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Cebu City / Tubigon (Bohol) ferryboats in
Cebu City harbor
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17 March 2004
After 48 hours of travel, I arrived in Cebu, Philippines on Friday
evening. Sorry to take so long letting everyone know I'm safe, but
computer access isn't always easy to get to here. Anyhow, this morning
I preached at the Talisay church, beyond that my schedule is still up
in the air. The visa turned out to be no problem, I only need to check
with immigration sometime within the next three weeks and get extended;
I will wait until I know if I only need a one week extension or if I am
staying longer.
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Basak, Salvador, Sierra Bullones, Bohol,
Philippines
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31 March 2004
Now I am on Bohol, across the strait from Cebu. Saturday, 27 March
I took the ferry after attending the CBS graduation. (Eight young men
graduated, all of them seem to be very articulate and zealous to serve
the Lord.) I am am staying with Lori Brennon's sister and
brother-in-law in Salvador, and working in the Salvador Church of
Christ. This church is a very exciting work. From small children to
grandparents, everyone is enthusiastic worship, in Bible study, and in
their desire to work for Jesus. It was a pleasure to preach here Sunday
morning. Since then I have been helping Jerry, the local preacher, with
home Bible studies encouraging the members. I am also encouraged as I
hear the Christians tell how Jesus has changed their lives. I am also
renewing the friendships with those I met here two years ago. Also
making new friends, especially the little ones; one of whom, David
Kenneth, was born only a few days after I was last here and is named in
honor of my visit. So far I have been able to visit most but not all of
the people I came to see; the arrival this coming Friday of the ferry
from Manila will be very welcome. Today most of those who I was relying
on for translation are elsewhere, so I am on the great adventure of
traveling to the next town by van (driver no English) to use the
Internet Cafe. So far so good. If you want to see where I am, start at
picture #34 of my 2002 trip Next week is
the family camp (church retreat) of the Churches of Christ on Bohol. I
expect I will be going there, but first will be a hectic three days of
commuting across the Bohol Strait to do business at immigration
offices, immigration agency, consulate, visa renewal etc. in Cebu City
plus attending someone's kid sister's high school graduation in Sierra
Bullones, Bohol. .....at this point the power failed in the internet
cafe, and, it seems, everywhere else on the island.... .....continuing
on Wednesday morning... After waiting four hours for the power to
return, I took the bus back to Salvador. The motorcycle-for-hire
drivers all told me "no more bus or van today"; I was more than a
little worried they might be right, even though I knew it was probably
a lie to get my business. Finally a bus arrived labeled "Sierra
Bullones", I got on and away we went. The conductor's English was
limited to "seven pesos", so for 12 cents I got home safely. The bus
would have given any US bus inspector nightmares. This morning I got
the new, improved, "just for Americans" fare - ten pesos. I am getting
good at negotiating the 1/2 mile to the village (Busok? Bugsoc? - I
have to check the spelling) behind Salvador even in the dark. At some
points the trail is only 4 inches wide, with water on one side and
bottomless-mud rice-paddy on the other. I had better send this before
the power fails again, so I will end here.
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The Chocolate Hills, Carmen, Bohol,
Philippines
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17 April 2004
Back in the USA. Left Cebu Friday night, the flights (four of
them)
back were uneventful except for the opportunity I had to strengthen a
new Christian in her faith on the Dallas - Baltimore flight.
"Bugsoc" is the next town up the pike from Salvador, "Basak" is the
name of the "sitio" in Salvador where the Boco clan lives. So now
I
know. "Basak" can be translated "rice paddy" or " muddy place",
take
your pick, both are true. Basak is in Salvador, Salvador is in Sierra
Bullones, Sierra Bullones is on the Island of Bohol in the Republic of
Philippines. So now you know.
Working with the Salvador Church of Christ is a real joy. The
weeks I
was there we had three preachers in Salvador: Gerry, who has been
the
preacher in Salvador but is moving on to the church in Tagbilaran,
Bohol's major city; Benjie, who is the new preacher in Salvador; and
David, the son of my hosts and now beginning an intern semester as
preacher in nearby Datag. So there have been many opportunities
to
share with these young men what God has been teaching me, and to
encourage them in the work. With their help, I was able to
conduct a
series of Bible studies in Titus for the older women concerning
the
unique role that older women have in building up the church. Also
I preached on two Sunday mornings in Salvador, once on 1 John 1 and
once on Romans 4.
On Friday April 2 Grace arrived from Manila. Getting to know each
other after two years apart... Sunday preached again in
Salvador.
Tuesday Grace's sister graduated from high school, then we raced to
Tubigon to catch the last ferry to Cebu. Wednesday completely
taken up
by working on Grace's fiance visa to the United States, and on her
Philippine passport, and trying to get my Philippine visa
extended.
Saturday back to Bohol (the Cebu City/Tubigon ferry again -
now you
know why its picture adorns the top of this page) because we need
one
more paper from her home for Grace's passport application. (How
would
we know she needed her Voter Registration Affidavit?) In
all of this,
with the holiday shutdowns, we missed the Bohol Christian Family
Camp.
Monday Grace went to Cebu City (the ferry again) and I retreated to the
Chocolate Hills to consider all that God is doing in my life. The
picture above is the view from my balcony, looking west over the Carmen
- Tagbilaran road. Thursday I traveled ALL BY MYSELF using
public
transportation from the Chocolate Hills, Carmen, Bohol to the Carlson's
in San Isidro, Talisay City, Cebu; that's two buses, two tricycle
motorbikes, a taxi and a ferry, none of whom speak comprehensible
English. An adventure. Friday was our last chance for Grace
and I to
discuss our mission to
Africa
face-to-face, then it was evening and we
went to the airport and said our farewells.
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Basak
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7 September 2004 - Postscript
Not everything works out as we have planned. Shortly after
returning to the USA, the other sponsoring church of my planned trip to
Africa decided not to fund the effort. So, as directed by
my elders, I redirected my plans to India, where I can work on a
smaller budget than that projected for Kenya and Sudan.
Then, in June, Grace decided not to become my teammate, and advised me
to cancel the fiance visa application. We remain good
friends, and nothing more. I write this now from Hyderabad, South
India, where the work continues. For continuation of the saga, see India Mission 2004.
31 March 2007 - Continuation
Nor does everything work out as we expect. In early 2005, Gracey
and I realized it was time to pick up where we left off. In
December of 2005 I returned to Bohol. On January 6 Gracey and I
formally celebrated our engagement with her family and friends, and on
August 26 2006 we celebrated our wedding in Westminster,
Maryland. I write this now from our new home in Vijayawada, South
India. I now work with orphanages for Lifeline of Hope, which keeps
us busy in India, Africa and the Philippines.
Edited 27 April 2007
