3-11-10
There is a drought in the Philippines due to El Nino. As we traveled north from Manila this was apparent in the dry river beds, fallow fields, and starving live stock. Our trip was to inspect a water project that has hit some major snags. The village (barangay) needed a deeper well, the water pump system they have now has pretty much gone dry and they decided they wanted to upgrade to a level 3 system where water would be stored 
in a tank and then pipes laid to connect to the individual houses. Before we came the church put up 2/3 of the money, the mayor, congressman and barangay people promised the rest. The church dug the well, the people put up their part, but the congressman is not running for re-election and has declined, and the mayor is now having financial difficulties. The poor people are stuck, they have a nice well, but no storage tank, and a distance to get water. They were asking us to help them financially to finish the project. The church has a strict policy that encourages self reliance, and they just don't pass out money because it encourages dependency, and releasing others from paying their share would defeat the purpose. This was hard to tell the people who are so desperate. The day before that we had a man come into our office to tell us about the plight of the farmers in his area, he said all they needed was 20 liters of fuel each to pump enough water from the river to save enough of their crops to feed themselves. Earlier that day a branch president called to ask if there was money for the non-members of his barangay to buy food because they had not eaten for days and were hungry. We have a budget and can not just give out money. Our life here as missionaries is submerged in the desperate need and suffering. Then we drive home through the throngs of poor people who live in shacks that surround our gated and guarded community of comfortable condos. It is difficult to be so prosperous, fat and well fed, I feel guilty.
in a tank and then pipes laid to connect to the individual houses. Before we came the church put up 2/3 of the money, the mayor, congressman and barangay people promised the rest. The church dug the well, the people put up their part, but the congressman is not running for re-election and has declined, and the mayor is now having financial difficulties. The poor people are stuck, they have a nice well, but no storage tank, and a distance to get water. They were asking us to help them financially to finish the project. The church has a strict policy that encourages self reliance, and they just don't pass out money because it encourages dependency, and releasing others from paying their share would defeat the purpose. This was hard to tell the people who are so desperate. The day before that we had a man come into our office to tell us about the plight of the farmers in his area, he said all they needed was 20 liters of fuel each to pump enough water from the river to save enough of their crops to feed themselves. Earlier that day a branch president called to ask if there was money for the non-members of his barangay to buy food because they had not eaten for days and were hungry. We have a budget and can not just give out money. Our life here as missionaries is submerged in the desperate need and suffering. Then we drive home through the throngs of poor people who live in shacks that surround our gated and guarded community of comfortable condos. It is difficult to be so prosperous, fat and well fed, I feel guilty. These three pictures are taken in the Galvan Barangay where the project was. The first is us meeting with the barangay council. The second is a woman washing her clothes where she had to carry water 600 yards back to her home, and the last is down a neighborhood street
Speaking of being well fed, Dennis and I decided that we would try to eat as the locals do, and stay away from the familiar. (Wow were we surprised. There is every fast food restaurant here that is in American.) There is a lady who comes to our office at lunch everyday and sells a small plastic bag of rice, and a small plastic bag of some type of curry or stew tied off at the top. It is cheap, about 80 cents, and keeping with our decision to eat local food. It has been an culinary adventure. My last meal was squash in a bright yellow sauce with shrimp heads. At first I didn't realize what I was eating. I said to my table mates, " look there is a shrimp head that is tied on a fishing line." Then as I looked more carefully the stew was full of what I thought was shrimp heads and string. My lunch mates tried to explain what it was that I pulling out of my food, but did not know the English word. After much pantomime I realized it was the shrimp antenna, or those two long whisker like things that stick out of their heads. You are just supposed to eat the heads, shells and all, it was hard for me to swallow, especially the antenna.
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