Little Things

I've been to just about every diocese within the Episcopal Church in the Philippines. There were just two left to check off. The first was the Episcopal Diocese of Northern Luzon which neighbors EDS. I had no excuse not to take the two hour trip to visit with Bishop Abibico, who was recently elected the next Prime Bishop of ECP.

{St. Thomas' Parish, Tabuk where we attended mass}

We are Gathered Here...

We are gathered here today, April 25, to celebrate the joining of Challikes and Ayree in Holy Matrimony. And, boy, many were gathered in Bontoc for the wedding of the year. As I said in Monday's post, April began and ended with a Bishop's son's wedding.

Little Things

During the first week of June, St. Mark's and the Diocese of Santiago welcomed nine members of the SE Asian Anglican Communion who are here in the Philippines for six weeks of intensive Church and Community Development Leadership training. St. Mark's felt honored to host them for only a couple of days. They trained them on cooperative financial management, bookkeeping, and governance and management. In addition, the trainees, who are mostly from Myanmar and one from Papua New Guinea, visited an SRI field and the Processing Center.

{The group at dinner on the first night/}

Let me Tell you About the ECP

Let me tell you about the Episcopal Church in the Philippines...

I’ve realized over the past couple of years that even though I’ve been an Episcopalian basically my whole life, I don’t know much about the actual history of The Episcopal Church. Maybe you feel the same way?

After meeting with the ECP National Office staff with Buck and Emily in late March and then again with the JCPC (Joint Committee on Provincial Companionship) in early April, I’ve been awed and inspired by the journey and history of the Episcopal Church in the Philippines. Unfortunately, I cannot tell the same story with as much passion and gumption as Attorney Floyd, the Provincial Secretary of ECP and National Development Officer of E-CARE, who lived through and had an influential hand in the process. However, I’m going to do my best.

Little Things

I'm in Palawan with my cousin, Lindsay! I'm super psyched to have family here and be on vacation! The two weeks prior, I was catching up on things around the office and cleaning my house - nothing too exciting. I don't even have many little things to share with you. But there will be plenty of fun stories and adventures to share upon my return!

{Please Welcome the new members of the neighborhood}

"Philippines: Mission in the midst of crisis"

You could call this another "guest post." Emily wrote another wonderful article about the ECP and the Diocese of Davao after our visit. Everyone knows about Typhoon Haiyan or Yolanda which hit back in November. While it may have left the thoughts of many, it is still the present for a number of Filipinos. Even though it's been six months since the storm struck, the Episcopal Church has not stopped relief efforts. Please read on to learn more!

This article was posted on Episcopal News Service blog on Tuesday, April 8, 2014 and written by Emily Cherry, Communications Director for the Diocese of Virginia:

Philippines: Mission in the midst of crisis

Global partnerships deepen as typhoon response continues 

The island of Bantayan counts children in its team of volunteers. The Diocese of Davao

 supports a continuing relief and economic redevelopment project in Bantayan. 

Photo: Gideon Bustamante

Just over a week after the bishop of the newest diocese in the Philippines was consecrated on Nov. 23, 2012, Super Typhoon Bopha hit, killing more than 1,000 people and destroying homes and land. Almost 12 months later, in November 2013, came Super Typhoon Haiyan, killing as many as 10,000 people, making it one of the deadliest storms in the Philippines to date. As the Rt. Rev. Jonathan L. Casimina, bishop, put it, “We began our diocese with a typhoon, and we ended our first year with a typhoon.”

BE in the Philippines - Down South

The Diocese of Davao, the last stop on our Philippine whirlwind, or better known as the “Battle with the Durian.”

Durian is Davao’s pride and joy. A fruit they say that “tastes like heaven, smells like hell.” Well, it definitely smells like Dante’s inferno and I’d go as far to say it takes like it to. But I’m getting ahead of myself.

{Me and Bishop Casimina with the Durian}

BE in the Philippines - Longest Drive

As the road trip continued, Monday, March 24, was our longest on the road. We made the 13-hour trek from Tadian to Manila with a stop in between.

The stop over worked perfectly as it was six hours between our two endpoints and was the location of another YASC placement. Yup, you guessed it – Baguio!

Before arriving there, the Philippines’ beauty continued to impress as we glided through rolling countryside and climbed towering cliffs where we skirted along the tops of the mountains through the clouds. I’d never driven this route before.  We made two stops to take in the fresh, cool air and the impressive views. One stop was marked the “Highest Point in the Philippines Highway System.”

BE in the Philippines - On the Farm

"Go ahead, take a whiff," encouraged Erwin Alawas referring to smelling the fermenting organic fertilizer. 

{It actually smelled a little like bourbon - not bad}

One of the main reasons we were scheduled to visit the Tadian Training Center and Demonstration Farm was to see Andrew and the work of another YASCer. Unfortunately, Andrew got called away to the United States at the last minute. However, we still stopped by the farm, about an hour drive from Sagada, to check out his placement. His partner-in-crime, Erwin Alawas, was a wonderful host and guide.

The YASCers of the Philippines

You could call today a "guest post." I'm cheating a little bit! I'm at Bishop Brent's son's wedding in Bontoc and didn't have time to put together a post. I shared the link a few weeks back via Facebook, but if you missed it here is the ENS article written by Emily Cherry about the three YASCers in the Philippines!

This article was posted on Episcopal News Service blog on Friday, April 4, 2014 and written by Emily Cherry, Communications Director for the Diocese of Virginia:

Young adults form faith through service in the Philippines

As part of her work with the Episcopal Development Foundation of St. Mark’s in the Diocese of Santiago, YASCer Ashley Cameron visits with market shop owners who receive small business loans from the church foundation. Photo: Emily Cherry

Almost everywhere you travel in the Philippines, you see rice: steamed and served in heaping bowls on every table; unhusked and drying in the sun alongside roads; bagged and ready to be milled; packed into trucks along the highway; and growing in fields and towering terraces across the landscape of 7,000-plus islands.

Church Feast Day

Did someone say "Feast"?

In the Diocese of Virginia, it's an uphill battle to get a bishop to come on the day you would like them to come confirm, baptize, and/or receive members of the church. With so many churches and a limited number of Sundays, bishops are in high demand.

Here in the Diocese of Santiago instead of picking a random Sunday, the church chooses it's patron saint's feast day to have the bishop confirm, baptize, and/or receive congregation members. Yesterday, happened to be St. Joseph's Feast Day, where I spent Christmas Day. The Bishop invited me to come along with him, Penny, and Ma'am Sandra.

{Padi Aura, Fr. Ralph, Bishop Alex, Fr. Eric, and Marina}

School Pictures

Graduation is fast approaching for the Kinder 2 students of St. Mark's Learning Center I've been teaching once a week for the past few months. Unlike in the states, school runs from June to March with summer being half of March and all of April and May. Next Saturday, March 22 is their graduation from preschool to kindergarten, the big leagues! 

{The adorable Kinder 2 class I've been teaching}

Tree Planting

As part of a carbon monoxide reduction program, if one plants 2,000 trees than you get a grant towards parish hood development. When my manager, Patrick, heard about this he jumped on the idea. And now, the Foundation is setting out to plant 2,000 trees.

During the first tree planting activity, it was a horrid rainy Saturday this past Fall so I skipped out. But there was no missing out this time. It was all hands on deck.  Therefore, this past Saturday morning the staff of the Foundation headed out to its farm.

EDFSM Video

Early on in my year here, I proposed that the Foundation work on making a promotional video or a vide report instead of their normal powerpoint presentations. I was charged with the task of making this happen for the Diocesan Convention report.

I started collecting interviews and video content in September, but then al of sudden Diocesan Convention snuck up on me and I had to put together our report! Sir Patrick was very impressed. And the Convention delegates appreciated a change. I think there are audio issues, but there is always something to improve.

Watch the report below to learn more about the organization I've been working with and to hear from some people I work closely with on a day to day basis.

Thanks for reading!

Little Things

After my whirlwind trip to Baguio, I had to come back to help finalize preparations and reports for the Annual Diocesan Convention, which started Tuesday, February 25. The worst thing during a busy, stressful time is to get sick but that's what happened. I got an awful cold/headache thing on Monday after arriving from Baguio. I think the quick turn around, two night bus trips, and stress were too much on my body. But after some rest on Monday, I was ready to tackle convention.

{Lining up for the procession to the Cathedral}

Easter School

Back in January, Margaret asked if I would come talk to a couple of her classes about the work the development work of the Episcopal Church. I’m no expert, but I’ve seen and worked a little bit more with these programs than Margaret. I said, I would be happy to! And it gave me an excuse to see Baguio, again, hopefully this time when it wasn’t raining.

Therefore on Thursday night on February 20, I boarded an 8 hour night trip bus for a whirlwind tour of Baguio. I saw and did many amazing things this weekend that I’m going to break it down into a couple of posts. First, the main reason I was there.

Margaret as a volunteer teaches at Easter School, an Episcopal school that spans from elementary to high school. There’s also a small college on the grounds. With a background in science and religion, Easter School assigned Margaret to assist in the Christian Education classes for high school seniors and a few English language classes. In addition, she teaches one of the small seminars at the newly formed Theological College.

Little Things

I had a nice little surprise this past Sunday afternoon. Two of my co-worker's children, Roxanne (11) and Sikh Fi (5), stopped by my new place. We enjoyed some coloring and then Sikh Fi demanded asked to watch a movie. The only kid-friendly movie I have is Harry Potter. I figured even if it was in English there is enough magic in the first movie they don't really need to understand what's going on. I popped some popcorn in the microwave which they were astounded by, got a couple cans of coke, and we were ready for an afternoon flick. Of course, after an hour Sikh Fi was over it but I was proud he stuck it out for 1/3 of the movie!

{Sikh Fi and Roxanne having fun taking selfies}

Little Things

This week is seemingly normal and low-key compared to last week and the upcoming weeks. It's like the calm before the storm. We were supposed to have a scheduled brown-out from 8am to 6pm today but it never occurred. We'll see tomorrow if it was rescheduled. 

In the meantime, I love this quote:"Every day may not be good, but there's something good in every day." I think it goes perfectly with the theme of this series. Remember to enjoy the little things!

{Another glorious day in the Philippines!}

News & Resources from Episcopal Relief and Development

As you read this post I will be enjoying fellowship with my fellow YASCers, Will, Katie and Sara, in Hong Kong!

Image via // Photo: REUTERS/Erik De Castro

As you all know from the news reports, Super Typhoon Haiyan made landfall in the Central Philippines on November 8, 2013. It caused great destruction and damage knocking out power, communication and killing thousands in its path. Heartbreaking stories have been all over the news here in the Philippines. Many have wondered and asked how they can help. While there are many great relief organizations setting up camp in Tacloban and other damage areas who you could donate to, I believe Episcopal Relief and Development is a wonderful organization taking the long view on disaster recovery. Their plan isn't simply to provide immediate help but to work with community churches to assess and plan for years to come in order to make the community self-sustainable again.