Week #1

And we're off!!!! Sort of. 

Jan 26th dawned grey, cloudy and rainy. The truck that was to take us in to the tribe was about 2 hours late. Rain tends to dampen your enthusiasm about riding on an open backed truck, or hiking. If we knew then what we know now, we would have been grateful for every drop that fell. That was the last rainfall this area has had in the last 5 weeks! The crops never got planted, the wells are periodically running dry and the dam nearby is dangerously low.

When the truck broke down about 45 minutes away from the village, the kids and I hiked the last little bit. Hungry bellies tend to trump a free ride. :-) 

As we walked in, it was nice to look around and get the sense that this was becoming a familiar neighborhood. It didn't seem so "tribally" (if that is even a word). It's good to be back.

Don't cry for me argentina!

A view of Manila around 7 am....yes that is smog.

Contrast that with the view up North!

Obviously, being in the boondocks has some serious advantages! :-) 


So, yes, I am leaving the big city once again and will be traveling up north to join my partners for a trip into the tribe. Project: "Build the Talbot's house" is underway! Praise God for the volunteers we have had thus far. We're hoping to get much done in the next 6 weeks. 

Lest, you think the big city is completely devoid of anything good..... 

the smog is lifted by lunchtime!

Happy New Year!

It is finally finished! Yea!

One down and 2 to go!

Please be in prayer for my partners. They still need to build their houses, and we hope to move in by May. As you see this is quite the challenge, but we know that God is the God of the impossible. Please join us in praying for people willing and able to come help build. We would love to have skilled, unskilled...it doesn't really matter. People who would like to help is all we are praying for.

Oh, and Happy New Year!! :-) 

Shaking things up

With all the attention that the Mayon volcano is getting I've gotten a few concerned emails. Fear not friends, Mayon is very far away. But that is not to say we don't have some fun things up north. Like last night, for instance.

Have you ever had one of those dreams where it seemed so real, then you realize that it is real? For instance, you dream the room is shaking and then you wake up to realize that, yes, the room is shaking. So disorienting!

The fun never stops around here, I guess. :)

shaking things up

AWOL

Dear Friends,

Thank you all so much for your prayers and encouragement. We are the Body of Christ and cannot function independently. I thank God for each and every one of you.

Lets lift one another up in prayer... daily.

3 year anniversary!

Can you believe that is has been 3 years already!! Granted 6 months of that was spent at home, but I think it still counts. :-)

To celebrate 3 years here in the Philippines, my partners and I are heading into the village for a week long visit. Okay, not really to celebrate but its kinda cool to look back. 3 years ago I was apartment hunting in Manila and couldn't speak a word of Tagalog. Now, I'm trying to build a house and can't speak a word of Ga'Dang! So much the same, yet so different!

I appreciate all your prayers, they are greatly needed!

Dinner Time!!

Here is a little video (no sound) for those of you who like the odd and unusual. If you don't like gross, don't watch.