06/04/13:   The ESL class started this morning at 8:00 AM with the group of Korean students.  Harris Memorial College Dean provided a syllabus focusing on English Grammar including Conversation.  The Korean students know English at various levels & are smart, but need more practice.  The group of students consist of 10 elementary students + one 8th grader.  "John", the 8th grader & 15 years old, is my student.  He is extremely shy, tall, & speaks softly.  John plays classical Violin + Piano.  I located a Piano in one of the conference rooms in the College, & at my request he played a classic composition that was beautiful.  The acronym "O...M...G..." is the only thing that came to mind.   This young man is talented.  His family moved here 3 months ago from S. Korea, and both parents are missionaries.  John is taking his time to adjust.  He bowed with respect to me as he left class today.  I am so pleased to have such a smart student.  I am hopeful that I can motivate him to become more comfortable in the next day or 2.  I will introduce him to the young male student attending school at Harris for pre-Seminary studies.  He too is very shy. I will incorporate this as part of our Conversation practice activities on Wed.

06/03/13:  More productive sewing of the blouses and a Dress now thanks to the wonderful sewing by Virgean!  These women are so talented.  One of the sewing machines is down due to high use, and waiting on technician for repair.  Thanks to Olive for modeling the dress.  Tentatively the women are hopeful to be able to sell the dresses to students at Harris College in addition to neighbors of Upper Javier community or surrounding areas.  They have to develop a plan of action first to be competitive with the open market, if at all possible.  

Photos of Valencia Church Service on 6-2-13 with Pastor Mendoza.

06/02/13:   Attended Harris College Valencia Methodist Church service for the new Chaplain/Pastor Charles Mendoza’s first service.  Their service was conducted in Tagalog and was lovely, 1-1/2 hours of praise singing and worship.  I am working on my diction and pronunciation, but as you can imagine it will take me a while.  I can share that Hesus is Jesus, and Amen is still Amen.   This church’s small congregation have voices like a large angelic choir.   Attached are photos of the Deaconess students and Pastor Mendoza and family.  PS: I participated in Methodist Communion with wafers and grape juice, though I was not able to follow the reading in Tagalog.   I share the following from the service:

Scripture:    Tawag Sa Pagsisisi    1 Juan 1:9
  “Kung ipinahahayag natin an gating mga kasalanan,
maasahan nating ipatatawad sa atin ng Diyos ang mga ito at
lilinisin tayo sa lahat ng ating kasamaan sapagkat siya’y matuwid.”
Following is an excerpt from a song this morning:
Imno Ng Pagtatalaga At Pasasalamat  
[Where He Leads Me I Will Follow]

Si Jesus ay tumatawag, Ito ang isniasaad;
Krus mo’y pasani’t lumakad, sa aki’y sumunod ka agad.
Kung saan ako akayin,  Ay duon ako lalakad,
Hanggang sa aking sapitin,
Ang hangganan ng Kanyan landas.   Amen.
 

 

06/01/13:  Upper Javier Pre-K School needs additional curtains.  We went to the open market to search for ready-made curtains but to no avail.  This is another teaching opportunity & we will sew them.  Note the material has to be very sheer in order to dry quickly to avoid mildew (the building is open to weather).  Ready-made, simple curtains are 100 Pesos per panel.  We can purchase material at 20 Pesos per yard at 60” width (equal to one panel).   I love material and was in Heaven while roaming from market to market, looking at bolts of material of exquisite colors and designs.  Philippines is known for its garment industry.  Will upload photos when curtains are complete.   Remember, recent rate of 41.45 Pesos = 1 USD.      

05/29/13:   Recent days’ chaos is indicative of preparation for June school start.  Discussions held to  work through expectations, schedules, logistics, and start of the rainy season which impacts everything!  For example, when it is raining you cannot easily (safely) walk into the Upper Javier community, thus Pre-K school is not held.   Rev Diane McGehee and team will arrive June 5.
Several days of children’s activities at Upper Javier will be held.  Alan Miller and local workers will work on repairs of Upper Javier’s Sewing Center, including patching the roof. 

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.