But to prove Emily and I are A-OK here is a picture of us having some coffee this morning (and just to show what we look like these days)
So much to say, we haven't blogged in quite awhile so I'll do my best to fill everyone in on the happenings here.
Most of the volunteers who arrived with us have headed home since our two years is now officially over. It is sad to see them go and has made us realize we have a whole year to go!! Luckily we get to head home this October-December to see friends and family! Very excited for that.
Recently a co-worker invited us out to see their "land" out in the rural barangay of Irawan. She warned us it is very malayo (far) and that magdaan tayo sa ilog or we will have to walk through the river to get there. She was right! it was quite a hike, but very well worth it. When we finally arrived there we all settled into the small pool at the bottom of the gently flowing waterfall for an great afternoon. here are some pics.
Jon playing the drums on the coconuts drying out near their house before we hiked to waterfall.
Jon enjoying a shot with the guys
Emily cooling off with the girls
Time to eat!
Jon courageously defending the group from the docile water buffalo
Another exciting happening was the finishing (well, almost) of my grant project. This was the constructing of new classrooms for a school with disabilities. We were about 90% complete when the US Ambassador to the Philippines happened to be passing through and asked to stop by and see our project. Everyone at the school was so incredibly excited for the honor of hosting the US Ambassador. She only came by for about 30 minutes but i could see it was the most memorable day yet for the center. We prepared for her visit for nearly a week, practicing what we would do, always making little changes here and there. The day of her visit we all anxiously paced awaiting her arrival...soon the motorcade was within site and everyone jumped to their places. Myself and Pastor Mon had the honors of explaining the goals and mission of the center and then giving a brief tour to the Ambassador....after a quick snack and a photo-op she was off to her next destination. As the motorcade pulled away from school you could feel the anxiety leave the people as literally everyone let out a genuine cheer of joy....it was great to be apart of that. Here are a few pics:
Jon giving an opening speech
Showing her the classrooms....not quite finished/painted...
A look at our classrooms from the outside
Each of the teachers has a big box like this to store all their new materials in
Since then things have been very busy for jon and emily...although for different reasons. Jon is busying tying to finish up projects before heading back to the US for a vacation and Emily is busying trying to get some last second Palawan site seeing in before heading back to the US...she had quite the bike tour of the area.
Jon has been busy giving trainings to many of the urban barangays on how to conduct a diversion program with youth offenders. Its been going pretty well, but is especially rewarding since this is a follow through on the planning done at his community consultation recommendations given last April... so far no construction yet on the proposed buildings, but supposedly the funding is still there...we'll see.
Another opportune project jon is trying to get started is based on the "Second Harvest" concept. Puerto Princessa has a pretty large hotel and service industry, so we are aiming to collect their excess or wasted prepared foods for the purpose of feeding children in need of special protection who are housed at our centers. I've got all the information I need to get started and hopefully will begin trying to get the restaurants involved.
Only two weeks till we head back to the US!!! Can't wait to see everybody.... hopefully we'll be able to update while we're in the US as well so our friends here in the Philippines can see our trip home.
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