Bohol Fun

It is hard to believe tomorrow is the last day I will spend with my friends Wilbur and Vernelle Unrau, and Marv Bethea here in Beautiful Bohol, Philippines.  I was talking to my wife, Mary, on Skype saying how fast the time has gone.  We left home almost three weeks ago and and it seems like only hours.  Time passes so quickly when you are doing things you enjoy.  Montana on a Mission is all about building relationships. Most important is our relationship with God, then with our neighbor, next door-across the state or even across the oceans.  Our assignment this trip is to come up with a more effective way to offer educational assistance at every level.   I believe we have accumulated the information needed to accomplish this goal.  We researched by communicating with the people that will be most affected by our plans, our neighbors here in Calunasan Sur.

The teaching staff of the Calunasan Sur Elementary School was one of the first groups invited to attend our nightly dinner, planning sessions.  We discussed how MOM could help every child in the school.  Our new program will propose sponsorships for each classroom as opposed to individual students. The teachers were all eager and willing to assist.  They are with the students daily and are the best source we have to assess the real needs of the barrio children.  Other dinners included parents and students interested in applying for college scholarship.  There are many bright young people needing assistance.  We were discussing with all of them that our desire is large but our finances are small.  Our good friend Along said it this way,  "We need a big meal but all we have is a snack!"  Not much to say after that.  We also met with the four boys receiving High School assistance.  They are all doing well and want to continue school next year.  It is our desire to expand our high school assistance program so we may help more high school students.  You will be hearing more about that after we report to MOM’s board of directors.

We have been blessed to be able to spend a lot of time with the youth of the barrio.  This is such a passion of mine personally.  I hope to take the college applicants on an outing where we can visit more about their individual plans.  While Wilbur, Vernelle and Marv were here we took "fun day" trips with the kids to the Chocolate Hills and the new zip line here in Loboc.  We also took a group, including some of the workers from Salangan Balay, on a dolphin-watch boat trip.  Many people work very hard to make our stay comfortable; it was enjoyable to be able to do something special with them.  Many people I have seen passing by on the road to town or wherever I may be headed were guests at one of the dinners.  It was great getting to know them and put a story behind the face.  I am far from remembering all the names but each trip gets better and better.  Connections are being made and friendships are growing.  True relationships are forming.

I brought many MOM calendars and note cards with me to give to the families here.  My heart smiles as each person we give them too flips through the months to see whom they will see.  Everyone loves them.  I have seen them posted on walls already as a proud remembrance of our time together.  Please pray for the time I have left on this trip.  My three friends leave tomorrow Feb 3, but I will stay until Feb 22.  I have many followup meetings with students and some fact finding missions in the city.  I also hope to get a lot of paperwork done.  Three weeks seems like a long time but I love what I do so it will go fast.  Thank you to everyone who supports MOM.  We are all here together and God willing this is just the beginning.  JOHN