Television and Typhoon

07/14/10

What a busy time for us, I can not believe how the time flies by. From previous blogs you know we have been involved with one of the Filipino TV stations. On the 5th of July they decided to dedicate their morning show to "Our American Friends". They asked us if we wanted to be interviewed on the show. I declined but Dennis said yes. For the most part it was fun to picked up by a driver and get to watch the production of a news and talk show format. It was also embarrassing, Dennis did very well with his segment, but they kept showing pictures and video of us and our various projects every time they went to a station break. I didn't know they had so much footage of us. I feel very self conscious of our size in this country of small people and there we were these big fat white people. I told my kids I felt like the Stay puff Marshmallow Man in the old Ghost Buster movie. (I've included the picture my son Adam sent me) The worst part was when they showed picture after picture of us while someone sang the Stars Spangle Banner, a too long song in the best of circumstances, made unbearably longer.

I have also included a picture of a wheelchair distribution where LDS Charities provided custom wheelchairs for severely handicapped kids.

Last night we had our first typhoon. Fortunately we got home before the worst of it hit. We really live in a safe place, we are up high enough to avoid floods, and our apartment is in the middle of the complex, so while we have no view we have no direct hits from the wind. The winds were from 72 to 84 miles per hour. Not extreme, but surprisingly consistent for hours. Many people were not as lucky as we were and roofs were blown off and walls blown in. Homes closer to the ocean were flooded. There are lots of downed trees and branches. The power was knocked out and is reported to be off for another 2 to 3 days. It is so stinking hot and humid and no air conditioning, not even a fan. Our apartment is so miserable that we are now at the church office building where they have limited generator power where we can use the computer and have a fan blowing on us. We will spend as many nights here on the floor and couch as necessary.