Google maps said 1 3/4 hours, our Compassion contact said 2 1/2 hours, but for us it was 3 hours, and it would have been much longer if we hadn't bumped into someone as we were about to walk the final 1 1/2 kilometres as the road was simply too rough - thankfully she told us we were nowhere near the town of Bugang and we should drive back to the nearest town and ask directions. After asking for directions and then confirming with a further 7 people along the way that we were now going the right way, we finally arrived at the Bugang church and Compassion centre; even if you know where you're going, Bugang is at least 20 minutes on a rough dirt road from the nearest town, but has two churches, a primary school and a high school.
I'm so glad we found out last night that we were going to the centre and not just to Raine's home, as about 60 people had gathered to welcome us.
I spoke for a few minutes, managing to get plenty of laughs for my pronunciation of Tagbilaran, and then Hamish led the singing and actions for 'He died upon the cross'
and Elijah led a game with the actions ...
Then it was the kids' turn to perform for us. Gorgeous!
It reminded me a lot of visiting World Vision projects in Bangkok when I was just a little older than Hamish. What a joy to share this now with two of my boys!
The kids headed out to their programs, and we joined with the staff and Raine and his grandmother in the office to be presented with huge fresh coconuts and 'boud boud' - mashed rice and banana wrapped in dried banana leaves. With the right technique, it peels just like a banana. 'Boud boud' is good good!
We looked around the various rooms where the children were engaged in their learning activities, before heading off to Raine's house. Including the staff there were 7 of us, so it was not 'not so squishy' as we piled into our Kia Piccano hire car and I nervously drove us along a narrow and rough dirt road for about another 20 minutes to Raine's house.
A simple 3 room house with a concrete floor and walls of large blocks and wood.
A lovely garden of flowers and vegetables, next to a small thatched hut in which Raine's great great grandmother used to live; she is still alive but now lives elsewhere.
Electricity to a few lights and power points but a wood fire in the kitchen.
The whole extended family had come over to welcome us, and they served us a syrupy coconut and condensed milk drink. We loved talking with them about their home and their life. We had always wondered why Raine lives with his grandparents, so it was good to find out that both his parents work on the nearby island of Cebu in a call centre - a very common story in the Philippines, where there is not lot of work. I even got to speak to Raine's mum on the phone while we were there, which was a great thrill. Raine himself hardly said a word the whole time but his grandmother assured us that he is very shy. No doubt having strange visitors from across the world would make most 5 year year olds shy! He did seem to really like the pencils and pencil case we gave him though.
Then it was time for lunch together, so we piled back into the car and drove to the nearest restaurant - 40 minutes away in a large coastal centre called Talibon; until we pulled out our map to ask them for directions back to our hotel I hadn't realised we were now on the opposite side of the island to Tagbilaran!
We dropped them off where they could hire a motorbike back home, then headed back ourselves. Exhausted but so very thankful for the opportunity to participate in God's work in this community so far away, and to have had the rare opportunity to experience it.
Two reflections:
The contrast when we arrived back at our 3 star hotel was profound. Running water, tiled floors, real toilets and real beds; even air conditioning and a swimming pool - luxury the likes of which Raine and his family will most likely never see. Why should we have all this?
But on the other hand...
The trip to the compassion centre was an enlightening experience. Children who we would think unhappy, yet so joyful and full of life. Children, having nothing yet having obtained everything they needed. It was an amazing reminder of God's love and care for us. It reminded us of our priorities - these children seemed to us to have so little, but in God's eyes, they have all the riches of the world. These children have the means and opportunity to know and love the real Jesus. Luke 12:22-23 "...Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing." We were reminded by these children that our riches and wealth mean nothing without God.
Looking forward to meeting JM tomorrow, our other sponsored child here in Bohol; plus the morning at his Compassion child centre with about 26 other children that people from our church sponsor there.
No comments:
Post a Comment