3 Day Excursion

Our stint at the camp with our former coworkers was so encouraging. We look back with thankfulness for that time of fellowship with our dear friends. Chatting with them in-between meetings, enjoying meals with them in the dining room and being there for Fun Night were just some of the highlights.

Each moment of hearing their stories of what God has been doing in their lives and how things were going for them in their various responsibilities was precious. That timing was perfect.


Catching up on the last 2 1/2 years with Thea Epp on an afternoon picnic. It was fun to be called 'Grandma Liz' again.
We were also happy to be there for the presentation of a gift to our dear friends, Bob and Jan Bagley who are retiring from their work in the Philippines. We know they will be greatly missed. It also brought back fond memories of when our friends had a similar farewell for us two years ago.
During our second day there we made a day trip to nearby Villa Escudero - a working Coconut Farm. There is an amazing huge museum that has everything in it from soup to hay - or should I say, collections of old money, clothes, furniture, dishes, flags, dolls and the list goes on and on. The most fascinating item there for me was a drawing of angels. Using a magnifying glass you can see that it literally is the writing of the entire New Testament - an amazing work of art that must have taken years to do. Shrunken skulls, from Ecuador, were another item that had me stumped.
Relaxing paddle up the river on a native bamboo raft. We were taken to the main part of the plantation by a Water Buffalo Cart. While on the way we were entertained by singers in the back seat.
We made our way down to the river, at the bottom of the falls, where dinner was served. Lots of bamboo picnic tables were in the river, with a wide variety of yummy Filipino food for our dinner.
Fun to be eating dinner with water running over your feet.
My choice - grilled bangus (milk fish) - pancit - chicken and a few veggies, including singkamas.
Dessert - tapioca in coconut milk, served in coconut shells. Masarap!!
Dinner was followed by a demonstration of making the coconut milk. First a young man swiftly climbed the tree to get some coconuts.
Then they proceeded to show us how they make the coconut milk using the water from the coconut and the meat.

The cultural show put on by many talented men and women was well worth waiting for.

It was simply amazing the way they could move around with candles on their heads, make tunes with coconut shells and maneuver around tinkling bamboo sticks.

The following morning after bidding farewell to most of our fellow missionaries, we began our journey back to Manila.
Close to the campground is an old Spanish underground cemetery where we stopped by briefly.

On we go to take a canoe trip up to Pagsanjan Falls. We just sit back and enjoy the beautiful, Amazon-like scenery while the boatmen maneuver the canoes up the river, seemingly knowing every rock and boulder that is in their path.

The highlight of the trip is to be taken under the 300 ft. falls on a raft - it is cooold and forceful, but worth the experience.

Our last stop before we are back in the city is at the Exotic Restaurant, where we are served crocodile, snake and frog.

Crocodile

Snake

Frog

The fun part is watching each other take that first bite!!

Back on Philippine Soil

Sometimes I wonder if our recent, awesome trip to the Philippines was real, or was it just a great big FANTASTIC dream!! We sure enjoyed every second of it, and are so thankful for all that we were able to do, see and enjoy these past 3 weeks.

Trying to calculate the time it took us to feel at home again - we concluded that it was probably 2-3 seconds! We sooooo enjoyed all the familiar sounds, smells, language, temperature, friends and much more.

Our trip began with a 3 hour train ride across country to Manchester, where we met Ragnar's two nieces and their husbands, who traveled to Manila with us. Our journey back to Asia began the following morning. It didn't seem that long until we were walking on Philippine soil again, although we were thankful for the chance to stretch our legs during the couple hour lay over in Dubai.

We were on our way - Susanna and JP.
In the Dubai airport.
Ordering food from Thai Express at the airport.
Although a little spicy, it was yummy.
8 hours after the break in Dubai, we are walking through the Manila airport. MABUHAY!!
After 'settling in' at our Guest House in Manila, our relatives were game for seeing a bit of Manila, so we jumped on a jeepney and soon were at a familiar mall enjoying yummy food at California Pizza Kitchen.
This had to be followed by Ragnar's favorite coffee - Figaro.

Yes, we really were back in the Philippines!!
Our dear friends, Pepe and Cynthia Garcia invited us over to their home for dinner the following evening. What a joy to be with them again. Cynthia has worked in our office for the last 30 years.

They are in the process of building a new home, so we stopped by there to have a look at it.
Then we went on to their home to enjoy a Filipino dinner - rice, pancit and Baliwag chicken.
The following morning we began making our way down to the camp where NTM has their annual Conference.

We were excited to see our friends and coworkers again. What perfect timing for the Conference to be taking place while we were in the country.
On our way to the camp we stopped by to see Taal Volcano. It consists of an island in Lake Taal, which is within a large crater, formed by an earlier , very powerful eruption. It is one of the active volcanos in the Philippines, known as a lake within a lake.
Getting into the boat for 1/2 hr. ride across the lake.

Enjoying the ride across the lake with my two nieces.

Horses were available to take us to the top of the hill, although some of us chose to walk.

We made it to the top.

Enjoying refreshing buko juice (coconut water.)

Feeling the heat from the rising steam.

Following our hike (or horse back ride) back down the hill, and the boat ride back across the lake, we enjoyed a lovely meal at Sonya's Garden - a Restaurant situated within a garden - a very pleasant atmosphere.

December Tidbits

In the morning we will begin our exciting journey back to the Philippines for 3 weeks.

I probably won't get an opportunity to update our blog until we make our way back to our home here in England, so thought I would just add a few tidbits of happenings in December before we leave. Ragnar giving the students, who have just finished their Phonetics Course, an opportunity to write down phonetically from a Filipino language.

They have come to our home for this part of their class experience. He is showing them how the 'bolo' (machete) is such a big part of the Kankanaey's life.

Here we are at the gym which was decorated and set up for the Christmas Banquet for all staff and students.
Renee, one of our excellent cooks, setting up lots of yummy desserts.

One of our friends playing a number on the flute.

The students talent and creativity continue to amaze me.

Here they are singing a fun song they composed about studying Phonetics.

The following day was the Christmas Carol Service for folks in the community.

It was also well attended.

The choir sang a beautiful number. I signed up for the original practice, but believe it or not something came up each Tuesday night until that Sunday and I never made it back. This way I could sit back and enjoy it though.

I must really be getting old, as these young people's memories absolutely amazed me. They could flawlessly quote many lines without missing a beat. Except for being annoyed at myself realizing I couldn't do that anymore, I really enjoyed this little play.

This was followed by delicious cakes, cookies and candy plus lots of time to enjoy spending with the guests.