(You can click on the pictures to make them bigger)
We are up to our elbows in disasters again. We have teamed up with the Catholic Relief Agency to help with the reconstruction and rehabilitation of homes lost in the typhoon. That is a very good thing because there is a level of animosity between the members of ours and their church. 
This will be an opportunity for us to work together helping others and getting to know each other on a personal level. Fortunately we have not started the project because we are now in the throes of another disaster in the same area. There have been torrential rains causing severe flooding. The amount of rain necessitated the releasing of water from the local dam causing even more damage. A good thing is just two months ago LDS Charities donated three zodiac type rescue boats with motors to a volunteer search and rescue group. These have been put to good use rescuing scores of people off their roofs and ferrying them to higher ground and emergency shelter.
We have been so busy we have to split up more now. I know you are never supposed to lea
ve your companion, but it is different for seniors, and we have to be in two places at once. It is challenging for me to go out to meetings and make decisions for LDS Charities on my own. I'm not used to this type of high pressure job, and I am really a boob. I am not used to traveling about a big confusing and scary city like Manila in a taxi. It makes me nervous that I might be taken into the slums and dumped off, or kidnapped, or even just over charged. However in truth, the taxi drivers have been very nice, they take me where I want to go, and to my knowledge the fares have been reasonable. The Lord takes care of me.
This will be an opportunity for us to work together helping others and getting to know each other on a personal level. Fortunately we have not started the project because we are now in the throes of another disaster in the same area. There have been torrential rains causing severe flooding. The amount of rain necessitated the releasing of water from the local dam causing even more damage. A good thing is just two months ago LDS Charities donated three zodiac type rescue boats with motors to a volunteer search and rescue group. These have been put to good use rescuing scores of people off their roofs and ferrying them to higher ground and emergency shelter.We have been so busy we have to split up more now. I know you are never supposed to lea
ve your companion, but it is different for seniors, and we have to be in two places at once. It is challenging for me to go out to meetings and make decisions for LDS Charities on my own. I'm not used to this type of high pressure job, and I am really a boob. I am not used to traveling about a big confusing and scary city like Manila in a taxi. It makes me nervous that I might be taken into the slums and dumped off, or kidnapped, or even just over charged. However in truth, the taxi drivers have been very nice, they take me where I want to go, and to my knowledge the fares have been reasonable. The Lord takes care of me. Today we went to a kick off celebration to start the measles immunization campaign in the Philippines. It was fun with political dignitaries, bands and baton twirlers. LDS Charities donated
a million dollars to buy vaccines for the Philippines. As a result everyone loves us and treats us like big shots. Interesting what money can buy, we were given a seat on the front row with all the
political who’s who, introduced to the audience with great fanfare, and Dennis was asked to speak. After the ceremony we walked out into the barangay and witnessed the first child to be vaccinated. Such a brave little boy, flanked by the mayor and a congresswoman and surrounded by a news crew and dozens of strangers he took his shot without a flinch. 
