Webbs in the Philippines: Back at work 2016

January 14, 2016

Hello there, we're back at work,

Thank you Willow Creek 7^th. We just received the Christmas messages from our dear friends in the Ward. We noted that the post mark was Dec 17^th. Like all third world countries, and some 1^st world countries, things kind of slow down during the Christmas Holiday. Thank you for thinking of us; we loved reading the notes.

It’s the 13^th of January and we have been busy. On the 4^th we headed to Looc and the small Health Station / Birthing Center on which LDS Charities partnered. We were late by about 20 minutes because we stopped to pick up one of our Service Missionary Couples and the road was crazy. It was a little surprising because we left the house at six am and the ceremony was schedule to start at 9:30 am. We got there a little after ten. There were others driving the same road that got there later than we did. That is just the way people live here. Anyway we had a lovely ceremony complete with Mayors, Baranguy Captains, a Senator, TV personality and a famous radio Host, Dr. Galvez Tan. Elder Webb spoke on behalf of the church and we were part of a tree planting ceremony.

Nearly six months ago, early in the morning the day after we arrived from the U.S., we were hustled off on our first assignment. It was the Looc ground breaking for this very clinic in this very village. I remember little, the blur of jet lag blocking my view. I do remember there were no bathrooms and that I had never seen fish prepared in so many ways. Now, after a little seasoning, we can take our place in the society of the indigent and enjoy a day filled with fun and friendly faces. We enjoyed ourselves and the people with whom we have worked.

Front door leading into the Heath Center Elder Webb with Dr Galvez-Tan waiting for things to begin

Upon arrival we toured the new Health Center which is a festive looking building painted in the bright colors of the Philippines. (See picture below). It is a happy place but what impressed me most is it has a bathroom! It was sparkling clean and works with water from the toilet rather than a bucket. I think it was the favorite place of town’s people and visitors alike.

We had a program where each of the partners spoke. Elder Webb was one of them. His address was short and humble and he greeted every one with Magandang Umaga (good morning) and spoke slowly for the locals' understanding. Some people spoke for 20 min. I was grateful Elder Webb did not find that necessary. After the dignitaries addressed the crowd we turned over the Clinic to the local people with a ribbon cutting. Just before the ribbon cutting, the local Catholic Priest walked around the building leaving his blessing and tossing drops of water on the building and the crowd. It is a wonderful feeling to be part of something that will save lives and create an environment of safety for the new born as well as the mother. This clinic has been built in an area with one of the highest rates of infant mortality in the Philippines. There will be fewer birth defect, fewer cases of MS, or handicaps from birth trauma because the mother has to walk so far to get to a hospital. LDS Charities is all about supporting families; this is just one more way.

Lest I forget. We delivered 25 Newborn kits to this clinic. There was an audible awe from the crowd when it was announced. Thank you Montana friends for the blankets hats, and hygiene kits.

The plaque that hangs by the front door

The local leaders have engaged a nurse practitioner and a midwife, provided by the extended community, to run the station. It will serve five barangays from the surrounding area. A Barangay is like a community and can have a population of 5 to 25 thousand residents. In the hierarchy of politics a barangay leader is the first step, next comes city councilor, the Mayor, Governor, Senator and President.

After the program we had lunch (Yes they still had lots of fish on the menu. They are a fishing community after all.), provided by the local leaders and then we participated in a tree planting ceremony. I actually thought they could have chosen a better place to plant the trees because where they stand now there is an incredibly beautiful view of Lake Taal from the labor room of the clinic. That view will be gone in five years. Oh well, they know what is best for their needs.

The new examining room. Pretty much what you see is what you get. There is no extra room in this clinic.

ribbon cutting

Sister Webb trying one of the area specialties. A little whole fried fish. One is to pop it in ones mouth and munch head, tail and all.
Sister Webb was cautious at first but discovered it was quite nice.

Before the crowd arrives. The finished building stands strong and firm. Isn't it a fun looking building?

Signing the dead of donation. Elder Webb had our wonderful service missionary Elder Danny Soleta sign for the church.

Elder Webb addresses the crowd

Catholic Priest reads a prayer and then walks around the building
sprinkling the clinic and the people with water.

Sister Soleta far left with TV celebrity and the cute new intern in Public Affairs

Famous Filipino Faces were part of the event.

We finished our business Looc, said our good byes and left traveling further south as we prepared for our meeting the following day. We stopped for the evening in Tagaytay . This city also sits on a bluff overlooking Lake Taal; higher up than Looc. The views were breath taking and as I gazed out into the calming vista a subtle cool breeze caressed my face and I realized that I had once again found a new favorite place.

We walked along the bluff in quiet solitude. No words were spoken. It was as if we were sharing a spiritual experience. The majesty of it all is overwhelming and is just one more reminder of God’s awe inspiring power. This world is a remarkable place and it has been created for us, for our use; to learn and to grow. All God asks is that we keep his commandments and accept His Son as our Redeemer. When we do, we are blessed and societies flourish. When we don’t we make a mess of things.

The next day we traveled to Bauan, Batangas where we had an appointment to tour one of the Centex Schools. You may or may not remember the name Ayala Foundation, but this is one of their schools. We are working on a MOA (memorandum of agreement) in which LDS Charities will provide training (classes) for the parents of the students to encourage them to support their children in school. (Sometimes it seems more important to spend the day begging to fill the immediate need). Ayala has identified the brightest of the children in these communities and is providing for their education through college. This is to help bring about a change. When these poor children are educated they will be able to come back to the communities and raise the standard of living. They will be the new law makers, the new problem solvers. They will have a better idea how to make needed lasting change. Ayala has been doing this for 17 years and is beginning to see measurable results.

Meeting the Principal 5th from the left and Maan from Ayala 3rd from the right.
Elder and Sister Webb support teachers and the Elder and Sister Soleta

Students take a break to say hello

Now we are moving to a second level by offering training to the parents. They will also have a Teaching Institute where teachers are to receive instruction to improve their skills. These are the areas we have been called to develop and create. You can be sure we have struggled with this assignment. I wondered how I could write lessons to which these good people could relate. I don’t really know what life is like for them even though I am with them I don’t live their lives. The process has been refined and restructured as Ayala discovered what they really want. It has been a work in motion. We do not even have approval for the project yet, but we are to get a clearer vision of how things will proceed if the project is approved.

One of the classes to whom we were introduced

We met with the Principal, our contact with Ayala and the teachers. We had lunch and discussed the needs of the people in this area. After lunch we were introduced to the children as we walked through the campus of this very modest school. The children were busy with their school work but took a moment to greet us in very proper style. In unison they would pronounce “GOOD MORNING MAM GOOD MORNING SIR, WELCOME TO OUR SCHOOL.” English is the primary language taught here. In the public school system children are not taught English until Middle School. The kindergarten class has children reading and doing math at 5 (I don’t mean Dick and Jane books either) We were treated to a show of their memorization skills as one child was invited to share a story the class has recited for some program. The little fellow did a great job complete with dramatic inflections in his voice and hand movements.

It has been a challenging process. One we both have thought we cannot do. It’s amazing how the scripture come to mind when one is discouraged. We discovered we had not really done much in the way of leg work on this. We had not studied it out. It had been a mental process and we were confused. When we went to the Lord and asked for specific help doors began to open in our minds and in our contacts. We have a greater confidence in Heavenly Fathers ability to guide us through the work. It is interesting to struggle and fight through this on our own and then surrender the process to the Lord. He has way better ideas than we do and he is willing to share.

Our co-workers in this process have become interested in the church. We answer questions along the way hoping to share the Spirit of Christ’s Love in everything we do. God Bless you All.