Focus On Your Passion

A few days ago I mentioned that I had been reading more of Jon Acuff's book, Quitter.  About half-way into the book, Jon talks about Dave Ramsey's experience with his EntreLeadership training sessions.  According to Jon, Ramsey had developed a course for his employees, aimed at helping them become better workers.  Over time, he noticed that many of the people attending his course included friends and family members of his employees.  It didn't take Dave long to realize that his course had a wider appeal and application than just those who worked for him at Lampo.  He hadn't planned on developing a marketable program.  It just happened.  It happened because he had a passion for teaching people to be successful.  He took that passion and then applied it to his organization; he "practiced" it.  It wasn't until he saw that he had a viable product that he created a plan to market it to the general public.

When I started preparing for the Philippines, I really didn't have a plan.  Actually, I hadn't even planned on going to the Philippines  . . . I was just going to go "somewhere".  Where ever the Lord led, I was going to go.  After doing some research, I found the Philippines to be an interesting place.  I was really looking forward to going.  Then, I began learning about the schools in the Philippines, and how many students dropped out early, due mostly to financial problems.  I love teaching, and I really enjoy teaching students who want to learn.  It's a win-win situation. From what I was reading, most of the drop-outs would rather be learning.  They knew that a good education was key to a more stable future.  These were exactly the type of students I wanted to work with.

When I arrived in the Philippines, I was touched by several things.  First, I thought I had an understanding of the living conditions for the typical Filipino family.  I was wrong.  I had no idea.  My heart went out to these people. I don't have a big, fancy house.  By most American standards, my house is substandard.  Even so, I felt guilty for having so much when these people had so little.  

A typical Filipino home

Then I had the chance to meet some students.  I was invited into their classroom.  I was invited into their homes.  I prayed with them at their church.  And I met some who were not going to be in school next year.  I was immediately convicted.  Students in American schools have no idea how fortunate they are. It makes me angry.  I have always known that most American students were unappreciative of the opportunities they had in the public schools.  Anyway, after meeting with the students, I went out and bought some school supplies.  It wasn't much  . . . some pencils and pens, some paper, some erasers . . . things most American students take for granted.

Having spent several years in the classroom myself, I also saw the needs of the teacher who's classroom I visited.  I picked up some supplies for her too -- a globe, some hypo-allergenic chalk, a new blackboard eraser, some paper . . . you would have thought I had given her the most priceless items known to man.

By this time, I realized that I had more then just a passing interest in the well being of these people.  I had a genuine passion for them.  In particular, I had a real concern for the students.  They were good kids. They deserved a chance.

Presenting a globe to Ms. Maribel

The story of Dave Ramsey's EntreLeadership program can be summarized into three basic principles:  he had a passion, he practiced it, then he planned it.  As I read Jon's account of Dave's experience, I quickly realized that I too had a passion, and that, without really thinking about it, I had practiced it.  My next step is to put a plan together that will allow me to work with my passion on a regular basis.

I have EntreLeadership sitting on my bedside table, waiting for me to finish Quitter.  I've never been one to jump onto someone's "program" just because it sounded good; however, I've been familiar with Dave Ramsey for several years now, and I recognize the value of his teachings.  At this point, anything that can help me to plan how I can work with these wonderful kids in the Philippines will be worth my time.

Icthus Christian Academy (Part 1)

Two of the children at the Sierra Bullones Christian Church

At the end of my first week in Bohol, I thought I had found a large enough project to keep me busy for a long time.  I still don't have all of the facts to give a complete assessment of the number of children who would benefit from receiving school supplies, but I can assure you that number is substantial.  Just a quick estimate, based on 25 churches, each with approximately 30 children, is 750 students.  Those churches are scattered across Bohol; some are in the larger towns, some are in very rural locations.  Not all of these children are at risk of being forced to drop out of school; however, with the economic conditions as they are, the situation could change quickly and with little warning.  Organizing a project like this so that each child in each of the churches gets an equitable amount of assistance is going to take some time and effort.  Locating sources for buying supplies in bulk and then transporting those supplies to the churches for distribution will be quite an exercise in logistical planning.  It is very "do-able".  It will just take some time and the financial support of people who can appreciate the situation these children are in.

Up to this point, I felt that my plate was very, very full.  I had been invited to visit a Christian school in the town of Ubay.  It started to look like I wouldn't be able to go, as there was a slight conflict in scheduling.  After some phone calls and text messages, everything had been rearranged and the trip to visit the Icthus Christian Academy was back on the schedule.

Love and Rachel with Wayne Duhon of World Mission Builders

The school was founded by a pastor and his wife, Nemesio and Terry Carbonilla, in 1999.   Since then, their two daughters, Rachel and Netter Love, have taken the helm.  Both have given up careers which could have been financially rewarding in order to operate the school.

The school is located on the same property as the Ubay Church of Christ.  With a current student body of 75, the school operates its K-12 program using a handful of dedicated teachers and a very tight budget.  The school is growing, with hopes of reaching 100 students in the coming years.  The staff are committed and extremely dedicated to the tasks facing them.  Construction is ongoing, with each year seeing additions and improvements to the facility and equipment.

The school could certainly benefit from a financial backer.  I know that the Carbonillas would prefer the school to be completely independent, but the reality is that they could use some serious support to get the many physical projects complete.  I think once they have the facility finished, the numbers of students will increase to allow for the independence the staff desires.

Ongoing construction - classrooms and a gymnasium

Now I am not by any stretch of the imagination the financial backer they need.  I am barely keeping my head above water as it is.  But one of the things they really would like to have access to is someone with credentials in special education.  While they are not attempting to operate a special education program, they do have children with learning disabilities who struggle to succeed.  While teachers in the Philippines are given some basic instruction in dealing with special needs children, none of them have any substantial training.

This is where I think I enter the picture, because I am a certified K - 12 special education teacher.  While I don't have a complete picture of what I would do there, I have been invited to spend a couple of months there.  Whether I would be teaching classes directly, providing teacher training, developing special education programs or what is undecided.  The reason I titled this article "part 1" is because the school staff is still wrestling with the idea.  When you are doing a project on a limited budget, sometimes you put nice-to-have items on the back burner, or maybe they aren't even near the stove at all.  I think that the idea of having access to a special education teacher was simply not something they were anticipating. So now that they might actually have the opportunity to have someone on board, even if only for a short time, they are needing to do some brainstorming and planning.  

I'm not a photo-op kind of person, but couldn't resist this one.

Once the school staff has a clearer picture of what they would like me to do, then I will return with "part 2".  Until then, I am just overwhelmed and overjoyed by the prospects of this opportunity.  Of course, that means that I too have some brainstorming and planning to do.   Not only do I have the project to provide school supplies, but also the support of a wonderful Christian school.  All I can do at this point in time is to turn it over to the Lord.  I am trying to schedule some speaking engagements in some Sunday school classes and at a couple of churches.  The goal will be strictly informational at this point -- until I have some firm idea of the number of children to be supported and the needs of the Icthus Christian Academy, asking for support at this time is probably unwise.  But that day will come also.  Keep me in your prayers, along with all of the children of the Christian churches of Bohol and the Icthus Christian Academy and her staff.

Maayong Buntag!

Good morning!  It's morning here in Albuquerque and I actually woke up when I was supposed to.  Adjusting to the time change has been harder then I thought it would.  I went to sleep around 9:30 pm, was awake from 1:00 am to 3:00 am, back to sleep, and then awake again at 7:00 am.  Hopefully my internal clock is back on track.

Incheon International Airport, Seoul

Now comes the challenge of what to do next.  Although I am home, and glad to be home, my mind keeps returning to the Philippines and the wonderful people of Bohol.  I can't deny that I feel convicted to return to the communities that I visited and to do what ever I can to support the students there.  In order to do that, I need to meet several requirements.

Firstly, I need an income source here in Albuquerque that will provide for my personal financial needs -- I need to get a job.  The difficult qualification for the job is that I still have the flexibility to go to the Philippines a couple of times each year.  Going back into teaching is an option worth considering -- I would have the summers free to travel; that would allow one trip per year, but only one.

Another option is to raise support much like any other full-time missionary would do.  That would require that my work in the Philippines be some how more then just a few visits per year.  I would still need to be involved in some supportive activity in between visits.  I'm not sure what that activity would be.

A real globe for Ms. Maribel's classroom

Along those same lines comes the second requirement: raising support for my travel expenses.  Unless I come into a job that provides a substantial personal income that would allow me to pay for these expenses out of my own pocket, I will need some type of financial assistance from people and organizations who support my goals.  This, in turn, requires the development of a campaign plan -- something I have never done, nor do I honestly know what such a plan looks like.  I will need some outside guidance on that idea.

Thirdly, I need to define my purpose.  I have two separate "projects" that I have identified there in Bohol: supporting the students of the Christian churches and supporting the students and staff of the Icthus Christian Academy.  The question is, do I pick just one?  Or can I do both?

The first project requires raising support for purchasing school supplies for the children who attend the Christian churches there in Bohol.  (There are other churches outside of Bohol who are interested in receiving help, but I need to draw a line, at least for now, on whom I would be supporting.)  I insist on the requirement that the students be actively involved in church. While the school supplies are something that will attract people to come to the church, I don't want that to be the only reason they are coming.  They need to be sincere about their faith.  That doesn't mean that providing school supplies can't be a form of evangelism . . . but there needs to be some follow through.

The second part of the project is the distribution of funds/supplies.  This is a little more "sticky" then it might appear. One of the down-sides to working with money is the accountability aspect.  I need to address a reality:  people who don't regularly have money to deal with also don't have the skills to deal with money.  It takes some discipline and self-control to not use funds for other then their intended purpose.  Now let me qualify my statement here.  I believe that each of the pastors at the churches I would be working with are sincere, honest people, and I do not think for one minute that they would intentionally misuse funds earmarked for buying school supplies.  It's their lack of money management skills that concerns me.  I have raised this concern with some of the other missionaries who have worked in the Philippines for many years, and they agree full-heartily that this is a valid concern.

Distributing supplies at Pastor Jul's church

I think there are two options for addressing this concern: that I personally become involved in the purchasing and distribution of the supplies, or that one individual (or possibly a group of people) who lives in the Philippines full time be given that responsibility.  The later would require some initial visits on my part to ensure that individual has the "logistics" worked out on how to manage the money, purchase the supplies, and distribute the supplies to the churches.

I think if the second option were in place, then my role would be essentially to raise funds here in the US and then to occasionally visit my contact person in the Philippines to ensure that things are going as planned.  It would be the best way for me to be involved in the process without requiring my regular presence in the Philippines.  It would also allow me to maintain a regular job here in the US.

I'm open to suggestions.  If any of you has some other ideas about how I might manage this first "purpose", I would like to hear them.  Don't be shy!

Tomorrow, the second "purpose": the Icthus Christian Academy of Ubay -- more then meets the eye!  

Home Again, Home Again

Well I made it back home without incident.  It's a very long flight between the Philippines and the USA.  I'm not sure how long it will take for my "internal clock" to adjust itself back to New Mexico time.

Regardless of the travel time, my experience in the Philippines was absolutely incredible.  I feel very blessed by all of the people I met, the things I saw and the experiences I encountered.  My only regret is not being able to stay longer. Now comes the task of analyzing all of the information and of course, staying in constant prayer throughout the process.  I hope within a few days to have a preliminary "package" put together so that I have a starting point.  From there, I intend on inviting a few people to look at my ideas and offer comments and suggestions.

The completed project at Sierra Bullones

I was reading more of Jon Acuff's book Quitter while on the flight home.  It's been interesting to see how his writings have paralleled my experiences and thoughts about mission work in the Philippines.  I will add more about that in a later post -- at the moment, my mind and body are trying to figure out whether I'm supposed to be awake or asleep, and that seems to be interfering with my creative writing "juices".  It is 6 am here (9 pm in the Philippines).  I'd go back to bed, but I need to leave for church in just two hours, and so I will force myself to stay awake a while longer.  An afternoon nap will be a sure bet!

Last Entry Until My Return

I think this will likely be my last post until I return to the US.  I will leave Ubay this afternoon and travel back to Sierra Bullones.  The church building is complete, at least as far as we will take it.  From this point onward, it is up to the local pastor and members to decorate and personalize as they see fit.  We will have a building dedication this evening.  The baptistery will be filled tonight and they anticipate at least six baptisms.  The church in Sierra Bullones has been blessed by having a large number of attendees, approximately 80 people in all.

Cots with mosquito netting

On Thursday morning we will put on our "tourist" hats and travel to see the chocolate hills, the tarsier monkey and a butterfly farm.  From there, we will travel to Tagbilarin and enjoy a leisurely cruise on one of the Loboc River floating restaurants. After that, we will catch the ferry to Cebu and spend the night there.  On Friday morning we will again don our tourist garb and visit the Cebu market for souvenir shopping and sightseeing.  Then in the evening we will depart for Cebu International Airport on Mactan Island and prepare for our return flights to the US.

Rain clouds rolling in on Sierra Bullones

I'm ready to go home.  The hospitality here has been wonderful and the people are so kind and beautiful, but I confess that I miss my own bed.  My wife has been struggling to take care of her mother, who had fallen and cracked some ribs shortly after I left for the Philippines.  She will need a break and a shoulder to rest on.

I'm also ready to come back to the Philippines.  My visit to the Icthus Christian Academy here in Ubay has been very interesting.  It has great potential and the people who are operating the school take great pride and care in what has been entrusted to them.  My plate was full before I visited this school . . . now my plate is overflowing. I'm  very uncertain as to which way to turn, so going home and having some time to think and process my experiences will be very important to me.  At this point I really don't need any more  new ideas . . . I'm going to be hard-pressed to deal with all of the information I all ready have.

Dining tent

I will arrive back in Albuquerque Saturday around noon.  I'm sure that my family will be glad to see me again and to learn about my experiences.  And I think I'd like to take a nap.  I'll miss the roosters crowing though . . . never thought I would say that!

I will post some new articles on Sunday . . . maybe not until Monday.  Until then, Bye bye.

Filipino Lumber Mill

This is something you don't see every day in America.  I had run across a video about how Filipinos use a chainsaw to make their own boards, but I didn't think I would ever see it in person.  We needed some planks for on the scaffolding around the building.  Rather then buying some (which would cost a fortune here), we hired a man to come in and cut some palm tree logs into boards.  The trees had been located where the church building now stands, so they were already available for us to use. 

So this guy comes in with a lumberjack-sized chain saw (longer then the man was tall).  We raised a log up onto some supports, and the man got to work.  First he trimmed off the bark on two opposite sides.  We then rolled the log over ninety degrees and he again cut the bark off the remaining two sides.  From there, he proceeded to cut out our planks  . . . with amazing accuracy.  He said he has been doing this for over 15 years.  I believe him.  

I don't think I will go out and buy a giant chain saw when I get home, but I admit that I am intrigued by the idea.  I'd probably cut my foot off anyway. Better to leave it to the professionals.  And yes, he is just wearing flip-flops (they call them "slippers" over here.)

Just Some Notes

It’s early Monday morning.  I’m sitting on the balcony overlooking the entrance to the hotel.  This is my last day in Tubigon – I will return to Sierra Bullones this afternoon.  Tomorrow I will visit the Ubay Christian School and spend a day and a  night there (pronounced ew-bye). 

Fruit vendor at the market

It’s only 6:30 – I’ve already been for a walk through the market place – not much happening there yet, but as I sit here on the balcony now, I can hear a definite increase in the traffic.  The market is only two blocks away from the hotel, so a very easy walk.   I went there last evening also, when the market stalls were packed with produce, various cuts of meat, and an amazing variety of “things” from the sea.  The pier for the ferry is only another long block away from the market, so it is no surprise that the market is full of fish and such. 

Just one of about thirty seafood stalls

Church was interesting yesterday.  I spent the first part of the morning teaching the youth.  It was more of a discussion then a lesson.  They are so shy to speak English – so I tried to speak some Cebuano to make them laugh and to show that it’s ok to try.  They were not timid about singing some English praise songs.  I asked if one of them could play the guitar and lead in the singing.  I thought that maybe after the singing they would loosen up a little – nope.  Oh well. 

I was asked to give the message for church.  I’m not a preacher, so it’s not the most comfortable thing for me to do.  My teaching experience gets me through it though.  Just something different about giving a lecture – it’s just where I feel more comfortable.  Anyway, it went reasonably well, with Bro. Jul doing a translation to Cebuano/Boholano. 

Offering was done interestingly . . . there is a box, about the size of a cigar box, on the communion table.  When it is offering time, people walk up and discretely slip their offering into the box so that no one else sees what they did or did not put in the offering. 

With the children of Faith Christian Church, Tubigon

A note on wages:  skilled laborers earn about 300 php (Philippines pesos) per day; however, many of them don’t have work every day – maybe 4 days of the week.  Semi-skilled earn around 200 php per day, but usually have work 5 or 6 days a week.  Unskilled laborers, such as domestic help and the common laborer, earn about 100 php per day – work is when they can find it.  With the exchange rate of about 40 php to the dollar, the skilled laborer pulls in about $7.50 per day – times 4 days a week and 4 weeks per month . . . $120 per month.  You can figure out the wages for the others on your own.

We had lunch after church yesterday.  The teacher whose class I visited on Friday is a member of Jul’s church (very active member); she gave me some freshly cooked crab after church.  We all went to a nearby “restaurant”  . . . I’m using that word very freely here . . . and ordered some rice and Sprite.  Then sat at one of their tables and ate our crab with the food the restaurant provided.  They had no problem with us providing our own “protein”.  Jul’s wife, Luz, said that you could never get away with it a “fine” restaurant, but for the type of eatery we were at it was okay to do. 

The entrance to the Tubigon market

Speaking of fine restaurants . . . we ate at the Pizza Hut in Tagbilarin on Saturday . . . probably won’t do that again . . . was very disappointing.  The service was great, but they really missed the mark on the food.

The food in the hotel restaurant is reasonably priced and tastes very good.  Breakfast is usually corned beef, an egg, rice (rice with every meal), a piece of fruit (banana, mango), and a cup of coffee (instant).  Price is 70 php – so about $1.75.  I think I’m paying for the internet service more than the food, but it’s okay. 

Breakfast is over -- time for a walk to the local ATM to see if I can get some money.  Many things are inexpensive, but the costs add up quickly if you're not paying attention.  I have also helped with a lot of material needs for the construction project, filled gas tanks on motorcycles (remind me to tell you about "bottle gas"), paid for van and tricycle rides, and so on.  

Not sure when I will have another entry here . . . internet access at Sierra Bullones is non-existent, so I would need to travel to one of the pastor's homes in nearby Carmen.  I might have internet access in Ubay when I visit the school there.  Things are different here . . . I'm  not in Kansas anymore, that's for certain.

These Kids Are Awesome!

Kids enjoying the meal

Today was a busy day . . . left the hotel around 7:30 am and returned 12 hours later, having stopped only long enough for a quick lunch.  I went to Tagbilarin with Bro. Jul and his daughter to do some shopping for the youth of his church.  I also picked up a few supplies for the teacher of the classroom that I visited yesterday.  I didn't get much in the way of photos of the travel, as I was jammed into an express van . . . an eight passenger van that they packed with people much like the old phone booth trick . . . a total of 18, not counting the driver!  Very hard to get any kind of photo when you're jammed into the middle.

This afternoon was spent meeting the children who live in a squatter settlement in nearby Panaytayon.  At first I felt a little overwhelmed at the degree of poverty; however, the other realization is that these people don't really understand that they are poor -- this is just how they live.  I honestly believe that they are as happy or happier then most Americans.  If I had stayed there that evening after the other church members had left, I am sure that I would have been welcomed into someone's house and offered the best place to sleep.

Scott, Pastor Jul, and "Zacheus"

The meal was prepared by the ladies of the church and then served after some singing and then a Bible story by your's truly.  I told them about Zacheus . . . and for a little dramatic affect, when it was time for Zacheus to climb the tree, I hoisted a boy (guessing  4 or 5) up on my shoulders to symbolize the "little guy up a tree" scene.  All of the children, including the young Zacheus, enjoyed the spectacle.  I think that the little guy had never been that high up in the air before!  Anyway, the story was translated by Bro. Jul and the crowd of kids and parents seemed to appreciate the story and the interaction.

The church in Tibugon has some wonderful workers.  One of the ladies, Buenaventurada, was struck by polio at a young age and so is confined to a wheelchair.  In spite of her condition, she went out of her way to serve these kids while on her knees in her well-used wheelchair.  I was struck by her dogged determination and ever present smile -- we all have some things to learn from these people!

Buenaventurada after serving the kids

An Afternoon In The Classroom

I had the honor of spending Friday afternoon in a 4^th grade classroom at an elementary school in Panaytayon.  Maribel, the teacher for the class, is a member of Bro. Jul’s church there in Tubigon.  She and her students were very happy to have me in their class – it is not very often that they have the opportunity for the children to meet foreigners, let alone foreign school teachers. 

Scott and 4th Grade Students (Maribel is to the right)

My lessons included teaching about the solar system and the relationship between Earth, sun and moon, how to determine the perimeter of polygons, and arranging words alphabetically.  I think it was a review for most of the children, as they seemed to understand most if it already.  But we all had fun and I think Maribel was pleased with the end results.

I spent a few hours in the evening meeting with 15 of the youth of Bro. Jul’s church.  Much like the elementary students, the teens have little opportunity to interact with Americans.  We shared a little about our lives . . . many of the teens have only one parent, and that parent really struggles with providing for her family. 

One of the main concerns the teens have is with getting through the remaining month of school.  Their school year is over at the end of March, but most of them do not have enough supplies to get through until the end.  So as I mentioned yesterday, I will visit a store this morning to purchase enough supplies to get them through the school year.

Children Watching the Construction

When I was in Sierra Bullones on Wednesday, I spoke with a young boy whose mother was helping prepare food for the church construction workers.  I asked why he wasn’t at school.  With a rather sheepish look on his face he told me that he was skipping school during to help with the construction of the church.  I asked if his teacher would be upset, to which he replied, “Yes, but it doesn’t matter . . . I won’t be going to school next year anyway.”  I confirmed this with his mother.  Raymond, who is 14 and would be a first year high school student in June, will not be attending school simply because the parents haven’t enough money to send him to school, as he still has several younger siblings who need to get some education. 

Nipa House Near Sierra Bullones Church

Raymond’s situation appears to be quite common among children here on Bohol, and also throughout the Philippines.  I’ve spoken to Raymond’s pastor and told him that I would find funding for Raymond to finish school.  There are many logistical things to work out, but much like Bro. Jul’s youth, I think the answer is to provide some supplies to all of the children who attend the church, rather than just one.  That way all of the children benefit, and potential friction between families is prevented.  While on the surface it seems simple, the dynamics and cultural norms of the Filipino community present some challenges when talking about family finances. 

Raymond

Finally Some Time To Write

I honestly don't know where to start.  The first week is already over.  I can tell you that the flights from Dallas to Seoul and then to Cebu were uneventful . . . long, but uneventful.  I didn't get any photos from inside Cebu airport, but should have plenty of time to take photos on the way back to the US.

The ferry (fast cat) crossing from Cebu to Bohol only took about 70 minutes.  I had a Korean college student sitting beside me.  She was very excited to be able to practice English with an American, so she talked my ear off during the entire boat ride.

FastCat from Cebu to Tubigon

The van ride from Tubigon to Sierra Bullones (pronounced too-BIG-on and Bul-YUN-aze) was amazing and a bit overwhelming.  I expected to see the things I saw . . . but not to the extent that I saw them.  I expected to see a few nipa hut-style houses -- but they were everywhere.  The traffic was ridiculous, with motorcycles, tricycles, buses, "multicabs", pedestrians, bicycles, and, yes, water buffalo.  Dogs and chickens wander around in the middle of the streets, the center line is a suggestion only, and two lanes really means "as many vehicles wide as you can fit them!"  It's okay to park in the middle of the street while you visit with friends or unload your vehicle.  Some vehicles are fast, some are slow, and the water buffalo (called caribow, not cariboo) meander aimlessly along the side of the road.

I confess that I have been in "sensory-overload" since arriving in Bohol.  So many things to see, so many people to talk with.  The "house" we are staying in is actually very nice, with reasonable cots and mattresses with mosquito netting draped over the top.  The shower is a steady "cold" and the toilet . . . yup, it's a squat toilet with a tabo to rinse with.  Some of the Americans have elected to use toilet paper and keep plugging it up . . . the drain system just can't handle it.  Everyone snores, so I fit right in; he who falls asleep first, wins!

The "house" is about one kilometer from the work site.  There are usually plenty of rides leaving from there to the church building, but I usually walk, just because I can.  There is a secondary and elementary school along the way, and my walk coincides with school time.  I say "hello" to every school kids I see, with mixed results. Some cover their faces and laugh, some just smile, while others will stop and engage me in a full blown conversation: "What's your name? Where are you from? Where are you going? Why are you walking?" and so on.  Today, three boys were walking behind me, trying to keep up.  Every time a motorcycle would drive by with one of their school mates on board, they boys would yell, "He's my father!" and then they would all laugh.

The "house"

All the block has been laid for the church, and the "plaster" is being applied to the sides.  When they say plaster, they really mean a coat of mortar applied to the walls and then smoothed out, leaving the finished product to look surprisingly like poured concrete. We have over 18 pastors from other Filipino churches who are doing most of the work.  It's not because the Americans are lazy . . . I've moved plenty of concrete blocks from one place to another (literally hundreds), but the Filipinos are experienced in their style of block laying.

The food has been crazy-good!  Anyone who says that Filipino cooking is bland or unexciting hasn't eaten what I have!  I keep trying to convince them that I'm trying to lose a few pounds, but they keep shoving the food in front of me.  I haven't tried Balut yet, but I did eat some kind of critter that I had to dig out of a sea shell.  Plenty of fish of different varieties, fresh fruit such as banana, mango, papaya and others.  All of the food is fresh from the market, purchased in the early morning while all of the workers are dragging their butts out of bed and standing in line at the CR (comfort room) to practice their tabo-technique.

Novilinda, the "cook"

There is actually so much to write about that I will probably need to divide it into 3 or 4 weeks worth of daily articles after I return.  I have many photos and one of the other men is planning on sharing his photos as well, so there will be no shortage of good pics.  I'm actually in the dining room of my hotel here in Tubigon.  I taught school today in Panaytayon and then spent a couple of hours visiting with the youth of a local church.  Tomorrow I will go to the market to purchase some school supplies for the youth so that they can finish up their school year (ending the last of March).  I am curious to see how much (or how little) the supplies cost.  My room is actually very nice and only costs about $32 per night.  I will be looking forward to not competing with the other "snorers" tonight.

The "hotel"

Well I am going to wrap this up for tonight, but will have a new article tomorrow.

All My Bags Are Packed, I'm Ready To Go . . .

Well it's almost Peter, Paul and Mary time.  Actually, as I sit here writing this quick note, I am far from packed although I do have everything I need . . .  just have to put it in the bag.  The bag was a special purchase from our local REI store.  I don't usually go over-the-top for things like luggage, but I have some special items that need to fit in a bag and be protected from damage . . . namely my custom-made three foot levels.  Anyone who has ever shopped for construction levels will know that they come in 2 foot and 4 foot lengths . . . not 3.  But a 2-footer is a little short for my needs and a bag that would accommodate a 4 footer will be too big for airline checked baggage (without having to pay a huge fee for oversize luggage).  So I found a couple of 4-foot levels made of plastic and then chopped 6 inches off each of their ends, thus making 3-foot levels.  Actually, to get the levels to fit in the bag, I had to knock another inch off each end, so they're just a little shy of 3 feet long . . . but still give a more accurate reading then a 2 footer.  Anyway, now all I need to do is throw everything in the bag and try to keep it under 50 pounds.

I verified my flights last night -- I will be at the airport at 4:00 am Sunday morning.  Total travel time to the Philippines will be somewhere near 27 hours, including layovers.  We will "crash" in a hotel when we arrive in Cebu, then catch the 8:30 morning "fast cat" ferry over to Cebu -- cost of the boat trip will be 200 Php (Philippine pesos), which is about $4.65.  Then the long van ride up into the mountains.

Well, I said a few days ago that I didn't have anything else to add before I leave . . . I added a couple more entries but this time I think it's the last entry until I'm on the way.  If I have a wi-fi connection in Seoul I might make a few comments about the trip to that point. Until then - pag-ayo-ayo!!!

You Never Know . . .

In less then 48 hours I will be on an airplane to the Philippines.  I have just a few minor things to purchase before I leave, but otherwise, I'm ready to go.

So this past few days I've been working for a temp agency that provides staffing to retail merchandisers.  I was  helping with the "reset" of an automotive supply store here in Albuquerque, essentially moving stuff from one part of the store to another.  Because I have worked in the retail environment before, the work was relatively simple -- the standing on a concrete floor for eight hours a day was not . . . just ask my feet.

Yesterday, I was busy stocking my assigned section.  There was another worker, a gentleman who was a full time employee of the auto parts store, who was restocking shelves next to me.  We began to chat with each other, and so I revealed to him my upcoming trip to the Philippines.  He stopped and immediately came over to me.  "Tell me more," he said.  And so I explained the trip, what I would be doing, and so on.  Then he revealed to me that he was the pastor of a local independent church, and that he would really like to have me come to his church to speak to his congregation when I return.  I accepted the offer, so when I return I will schedule a Sunday to visit his church.

You never know who you are talking to, and you never know what will come out of meeting someone.  I'm looking forward to the chance to speak to his congregation.  You never know whom else I might meet.  You just never know.

Mission To The Philippines Blog Goes Viral!!!

Yes, my "Mission To The Philippines" blog has gone viral . . . well, not really.  But I did have my 100th "hit" yesterday, so that was kind of nice.  No, my blog hasn't had on overwhelming impact on the world.  Maybe if I had some funny video of a dog wearing a collar-of-shame trying to play catch with a balloon or something . . . but I don't.  I don't even own a video camera.

I really don't have much else to add until I actually arrive in the Philippines . . . I'll be leaving this Sunday .  I've found some other part-time work to keep me busy until I leave, and it will also provide me with more work when I return.  It's not the most exciting work, but it will help pay some bills until something better comes along.  It is probably a good thing too, as I really haven't been doing much physical stuff for a long time, other then my hour-a-day on the treadmill.

If something exciting happens I will add a comment -- but until then . . . Pag-ayo-ayo!!!

Gesture Malfunction???

It doesn't sound like I missed much by not seeing yesterday's "big game".  I did see the highlights on the evening news.  I saw enough to know that I had made better use of my time and money by working on some freelance projects and my blog instead of watching the Super Bowl.  But I realize that my values may not mesh with the values of others.  I don't  think watching the Super Bowl will have any adverse affect on one's salvation.  But those half-time shows . . . really?

I try not to be too judgmental on Hollywood and the entertainment industry.  I do get a little annoyed, however, with some of the "oops's" that happen during live television.  A few years back there was the famous "wardrobe malfunction", and this year, I guess we should call it a "gesture malfunction".  I heard that the network had a broadcast delay that was supposed to help them avoid the public airing of any inappropriate images or language, but apparently it just wasn't quite enough time.

In spite of America's tarnished reputation with parts of the world, the world still looks at us with awe and admiration.  Much of the world's population wishes they had access to the affluence we have here in the States.  They watch everything we do.  And they judge us as well.  Does the entertainer who performs during the Super Bowl halftime show represent America?  They shouldn't, but they do . . . even if the entertain isn't an American.   When the world sees various "malfunctions" during major television broadcasts, they connect the two together: America and the "malfunction".  The networks "allow it", therefore we allow it.  Call it freedom of speech if you want, but those little  malfunctions represent not only the halftime entertainer, but also you and me.  I didn't "flip off" the world, but I become guilty through association.

So this blog is supposed to be about my trip to the Philippines, not some rant about the Super Bowl.  But I think it goes to show how the world sees us, and how I will be viewed when I am in a foreign country.  I am  not guilty of a making a lewd gesture in front of the world's media, but because I am an American and that the Super Bowl is symbolic of the culture of America, then my status within the world is diminished.  Now I don't make any claim to being perfect.  I've done some outright stupid things in the past.  But those were my own actions.  I shouldn't need to worry about what some entertainer does . . . someone I will never meet nor who even knows that I exist. Yet, it's something that affects me.

If I can take any lesson from this, it's that while I am in the Philippines, I represent the rest of America.  No, I won't be on public television, but I will be in full view of the people who live there in the communities I will be working in.  And to them, I AM AMERICA!  Everything . . . and I must emphasis EVERYTHING . . .I do will reflect directly on all Americans.  The way I dress, the way I talk, the way I walk, the things I do, all will be scrutinized.  Add to that the responsibility of representing Christians throughout the world.  I hold that as an even greater issue.  Because of the reputation and stereotypes that Americans have throughout the world, if  I make some error in behavior, it will likely just be chalked-up to being an American.  But the reputation of Christians around the world doesn't need to be tarnished by some foolish "gesture malfunction".  The damage there is much greater.  It can have an adverse affect on someones's salvation.

Bottom line: I will need to be constantly on guard for my own behaviors, my own verbal and non-verbal messages that I send out to those around me.  Even when I think no one is watching, I must be mindful of what I am doing and how it will be interpreted by those who might see it.  No matter how innocent my actions, if they are perceived as somehow inappropriate, then I will have put a smudge on my reputation and on those whom I represent.  It's a tough assignment, with no room for a "malfunction".

There's A Game???

I know, I know . . . 98 percent of the population of the United States is tuned in to the Super Bowl right now.  I'm not.  I gotta tell you . . . I don't even know who's playing.  It's not that I have anything against the Super Bowl, or pro football, or sports in general . . . but I just can't get excited about it all.  I mean, what if they took all the money spent on the Super Bowl -- and that includes all the hot wings being consumed by ravenous fans -- and put it to use to benefit some needy group of people, wouldn't our world be some how better?  Seriously, does one athletic event have the right to consume that much of the world's attention and money?  I don't think so.  I guess I think differently then most.

The pastor called me to the front of the auditorium at the end of church today.  He asked me to speak a little about my upcoming trip to the Philippines.  It was a little strange . . . I was holding back tears and I don't know why.  Well, yes I do know why . . . this is a big event for me.  This has the potential to be a "life-changer".  It's the most important thing on my mind at the moment.  Football? Whatever.

I guess I'm thinking about those kids that we're going to feed on Saturday the 18th . . . they're hungry and could probably use some new clothing . . . and enough supplies and school uniforms so they can go to school.  What are we talking?  $20 for one kid would probably set him or her up for an entire school year.  How much are they spending on the Super Bowl?

There's the church on the island province of Masbate.  These people are serving a needy community, where nearly everyone is poor.  It's the poor helping the poor.  They need some land and a building, as the current place they rent has a leaky roof and the dirt floor turns to mud when it rains.   This is the Philippines.  It rains there. A lot.  I think the land and building can be done for around $12,000.  How much are they spending on the Super Bowl?

Brother Jul would love to start a Christian school at his church in Tubigon.  He has enough students who would be interested.  He could find enough people who would teach.  He needs a larger building and the books and  materials to get a small school going.  But he says that they are barely keeping the church doors open -- the thoughts of outreach programs and schools are just not realistic for them.    I don't really know how  much it would cost, but compared to a school in the US . . . well, there's really no comparison.  It would be a fraction of the cost providing a 100-fold benefit.  How much are they spending on the Super Bowl?

I'm sure I could go on and on, finding needs there in the Philippines that could be wiped out rather quickly by just having a portion of the money spent on Super Bowl madness.  And I know, there will always be poor; it's a sad reality.  But that doesn't mean that we can't give it a try.

How much are you spending on the Super Bowl today?  Really?  That much?  Think about it. Seriously. Please.

I can't ask you to give money to me . . . I'm just a guy who is going to try to do some good things.  If you're interested in sending some money to my church which would be used to help these people in the Philippines, just send me a note; here's my email: sandz_enterprises@yahoo.com.  I will get you in touch with the appropriate people.  Seriously.  Think about it.

Would You Believe Part 3?

I'm  not really a morning person, but I admit, sometimes I like being up before the rest of the world begins to stir.  This morning is one of those times.  The house is quiet, no cars or trucks driving by the house, no kids out on their bikes . . . only the sound of my fingers on the keyboard and the gentle snoring of my son's dog laying here beside me on the sofa.  I leave for the Philippines one week from tomorrow.  I wonder what that morning will feel like?  Will it be quiet and peaceful?  I would sure hope that I've packed everything and don't have one of those "oh crap" moments when I realize I have forgotten something truly important!

I've been thinking about my article yesterday.  My brother sent me a Facebook comment mentioning that he too has perfectionist syndrome.  It's not that we have a need to be fastidious about everything, but just that some things must be right or they will bug us until the wee hours of the morning. For instance, the article I wrote yesterday took several revisions before I "published" it.  And then I read through it a couple more times after it was "live", making some minor corrections.  If I hadn't re-read the article, I wouldn't have made any changes at all . . . it would likely have been fine as it was.  But I had to, just had to look at it one more time . . . just in case . . . you know . .  . in case something was amiss: an extra space between words, or a misplaced comma, or a word that just wasn't quite right. Ugh!  90% is better then 100%.  It's okay . . . let it go!

At the end of yesterday's article I mentioned that I needed to get my ideas out in front of other people.  I still believe that.  Here's the rub.  I'm operating under "assumptions" rather than fact.  Oh, I've had some input from people who are there and who have given some affirmation of my understanding of the needs there.  But I feel strongly that I need to experience the situation for my self, rather than relying on someone else's perception of it.  There is a difference between 90 and 100 percent perfect versus accurate and inaccurate.  I'm not withholding my ideas today because of a need to be perfect, but because of a need to be certain that I'm right!  There's a difference.  I don't want to go on record saying one thing, then coming back with a totally different message.  I may still come back saying something different than I already have.  I don't want to go off bragging about all the wonderful things I will do, only to come back with my tail between my legs saying that I didn't do anything I said I was going to do.

I do know this much . . . unless I break a leg or something, I'm going to the Philippines.  I have people to meet and, unless something unforeseen happens, I will help construct a church building.  I am supposed to meet with a bunch of kids one day, a public school teacher another day, and a whole private Christian school on yet another day.  I've also been asked to give the message on Sunday at the church in Tubigon.  Those are the reasonably "sure" things.  It's the outcome of those activities that I won't make predictions on.  I have some expectations, some assumptions . . . but they may be all wrong.  I can assure you that once I return, all will be revealed, at 90 percent (plus or minus).  Pag-ayo-ayo.

Doing What You Like To Do - Part 2

When I wrote about "doing what you like to do" a couple of days ago, I hadn't envisioned a second part to that article.  A couple of things happened over the past couple of days which changed that.  Now these weren't great epiphanies -- they were more like pieces to a puzzle.  The more pieces you have, the clearer the picture becomes, and so on.

I went to the gym this morning -- nothing new there.  I joined this gym after the first of the year -- mind you, it had nothing to do with a New Year's resolution, it's a new gym and that's when it opened it doors.  I just need to lose weight, lower blood pressure, and trim some fat.  A typical mid-50's kinda thing.  I spend most of my time on the treadmill, usually 50 to 60 minutes including warm-up and cool-down.  What I like most about doing the treadmill routine is that I also get the chance to do some reading.  I've had an e-reader for about a year now, and I really enjoy using it, especially in situations where a bound book would just not be practical.  During this morning's workout, I continued reading Jon Acuff's book Quitter.  I consider it a good read . . . an easy read . . . and for my situation, a practical read.

Part of the reason I like his book so much is that he and I have similar passions.  I think we probably also have similar personalities.  According to Jon, his mother called him a "procrastinating perfectionist" -- I have to tell you, that resonates with me very, very clearly!  My parents were both perfectionists.  When you're a kid growing up in a "perfectionist's world", perfection becomes a part of your daily life.  By osmosis, I have perfectionist traits.  (Not as severe as Hercule Poirot, however, but yet . . .).  There's nothing wrong with wanting to do a good job, but sometimes it  becomes a stumbling block to success.  For instance, I was a little frustrated by getting a "complaint" about my blog article "Preparing for Flight".  I am an excellent writer!  How dare anyone slam my carefully crafted prose!  I ignored the comment, making some flip remark about doing better the next time.  To anyone else, it would appear that the issue was done.  Au contraire!  It was stuck in the back of my mind all day . . . in fact, I didn't write anything at all the following day.

Here is where my trip to the gym comes in.  One of the comments I came upon today in Mr. Acuff's book struck a real chord with me . . . "90 percent perfect and shared with the world always changes more lives than 100 percent perfect and stuck in your head"!  (Note: the exclamation  mark is outside of the quotation marks -- it's mine.)  Although it's important to produce good quality work, whether it's writing or giving a lecture or selling some product or whatever, being so concerned about being perfect is a trait that can prevent one from ever making a difference.  I also suppose that getting a critique once-in-a-while is a good thing -- having someone else "proofread" your work  can help by pointing out problems that you may not have caught on your own.

I know I've been hiding a few ideas in my head about how I want to proceed after I return from the Philippines.  I'm keeping them in my head until I actually go there and get some facts to backup the ideas.  After today's insight, I need to make sure that I avoid the perfectionist's trap and share my ideas with others, even if the project isn't quite the way I want it to be.  Better to get it in front of other people's eyes and listen to their comments than to wait until I have it perfectly crafted  . . . which may never happen.

So What Do You Like to Do?

I enjoy writing.  I enjoy reading.  The two go hand-in-hand.  Successful writers will tell you that they read more than they write.  It's just the nature of the beast.  One of the books I've been reading recently is Quitter by Jon Acuff.  I think it's a very appropriate book for  me to be reading now, as I'm facing the issue of future employment.  One of the comments Jon makes early in his book deals with trying to find out what it is that you really like to do.    There are all sorts of interest tests available on the internet that might give you some hints about what your strengths and interests are.  He makes the observation that most people have known for years what it is they love to do, but have forgotten what it is or have pushed it far into the background.  It's just a matter of becoming reacquainted with your passion.

I've taken some of those personal interest tests before.  The results are always the same; I should be a teacher or a writer.  Interestingly enough, I recently took a course on spiritual gifts.  This is not the first time I have studied spiritual gifts, but I felt that perhaps i needed to reacquaint myself with what the Bible had to say.  By the end of the course, the results were the same -- teaching topped the list.  No surprise, really.  If you're a teacher, you also spend a significant amount of time reading and writing . . . another "hand-in-hand" situation.

Back to Mr. Acuff's book -- he asks the question, "What are you willing to do for free?"  It's a rather straightforward question.  It's not really original -- school guidance counselors have been asking that question for years.  But sometimes we need to be reminded of things like that.  So . . . of all the things I've done in the past, of all the things I've dreamed of doing, which one(s) would I be willing to do for free?

Well, I'm writing this blog for free.  No one is paying me.  And in the process of writing this, I am providing "learning opportunities" to those who read it -- that is, I'm teaching -- for free.  When I started this blog, my motivation was mostly because I felt a need to express myself, to put my own thoughts down on paper, to create a personal journal about my experiences.  That I put in a blog format was secondary.  I wasn't really worried about having a wildly successful blog.   I was just doing it.  Writing for free.  The teaching aspect just came naturally.  In order to describe where I was going and what I was doing, I felt the need to provide some mini-courses about the Philippines.  I didn't think, "Hey, I should try to teach people."  I just did it.

I haven't finished Mr. Acuff's book yet -- I still have a long way to go.  The ultimate goal of the book, however, is to guide people into doing the kind of work they really want to do.  And yes, getting paid is one of the expected outcomes of doing that work.  The real question for me isn't "what" I will be doing, but under what conditions will I be doing it?  I've been doing some freelance work (please note the ad I placed on the right hand side of my blog), which has been okay, but so far it really hasn't produced a lot of significant work for me -- it's just been something to do to keep me busy.  I'm not working for free, but I'm not making the "big bucks" either.  It's not where I want to spend my energy when I come home from the Philippines.  It certainly doesn't involve much teaching.

Some closing notes:  I don't intend on "monetizing" my blog . . . that wasn't my purpose for starting it.  I added the "Freelancer.com" ad more to help others who might be looking for freelance work; however, it can generate a little income for me if people visit the Freelancer.com site.

Writing is work.  I didn't do a great job on yesterday's article -- I rushed it, and apparently it showed, as I had a comment from a reader regarding the quality of the writing.  My apologies, Leah . . . I will strive to do a better job.

I will get the chance to do a little teaching while I am in the Philippines . . . for free.  I'm looking forward to it.

Pag-ayo-ayo!

Scott