Thursday we  arrived in the northern part of Luzon.  It was in the middle of nowhere, pitch dark and John Thomas (6) and I were riding together on a motorcycle tricycle. I learned to do some serious praying on these rides.  When the bike stopped he looked at me and said “Ms Amy are we where we’re supposed to be.”  I laughed and said “I sure hope so buddy”. (not wanting to think about what I’d do if we were in the wrong place) Thankfully we were where we needed to be.

Saturday we had a medical mission in which 450 people were seen for medical visits and 450 for dental.   They were pulling teeth left and right. We worked with the Lions club and they were able to distribute boxes of reading glasses to people.  It was so neat to see them get excited when they could see clearly!  We played with the kids and did the wordless book with them while they were waiting to be seen.  One little boy had a colostomy.  If you’ve ever seen or known anyone with a colostomy you realize how difficult this must be to deal with, especially for a young teen.  I was thinking of the things we take for granted…like having specialized nurses that deal with colostomies. In his village all  he has is a  rag and rubber band to hold the rag around his belly. I met a pastor on the bus who said that children die here within hours because of not having money to buy medicines.

Sunday morning we started our trip to Tagaytay for a wedding.  That is where we are now.  In total yesterday we traveled about 14 hours or more, Ugh.  Was able to see a lot of beautiful scenery along the way.   We saw rice patty after rice patty and water buffalo working the fields.   I felt really bad yesterday.  Sick with sinus, cough, asthma..Feeling better today, but still rough. I’m sure they wanted to disinfect the bus after I got off.  Please pray for the flight tomorrow.  Nothing like sneezing and coughing all over people.  Many people in Manila walk around with masks or cloths over their face because of the pollution.  I was able to get an aisle seat!  Yeah, so I can get up and walk around.

Wedding is at 3 pm, followed by 1 1/2 hour drive into Manilla to the hotel.  Sounds easy enough, but I’ve learned traveling in Manila makes rush hour on 635 in Dallas look like a piece of cake.  So realistically we may get into the hotel around midnight. Flight leaves Manila for Hong Kong at 6:30 tomorrow AM, then at 9:35 AM for the USA!!!  We will arrive in NY around 12 Noon on Tuesday, then drive home.

Thank you for your prayers.  Please keep them up..it will be a long day of travel tomorrow.

Love,Amy

Friday and Saturday we had a medical clinic where people could come see the doctor or dentist for free and receive free medicine that HCC provided.  Hundreds of people were seen.  Jane saw one little baby girl that was malnourished.  Her mother had no money for formula so she has been boiling rice in water and straining the rice.  The baby has been living off of the strained water.  Jane tried to refer her to the hospital to a malnutrition clinic (Where she had worked)and was saddened to hear that  no one has yet to replace her in that clinic. Mike was able to go to the store and purchase some formula for her.  Many children are sick for a long time here. We saw a few kids with ruptured ear drums because of ongoing infections.  Then they need to see a specialist that they cannot afford.  A dentist was available Friday and did some tooth extractions on patients that needed them.  One man had been in pain for 2 years! So many children’s teeth were rotted.  There was a baby, probably under one year old that had a puss filled boil the size of a walnut on his forehead.  Many children and adults were helped this weekend.  All received a Bible in their language and heard the gospel message.

We have some prayer requests for you.  Yesterday Jane saw a child who she thinks has TB.  The family cannot afford to take the child to the hospital for an exam and X rays.  She is trying to see what she can do to help the child.  You just feel so helpless.  If the child is positive for TB the whole family will need to be tested, which is a huge expense for them that they just cannot afford.  In the meantime the child is potentially infecting everyone they come in contact with if they are positive. The other child you can pray for is a teenager that has a heart defect and needs an echocardiagram and possible heart surgery.  Pray for wisdom for Jane and that God will lead her to the right people to help these children.

I know of one mother that accepted Christ on Friday at the clinic.

The other day a little boy was begging for money on our way into Mc Donalds.  I bought a hamburger, french fries and a drink and went out to find him.  He was gone, so Jane and I walked around and saw a little boy that looked about 5 or 6 years old.  He was thin, dirty and in rags.  When he saw my bag he came up to me and pointed to the bag of food.  I asked him if he was hungry and he opened his mouth.  I gave him the food and we left. It breaks your heart.  I wanted to hold him, give him a bath and put him in a clean bed.  There are so many like him.

Tomorrow we will be going to visit street children.  There is a church that has relocated them and found housing for them.  We will be participating in their Christmas program.  Thank you for your prayers.  I wanted to upload videos and pics but the computer is very slow here.  I will upload as I’m able.  Talk to you soon!

Love,

Amy

Yesterday, I got to see rice patties, banana, mango, pineapple plantations, visited a monastery, and a Christian hospital where we handed out some toys to children.  Today we’re visiting a public school and sharing Bible stories with the kids. Can you believe that…in a public school!  We think John Thomas is going to be brave and share a story.  He was a little worried because he didn’t have his Bible along!  What a good little preacher!  He wanted to be Biblically accurate!  Thank you for your prayers.  Please keep praying. This weekend we will be doing a medical mission and working with street children.   Amy