The True Meaning of Christmas

Every once in a while we have an experience that touches our soul. Last night was such an experience. Susan organized a visit to the temple grounds for the children of the Mabuhay House (our Ronald McDonald house). The temple area is beautifully decorated here with colored lights on the palm trees and a manger scene near the temple. It is closed on Monday nights but we arranged for it to be opened for our children. We met about 5 PM and the children had been anxiously awaiting our arrival for the past 2 hours. We brought the children a treat of yogurt and tangerines and sang Christmas songs while we waited for the vans to arrive. I pulled one little girl over to the food. Her arms were deformed and so thin I thought they might break. I pealed a tangerine for her but had to feed it to her as her arms wouldn't bend enough for her to put the food into her mouth by herself. Most of the kids currently are there for repair of clubbed feet and are on crutches or in wheelchairs, but others have cleft lip & palate deformities, cataracts or crossed eyes or burn contractures. They each have a parent or guardian with them. After singing "Jolly Ole St. Nicholas" I asked them "when does Santa Claus visit in the Philippines?" All I got was a blank stare. I then realized that these people were too poor to have Santa visit. It is all they can do to feed their families. The time finally came to get in the vans and we drove through Manila traffic for 15 minutes to arrive at the temple. One little deaf boy, who has difficulty interacting with the kids because he can't talk, started jumping up and down with delight as he saw the colored lights and ran up to Susan, threw his arms around her and gave her a big hug. This was something he could experience like the other kids. We walked as a group, looking at the beauty of the grounds, stopped for a few group pictures and then over to the apartments of the temple workers right there on the temple grounds. We sang Christmas carols to them in English and Tagalog and they came out and gave the children candy. After, we went to the Manger scene and I told them a condensed version of the Christmas story as related by Luke. During the entire evening no one cried, there was no fighting among the children only a peaceful feeling of love and happiness that is difficult to put into words. When it came time to leave, no one wanted to get in the vans, but babies were starting to fall asleep and the time had come. We drove back to the Mabuhay House and let them out knowing they had experienced something special, the true spirit of Christmas in their hearts as we had. Early this morning I awoke with tears in my eyes as I thought about these children. We have come here to help mend their broken and deformed bodies but Christ is there to comfort their souls and through His atoning sacrifice they will eventually all be healed, completely restored to their perfect frame. They will undergo enormous difficulty in this life but can be resurrected without blemish through His perfect life and atonement. This makes me feel very inadequate but so grateful for the knowledge I have that He lives and loves us all.

The Clinic is Completed

Susan is letting me write on the blog this time! The Craniofacial Clinic buildout is finally finished and really looks great. The purpose in doing this is to reduce the number of hospital cases we do by using the clinic as an outpatient facility thereby reducing foundation costs and increasing the number of cases we can do for the same amount of money. I brought a lot of instruments and some equipment with us but the dental chair, unit, light and air/water facilities needed to be purchased. The problem with much donated equipment is that it is a cast off from someone who no longer uses the outdated stuff or it is broken and requires hard to find and expensive parts. We thus invested in some new equipment that will last and can be repaired locally. Using my previous office as a template we employed a local carpenter to build out the cabinets, plumbing and electrical. We were able to get a donated panoramic x-ray machine to work so now we're in business. We should be able to do many of the cleft lip and some palates right in the office under local anesthesia and sedation. Dr. Guiverra, our plastic surgeon, was really excited after seeing the potential and I am anxious to work with him. I have struggled getting licensed through the local political boards and failed to get approval last week as one of the agencies once again failed to get their certificate to the Regulator Board in time so it will be January before I can be official, but we will begin to use the clinic anyway. I do have a cleft lip case scheduled later this week at Fatima Hospital Medical School. Hope you enjoy seeing the before and after pictures of the clinic. Hopefully, next month, there will be a few pictures of patients to show.

HIGHS AND LOWS

Working with the government to try and get Grants license has been very frustrating. The committee meets on the first friday of the month. In December he was turned down because one letter had been sent to the wrong fax number. Then last friday it was turned down for some problem with the public health department. We don't even know what it is and Grant is trying to find out what the problem is today. He might have to wait another month. It was not so bad the first time because the clinic was being built out but now it is nearly finished. Now it looks like another months wait. You can imagine that it has been quite discouraging for Grant. On the brighter side, we went to Villa Escudero on monday. It is an old Spanish Plantation. The family still lives there but has opened it to the public probably to make money. The grounds are very extensive and beautiful. One of the fun things to do is eat lunch in the river by a manmade water fall. You can rent places to stay with back porches overlooking the river. They have bamboo rafts you can paddle around the river on. It is quite a peaceful and lovely place. I am sure it is used for some wonderful parties and weddings. Last Saturday night we went to Manny's ward party. He works with Grant and runs the Mabuhay House. He is also bishop of his ward. Anyway it was quite the event. I wanted to show you this little boy who did a Michael Jackson impression. He is probably about six years old. He should probably meet Annika and they could be on "So You Think You Can Dance"! Well, sorry the Michael Jackson dance did not download for some reason. Maybe it needs government approval. I am not sure what happened but I have tried twice and that's it because it takes too long.

Road Shows

Last night we went to the Makati Stake Road Shows. It was something. They had ten wards preforming for a packed house. Each ward chose a musical to give the gist of the story. We were amazed by the costumes, choreography, singing and all out enthusiasm. Each production had well over 50 people. The performances lasted almost 5 hours but it was worth it to experience so many people having such a great time. These Filipino's really know how to have fun. These video's don't really give the productions their due but thought you would get a little flavor of their enthusiasm.

The Clinic is coming along great. The new chair was delivered on Thursday and things are starting to come together. Grant met with the Doctors at Fatima Medical school that volunteer their services and they are going to give the 6:00 am time slot for surgeries to Mabuhay Deseret. He will also be able to work with them under their licenses until his is approved. I have been helping at the Mabuhay House. This is where the children stay with one member of their family while they are being treated. The things they provide for are club feet, crossed eyes, clef lip and clef palate. On Thursdays we have a group of women from the Church come over for "Thursday Thrills". We have singing time and treats and an activity where they make something. Even the adults really get into it and have as much fun as the children. This house is so nice because these children come from other islands and areas outside of Manila. If they didn't have a place to stay they could not get the treatment they need.

Pagsanjan Falls

Wednesday we went with Sister Kim and her daughter Hye-won and DiAnn Bledsoe to Pagsanjan Falls. It took us about two hours to get there but it is only about 50 miles away. That is because of the traffic in Manila. We got in these canoes with two boatmen to pull us up to the falls. At first a motorized canoe pulled both of our canoes up the river until we got to the rapids and rocks. Then the two boatman pull and push you through the rocks and rapids. There are 14 rapids. Then you are at the falls and you get on a bamboo raft and two raft men pull you up to the falls and underneath them behind the falls. It was on a small scale of Niagra but still very powerful. Here they let you jump off the raft into the water. I declined because I was not sure I could get back on the raft again! I will try to download a little film of going up the river. It was really a fun day and it was so beautiful with mountains on both sides of the river and lots of foliage. I don't think I have seen anything more beautiful even in Hawaii. They told us several movies have been filmed there.

Grants Life Changing Experience

Monday we went golfing. We have been on a vacation mode while we are waiting for the Clinic to get finished and Grants license to get approved. It was not the best golf course we have been on but it was interesting to have a caddy who magically put your ball where it should have gone rather than where it went. I also had a much appreciated umbrella girl who kept me shaded and fanned me at the same time. We did walk the 18 holes however. So when we got home my feet were feeling like I needed a foot massage. Luckily we have a massage spa in our building. So for one hour I got a great foot massage for about $5.00. Grant in the mean time went across the street to get his hair cut, not knowing that they do all sorts of services in the barber shop. He decided to have them cut his toenails which turned into a pedicure. He has never been able to understand why I love pedicures. Now he does. He says he is never going to cut his toenails again. Life changing experience? I would say so!

Orphanage

Birthing room (birthing stool)

Make shift swing

Laundry room full of diapers

Nursery

Toddlers

Today we had and interesting experience. We went out to an orphanage that our friend DiAnn is involved with. It was started by a women that came over here with her husband and family about 20 years ago. She is a midwife and this is how the orphanage got started. Even though she works hard with the mothers to keep their babies some just can't do it. Also some of the babies are found in the trash and brought there. They are well cared for and most get adopted. They have a birthing center here and the women that have their children here have to agree to take a course there in how to take good care of their baby. They have a graduation ceremony when they leave and give them a little outfit for the baby and a receiving blanket. So if any of you are looking for a service project for your ward they could use cloth diapers. The ones you make. They are about the size of receiving blankets. They are made out of flannel or cotton. The could also use light weight receiving blankets or heavier ones that they lie on top of. Also, something for the baby to wear, since most of them don't have any clothes to take the baby home in. We could bring them back with us when we come in April or I could find people to bring things because they are always going back and forth.

CLEAN UP, TRAFFIC, & CLINIC

Grant at ward cleanup

Getting the mold off the benches

Trimming the damaged fan palms in front of the Ward

Last Saturday we had a ward clean up from the damage done by the flooding they experienced here after hurricane Ondoy. Our building was flooded for several weeks so we were working on outside clean up and inside clean up. We were working on getting rid of the mold and sanitizing the building. We started at 7 am and were to be through at 9 am but that was about the time we took a break for a potluck breakfast. We left at 11 am because we had something and they were almost done. Sunday when we went to Church it didn't smell as musty as last week. We went to a choir practice that evening. It went on for 3 hours. We had hitched a ride with the choir director so we couldn't leave. They had it at a different building than our ward so we didn't know how to get there. Next time we will take our car. It was interesting to see that several families were still living there from loosing everything in the flood. Several classrooms had the name of a family on the door and that is where the whole family was living.

Traffic continues to be a big problem here. It is dangerous and scary to cross the road. The pedestrian definitely does not have the right of way. But the fruit is so good here that it makes up for the horrible traffic. Everyday we enjoy mangos, bananas, and pineapple. What a treat!

We got some disappointing news yesterday. The committee that met last friday to see if Grant got his license did not give approval yet because they were missing one letter. It had been faxed but not to the right number. We were given some misinformation. Now we have to wait until the first part of December for their next meeting. It is not too much of a problem because the clinic is still being built out. They just started on it this week and it will probably get done just about the time Grant gets his license. Thursday I am going to the Mabuhay House and I am going to teach the kids how to sing "There's a big fat turkey down on Grandpa's Farm". Maybe I will video them and send it to you for Thanksgiving. I am sorry that the photos are on top of each other. I have no idea how it happened. I hope you like the collage effect! Now it seems to have magically gone away. Go figure!

My Life Keeps Getting Better

Manila Temple
Our Plants in the Trunk
Our James
James twin brother?
Our Trunk Garden
We are making some progress here. Grant is hoping to have his license approved today. He met with a carpenter at the first of the week and he can do the build out for the clinic in three weeks and it will only cost $3000. Let's hope this is all going to happen. Today he is out looking for dental equipment and he just called and let me know that he was finding some of the things he needs. We now have a car and a driver names James. So I can say "home James". The car belongs to another Grant who used to live in our apartment and his wife is named Susan. They live in China now and keep a car here that they use when they come to the Philippines. He wanted to give his old driver some employment we needed a driver and a car. So we are renting the car and the driver. It is helping both Grants. I think the other Grant maybe was one of the people who started New Skin. It is really great to have a driver because driving here is very crazy and finding a parking spot is even crazier. So when you need to go your driver takes you and picks you up when you are through. I would feel like a celebraity if it weren't for the fact that the car is a 1996 honda with a few problems. I also have a maid that comes and cleans and does the laundry once a week. That is good because I can't figure out how the washer works at all. It is plastic with several hoses coming out of it. We are feeling more at home now and have even bought some plants for our balcony. Yesterday Grant was driving our car. He did ok. He only hit the passenger side mirror twice. On Thursdays our car is only allowed to be on the road from 10:00 am until 3:00 pm. We went to the Maybuhay House in the morning for Thursday Thrills with the children. We came home and on the way home stopped and bought some plants for our balcony. Then we hurried over to the temple before 3:00. We did a session at the temple and caught a ride with a missionary couple over to the Out Back Steak House for a birthday dinner with about 12 missionary couples. They are nice to include us in their activities. We caught a ride back to the temple and got our car that we could now drive because it was after 7:00 pm. On the way home we learned that we really needed new windshield wipers. I said "Let James do it."

CORREGIDOR

The picture above is the Pacific War Memorial in Corregidor
This is the Bishop of our ward
Outside of Bledsoe's
Inside home with sister Bo playing the piano
Grant and Richard Bledsoe

Yesterday we spent the day on the island of Corregidor. This was the famous island that the Japanese had so much trouble taking during WWII even though the rest of the Philippines was completely under the control of the Japanese. It is the island that General said "I shall return".

He did come back and took the Philippines back. We saw the city across the bay where the Bataan Death March began. I was not up on my Philippine history but now know that the Japanese attacked them the same day they attacked Pearl Harbor. So Corregidor is like their Pearl Harbor and they have a War Memorial there.

I also wanted to show you the inside of the Bledsoe's fancy home we went to Sunday night. So I will attach the video of the cute Korean gal playing the piano. She is so talented. She is working on her 2nd masters degree here.

Today Grant is meeting with a carpenter and they will see how the room can be done. He has his plans all drawn up the way he would like it. Then he is going to take some papers to turn in for his license. He thinks he might get his license by Friday. I am going to the ex-pat group. We are going to some famous bazaar. That should be interesting.

Well I was not successful in down loading that vidio so I will add some pictures.

Typhoon Santi

Saturday morning we woke up to no power and typhoon Santi. We got the power back by 10:30. It was not as bad as the typhoon that came through a few weeks ago and caused so much flooding. It really was not nearly as strong as hurricane Danny that we experienced in Alabama about ten years ago. Saturday afternoon we went in a taxi to and area called Intramuros. This is an old part of the city. I mean it goes back to the 1500,s. We also went by the House of the President of the Philippines. About 200 children were in front to get a halloween treet. We saw some areas that were still flooded from the typhoon 3 weeks ago. Yesterday we had church in our own ward. I am impressed with the members. They are very capable and knowledgeable about the gospel. It is a big ward and one of many in the city. One area we drove through on the way was still flooded. It was hard to tell that the chapel had been flooded up to three feet. It was very clean. Our hymn book was quite moldy and slightly wet. That evening we went over to the Bledsoe's home for a potluck supper. He works for one of the many call centers here. They were fun to get to know better and they had several families from the ward over including the bishop. There house was really something. It was huge. They had too kitchens and off the kitchen she had a laundry room with a real washer and dryer. We had so much fun with everyone. This one gal who is from Korea gave us a ride. She is here living with her parents. Her father is assigned here by the Church to be in the Area Presidency. Her name is pronounced Hey Juan Ko. Sorry I don't know how to spell it yet. She is working on her second masters degree in music. She played the piano for us. Today (Monday) we went to Corregidor. I will have to tell you about it on the next post.

MORE NEWS FROM OUR FIRST WEEK

We arrived a week ago today. We have a nice apartment and have been busy getting all the things we need to make it a home. It is interesting how many clerks they have in the stores. It seems like they have as many clerks as customers. One day we had three clerks carry our packages out to our ride. We met with some of the missionaries on Monday night for FHE. They had a karaoke night. They made Grant sing not knowing he could sing and he blew them away with Barry Mandalow's "I Can't Smile Without You". Things have been frustrating for Grant. Nothing has really been done at the Cranial Facial Clinic to get the Oral Surgery Suite ready. He is also still waiting for his license. I have to calm him down every once in a while. We are finding it is a much slower pace here in the Philippines. Good for me but not so good for Grant. There is an LDS ex-pat group (americans living out of the country). They get together on Tuesdays and either study conference talk go to the temple or the bazaar. Next week we go to the bazaar. You should have seen the fancy high rise apartment we went to. This gal's husband works for our government as a drug chaser. Now I know where our tax dollars are going. I took a picture of the view out their window of a beautiful golf course. We have not seen any flooded areas but our friend Manny (in the picture with Grant) is a bishop here. His home was flooded so fast with no warning. He put his wife and four children in a bath tub they had given to their neighbor and it was still in the yard. He put the plug in and pushed them through chest high flood water for over an hour. They are back in their house but really lost everything. We were going to go help his ward with the final clean up of their chapel on saturday but it got cancelled because we are expecting typhoon Santi. That will be bad for all they millions of people partying in the cemeteries.

I really need McKennah here to help me with the blog. I wanted to tell you about the pictures. The couple are Mike and Sheilla Johnson. They live next door to us and have been so helpful. He serves on the board for Deseret International. We have already had Halloween here. They have it early because of All Saints Day on Nov. 1st. On that day everyone spends the day and night at the cemetary and and parties all day and night with their dead relatives. Grant and I rode home in a jeepnee one day--quite exciting.