Another Week Wrapping Up!

It has been an eventful week for many reasons...We took the day to head to Ilio Ilio, a big city about 3 hours drive to extend our visas and Ron's. What a different city from where we are staying...it was not affected by the typhoon at all and it gave us a real sense of what this island was really like before the storm. When we arrived at the immigration office we were met by two other KHCG brothers and with their help typing up a letter and also showing our official invitation for disaster relief work from world headquarters in an email, our fees were waived (3000 pesos each = approx. $75) and we were thanked for all of our help here. It was a really good witness and a nice precedent has been set for any other international volunteers that may come and replace us.
We had some really, really, really good pizza and it was such a treat from the normal diet we have had since we arrived!

The rains seemed to break this week and for the first time since we arrived in Panay on 2/4, we saw this...

3 sisters from 3 families that we are rebuilding for, they prepare all of our lunches and mariendas for the day. It is different than going back to the office for lunch and even though it can be strange delicacies at times,  it is so heartwarming to see their hard work making a fire, chopping, cleaning and even plucking feathers at times:)

Fried fish heads for lunch!

We have to tell you about sweet brother Bong below.....one of Adam's favorite brothers...he has been helping us with the rebuilding of homes in his area of San Jose. He is so hard working and sweet! He recently came into the truth, 1 1/2 years ago and when you ask him how he came into the truth, he says "I wasn't searching for the truth, the truth found me in Manila when I was working there" The witnesses came to his door and he accepted a study. He was only 1 month away from getting his black belt and was heavily involved with martial arts. That is why he said his hands are so strong. When he learned about how Jehovah feels about martial arts, he discontinued but he had to tell his master about his decision and it was not an easy one. His master literally was so angry he wanted to physically fight him. He received a ton of persecution from his very catholic family as well. He met Jerry another older brother who was in Manila also at the time and they became friends. Jerry lived in Panay and travels a lot so he asked Bong to come to Panay and watch his house when he travels but he just ended up staying and lives with Jerry now. Br. Bong immediately became a regular pioneer as soon as he could after being baptized and now he really hopes to be invited into the KHCG group and has recently applied. Jerry told Adam, Bong's desire to help building KH's is so great that every night he asks Jerry if he could put the phone by his bed every night just in case bethel calls so he doesn't miss the call. Adam contacted the branch directly about this brother and hopefully his invitation is coming soon! Br. Bong said what he has learned from Jehovah is to be self sacrificing and now he said he can't even kill a chicken, which is typical behavior for getting food here. The truth truly has transformed a martial arts expert in a gentle, shy lamb.....

Btw the shed/shelter behind Bong is where he and Br.Jerry have been living since the typhoon. Their house was completely destroyed but they were only able to save a few things, the most precious to each of the families we have seen, their watchtower library. Do you see wrapped with a rope, so sweet. Adam wanted to get a picture of it but we did not want to be too obvious so we thought this picture of Bong painting their new house, pretty sums it all up! :)

Adam and Br. Jerry

We had one really crazy day here, on our drive from the office to the sites, we ran out gas, had to walk 1/2 kilometer to the gas station pushing the motorbike. Adam on his way to checking another site ran over and killed a chicken, so another local brother went with him to the owner to make a peace offering only to find the chicken plucked and in the boiling pot of water already, so all was ok. It was so funny Adam came back with his bike and 3 feathers adorning the handle bars hehehe!
On our way home the same day we had a flat tire, so I find myself sitting roadside at a cafe talking with strangers while Adam gets it fixed for 25 cents! The next morning on the way to work we hit a dog!! Yeah, animals just walking right out in front of you.....now we need a goat and cow and we will make it complete hahaha

That about wraps up our week, miss you all and see you soon!! xo