Mormons at Mass

5/16/11

The project of building homes for victims of the typhoon is finished. In partnership with Catholic relief 660 homes were constructed. In celebration a Mass was held in the beautiful cathedral. It was presided over by the Bishop of the Ilagan Diocese. It was very regal and impressive. We attended with a Mormon delegation of a stake president, district president, area seventy, bishop, branch president, their respective counselors and wives. After the mass we had a ceremony where the people were awarded the deeds to their homes. When we visited the building sites before, I wrote in my blog on 4-18-11 about a woman who had cared for her son for the last 18 years. He was paralyzed and bedridden at the age of 22. I was so happy because we were able to bring him a special wheelchair. But I absolutely surprised and so thrilled when I saw their new house. Originally when I saw the living conditions of this family I spoke impulsively, out of strong emotion, having no real authority. I said I wanted, beyond the standard building plan, a cemented area in front, like a porch or deck, which looked out over the rice fields. I wanted the deck to have a roof for shade so the man could sit in his wheelchair and watch life going on. I wanted the house to be completely wheelchair accessible so rather than being confined to his bamboo slat bed this man would be more able to experience the social part of life. I said I didn’t care if the cost was more than budgeted per house because LDS Charities would pay for it. That statement was absolutely out of my area of authority, but at that point my brain was hijacked. Never the less the neighbors and friends who built the house for this family must have felt the same emotions because my wishes were carried out exactly and there was no mention of the extras. Below are the before and after pictures