Carmine said of the people in Mindanao “they sure do miss your family and you all came up in many conversations, you guys really left an amazing impression on them.” All I can say is yeah. We miss them so very much as well. Grace sent an email on January 1 saying “the container has arrived. Belen shared with us some toys, shampoo and toothbrushes. They have been a great help and a lot of blessing to a lot of people.”

Grace also told us “Praise God for blessing our Christmas party. 2000 people attended. We prepared food for 1000 people but of course God is always faithful and the food was more than enough to feed everybody. Missy has seen that happen before.”

Our friend Marose, the home’s social worker, wrote an email to us that read “Missy thanks a lot for what you send, salt and other things like ball pens and crayons. I gave some portion to my neighbor who is sick because the salt you gave to us has truly lots of minerals compare our salt here. He used it as taste to his food because he just eat rice with soap only because that time he was hospitalized due to lose bowel movement. The salt taste best because its really different, its very tasty like you put some ingredients. We love it and we used it daily. Thank you so much. The kids in the children home were very happy receiving toys, clothes, bags and many things from the packages you sent. Its truly a very big help for us because the children’s home cannot afford to buy it all so many and very useful to the children. The big one clothes, we shared it to the staff and it was awesome Christmas Party because we went home brought with it last December 21, 2010. We do not have bonus but the staff were very happy receiving those things. Please extend our thanksgiving to the people who work hard, the people that shared their blessings to us and to your family Missy. God used you as an instrument that until now the children and staff enjoyed it. Always the Lord will bless them more and they are going to receive much more.”

Check out this picture that Carmine sent to me (this is one of his house helpers)….notice the big “Y” on the back pack (where could that have come from?).

Now a big treat for our family was receiving some of the following sweet letters from the kids in the children’s home. We sent them a care package with crafts, candy, letters, etc. so they sent one back to us just after they had received the goods that everyone helped us put together.

Jordan (11 years old) writes a letter that says “Hi, I’m Jordan. Keep this letter. Hi, I miss you all. I love you all your family, andrew, grant, abi, ate missy and also kuya erik. I miss you. I hope that you remember what I say that you watch the star I watch also the start sometimes.” “Hi andrew, I miss you bro… I love you. I like to play soccer and basketball. What game you like? I like also toy like psp and game boy but I don’t have like that toy even. I don’t have that toy.”

Well all I can say is that we are so grateful for all the love and kindness everyone showed this past summer for contributing to the shipping container full of goods to our friends in the Philippines.

May God bless your lives for your kindness.

Last night I read a sermon given earlier this year by Dieter F. Uchtdorf (second counselor to the Prophet, Thomas S. Monson) called “You Are My Hands.” I was deeply touched by the message and felt his message had direct application to all of the wonderful people of our community who helped with this project of goods being sent to the people of the Philippines.

In part, here is something that President Uchtdorf said in that sermon:

“True love requires action. We can speak of love all day long—we can write notes or poems that proclaim it, sing songs that praise it, and preach sermons that encourage it—but until we manifest that love in action, our words are nothing but “sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.”(see 1 Corinthians 13:1)

If we are His hands, should we not do the same?”

On Thursday of this week we completed the final phase of this project. With the help from Christian Paulsen and his scout buddies we packed all of the remaining goods (i.e., those that didn’t fit into the POD) into two trailers and large vehicles. We drove to the warehouse where the shipping container was located where 11 pallets were already packaged with the Kids Against Hunger kits that the K2 Church had organized and prepared for shipment. Our job was to unpack the POD and the trailers and get all of our goods on 9 remaining pallets. We worked from 4 pm until 11 pm that night getting everything on that we possibly could and taking the remaining items back to our home.

last few items to be taken put on the trailers

just leaving our house

Here is the parking lot and shipping container where the goods were put on pallets…

loading last pallet

Here is the container with all the pallets packed and 2 more bikes fit in…note, my kids wanted to make sure one of these bikes went to their friend Gabriel.

Shipping container is full

It was hard to see that we could not fit every bike, food donation, or piece of furniture onto the pallets. I just know what a blessing each of these items will be to the people there. But we were successful in providing a tremendous amount of new and used goods to the people and to the KIM ministry there. We had many items specifically requested by our friends in Malaybalay and we were able to provide most of these items to them including things like oats, sugar, shoes, back packs, toothbrushes, toothpaste, hygiene supplies, clothes, bikes, and more. I just know they will be so blessed to have these items. I want them to receive these goods with the assurance that we love them and our Savior Jesus Christ is aware of their wants and needs. I also want them to know that there is a group of people in Utah, including many known as Mormons by the world, who are dedicated believers in Jesus Christ and in His gospel message. I say this only because I know there are many misconceptions in the world about our faith. I know that it is Satan’s objective to cause division and disputations amongst the children of God. I also know that only through the teachings and example of Jesus Christ can we overcome the challenges that will be placed in our paths of life and bridge gaps amongst different people and faiths. This was one of our objectives in launching on this journey. I knew we had met this objective not only because of the wonderful people we met and the feelings we had, but when I read William Miller’s blog post about Abi and our family from his perspective (Note: William is one of the Christian missionaries who was serving in Malaybalay at various ministries including the jail ministry).

Through this amazing journey for our family I have watched first hand how many amazing Christian people of different faiths have come together to bring about a great work of love and bridge gaps of culture and backgrounds through love. I feel so grateful to have been a part of it, to have had the desire to go overseas to serve another people, for a wife and children who were willing to give up their comforts to live in the Philippines for the summer and most of all for all that we have learned and experienced. I am certain that there is much more to be done. I think we are all ready to spend more of our time in the service of our fellow beings because of the great feelings that God gives us and the great good that happens from living His teachings.

All I can say is wow! We are truly moved by the generosity and power of this community in Sandy, Utah.

2 weeks
+1 Eagle Scout candidate
+345 boxes
+your kindness and generosity
= 16′ x 8′ x 8′ POD container filled with excess

These goods will bless the lives of many, many people in the Philippines. Many of whom are now our friends but all of whom are God’s children and are doing the best they can to improve their lives. Many are placed in extremely challenging circumstances. Many pray to God on a daily basis for blessings of food, clothing, jobs and education. You have provided many of these items and opportunities. Thank you.

Its hard to describe some of the feelings I had as I was moving boxes, packing boxes, and just watching the hand of God through you as goods came flooding on to our porch, garage and driveway. I would see so many items recently purchased just to fulfill some of the specific requests (things like boy’s underwear, undershirts, tooth brushes/paste, back packs, oatmeal, shoes, bikes, toys, dry pack goods, etc.). Plus buckets of sugar, flour, wheat, beans, oats, soup mix, and more.

Here are some brand new children’s black shoes that are needed for their schooling. Also, new bikes that were returned to the store for minor blemishes.

New Shoes (and Tang!)

Bikes for the kids

I love watching these things come together…I love to see the little miracles as God inspires people, provides blessings to everyone who participates, creates opportunities, and offers His spirit to all because of a good work. This project would have never happened if our good friend Alissa Packer hadn’t volunteered to take charge once I left town on August 18. I wanted to do it but didn’t want to make a commitment that I couldn’t see through…but Alissa assured me that she would see it through. Then after we made our commitment and started to get the word out, the project was blessed because a boy was in need of an Eagle Scout project and he stepped forward and volunteered to organize, count and provide logistics for the project while our family was away. So on the evening of August 17 Christian and his friends JP and Will came over and organized, boxed, and loaded the first 200 boxes onto the POD – we worked until 2:45 am!! I was so impressed by these young men…hard working, cheerful and rocking out to some good music with me all night long.

Loading and Packing until 2:45 am

Will & JP

Packing and loading goods

Several times I picked up a box or packed some items and I was overcome by emotion. One example was a box of 442 tooth brushes that I could tell were ordered through a dental association. I just thought about how having new tooth brushes would be a little blessing because it was just one more thing that these people would not need to purchase (or go without) but rather they could spend their limited resources on other needed items. This reminded me of a story that Missy told me about how one young man comes to the Malaybalay Saturday feedings each week to provide hair cuts to the children. Missy said that a haircut cost 14 pesos and in many cases the families cannot afford the extra 14 pesos for a haircut so the children just look scraggly most of the time. So this one small kind act blesses the children and their families so they can spend their limited resources on necessities.

Here is a picture of Gabriel and his cousin Prince after their haircuts….

Gabriel and Prince

Tang…someone dropped off 3 large containers of Tang (you can see them in the picture above next to the shoes). The Filipino kids just love Tang. I was watching the kids at one Malaybalay Saturday camp activity and feeding event and the kids found out there was Tang in the cooler and they went crazy over it…just watch this short video.

Today was just plain fun!! I wrote previously about an adventure park about 1 1/2 hours from here that has the longest zip line in Asia. It also has two other really great zip lines. The children from the Manila children’s home came down to Mindanao in March, but funds only allowed for 2 of the children from the Mindanao home to go with the Manila kids on the zip line. Belen and I had talked about it and I told her that we wanted to take all of the kids from the home (not the babies or toddlers) on a day trip to the zip line. She was so excited because she knew how much the kids would love it!

She told all of the children that they were going to be able to miss school for a very special event – then she told them that they were going to go to the zip line! They were great – just what you would expect! We loaded up all of the kids, Belen and Larry, William and Helen (one of the houseparents) my kids and myself – I foolishly wondered if we were going to take 2 vehicles Of course not! All 24 of us piled in the 15 passenger van – we offered a word of prayer and we were on our way!

Over the mountain we travelled. The zip line is about 1 1/2 to 2 hours – the kids were all so good. They sang songs about Jesus, they played games spotting things out the window and they played with each other. I was so impressed with them!

When we arrived at the zip line there were some kids that thought maybe it looked to scary. They decided that they didn’t want to ride. We assured them that they would be okay, but that they were welcome to just watch the others. Everyone put on their harnesses and helmets and we got in line to ride. Soon, those kids that had decided not to ride changed their minds. They eagerly got in line and we all took our turns riding the two zip lines that were good for any age/size.

At the bottom, one little boy, EricJon, who has several physical challenges, said “Ate Missy, I did it! I not scared!” He was so proud of himself! I was sure proud of him too! He never takes challenges and this was a big thing for him to accomplish.

We ate our picnic lunch (rice and chicken ) and waiting while Abi, Helen and Ariel rode the longest zip line. All of the smaller children were waiting at the bottom to cheer for them!

On the drive back, we got a flat tire. Fortunately, a very kind man on a motorcycle, flagged us down to tell us it was flat and then stayed the entire time until the tire was changed and ready to go again. The flat tire happened in the middle of a pineapple plantation and there happened to be a small house on the side of the road. The kids went to that house and they played until the tire was fixed.

We arrived back at the children’s home safely. The children were all so excited to report on their adventure. It was just a really fun day!!

Well, today has been wonderful for sure! Many amazing things happened today through miracles…

There were extra challenges today because we have had no power. The power went out on Monday in the afternoon. This is not uncommon at all – in fact, the power goes out for several hours every day. These brown outs happen at unscheduled times, and they are inconvenient, but no big deal. When the power went out on Monday, we just assumed that it was a brown out and that the power would come on later in the day. Night time came and no power. I was grateful for the flashlights that I had with me and the large candle that Belen gave me. The camp where we stay is completely dark when there is no power. I woke up around 4 am and opened my eyes – so dark. I felt like I was in a cave it was so dark. There was no moon and still no power. The overall lifestyle here is not really dependent on the power, so life goes on like normal. The things that I noticed were that camera batteries and cell phone batteries died quickly – surely not “necessary” items!

On Tuesday the power had still not come back on. There was a lot to accomplish on Tuesday and having no power was a problem. I have been helping Marose get documents ready for the children at the home to get clearance for adoption. We were working on files but couldn’t get them completed because of no power. Also, Marose had several meetings where she needed documents printed for social welfare meetings, but could not get them done. We drove around looking for a place that had a generator going that would also have their internet working so that we could access her paperwork using my laptop. We eventually found a place with a generator and we downloaded the documents however they had no printer. We tried to find a place with a printer that also had a generator. We exhausted all of our efforts and we were not able to get her paperwork printed for the social welfare department meetings that she had scheduled. This was disappointing.

When the evening came, the power had not yet come back on, but we were prepared with our flashlights – and umbrellas – because the rains came!!

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

I have spent many, many hours helping Marose, the social worker at the home, to wrap up lose ends of files and other things she may need. There is a little baby girl at the home whose file is not complete and she has not yet been cleared for adoption. In oder to get paperwork completed, Marose needed to travel to homes of family members of the child. I agreed to drive her to these outlying areas.

In addition, there is a woman that William has been working with at the jail, who I have also visited several times, who has a 14 year old daughter dying of cancer. This girl lives with her grandparents, who allegedly don’t treat the sick girl very well. This 14 year old also lives farther away from Malaybalay (about 1 hour form the children’s home).

William, Marose and myself decided to all go together to try and visit the girl as well as get Marose’s paperwork completed. I drove and we headed out onto the really crazy, very bumpy, full of potholes and construction roads of Mindanao.

We decided to go and try to visit the girl first. We drove to Valencia, about an hour, and Marose asked William where the girl lived. William didn’t have an address. She asked the family name (last name) of the girl, or the name of the hospital where the girl was treated, but he did not have that information. He tried to text people that might know, but he was not getting any responses. Marose asked directions to the office of Social Welfare and we went there to get some help. I am always a bit shocked when I walk into various places in the Philippines – this prominent government building that is in a pretty large city has 1 typewriter, a few plastic chairs to sit on, stacks of papers everywhere, and a lot of people standing around. Marose asked many questions to many people and without much waiting at all, we were escorted upstairs to a social worker’s office. When the worker came in, it happens to be one of Marose’s good friends from college. They “chatted” a bit, about I don’t know what… Before long, Marose told them the story of the sick child, the mother in jail, the unattentive grandparents, the absent father, etc. They chatted some more, we waited some more, notes were written down and William continued to try and get messages to various people that may be able to give him more information. When it became obvious that no more information was coming, I told Marose that maybe we should come back another day when we had enough information to find the girl. She then told me that the social worker was going to come with us back to Malaybalay and that we were going to take her to the jail so that she could interview the mom herself and get as many facts as possible to be able to put together a proper case. Really?! I thought… I don’t think that we could have ever got a social worker on a case of someone in jail in a far away town if we had tried. That worked out more than perfectly and we jumped in the van and headed out to solve some of Marose’s social case issues.

We drove and drove and asked a lot of people for directions. There was a lot of turning around – which really means nothing EXCEPT for the fact that I was driving a 15 passenger, stick-shift van without power anything. I have really learned that I cannot make U turns!

We eventually found the right people and got the right documents signed and all of Marose’s work in that town was completed. When I type this is sounds so easy, but being there is so crazy really… I often wonder how anything gets done sometimes…

We came back to the children’s home for lunch and hung out with the kids. They are really always so happy to have you around – they want to play chess, swing, ride bikes, etc.

After lunch I went to the jail with William and this new social worker. The worker was able to get the inmate Rosario (the mom of the sick girl) let out of her cell for a while while she conducted the interview. I, of course, could not understand much, but I could understand from her tears and her emotions that she was so, so happy that someone was there to try to help her sick daughter. The social worker was very kind and was reassuring that she would visit the daughter and make an assessment of moving her to another place where she would be cared for properly. Before Rosario was escorted back to her cell, she shook my hand and then gave me a huge hug and expressed her gratitude through her tears. I can only imagine the love that God has for her and her daughter.

I have really been challenged going to the jail. This is really not a place that I enjoy going and I really try to avoid it completely. I was thinking about this on Sunday, when I ran across a Hymn in the Christian hymnal (we were not at our church, rather we went to the church here at the children’s home) which was in English. The hymn sang of feeding the hungry and clothing the naked. I felt inspired and fulfilled as I felt that I had taken those opportunities when I had them . I continued reading and it sang of “I was in prison and you visited me.” That hit me hard. I knew that verse already from the Bible, but I felt that this was speaking to me – we are all children of God, in and out of prison. I went home with a new resolve. I was grateful to have had this experience on Sunday, so that my time at the jail today was much better. I was really able to look at things with a different perspective.

Our kids are doing so well. They each have their little “niche” on what they like to do. Abi loves to spend time playing – swinging on swings, games, water balloons, jump rope, soccer, basketball… She has a really good relationship with each of the kids at the home and they are usually waiting patiently each morning to see her. Every night she reads bedtime stories – usually something of Dr. Seuss, some of her favorite childhood stories. (She actually reads them from the same Dr. Seuss story collection book that we have at home!) Andrew is very fond of the babies. He takes time each day to rock and feed both of them. He loves that it is quiet and calm. I like to peek in on him and listen as he tells them stories and tells them how cute they are. It is so funny! Grant usually is playing with 3-4 kids at a time. They are usually engaged in something active – sandcastles, swords and shields, chess or other games. He gets frustrated when other kids come along and mess with what he is doing.

Thursday, August 12, 2010

Well, Marose and I had a big day planned. We were going on an adventure – that is what she called it – which made me kinda nervous – it seems like daily life here is an adventure – so if the Filipino’s say that it is an adventure…!
The baby girl that I wrote about yesterday still had paperwork that needed to be done by her mother in a town far away. We took the baby with us and we drove for about 45 minutes to the baby’s home town. Along the way there was a “routine” traffic stop – I don’t really know what is routine – but when I drove by the traffic enforcer (cop), she made me pull over. I have to admit, I was a bit nervous. I asked her what I had done wrong. She said that she wanted to see my Filipino driver’s license. Well, that was going to be a problem, since I don’t have one I offered to show her my Utah license – no go. She gave me a ticket and a bit of a lecture about driving without a license. Marose tried to tell her that I was a short term missionary that was there to help the orphanage – I think that she was not buying it – crazy, because it’s true! She told me that I had to appear in court tomorrow and pay the fine and then she took my license plates – collateral that I would come to court. I asked about the fines and she told me that it was 1000 pesos ($22 US). My first time to get a ticket in a foreign country

Marose was not exactly sure where the mother of the baby lived, but we stopped many times and asked for directions and the location of the mother.

We eventually came to the place where she lived. It is a very small shack, really. It is tucked way back off of the dirt road. It is hidden behind another bamboo type house and we had to walk through quite a bit of foliage to get there. We took the baby with us and headed back, past the out-of-control trees and the cow to the house. I didn’t really know what to expect – we were bringing this 6 month old baby to her mother who had not seen her since birth. How would this affect the mother?

Marose introduced herself and me to the mother and told her about her baby girl. She handed the baby to the mother – there was very little emotion from the mother – then two other children came to us – sisters of the baby. All four of them sat together. I listened to them talk with Marose and I watched the two girls interact with their sister that they have never met. They were tender and loving of course. Within a few moments the neighbors started to gather. They started showing up and before long there were 22 people standing around watching and listening to Marose talk with the mother about the circumstances surrounding the surrender of the child to the children’s home. There seems to be very few boundaries within the culture to what can be discussed in front of the neighbors Soon the neighbors were telling the mother to give the baby to the Americano – Marose translated some information, but kindly told them that this was strictly forbidden. Marose had the mother sign and fingerprint all of the papers that released all of the rights of the mother. (The father is already out of the picture.)

Marose and I left with the child to get some lunch (rice and chicken) and returned within the hour. Marose asked if they had eaten their lunch while we were gone. No, was the answer. They said that they had eaten yesterday, but because the mother was ill yesterday and could not work (she does laundry for another family) she did not have money to buy food today. The mother and two children, along with Marose, myself and the baby got in the van and we drove to get them lunch (rice and chicken). The food was all mixed together in a plastic bag. The mother told the girls not to eat in the van because she didn’t want a mess – she told them that they had to wait until they got back home. Since we had another stop to make before their home, I told them to go ahead and eat. They were so precious – I couldn’t help but notice that not one grail of rice was wasted on the floor of the van – every grain was eaten – everything was eaten off of the chicken bones and the girls chewed on the bones while we drove to our next stop – the government building for records.

I have already spoken about government buildings – this one followed suit. Lots of papers, a few chairs and a typewritter. We brought the mother to this building, along with the child, to get the baby a birth certificate – this will make it MUCH easier for her to be adopted. The paperwork was filled out and the records office assured us that the certificate would be completed quickly and that Marose could pick it up next week. I later asked Marose if that would really happen, and she said that the employees were thinking that I was some American investigator of some kind and that they would be very quick to get it completed. Although the offices are usually not what I expect, the people are ALWAYS kind and helpful. They smile and show genuine hospitality where ever we are.

We made another quick stop at the town bus station to find a lady that found the new baby and called the social welfare office. This woman works at the bus station – as soon as we arrived Marose found her – she came to the car running to see the baby. She held the baby and was overjoyed at how well the baby is thriving. Many others gathered around the van to see the baby. I looked in the back of the van and the tears began to stream down the face of the mother. Her heart was very tender.

Before long, we took the mother and the two girls back to their house. It was time to say good-bye. The mother held her baby daughter and gave her a kiss and told her that she will always love her. She then turned around and walked back to her house. Marose held the baby and we drove away.

We came back to the children’s home to find everyone safe and sound – happily playing on the enormous soccer field. We ended the day with a great dinner of chicken and rice and thanked the Lord for another day in paradise.

Grant was sitting at the dinner table last night squatting and Missy was correcting him to sit on his bum, sitting up straight when Grant said, “Why this is how the Filipinos sit?” See here’s proof:

Well they got a good laugh out of everyone and Missy figured he was right so why try fighting a battle that wasn’t worth it.

Missy and some of the other adults took 24 kids (plus our 3) to the zip line on Friday and treated them to that fun event. Belen told the kids that if they got up early, did all their chores, and were behaved perfectly that they might be able to leave school early to go to the zip line. Missy said she had never seen those kids so on it, doing every thing they could to be the best they could because this was an opportunity of a life time for them. At 350 PH pesos each this was a total treat!

So Missy said the other day while she was driving Marose around she got pulled over in a police search (remember that Missy has been driving the social worker all around the island trying to locate the relatives of certain children so they can become adoptable) and the policeman issued Missy a ticket for 1,000 PH pesos ($22) for driving without a license. She also was to appear in court the next day. Stress! Well, luckily Donald knows the laws and he appeared for her showing the judge that a foreigner with a driver’s license doesn’t need a Filipino license until they have been there for 3 months. Phew!

The used goods drive continues to move along…this is the last week and I think we are only 10% of the way there. We received a few large donations this week including a couch, mattresses, children’s tables and chairs, lots of food storage items, and many miscellaneous goods. Missy says that the people are so very excited for the goods that we are sending. She says they are amazed that we would care for them so much to do such a kind thing. Please help us out, stop by any yard sales next week and ask the owners if they’d like to donate the remainder of their goods. Ask your co-workers, make some phone calls, some body knows someone who can make a huge difference.

As of today (8/14/10), here is how things are looking…

Here is Grant playing on the soccer field with some boys (it looks like he is getting a pull across the field)…

One last story from a few weeks ago…this touched my heart. There were 3 boys at the children’s home whose sponsors had fallen through and thus they didn’t have the funds needed to go to school. Their schooling cost $40 USD per month. William, who is a kind young missionary who lives at the children’s home was frustrated because he was unable to secure the funds for these last 3 boys. When Missy heard about it she said that we would help find sponsors and that our family would sponsor Jordan (I guess they’ve really taken to 10 year old Jordan). Then my mother offered to sponsor the funds needed for another boy named Roldon. When Roldon heard that Abi’s grandmother was going to sponsor him he insisted on Missy making a video of him thanking her for this support. He wanted to tell Abi’s grandma that he would do his best and study hard to make her proud. Here is Roldon:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BViGXmQKYdc

Then when Jordan saw Roldon making a video for his sponsor he wanted to make a video for our family. Missy said, but you can just tell us we are here. Jordan said, no he wanted to make a video also. Jordan has only learned to speak English since about February of this year – he is very bright and his English is great. Here’s Jordan:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YTqCAzWed5g

Ok I am a bit concerned about filling this shipping container and so I’m really hoping that out there God is working some miracles (through all of you) so that we do not waste the donated resources of this shipping container. I trust God will help and I know all of you are doing what you can. Please pray so the Lord blesses our efforts and that we don’t waste any room, and we fill it up. I sent Jeff Long a quick email about asking for everyone’s prayers there and here was his reply:

===================================================
Erik,
THINK WIDE…. include ALL… in addition to FOOD, BOOKS, we can use tools of ALL kinds, school supplies of ALL kinds, children’s vitamins, medicines, diapers, wet wipes, athletic
equipment,(balls, all kinds) remember everything you encountered while being here and see how that can come together… We could use fitness equipment at the YMC, that will be a big help for our kids living here, guests, teams, etc…

GO FOR IT BIG GUY…..
Jeff
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So there you have it. They can use just about anything we are willing to donate. Sometimes the groups that come through Manilla are over 100 people at a time so there is always a lot going on and their list of needs/wants are long.

Also, I wanted to share a little something from Angie Leone’s blog that shows one way how those wonderful books that everyone helped us raise last spring are being used. This is pretty neat and you will see how people’s individual lives will be blessed through this ministry. So the children’s home in Manilla is right next to the YMC (guest house) and the new Literacy Center. When the children from the home grow up they must move out of the home where the younger children live. Here is what Angie wrote about some of the girls she is working with:

=====================================================

“KIM is dedicated to each child, no matter what it takes. They have their first group of 4 pre-teen girls who are transitioning from the younger living quarters to a more independent living situation. The girls have moved into the basement of the guest house at KIM and will be learning how to do their own laundry and other life skills. We were going through boxes of the donated books to try and find something for them to read in their free time. I was amazed. I take for granted each and every story that has been placed in my heart. As I opened each box, my heart lept with joy to share my thoughts on each book. One of the girls asked about Helen Keller. She was shocked to hear that her story was true. So now I am planning on doing a book club with these sweet young ladies. Going again to my books for security in the humidity of Manila. Carmine is already incredibly busy! The library is up and he is designing the interior space. Looking forward to posting pics and having him share more about this amazing story.”

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Missy has been very busy down south in Mindanao island driving all over the place to help the social workers get the children’s paperwork together so the kids can become “adoptable.” What happens in many instances is that the children are abandoned (and without family to sign off on their adoption paperwork) but they cannot be adopted until various efforts are made to contact a living relative, publish a notice of abandonment in various papers and publications, and piles of government paperwork is filled out before the children can be placed in another home. This takes a very long time to pull together and it requires someone who can drive (Missy) and someone with gas money (Missy) and someone who can review all the paperwork in English (Missy). Thus, Missy has been very busy the last few days and she is making it possible for these kids to find homes. One boy is already slated to come to the U.S. and a family is waiting for him. But with the frequent power outages, and the other stumbling blocks that are part of normal life in the Philippines things take a long time to get done.

Another cute story Missy told me was on Saturday during the activities and feedings Missy was looking for Andrew and then suddenly she spotted him….standing in the food line with all the other children waiting for their rice meal feeding. Missy thought that was so cute that she took some pictures of Andrew in line getting his meal. Andrew came over to Missy and said “Mom, I think that is the first time I have ever waited in line for my food.” He ate it up along with the other Filipino kids…so cute.

Andrew and friends at Saturday feeding activity

Our kids are learning what its like to have 26 new siblings…I guess sometimes they want down time but it doesn’t happen much. Today they were trying to watch a movie alone in the basement of the guest house where they are living but the kids wouldn’t let them alone and wanted to watch the movie with them (which is apparently against their rules during the week).

Counting down the days to be with my family again…

Erik:

I came home from work today and I saw several boxes on our porch and a double stroller…wow – I was so touched by these items. Then some families stopped by tonight to drop off goods and one family went to WalMart and shopped for so many of the specified items needed plus so much more. I will personally deliver some of these items (I’m taking these on the plane) like the new kids underwear, tooth brushes, tooth paste, soap, jump ropes, animal toys, etc. I am so grateful for your generosity and so are the folks across the world.

Double Stroller

Your Generosity

Tooth Brushes

I spoke with Missy tonight and told her of the goods that have already been dropped off. She said that word is already spreading about the goods being gathered for them. She wanted me to tell everyone that the people of Malaybalay are so, so amazed that Americans would care and love them enough to give them donations. She said this is very exciting for sure.

We are just starting…probably have a quarter to half a pallet worth of food, clothes, and misc items so far. We have lots to go so please continue to spread the word so we can meet the goal of 8 pallets by 8/21/10. Missy and I will make sure these items are delivered with love and well wishes from the people of Sandy, Utah and especially from the Highland Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

Erik:

The K2 Church is organizing another shipping container to be sent with Kids Against Hunger kits like they have done in the past. They were planning on filling a 20 foot container with these food packets, which are used for most of the community feedings as well as so many other amazing uses for good. So Jeff Long challenged me and our friends and fellow church members to see if we could pull together enough goods for a 40 foot container (he would secure the funds for the larger shipment).

So here’s your chance to help out and really make a difference. Since I have already accepted the challenge and made a commitment let me say that I really, really appreciate your support and taking the time to help fill the larger shipping container – 8 pallets, 8 feet high – with goods and food that can be used to bless the lives of the people of the Philippines.

So we are asking for your help in filling boxes or just bringing items from your home (or the store if you are so inclined) that can be shipped to the Philippines. All items must be received in my garage by Saturday, August 21, 2010 so they can be counted, weighed and inventoried for Customs. So here are some of the items that are needed:

Items specifically requested by Malaybalay Children’s Home:

(1) Children’s clothing, shoes (black for school), undershirts, underwear, summer clothes (they have no use for jackets and other winter clothes)
(2) Oatmeal – Missy said the instant oatmeal would be best. The kids eat rice every morning (lunch and dinner also by the way) and Belen said it would be so nice to be able to feed them oatmeal because it is nutritious and it satisfies for a long time
(3) Tooth brushes, toothe paste, soap, shampoo and other personal hygiene items – these are just so expensive compared to what they have to live on or the budgets they have to operate the home on
(4) Back packs for school, and any other school supplies
(5) Sports Equipment – like basketballs, soccer balls, volleyballs, jump ropes, etc. – oh bikes…the children love bicycles but theirs are all broken
(6) Medical Supplies – Band-aids, children’s medicines, creams, sanitizers, etc.
(7) Baby Supplies – diapers, baby formula, wet wipes, etc.
(8) Double Stroller – this would be so helpful (especially if it has the large knobby wheels) because then they could take multiple infants for walks around the property
(9) Wheel Chair – Missy told me that there is a large (obese) man who Grace knows who needs a wheel chair (he could use some large clothes as well).

Other random items that would be very helpful are things such as plastic containers with lids for water. Even small (or large) water coolers are helpful in many cases. They can always use plastic cups, plates, bowls, spoons, and forks for the Saturday feedings or just for the poor communities. Blankets and towels are also very useful. If you donate toys please make sure they are indestructible toys without batteries – they will break anything breakable in a very short period of time because they have not been taught how to take care of toys and things. Also, toys with lots of parts (like a puzzle, legos or board games) are not ideal toys.

If you are going to donate food items (like from your food storage) here are a few things to consider. Most of their foods are simple to prepare items like oatmeal, rice, beans, pasta, sauces, etc. Other items that require mixers, grinders, or similar devices to prepare can still be used but are more challenging. I imagine that the needs in Manilla are different than in Malaybalay so if you have wheat to donate don’t hesitate because it can be used in different ways including for feeding their chickens or other animals. From what I’ve seen they don’t eat many things from cans (like chili or Campbell’s soup) but I don’t think the starving would turn them away. Like I said there are different needs in Manilla and I’m sure they will know how best to use those kinds of items.

Don’t be afraid to pass along old clothing and similar items. There are many poor communities that would be so very grateful to have these items. For example, the jail community just near the Malaybalay children’s home would be so grateful. Many of the inmates there have only one pair of clothes to wear every single day. They could use soaps, toothbrushes, any personal items like bowls and wash clothes. The needs are endless and you can know that these items will be delivered with a message the God loves them and wants them to know that. Many of them are converted to Christ because of your kindness….they are so surprised and glad that someone half-way around the world would care about them.

So we thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your generosity and willingness to not only put together a box or two but to spread the word to your neighbors, employers, families, and friends. Let’s pull off a miracle and today let’s be God’s wind (that’s from The Other Side of Heaven)!