Hello again,

Tuesday I slipped out of the office and went to Mabuhay Deseret House in Quezon City.  Some of the sisters from the Area Office spend time there doing crafts, teaching songs, or playing finger games with the children who are either awaiting or recovering from surgery. When the pressure of the job gets to be too much or one is spending too much time thinking of ones self it is a great place to go to serve, refocus on the positive and be thankful.  The positive effect of the Savior's admonition to lose oneself in the service of others is dramatically emphasized at Mabuhay House.

This is what many of the screenings look like.  They are held in LDS Chapels and are assisted by member of the church under the Helping Hands directive.  Hundreds of people go through the screening process, usually held for two or three days

Mabuhay House is part of the Mabuhay Deseret Foundation, one of our partners.  It was started by President Jackson, a retired surgeon, who was a Mission President here several years ago.  One day he was working with some people and he saw a little girl with a double hair lip. He felt impressed with the thought; "I can fix that".  So he did.  He found a hospital that would let him operate, he paid for the expenses out of his own pocket and he changed that little girl's life forever.   He saw a need and stepped up to help.


When he returned to the States from his mission he and his wife started the Maybuhay Deseret Foundation with their own money as well as  the generous donations of friends and family.  MDF provides vision care and surgery for patients of all ages as well as reconstructive surgery for younger patients with handicapped or disfigured bodies: club feet, cleft palates, hair lips, and prosthesis for missing limbs.  I have been there a couple of times and I always leave loving another brave child whose life is being changed forever.  Thousands of surgeries have been performed for birth defects and thousand more for eyes.

This little girl has problems with her eyes.  She was screened and accepted as a patient.  She was scheduled for surgery the following day.  She will no longer hide her face or have trouble looking others in the eye.

This is a poster that hangs in the neighborhoods where screenings are to take place.  There are many birth defects that can be addressed at these screenings.  If these doctors do not have the answers they will refer patients to the doctor who can help.

This is the front door for Audrey's House (Mabuhay Deseret House)
 Behind the door is a new world for people who have the courage to walk in and ask questions.  This is the first time MDH has done a screening in their own neighborhood.  Most people have no idea what goes on behind these doors.

Screening line in the court yard of Audrey's House named after the wife of President Jackson who has since passed away.

This is a view of the courtyard from the new second story men's quarters.  

Sister Webb at her first attempt at a selfie with Sister Davenport center and Sister Kasteler right.  Her arm was not long enough to capture all three images.  These sisters traveled to Mabuhay house togther.  Sister Webb works in welfare, Sister Davenport in Public Affairs and Sister Kasteler at the MRC.  ( Missionary Recovery Center.)  She and her husband are both nurses there.

Three recovering patients.  The girl on the left is recovering from surgery for a club foot, the girl in the center from a hair lip (she has one more surgery to complete the process) and Te a complete reversal of his foot.  It had been facing backwards when he attended his first screening.  He had surgery in August and has been healing here at Audrey's House since then.  He will be fitted with orthopedic shoes next month.  He still has pins in all his toes to straighten them.  Te will be a couple inches taller because of the shoes which  will enable him to walk like other children when he leaves.  He is 14 years old.  He came to a screening with his friend who had the same condition.  When they were told what the surgery entailed his friend said " NO WAY, I'n not doing that."  and he left.  Te is a brave boy who is excited that his recovery is coming to an end.  You should know the Philippines do not give out pain killers.  Over the counter drugs like Tylonal are the only pain killers these kids or adults get.  And the surgery repair does hurt. Te is a member of the church, one of a few who come to Audrey's House.

We are trying to get computers for the Mabuhay House so these kids can keep up on the school work.  Parents try to tutor their children, but most of them do not have educations at the level of a 14 year old.  With computers the world of study opens up.  There are programs available in any subject.

I fell in love with this girl.  She is two years old has never been able to walk or use her arms.
I don't know what kind of birth defect she has but Mabuhay will be working on her hips.  Her arms are another story.  There appeared to be no muscle tone or shoulder joints.  To move her arms she would toss her trunk back and forth which would propel her arms out and she could hit people to get their attention.  She is spunky and very clever.  Her mother is an amazing person whose tireless love and devotion are evident in the confidence this little jewel exhibits.   This was one time I wished I had studied more Tagalog so  I could find out more about them.




Wednesday Elder Webb and  Sister Webb went to visit Chat Corpus at The Philippines Children's Medical Center; another one of our partners in Neo Natal Care.  Chat is a member of the Philippines Society of New Born Medicine and has been supportive of LDS Charities Neo Natal Specialist missionaries from SLC.  They train doctors, midwives and nurses in proper Neo Natal training.  Unfortunately that work is on hold at present as the political system here works out a few details to allow that work to move forward.

Meeting with Dr. Chat Corpus far left.  Elder Webb far right.  Dr. Joyce center.  We were served Fresh Mango, Pomelo from Davao  a fresh rice cake and Buka juice  (fresh young coconut water) as refreshment.  

 The staff is assisting a new born who was having breathing difficulty

This tiny preemie is 6 weeks old.  She is wearing one the the bonnets make by LDS Relief Society Sisters 

This little fellow is so tiny; look at those little hands. He is a fighter.  The nurses think he will survive.   The cap he wears is too big for his little head but it is used just the same.

Chat shows us though the children's Ward.  She told us that last month the Ward was filled with Dengue fever victims.  This Hospital is more modern than many we see here in the Philippines.  The Japanese built it and donated it 30 years ago. That is new in the public heath system.

This is our dear friend Dr. Chat Corpus.  She is is a lovely gracious woman, willing to do what she can to make life better for children that come through this hospital.We are so blessed to meet the most incredible people.  It is an honor and pleasure to work with doctors and nurses who have chosen to work in the medical profession here in the Philippines.  They are devoted to making the Philippines a better, safer place for the people who live here.  Many people who trained in medicine choose to live in the States where the wages are higher and the standard of living is much better.  Those who stay have a different ethic and different motivation, a different loyalty to their mother land.


We send our love to you and testify that Good Lord loves all his children. The scriptures teach that we will never be prompted by the Holy Ghost to do something we cannot do.  Elder Scott reminds us it may require extraordinary effort and much time, patience, prayer and obedience, but we will be able to do it.  We are finding that to be true with this assignment.  What seemed impossible 7 months ago is now just the normal for us.  Each new day can bring a new challenge which the Lord helps us overcome.  Our confidence has grown in our ability to ask and receive; God does hear and answer our prayers.  His vision of this work is so much more grand than we can even imagine.  He gives us a glimpse every now and again just to remind us nothing is impossible to HIM.  It is so good to know one has that kind of backing.