she quickly wiped away to avoid embarrassment.  I asked how we could help but she didn’t respond much with words – I think she’s “ashamed” (their word for embarrassed).  Her daughter Jelly Mae was there ( second year high school) and she helps Marilou, and we saw the boys cutting fire wood, but it’s still too much for one woman to handle.  I alerted Along to have the Fellowship watch out for her and see what they can do.  Personally I’d like to send her away to a spa somewhere.

After their visit to the mayor Denny and Along came back to the house and continued where they left off on the budget.  In the evening we went to Along and Enday’s for more delicious Filipino food cooked by Marietta.

It’s been a busy two weeks but we feel we have identified areas of needs where more mission teams can come and serve.  We will need to meet with the board and then decide through much prayer and supplication what The Lord would have us do and see where He will supply the means to do these things.

Tomorrow morning we’re off to Manila.  Thank you all for your prayers while we’ve been here.  We’ve stayed healthy as well and we really appreciate that.  God bless you all.   Denny and Ellen

We spent the morning with Along going from the Loboc end of the property to the camping area to go over general maintenance and planting of trees.  Denny wants any spare space to be planted with fruit bearing tress of all kinds.  He wants the staff and their families to have all the fruit and even sell it if they wish and have extra income for their family.  During lunch it rained cats and dogs so we delayed our afternoon meeting with Along until he could escape the deluge and make it back from his house. Along came back to Silangan Balay with Pastor Neil and Mimi and all their belongings.  They really needed to move into one of the new camping guest rooms/Sunday School rooms (provided by Glasgow) because it was becoming impossible to live in the loft at the CPC.  We’re glad they are here and look forward to the Pastor’s house being finished within the next eight to ten weeks (hopefully given funds availability).  With Along here we continued more discussion concerning repairs that need to be made on this house (many).  The termites are beginning to eat this house, and the climate is very hard on the house paint, so constant upkeep is the norm for us.  Of course Along and Denny can’t end the day without talking about the budget.

Tomorrow Denny and Along are going to Loboc to pay Mayor Leon a friendly “Happy New Year” visit.  It looks like it shaping up to be a guy trip, so I’ll just stay home and clean out the refrigerator – we’re leaving for Manila on Wednesday morning.  Our time here has run out.  At 11:30 the teachers have invited us to the school for lunch, a short meeting on needs and a hello/good-bye. Denny will be discussing the finishing of the canteen, the feeding program for the children and the possibility of partnering with the DepEd for other projects or needs.  Our visits to the school are always a joy.

In the evening Along and Enday have invited us for dinner and so that will be a wonderful way to spend our last evening this trip.

We have to stop by Seattle and take care of our five grandchildren before returning to Big Timber February 10th.  We hope you’ve saved us some snow – we’ve been really hot here!

Blessings, Denny and Ellen

What a blessed time at church this morning.  Pastor Neil spoke on Romans 12 and challenged us all to be more like Romans 12 Christians – to love our neighbor, to pray for our enemies and forgive them, to do good to others and live at peace with each other;.  He stressed that it is supernatural power from The Holy Spirit who enables us to live out the Christian life in this way, because often we just don’t feel very Christian in our responses or attitudes towards others.  During Praise and Worship time the children were still with the adults and were sitting in tiny plastic chairs in the center of the room.  I had the privilege of sitting right along side of them.  They all sang out so loudly and sweetly – and with such earnest – even the tiniest children.  I felt like I was listening to a choir of little angels!  The tears welled up in my eyes and I breathed a silent prayer for each of their little lives, that they would grow up living Jesus, never wavering, and not even one missing from the roll call some day in Heaven.  Bless these darling children.  Minerva sang the solo “In Christ Alone”.  She broke down part way through the song and so did most of us.  It such a fantastic sang and a Pastor Neil pointed out “so emotional”.  We all loved it.

This evening we had a gathering for the leaders in the Fellowship here at the house. What a truly wonderful time we had.  First we meet for a half hour for a meeting to introduce the goals that Pastor Neil and Minerva have for discipling and growing the Fellowship.  We stopped for dinner.  Marietta made a 5 star meal – I think she outdid herself tonite.  The meal was fantastic!! After dinner we resumed the meeting.  Most of it was in Visayan but occasionally Along would break into English and Denny and I could understand the jist of the conversation.  After some discussion they all decided to adopt the Ministry Plan.  We all need to support this Fellowship with prayer and encourage them any time we can.  We love them all some much.  What a privilege to be here and to serve here in Bohol.

Blessings,  Denny and Ellen

Yesterday, (Friday), Denny and Along spent hours working on expenses and spread sheets for MOM and the budget for our house.  They did have a trip into Tagbilaran for business but then returned to work on the budget.  Along left our house about 5 pm  and after our dinner Denny continued to work on the spread sheets.  I cannot help Denny with this task because God did not give me this ability.  Numbers totally allude me – I just glaze over.  Fortunately Denny gets it.

I spent the morning baking cookies but unfortunately when I went to reach for the baking powder I discovered I had none.  I borrowed some from Marcosa but sadly I think that powder was “dead” because my oatmeal cookies don’t look or taste like an oatmeal cookie should.  After lunch I went to Bohol Deaf Academy to deliver a baby gift to one of the teachers who is expecting a baby in June.  She and her husband are both deaf and they are just the loveliest couple.  So that was our day.

Today (Saturday) we will be receiving an American couple as guests. They are renting a house from Dennis Drake and he wants to introduce them to us.  Apparently the husband is retired Air Force and has been involved with NASA and teaching the astronauts about the computer systems (or something like that).  The cool thing is that Cora who works here has a 14 year old son who wants to be an astronaut.  What a lofty goal for a poor boy from the barrio.  We’ve invited Cora to bring Samwell to the house this morning to meet this gentleman.  Apparently he has a video he’d like to show Samwell.  I’m so excited for this boy – I hope his dreams come true.  This afternoon after our guests leave Along, Inday, Denny and I will visit some new botanical gardens that Dennis told us about, and then go to dinner with them.  We are looking forward to Sunday.  Thank you all for your prayers.  Blessings, Ellen

Yesterday, (Friday), Denny and Along spent hours working on expenses and spread sheets for MOM and the budget for our house.  They did have a trip into Tagbilaran for business but then returned to work on the budget.  Along left our house about 5 pm  and after our dinner Denny continued to work on the spread sheets.  I cannot help Denny with this task because God did not give me this ability.  Numbers totally allude me – I just glaze over.  Fortunately Denny gets it.

I spent the morning baking cookies but unfortunately when I went to reach for the baking powder I discovered I had none.  I borrowed some from Marcosa but sadly I think that powder was “dead” because my oatmeal cookies don’t look or taste like an oatmeal cookie should.  After lunch I went to Bohol Deaf Academy to deliver a baby gift to one of the teachers who is expecting a baby in June.  She and her husband are both deaf and they are just the loveliest couple.  So that was our day.

Today (Saturday) we will be receiving an American couple as guests. They are renting a house from Dennis Drake and he wants to introduce them to us.  Apparently the husband is retired Air Force and has been involved with NASA and teaching the astronauts about the computer systems (or something like that).  The cool thing is that Cora who works here has a 14 year old son who wants to be an astronaut.  What a lofty goal for a poor boy from the barrio.  We’ve invited Cora to bring Samwell to the house this morning to meet this gentleman.  Apparently he has a video he’d like to show Samwell.  I’m so excited for this boy – I hope his dreams come true.  This afternoon after our guests leave Along, Inday, Denny and I will visit some new botanical gardens that Dennis told us about, and then go to dinner with them.  We are looking forward to Sunday.

Thank you all for your prayers.  Blessings, Ellen

JANUARY 26, 2012

Today was an “errand” day.  It started out at 0930 when we left for Tagbilaran with Along, Marietta and Vicki to run all kinds of errands.  Vicki needed to check with the sewing machine technician to see if he had repaired the two machines we brought to him the other day.  She actually sat at his dusty little shop on a noisy dirty street in the heat while he finished repairing the second machine.  Denny needed to stop by the bank but when we parked he actually got the lucky spot right in front of Dunkin Donuts.  He sent Along into the bank and that donut shop just sucked him right in.  Next door is the Cebu Airline office so we got tickets to fly to Manila next Wednesday for our return trip to the States.  Marietta had been dropped off at the mall so she could begin shopping for our dinner with church leaders on Sunday night.  In a round robin trip around Tagbilaran we picked Vicki up who carried one small machine in her arms and then returned to the mall to retrieve Marietta and then all five of us proceeded to Dao Diamond to the restaurant run by the deaf and to say hello to Dennis Drake – the founder of International Deaf Education Association (IDEA).  The deaf greeted us so warmly and Dennis introduced us to a volunteer chef from Victoria, Canada who was there to help instruct the deaf cooks. (This chef has actually cooked for the queen of England!). We never got to order off the menu.  Chef Ralph insisted on us trying some different burgers he was creating – mango burgers being one.  They were delicious as were the onion rings he sent to our table.  He cautioned us to save room for a dessert he created – a cinnamon/chocolate torte.  Fabulous lunch.  We all were stuffed and felt like we do after a Thanksgiving meal.  We had fun.  Dennis gave us a tour around the newly remodeled facility and showed us his new model home on skids that is affordable housing for many and a great option for student housing in Tagbilaran. Back to the mall to finish up “the list”.  Denny ran into a small booth in the mall that was advertising a new resort here in Bohol.  Fortunately they were selling a special chocolate cookie and since he’s a chocoholic he felt his day was complete.  By now the time is 3pm and it was back down town to pick up the very large sewing machine – load it into the back of the truck and put Along back there to ride with it so it wouldn’t tip over and spill onto the street.  We returned home by 5pm and called it a day.  Errand days like this seem to take all day but we all had fun together.

Tomorrow Along and Denny will sit together to talk over things pertaining to the running of this house and review monthly financial reports.  I plan to bake American style cookies for our dinner with church leaders on Sunday nite.   I’m going to make snickerdoodles, oatmeal cookies and brownies with mango ice cream.  Sound okay?

We’re looking froward to Sunday night and Pastor Neil’s challenge to these” leader couples” and the future plans to help grow Family Christian Fellowship.  We will keep you posted.

Blessings, Denny and Ellen

January 25, 2012

This morning Denny, Along and I spent about 3 hours with Pastor Neil and Mimi going over their goals for the church.  There is so much to talk about and so much planning regarding programs and budgets – it’s daunting.  Pastor Neil and Mimi are so willing to work hard to help this congregation grow.  They need time to start out slowly and work up to bigger things later.  They really understand this.  I love to look at Neil’s face – it just glows with the love of The Lord!

After lunch we visited two neighboring barrios – Ugpong and Canlisid.  WOW!  They are both such needy barrios that it hard to know where to start.  We really feel that getting water to each home is the number one priority.  Water projects are pretty do-able and really make an immediate impact on the people’s health.  (I can’t imagine living my entire life with water “sometimes” during the day). MOM has already provided funds for most of the system but the barrio failed to plan on the electrical wiring costs for a 300 meter segment from the well to the main electric supply line.  The cost for the wire, installation and permitting is approximately $450.00.  We need to find the means to make this happen soonest.

Another do-able project is painting and “fixing -up” the daycare centers.  Eighteen little children fit in one tiny dirty room with a “bathroom” so scary that it makes you want to shut the door as fast as you can and never go in again.  Each daycare could also use some toys, children books, some craft supplies and a white board.

Both barrios wanted roads paved, but that project is just too expensive.  The government will give a portion 100,000 pesos ($2,100) as a shared contribution of 500,000 pesos  ($11,600 plus) needed.  We don’t feel that this is a plan MOM can get involved with at this time .

The barrios are situated along the Loboc River.  We discussed ways to start a tilapia program. They have almost a hectare in Canlasid perfect for tilapia farming.  Tilapia evidently thrive in brackish water.  If we dredge out a large area we could float several netted holding pens. They could raise the fish for sale as a source of barrio funding and offer some tilpia as a discount to residents. We’ll be talking with Jay about this.

We did stress to each of the barangay council members that we were on a fact finding mission and that we must return to The States and discuss the matter with the MOM board.  We made no promises.

We are home now and the heavy jungle rain has begun.  One thing I forgot to mention yesterday was that in the first barrio we visited there was a request for four wheelchairs.  Apparently 3 people in that barrio have paralyzed legs while the 4th person has no legs at all.  They thought it would be nice for the people to be able to have a wheelchair to get out of their house a little more – even though the road is rough and difficult to pass.  I plan to check with Dennis Drake from IDEA (the deaf association I worked with here in Bohol) to see if Christian Blind Mission has access to wheelchairs.  Shipping wheelchairs from the States would be very expensive.  Maybe we can find some in Manila.

As you can see the needs are great here and all is a matter of prayer.  Please pray with us and with the MOM board as we try to make the right decisions.

Blessings,

Denny and Ellen

January 24, 2012

This morning we have visited two barrios near Sikatuna – which is northwest of our barrio by several miles (kilometers).  The “Balilihan” barrio captain was very receptive and several of the barangay officials greeted us.  We studied the statistics posted on the wall of the barangay hall wall that listed the number of families, the number of children, the number of carabo, pigs, dogs (even!) – which ones were vaccinated and which were not, the health workers names, those homes who have water, etc.  Very interesting and well done – all by hand – no computer, no typewriter.  The barrio captain really felt the biggest needs of his barrio were agricultural related.  He has land that he is willing to let the barrio use.  It was discussed to have a common garden plot with each family tending their own space.  They felt that a single garden spot would necessary to provide the much needed water.  We also discussed how to get water to 24 homes lacking availability. There are 120 families in the barrio. The Day Care center is in need of paint on the interior and exterior.  They are also wanting to build a small church where a pastor from the FCF Tagbilaran has posted a pastor.

After lunch we visited another barrio near by where we were greeted by Pastor Felix’s good friend Pastor Sammy and his wife Paz.  The big need in this barrio is water for several homes, job training and several homes.  Apparently several families have no home and are living together with other families – sometimes three families to a tiny house.  Pretty tight.  Raising pigs, chickens and vegetables are the main stay of this barrio.

Unfortunately Pastor Sammy is a sick man.  We could tell that he was having trouble breathing and inquired why.  He told us that it was his heart.  I could hear his rattled breathing from across the room and knew that he was in congestive heart failure.  I thought it might be a defective heart value and he said that it was.  He’s 46 years old and needs help.  He hasn’t been to a doctor since April of 2011 and doesn’t take any medication due to lack of funds.  Pastor Felix is good friends with the cardiologist here in Tagbilaran and we have insisted that Pastor Sammy go to see her and find out what needs to be done to get him feeling better.  If he needs valve replacement then he would have to go to Cebu (another island) and heart surgery for valve replacement would cost up to $20,000.  Before we left we all gathered around him and placed our hands on him and prayed for him and for God’s mercy and help.  We’ll be waiting to see what the doctor says and what The Lord does.

Tomorrow we will visit Ugpong and Canlasid to survey to determine possible projects for visiting teams.   We know that these barrios are very needy.

Blessings to all.   Denny and Ellen

January 22, 2012 (Update from Denny and Ellen Freed)

This is our third day here in Bohol and we must says that it’s very good to be back.  We have missed our dear friends here so it was good to see everyone this morning at church.  We arrived here on Thursday evening about 7pm after about 30 hours of travel.  It was great to be home!  Friday morning we met the new pastor for the Fellowship, Pastor Neil and his beautiful wife Mimi.  Denny, Pastor Neil, Mimi, Along and I all went to the Garden Cafe in Tagbilaran to meet with Along’s brother, Pastor Felix, to discuss where future teams may be able to lend a helping hand to folks in need.  It was determined that this coming Tuesday we will visit two churches that aren’t far from here and meet with the pastors.  Also we all concluded that perhaps the neighboring two barrios to Calunasan Sur, Odpong and Canlisid, would be great places to start new projects.

This morning we met everyone in the new church site which is now the CPC (Calunasan Sur Production Center).  The congregation greeted us so warmly and of course the fellowship was sweet.  All the children are really growing up and it was fun to see them – the little ones are particularly beautiful children.  Pastor Neil did a wonderful job of presenting the gospel and urging the people to reach out with Christ’s love to their neighbors and lend a helping hand where they could.  He emphasized that this is a great witness to unbelieving neighbors and it is exactly what Jesus has commissioned us to do. Mimi leads the group in singing.  She has a lovely voice, is enthusiastic, and really gets everyone to sing out with gusto.  Of course, the Filipinos love to sing so her task is a easy one.

Denny is in Cebu over night to buy some supplies for the house and will return Monday evening.  Tomorrow (Monday) I will take Vicki Acain to town with 3 of the sewing machine that need repair.  She alone is sewing now but hopefully when the other machines are repaired more women will join her.  Also tomorrow (Monday) Along will obtain a building permit for Pastor Neil’s and Mimi’s house and the builders will begin construction.  This dear couple is living above the CPC in a small loft and it’s very difficult.  They really need this house to be done – and hopefully for them it will be within a month.

Our time here in Bohol is short and we have lots to do, but we’re glad to be here and hopefully our time will prove very productive.  Please pray with us for that.

Blessings to those in Montana… and enjoy the snow (save some for us – we love it).   Denny and Ellen