Dear Ones,

It’s been a while since we last reported.  We are very busy, which is great.  The Country Director of LDS Charities has taken a job in Seminaries and Institute and will be moving to Baguio.  The change is for health purposes and we are happy for him.  He has been preparing for this move for some time.  It is interesting to see the life come back into this great man who has been beaten down by health and the stress of the welfare assignment.  He is so happy.  No more Typhoon seasons for him!  We do not know who will take his place at this point and he will be mostly gone starting April 6.  He begins his new job on May 1, but has said he will need the time to move.  You know our feelings about Baguio.  It’s glorious.

He has also been giving us more and more of the work he was doing.  Lots of work makes the time go faster.  We are nearing the half way point.  I remember vividly that when we first got here we thought 18 months was forever.  Now we wonder what we were worried about.

We were blessed with a visit from our dear children Victoria and Len Rutherford.  They came for a short week and experienced many of the things that one cannot express or describe adequately in words.  We are so humbled to know they wanted to be with us enough to make that very long trip.  It was hard to let them go when the week was up. 

Victoria and Sister Webb preparing newborn kits

We took them with us as we visited our partners.  One of the trips was to Fabella Hospital where we had an appointment.  We were delivering some of the beautiful blankets and hats that were made by our dear friends from Willow Creek 7^th Ward.  Victoria and I put together newborn kits with the blankets, hats, diapers, wash, wipes and lotion which we loaded into an LDS Charities bags.  The contents have been donated by people we love and we took several bags with us.  When we presented them to Dr. Tumale and showed her what was in them she hugged the blankets and said, “Oh, this is what we need”.  She went on to say the babies lay on the same linens as the mothers and other babies that share the beds.  She said the blankets will give each baby a clean space of its own.  She was thrilled.  She asked if I wanted to give the gifts to the mothers.  Unfortunately, I did not have enough for every mother there so we thought it better if she quietly chose those who needed the blankets most.  Next trip I will take enough blankets to give one to each mother, thanks to the good work and kindness of R.S. sisters.

leaving the hospital for the neighborhood square

Organizers show people where to stand with hand made signs on a regular piece of paper

Vic and Len with the street children, their new following

Mother carrying newborn under her gown

Mothers carrying new babies during fire drill

Fans of Elder Webbs at town square during fire drill

It was a wonderful trip, complete with a fire drill that was schedule for the same time as our appointment.  We were not allowed to enter the building.  The fire alarm blared in our ears and the authorities from the fire department shuffled people off to a village square away from the hospital, including some of the mothers with newborn babies.  The four of us were slow in moving because we were told someone was coming for us.  We finally received a phone call from Iris, our partner, telling us they would not let her leave the hospital, so we followed the crowd and when we turned the corner and entered the square, all the people stopped what they were doing and just looked at us.  There were smiles and waving of hands but there was also a quiet reverence as we walked through the crowd.  Victoria said she was not comfortable with the rock star greeting.  The recess lasted about 10 min and we were finally allowed to go into the building.  It was interesting to see.

Wlder Webb, Victoria, Len and Iris, receiving instructions from Dr. Tumale

Maternity Ward

We went to the maternity ward and then we left Vic and Len with Dr. Tumale.  She gave them the tour of the hospital complete with entrance to the NICU and every nook and cranny.  Len was especially taken by the numbers of babies and the care given by the staff.

Presenting the newborn kits.  Dr Tumale left, Sister Webb holding blanket and cap, Elder Webb holding stuffed bear
Victoria and Lenoard Rutherford with Iris holding the bear on front row.

In the evening we headed to Chinatown.  Manila’s Chinatown is the oldest in the world (outside China). We enjoyed maneuvering the traffic of the very small streets and the challenge of find a parking spot. It’s kind of like a live video game.  We had to pay twice for parking as the attendants changed shifts while we were gone from the car.   It was fun to visit the gem shop and learn from a master how to clean gems and semi-precious stones using tonal sounds and vibrations.  Fresh fruits and veggies are found up and down the streets in open air carts.  We enjoyed an authentic Chinese meal in one of the many restaurants and as we were leaving the place was filling with locals for some kind of political rally.  The town is alive with color, texture, sounds and aromas.

On another day we drove to Cavite to visit with one of our partners, IIRR, then on to Lake Taal for a day of relaxation and visual splendor.  Sunday was spent at church and at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial looking at the evidence of many family sacrifices.  It was humbling and beautiful at the same time.

Victoria and Elder Webb at out door market Chinatown

Looking good in the Philippines

Visiting with Irish at IIRR headquarters

Dinner at Club 100 roof top restaurant looking out on Manial

Visiting Lake Taal with the Rutherfords

As we have watched Victoria and Len experience Manila for the first time it has been kind of fun and certainly empowering to think back just 8 months ago.  We were traumatized by the sheer number of people and cars. I still suffer from a feeling of claustrophobia at times, but at least I can breathe.   The sight of people living on the street and under bridges with small children playing in areas where the traffic moves in unpredictable and erratic fashion caused my heart to ache and I found myself judging the parents.  I have different eyes today.  The Lord has expanded our capacity to work in many different environments and to see what we can do to help the people of the Philippines help themselves.  They know the problems they face far better than we do, and they also know many of the solutions but do not have the resources.  LDS Charities can help bridge that gap.

The Ruterfords and the Philippines Temple

It is Holy Week here.  We are reminded of how much these people love the Lord as we listen to the music of Mass as its melodies ascend nine stories to the windows of our apartment.  We watch as the people cross themselves when they pass the Cathedral morning and night.  We are grateful to know Christ lives and that he is leading His church for the good of all mankind.

We feel the Lord’s blessings daily.  We are trying to do what he asks of us and when we feel overwhelmed we just look back at all the things we have done that we never thought we could do and realize the Lord has helped us every step of the way.  He always does.  I think we need to make a list for posterity.  Thank you for your love and support.  We love and miss you, and trust the Lord is caring for you as he cares for us while we serve Him here. 

HAPPY EASTER! 

Love,