Dumaguete

Dumaguete

Last week we drove to Dumaguete to meet the two District Presidents there and offer our help with PEF or any other Educational or Career issues.  The drive took about five and a half hours.  I thought it  would seem like forever, but it was not too bad.  The drive goes south to Kabankalan where we turned east to drive over the mountain to Dumaguete.  The nicest part of the drive was that the roads were clear of the normal animals, people and jeepneys.  There were the large buses (Ceres) but after we started over the mountain the traffic was so light we could relax and not have to watch out for all the normal issues here.

Before the turn  at Kabankalan there is a small town called Binabagan.  The nicest comfort room in all the Philippines is in that little community.  The really nice thing is that the first time we stopped there, the owner was there and she told the young woman at the counter to let us use the comfort room inside the store instead of the one for their customers with the exterior entrance.  I have posted the photos previously, including the wonderful woman who have become our friends.  They always ask where we are headed and wish us a safe travel.  That is the thing I will miss most about the Phlippines, the wonderful and friendly people.  They all treat us as if we are angels whether they are members of our church or not. 

The hotel we stayed at is called Bethel Inn.  It was very clean but the bed was so hard it was like sleeping on the floor.  We had a great view of the ocean and they have a nice brick paved boardwalk along the water.  We walked up and down the boardwalk and really enjoyed the cooler weather.  just across the bay we could see Cebu..  The ferry must only take about twenty minutes we could almost reach out and touch it.  There is also another island called Siquijor.  The church unit there is only 7 members strong with two men, three women, two teenage boys and a child, but the leaders are so excited about the growth there and the beauty of the island.  I do hope we get over there. 

We met the two leaders on Sunday and were so excited to hear about their excitement about our assignment.  They both asked us to return to speak in firesides for the youth.  We also met 8 of the young missionaries who were so excited to see a senior couple.  For them it is a shot in the arm to receive hugs and  get to talk to us and exchange information about our missions and where we are from.  The really wonderful thing is it is also wonderful for me.  It is like seeing my own kids out there working so hard and being so successful.

After returning from the trip we were able to see many of our own missionaries during their meetings and went to lunch with Sisters Arnold and Polatis.  We love those beautiful sisters.  Another great thing that happened was the Johns from Cebu came over to Bacolod to see the sites and help our Employment Resource Center with computer issues. We were able to go to lunch with them and visit a little bit.  They will be returning home in September and had never been anywhere but The Cebu mission, it was really nice for them to get to travel a bit. 

Our air conditioning in the living area of our home is broke so we have been a bit uncomfortable.  One of the units is totally burnt up and we are thankful we were not the injured by that.  It stopped working and I smelled smoke but could not find it.  The motors are on the outside of the concrete walls and inside a metal enclosure so the fire blew itself out. Jing (our home yard and maintenance guy) showed Dan the next day.  That was a couple of weeks ago, and we still had one unit.  Then that unit went out also.  Thankfully today Jing was able to repair it and we are back in the cooler air.  

We are home this week but will be traveling to Cebu next weekend and Iloilo the week after. We will be in Iloilo for an extended trip so we will be able to accomplish a lot there.  We are so thankful for all the love and support we feel from each of you.  I love you all.