It is early in the morning on Monday, August 10. I am in Anchorage and enjoying the hospitality of the people of Trailside Community Church. This church has supported us for 25 years and the encouragement from them and other friends here in Alaska is greatly appreciated.
But this is not the only place that Carol and I have experienced this. We have eighteen supporting churches and 60 plus individuals who monthly, quarterly give generously to make it possible for us to stay in the Philippines. These churches and individuals, many for the entire 25 years, have faithfully contributed. The total amount contributed is in excess of one million dollars.
This makes me both humbled and encouraged. Humbled by the large trust lavished on us by these generous donors and encouraged by the fact that they do not quit.
Monday, August 10, 2009
Friday, May 01, 2009
Sadness in Public
Yesterday, I was driving through the center of our town of 96,000 residents at 8:30 AM when I saw a lady standing in the middle of the road. Buses, jeepneys, trucks and private vehicles were going by on both sides. If you live where we do, none of this would sound strange. People regularly stand on the center line waiting for traffic to clear.
What made this unusual was the fact that the mature woman, in her 30's, was naked from the waist down. It is not common but it does happen from time to time. We have been here for twenty six years and this is the second instance for us.
One of the things that comes with poverty is a reduced insulation from problems in the world. This woman, I have no idea what was "wrong", was obviously in need of some assistance. She was distraught.
This society does not have institutions for these kind of situations. There is no place for this woman to "go" so that she will not be seen.
Carol saw a similar situation where the woman was totally naked and pregnant. She went to a local agency of a well known Christian organization that provides help to these kinds of people. She was told that the woman had been there earlier and when they tried to provide clothing she broke the door getting out of there.
I cried. I am not sure what else I could have done. I need to think of something better to do.
What made this unusual was the fact that the mature woman, in her 30's, was naked from the waist down. It is not common but it does happen from time to time. We have been here for twenty six years and this is the second instance for us.
One of the things that comes with poverty is a reduced insulation from problems in the world. This woman, I have no idea what was "wrong", was obviously in need of some assistance. She was distraught.
This society does not have institutions for these kind of situations. There is no place for this woman to "go" so that she will not be seen.
Carol saw a similar situation where the woman was totally naked and pregnant. She went to a local agency of a well known Christian organization that provides help to these kinds of people. She was told that the woman had been there earlier and when they tried to provide clothing she broke the door getting out of there.
I cried. I am not sure what else I could have done. I need to think of something better to do.
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