Week 3 - January 22
Monday - We met in the Conference Room with the Mellor's from SLC who are Water Project Specialists and with Kiwi from Single Drop. We had our first lunch from 3rd Floor Catering which was Chicken Insala, it's very good food. We went to our first Family Home Evening, which is the 2nd and 4th Monday of each month. Potluck for dinner with different missionaries in charge of the program.
Tuesday - We flew to Iloilo for three days. We were able to stay in a very nice hotel called the Richmonde and then go meet with the area Service Missionaries the Solesta's who are over the ARP program and spend time training the leaders in their ward to facilitate the ARP meetings. The president in the Philippines has declared a war on drugs. In some areas the officials know who the addicts are, they go knock on their doors to inform them it would be best for them to surrender. Once they do that the local government officials try to help provide a recovery program. The government vets these surrenderers and refers the mild cases to our program. There are 3,000 people who have surrendered in Iloilo. We end up with groups of about 60 participants. We have them divided into three groups with 20 participants per group which is still more than we like. When we get in a group discussion it would be preferable to have smaller groups. The group meeting is conducted in Hiligaynon so we don’t understand much of what is being said but you can feel a very sweet spirit coming from these people as you see hope and light enter into their lives. The church will also try to help partner with different organizations to help these participants find meaningful employment.
Wednesday - We walked around the mall area in Iloilo in the morning. In the afternoon we met with a Stake President to aorient him on ARP and them attended a group meeting. We went to a nice dinner afterward with the Group Leaders.
Thursday - We flew home from Iloilo
Monday - We met in the Conference Room with the Mellor's from SLC who are Water Project Specialists and with Kiwi from Single Drop. We had our first lunch from 3rd Floor Catering which was Chicken Insala, it's very good food. We went to our first Family Home Evening, which is the 2nd and 4th Monday of each month. Potluck for dinner with different missionaries in charge of the program.
Tuesday - We flew to Iloilo for three days. We were able to stay in a very nice hotel called the Richmonde and then go meet with the area Service Missionaries the Solesta's who are over the ARP program and spend time training the leaders in their ward to facilitate the ARP meetings. The president in the Philippines has declared a war on drugs. In some areas the officials know who the addicts are, they go knock on their doors to inform them it would be best for them to surrender. Once they do that the local government officials try to help provide a recovery program. The government vets these surrenderers and refers the mild cases to our program. There are 3,000 people who have surrendered in Iloilo. We end up with groups of about 60 participants. We have them divided into three groups with 20 participants per group which is still more than we like. When we get in a group discussion it would be preferable to have smaller groups. The group meeting is conducted in Hiligaynon so we don’t understand much of what is being said but you can feel a very sweet spirit coming from these people as you see hope and light enter into their lives. The church will also try to help partner with different organizations to help these participants find meaningful employment.
Wednesday - We walked around the mall area in Iloilo in the morning. In the afternoon we met with a Stake President to aorient him on ARP and them attended a group meeting. We went to a nice dinner afterward with the Group Leaders.
Thursday - We flew home from Iloilo
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| We saw these dancers outside the Iloilo Airport getting ready for Festival |
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| The sights of Iloilo |
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| Training Group Leaders in Iloilo |
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| ARP Meeting |
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| Group Leaders |
Friday - We went up to Bataan (where the Bataan death march took place) with the Mellor's, Zorn's and Jairus. In Bataan there are some 1,700 people who have surrendered to the local government. In order to help these participants with our ARP program we have to meet with the mayor and get a MOA signed ( Memorandum of Agreement). When we arrived in Bataan the mayor invited us to join her at a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new local community facility and the ribbon cutting ceremony. We were treated as honored guests and warmly greeted by the members of the community. LDS Charities has a good reputation in this area. After our lunch we were able to visit a rehab facility. They take 50 surrenders at at time for a 30 day rehab program. They come in hardened but after 30 days most begin to feel a change. We are hoping to offer a maintenance program to them through ARPand our job is to help facilitate that. We then went to the City Hall to discuss possibilities for cllean water projects in communities that need it.
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| The rehab center in Dinaluphian uses part of their land to grow a garden. |
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| This is Vert. He went through the program in October. He loved it so much he asked if he could stay on and help with rehabilitation . He told his story about marrying you and getting kicked out of his home. He and his wife lived in a pig cage for 3 years. I am sure those circumstances are what led to his drug use. He wants to stay clean and provide for his family. |
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| Outside the rehab center with Jairus |
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| One of the rooms at the center. |
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| Their dorm room with bunk beds where they sleep. They spend 30 days in the program before they graduate. |
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| Mayor Gila of Dinaluphian |
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| Inspecting the garden at the community rehap facility |
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| Meeting with the City Council to discuss ARP and Water Projects |
Saturday - We met with some friends who drove us to the branch they attend for the baptism of 8 children up in Marong. We returned on Sunday with them for church. That’s where we met 4 adorable little girls who just clung to us. I was able to spend some time teaching Kristine to knit. She was very good. I loved listening to her sing in English as I pointed to the words on my i-Pad. I hope we get to go back. The little girls asked us if we would take them to Jollibees (it’s like McDonalds). Hopefully we will be able to do that soon.
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| Teaching Kristine to knit |
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| She was a quick learner |
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| Kristine is the one I have my hand on. |
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| These girls are cousins and live with their grandmother |
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