05-25-13.  Attended Upper Javier Vacation Church School graduation for a group of 25 children, ages 5 years old to teen-age. They were so excited & proud to be graduating.  Missions Pastor Orlan Leal, Taytay United Methodist Church, lead the graduation with the teachers, 7 Deaconess students from Harris Memorial College.  After praise singing & worship, the students received their Graduation Certificates for Best Attendance, Most Energetic, and Completing Vacation Church School.  Pastor Leal is moving to a new church June 1 & will miss Upper Javier.  Pastor Leal's email is orlanleal@yahoo.com.

   Pastor Kevin Otto of my home church, St Stephens United Methodist Church, reminds us on Sunday mornings to “..use words when necessary..”.  I had a feeling I would be called to speak at graduation, thus I wrote down my thoughts (to be prepared this time).  

   Thank you for inviting me to join you today. A very long time ago I also attended Vacation Bible School when I was your age. I learned about Jesus, that Jesus was born on Christmas Eve, that he loved all the little children all over the world, that he died on the cross for all of our sins so that we may be renewed in life.  Let us remember:  to practice what the teachers and Pastor teach us form the Bible; that we should follow God’s laws, and when we do this God will smile upon us with His grace and love. Let us bow our head to pray, repeat after me:

     Dear Lord.  Thank you for our wonderful teachers and Pastor. Help us to continue growing and learning more about Jesus. Help us when we pray and to remember others in our prayers. God bless our mothers and fathers every day.  In Jesus name. Amen.

05-27-13: Finishing sewing of Blouse at Ka-Ricah's home with sewers.

Upper Javier Sewers discussion re patterns

05/27/13.   Our 45-minute jeepney travel to Upper Javier today was fun! Olive & I went to Ta-Reuben and Ka-Ricah's home with Virgean and Ruby, to finish sewing the blouse on the machine which I had started by hand. Ka Ricah is confident now & excited proud to have finished herself.  I will repeat the training process  tomorrow with the other sewers to reinforce confidence & motivate with praise. Their goal is to sew at a higher level without a pattern & to alter pattern sizes, but that comes with practice and time. PS: I have to chuckle: while we were sewing at Ka-Ricah's home, a neighbor was listening to "Inglebert Humperdink" music & we all sang along.  I have to mention Olive, the pre-k school teacher, has been a great travel companion & interpreter. She keeps me on my toes on the jeepney & sidecar trips, & has taken photos so that I can be included on occasion.  Attached a few photos from today's session.

Attended ALS (Alternate Learning System) session with 6 teenage students on 5/23/13 PM at Harris Meml College with Olive Oliveros, facilitator.

Canteen at Harris Memorial College: preparing for June 3 school start. Chef Hector (white tshirt) & Freddie (blue) patiently waiting on workers refresh painting of Canteen.

05-22-13.  I woke up early to adjust to the Filipino schedule and to exercise. Harris College is located in the mountains so there is no avoiding walking up and down constantly. I am so glad I brought a pair of running shoes. There is a basketball court on campus which I will use for exercise including general calisthenics, jump rope, and running.

Instant Coffee at the college dorm cafe called the "Canteen" tasted super this morning. Then I went to the open market with the chef "Hector".  Jeepney ride to the market and returning on a motorcycle sidecar ... overloaded with isda, prutas, and gulay (fish, fruit & vegetables) was FUN. Laughter is great medicine when riding in a sidecar in heavy traffic, and yes I cracked a few of my fresh eggs. I asked God for safe travel from the market and He did provide. Praise god. Amen.

On a more caring note, I observed a young family at their produce stand at the market. The father was patiently waiting for customers to purchase his Papayas or fresh Clams while the mother lovingly sat breastfeeding their infant son.  My heart went out to this mother as I watched her give several papayas to an elderly women in need who had just walked up. The mother chose to give what they could even though this family was too in need.  "Give us this day our daily Bread."

05-20-13.   It was a long, uneventful flight to Manila, arriving at 10:35 PM on 5/21. The driver was graciously waiting at the airport, and then the 1-1/2 hour drive to Harris Memorial (Methodist-sponsored) College in Taytay. I will be staying at the college dorm. I slept like a babe needless to say.

Recent Gardening in central Texas

Dear Lord,
I have been in quiet prayer this week, to clear my mind.  I pray that you will use me as a tool to serve those in need and to plant seeds of hope.  I ask that you fill my heart with sincerity and patience.  Make my hands steady for teaching.  Open my eyes to opportunities that I may draw on your strength and direction in teaching, learning, and growing.   I also ask that you shower those in need with your grace and love.   Bless St Stephen’s United Methodist Church and Pastor Kevin Otto.  Amen.