June ICM Trip to Bacolod, Philippines
I finally completed the picture/video collage of Sebastian’s and my trip to the
Philippines with ICM in June 2009. The video is posted below. Many thanks to Tess who let Sebastian and I escape for a weekend in June while she looked after The Terrific Trio.
No toilets here…
As everyone would have been following via Facebook, we're on a mission "house building" trip in Bacolod, Philippines with ICM. Thursday night we flew into Manila, stayed one night, then on to Bacolod on Friday morning. Same routine as Sebastian and I back in June. On Thursday night while the kids were in bed, we talked about the "do's and don'ts" of slums. Sebastian explained to the triplets that usually there were no toilets, no toilet paper (but we will have tissue I added) and we discussed what to do if nature called. Sela was disgusted, her face crinkled up into a frown. Fortunately, though, in the communities where ICM is at work, some form of septic system is a priority. (At left: standing with the class from Sampaguita Pre-school.)
Today we had a chance to visit the pre-school we sponsored this past year. Lots to report with photos, too. The school is in the middle of a poverty stricken jungle area. The class teacher and pastor welcomed us. The students sang, danced, recited scripture and academic exercises. (At left: students hold up their new class pictures!)
Tess took Polaroid photos of each student – I stuck a Christian sticker on the back of each photo. Then we placed the items we'd brought the kids into little piles at the front of the classroom – one for each student: one can of ham, 2 underwear, 1 toothbrush, toothpaste, pen, pencil, eraser, 2 sweeties etc. The triplets and Seb enthusiastically helped make each pile then handed them out to the kids. (Terrific Tess was a hero by collecting boatloads of goodies from friends in Hong Kong prior to our departure. After 20 bags were checked in at the airport during the group check-in, we were only 8 kgs short of our group baggage limit!)
To conclude the formal visit, the class wanted us to dance and sing but our kids weren't keen on that idea. Instead we gathered at the front of the class and explained that as a family we liked to pray and sometimes we just did short little prayers. "Instead of dancing," I explained, "we will pray for you."
Side note: you can imagine the little thought pattern drifting out of my head, "Ok Lord help me out here – PLEASE don't let any of my kids pray for a DS, new Wii game, expensive toy or something!
Prayers answered… each one of our kids took the microphone and confidently said a short little prayer. They prayed things like… "Thank You, God, for the things I have… please help us to be good… help us to listen better… help us to obey our parents and teachers." Tess and I said a quick prayer, then the pastor concluded. The moment was precious.
We went outside, where we had a tour of the garden. Not just any garden – a micro finance garden. ICM works with CCT (Centre for Community Transformation) teaching people to grow vegetables, herbs, cultivate worms all of which can be sold to help people make a living and pay off very small loans that got them started. Apparently CCT boasts the most effective micro finance success rate of any micro finance program GLOBALLY.
At one point as we approached the gardens, Sebastian and I were bringing up the rear. A little girl came running down a dirt path near us. She stopped, squatted down, did a wee, stood up, continued on her way. Seb surveyed the situation without comment. A pool of urine sat in the middle of the path, beginning it's trickle off the path towards the floor of a family's shack of a home. We started walking and nothing was said. I knew from what he'd told the triplets the night before the gravity of his surroundings were sinking in. As it was for all of us.
Sebastian’s care package for JR…
Several weeks ago the entire family was supposed to return to Bacolod, Philippines with ICM. We were to build some houses in the same area where Sebastian and I visited in June.* Sebastian was very much looking forward to meeting a boy named "JR" who he be-friended on our last trip. Unfortunately, the Manila floods delayed our trip to mid-November. Our flights routed through Manila where the airport was in chaos. ICM also wanted to focus energy and resources on Manila at that time and hold off on Bacolod. (Left: JR stands next to Sebastian along with some other friends.)
Naturally all the kids were disappointed. We looked at the news pictures and maps of Philippines to see how JR would have been affected by the typhoon. We concluded that, like Hong Kong, JR would have gotten lots of rain on the edges of the typhoon but was otherwise okay. I asked Sebastian if he wanted to send a care package to JR and he said, "Yes!" Coincidentally, one of the ICM team was in Hong Kong at the time and agreed to take the package to Bacolod in the coming weeks. Sebastian dove into the sweetie bowl, pulling out his favourite candies. We put them into a small plastic bag. Sebastian wrote the note pictured below. He also asked me to buy a few things for JR: a new pair of sandals, a drawing book, some pens and a few fresh packs of Sebastian's favourite sweeties. I packed the items up into an envelope. Our ICM friend received the package and it was off to the Philippines.
* Made possible by generous Tess who let Seb and I escape for a long weekend while she looked after the triplets.
Where should Tess and Charles retire? Please help us by completing our survey. Click the link!
Where should Tess & Charles retire?
Please help us by completing our survey. Click the link!
We can do it, Seb exclaimed…
One of the highlights of this past Fintry forest fire infested summer was a very special hike undertaken by Sebastian, Jasper and me. This happened the first week of the summer before all the sparks started flying. (Actually little did we know that Terrace Mountain was already on fire 20 kms away at this point.) Regardless, that week we “secured the creek” not unlike soldiers. Monday we walked part way up the creek with some of the accompanying family, Tuesday even further and so on each day of the week. Typically Grandad Doug or Grandad Blake came with us. On the last day we could hike we arranged for an ambush… Tess, Grant and Karen waited at the bridge. (Very, very patiently I might add, it took us quite a while to hike up the stream but Tess had everything arranged when we arrived!) As we approached, water balloons came hurtling towards us.
“Incoming,” I yelled to which all the kids responded with squeals twice the volume. High-powered water guns hosed down on us. A water balloon landed in the creek next to me but didn’t burst. “I’ve got a live one,” I yelled, reaching for the undetonated munition. “Here, Sebastian, throw it back,” I said passing it on to the very excited Seb. Eventually we secured the bridge with much enthusiasm and uproar.
The last accomplishment was securing the falls – something that Sebastian desperately desired. After taking the above group picture a handful of us embarked on the mission. First we broke away from the creek to find better access to the falls (the red line in the picture below.) Fifteen minutes later it was Sebastian, Jasper and I stepping into the creek two hundred meters downstream of the falls. This was an adventure Sebastian and I previously completed in 2005 but we had several adults to pass Seb back and forth across the rocks.
This year, with the water levels so low, I was certain the creek would be easily passable, particularly the tricky and slippery treacherous parts. Slowly and steadily we marched upstream but each step of the way required more independence from each one of us. The last 50 meters required me to repeatedly scout out the next two to three meters, assessing how the boys could navigate their way and then encourage them towards me. Eventually I found myself up to my waste in a pool of cold water, next to a steep rock incline with Jasper a meter away and Sebastian another meter behind him. Jasper was getting cold. I had tried and calculated every possible way up this rocky slope but really doubted if we could make it. Of course, by now I was also carrying the boys’ toy guns, a large water gun, walking stick and my own backpack. Thoughts of being an irresponsible parent gushed through my mind. (Left: this is the pool of water. We had to climb to the right out of view.)
I shouted back to the boys, “I think we have to turn back. It’s too dangerous.” Jasper nodded, he was getting cold.
I looked at Sebastian, “It’s too dangerous, Seb, I think we should turn back.” Then Sebastian responded with determination I’d never seen before in him…
“No, Daddy, no! We can do it. We can do it!” Seb exclaimed.
To make a long story short, I asked Jasper if he could hang on to my back. He said yes. “Okay then,” I explained, “I am going to help Sebastian get up the rock then I will come back for you.” He agreed. I took off all my gear, tossing it over the crest of the rock. “We’re committed now,” I thought as the bag containing the digital camera disappeared. Sebastian climbed past Jasper across to me and I pushed him up the incline. I went back to Jasper who clamped his little arms around my jugular veins as I pulled myself up the rock. We continued on our way until finally we landed at the foot of the falls that towered about 50 meters above us. Excited with our success, we set the self-timer for the portrait at the start of this post. After a big snack and drink of cold water, we scaled the hill opposite the falls – another tricky manoeuvre. (Left: admiring the falls during our snack.)
I was amazed at the boys' cooperation and determination to complete the mission. As we slipped over the fence back onto the path that would take us down the other side of the hill, the walkie talkie crackled. Now out of the cavern beneath us, we had a signal. “Charles this is Blake are you there, over?”
“Fintry Base, we’ve had a major victory. The falls are secure and we’re on our way back home, over.”
We had a fantastic afternoon, made successful by Sebastian’s persistence.
The Alpha Course
Obviously we are back from Canada, the forest fires and all that rot. Of course, I’ve been meaning to tell everyone this but, I am sure you figured it out long ago. Duh. Meanwhile, it’s been back to work and back to school the last few weeks. I just returned home from Union Church, where this evening I delivered the introductory talk for The Alpha Course. The program is described as follows: “Millions of people all over the world have attended an Alpha Course. It is an 11-week practical introduction to the Christian Faith, and is a simple and effective way of presenting claims of the Christian Faith in a clear and non-threatening manner to people from all walks of life.“
I have delivered this talk before, but re-wrote parts of it to reflect some of the themes of my life in 2009:
- Where’s home?
- What does God have in store for me in the coming years?
- What’s the Hong Kong Exit Plan, should there even be a plan?
Roughly fifty people attended the evening that included dinner and lots of ambiance. Rumour has it the evening was recorded and might be made available on the Union Church web site in the coming days or weeks.
Tess wrote about our weekend in Bangkok and yes, it was great. Great because Tess and I spent time alone together and had lots of fun. Great because we were able to spend time talking about the above three points in new ways we’d never before considered. And great because of of our health check-ups!
Some of you know – but most of you don’t – that for several months in early 2008 I felt led by God to quit drinking. After months of resisting I finally obeyed on June 13, 2008. I have not had a drink since. Meanwhile, and unrelated, the first time Tess and I went to Bumrungrad Hospital for check-ups (Sept 2005) I was told I had a “fatty liver.” (“Like the fatted calf?” I thought!) One year later (Sept 2006) I was warned it was getting worse. Having had no alcohol for fifteen months ~ and undertaken numerous intense lemonade fasts, also known as the Master Cleanser, of which I know many of you disapprove ~ I was quite curious to find out about my liver last weekend: squeaky clean! This was a huge accomplishment for me and a graceful bi-product of obedience. I can’t find any statistics on how many people reverse a fatty liver but I gotta believe the percentage is low. Praise God I managed to do it.
