SMOKEY MOUNTAIN

HOMES AT SMOKEY MOUNTAIN







This is the new school they are building out of recycled box cars

The other day we went to an area they call the smokey mountain. It is actually a dump that they call smokey mountain because smoke comes off of it from the decomposition and people burning trash. It is really quite a shock to go there because people live on the dump and make a living by sorting through the garbage and selling what can be recycled. It is very sad to see the little children that live there in such conditions. The Government does not seem to do much to solve the situation. This area is not really that far from some of the most posh areas in Manila. It is like they are the forgotten people. Several years ago a lady was on a trip

here when she actually followed some children to the dump. She was so appalled that she went home to England and quite her job and came to Manila and started a foundation to help the children in the smokey mountain. She was the one that took us on the tour. Her name is Jane. She is in the picture above. She has got a school going there now and is building a new school right there on the dump. It is made from recycled box cars. It is going to have 1200 students. It was amazing to see the school they have there now with the children from the dump all clean and in their uniforms. I still can't believe that this place actually exists.

HAPPY 2010!

Diane enjoying a mango shake at the Red Coconut.

Mango crepes for desert yum!

Sand castle on the beach in Boracay

Red Coconut Beach Hotel Boracay

Sunset on the beach at Boracay

Looking out to the beach from our hotel the Red Coconut in Boracay

Boarding our flight to Boracay

Dinner with Elder and Sister Ko

Taking a trike to dinner in Palawan

Drinking buca juice in Palawan

Lisa getting the full service upon arrival!

Crocodile Farm

Putting away supplies that Lisa & Diane brought

Getting ready to go into underground river

Happy New Year to everyone! We just put Diane and Lisa on the plane early this morning for home. It is January 2nd here and they will arrive home just a few hours after leaving here according to the clock. It will really take them about 24 hours because of the time difference. We had a great Christmas with them visiting us. We only let them rest one day after arriving and then we were off to the island of Palawan. We spent Christmas there doing some island hoping, snorkeling, going into an underground river and enjoying Puerto Princessa. The crocodile farm was very interesting too! We flew back to Manila on the day after Christmas so we could take Diane and Lisa to church with us and see what our ward was like. Sunday evening we had a special treat of a Korean dinner at the Ko's. Monday we left for Boracay. Move over Hawaii, all of the Caribbean, and Gulf Shores you have been replaced. What a beautiful beach. It was truly like paradise. We stayed at the Red Coconut right on the beach. each day we went out on these banka boats and went island hoping and snorkeling. The sunsets were beautiful. The mango shakes delicious and we didn't want to leave. Try to come to this island some day. We flew back to Manila in a small plane again. It is just a short 30 minute flight to paradise! It was New Years Eve and we wanted to experience the new year in Manila. We had heard that you had to see it to believe it. They were right! Fireworks went on for hours all over the city. We watched from our balcony on the 27th floor. I am adding a clip so you can get a little idea what it was like. You can't really comprehend how massive and loud and noisy it is with out really being there. We had a wonderful holiday and we are not missing the snow and cold one bit! But we are missing you and our family. It was so fun to have Diane and Lisa with us but now it is back to work.

Fireworks on New Years Eve