Back to School

Hey all. Toti and I had a goofy day of presenting the Biosand Water Filter to school children yesterday. Read all about it here.

Tim.

Catching up...

We're having a lazy day. There was no church today, so we sat in bed and watched the hockey game instead. Well, truth be told, Promise had the other computer set up next to mine with a Dora DVD. But I could tell she was conflicted about what screen to fix her gaze upon. I think she'll turn into a good Canadian soon enough.

It was nice to have family time. I've been trying hard to set aside some special time for that each week. I always look forward to our evening routine of eating together (still no television shows during meals, if you were wondering), and then playing with Promise before her bedtime. Reading her favorite story to her is the highlight of my day (and no, Tiger still can't sleep).

The last two weeks, however, I've taken a morning off from work to go swimming with Bethany and Promise at the Marco Polo. A few weeks ago Mum & Dad got us a privilege club membership at the nicest hotel in Davao. Included in the membership is several free trips to the rooftop pool. Now, there are several pools around the city, but there is something about escaping to a place of luxury for a few hours. You might have to live here to understand it, but it really is an escape. We may be only four stories above the noisy, stinky streets of Davao, but lying there on the fancy poolside chairs, with a plush oversized towel, contemplating a fancy fruit smoothie...you just forget where you are for a little while.

Promise absolutely loves swimming and begins to squeal with delight as soon as we exit the elevator (even the elevator is a nice place to hang out) and approach the pool. Promise calls it "the bap", believing it to be her own personal oversized bath tub. I wish I had pictures to show you of our recent visits to the Marco Polo, but I keep forgetting to bring my camera. I'll remember next week. Maybe.

Work has kept me pretty busy these days. As you may know, we're working on a deal with the Province of Pampanga, which is on the opposite side of the country, a couple hours north of Manila. We're facing an excellent opportunity to reach a whole new population, but it's not without its challenges. The province has requested an initial order of 500 Biosand Water Filters and has agreed to help us partner with another NGO to fund a new manufacturing center.

At this point we are still trying to work out the details of how to cut through the bureaucratic red tape and get the job done. Further complicating matters is the approaching election (May 11) with rules that restrict spending. We've looked at delaying the project until after the election, but the rainy season is fast approaching which always leads to a spike in water related illnesses. Toti and I will be in Pampanga for a few days on Thursday. Please be praying that we find creative solutions and reach an agreement with the government that will bring safe drinking water to the province in a reasonable amount of time.

I realize I haven't blogged in forever. I could keep writing at you—there is lots to say—but that would make this the mother of all blog posts. I can tell you that I've been busy enough with work that I haven't taken a meaningful photo or written anything creatively for a very long time. I'm even ignoring Facebook, because Facebook without wit just feels like an empty exercise. It's not that I don't have any free time. It's just that when I get to the end of the day, I feel like I have no creative energy left. I miss Uncle Bob. He would have been on me this month to get outside and make some photographs.

My hard drive filled up recently too, which meant that there was no room on my computer for new photos anyways. In fact, I've had images sitting on my memory card, waiting to be offloaded, since February 20th. I put in a new hard drive this week, upgrading from 250GB to 500GB, so I've got 4 gigs worth of photos uploading right now. I'll share some with you here, though they'll be painfully out of date.

Okay, this was a pretty lame bit of writing, but we'll just call it a bout of knocking off the rust. I'll get back to you later this week with something a little more eloquent. For now, I'll leave you with a few photos that should have appeared here a very long time ago, including some from my parents' visit, our 4am gold medal hockey game party, the really cheap and lame potty that Bethany mentioned a couple weeks ago (we've had a lot of requests), and the new table and chair that Promise has been enjoying.

Peace out.

Tim.

Somebody got a new rooster.

I think our neighbor got a new pet. This particular pet has very strong lungs and at 3:30 am every morning, he makes his presence known with a heartfelt macho "cock-a-doodle-doo-er". Yes, ever the "er" is at the end of his crow. In fact, the first time I heard him, I thought it was somebody outside being silly...it was almost musical!

However, since the morning he showed up, I haven't been able to get back to sleep once he starts his dirge. Doesn't he know that the sun doesn't come up until about 5 am?? I haven't been able to locate his whereabouts, but I know he is near.....sure, we've had many cocks around our neighborhood doodling all morning...but this one is particularly loud...the baby monitor in Promise's room on the other side of the apartment even picks up his morning call....he crows as though he is in my bathroom...stuck and can't get out. Poor cock. Dumb bird.

Okay....enough with my rooster tale. Tim has some great and awesome news for you all, but I don't think he will get around to blogging until the end of the week, so please stay tuned. For now, I will just give you an update on family life and getting back into the swing of things.

Tim's parents left on Saturday morning. We had a great time with them and felt encouraged to continue following the path God's been taking us on despite its sometimes invisibility....or so it seems. Although I was very tired during their visit and was still adjusting to being back here, I appreciated them coming and taking the time to just be with us.

Promise is adoring her "new" room. She is finally sleeping through the night without incident. :) This makes her mommy and daddy very happy. We bought her a $2 "potty" this week and hope to start the training process.....this little Chinese-made potty is hilarious and I am not sure exactly how Promise is going to make the switch between the potty being a mobile "comfy chair" that can also be a storage place for toys and it being a place for her excrement. So the journey begins. :)

I start working at this clinic next week. Because of Tim's work schedule, I will only be doing one day a week to start. I am looking forward to being back with the buntis. It feels a little funny to be going back to work no longer a student and not needing supervisor or preceptor signatures! This week I get to start home prenatals on a friend of mine from church. While she is planning on delivering her 5th baby in the US in October, she has asked me to be her midwife until her departure. I am honored to attend to her. :) She is my first "client" as Bethany, CPM.

I also get to visit May-May this week. Remember her? Her mother passed away in early February from complications of diabetes. She and her family have been continuing to struggle with the loss of her mother and new challenges. For example, after the big earthquake in Chile, parts of Davao were evacuated for fear of the tsunamis. May-May's family was just one of many evacuees. The tsunamis never came, but the fear and inconvenience to them was very hard. Tomorrow is the 40th-day anniversary of her mother's death and she has asked me to come and visit. In Filipino culture, death is mourned a long time....and days are counted. I look forward to the day when she has the freedom deep within to stop counting.

Sorry for the lack of pictures...I am finding it hard to remember to take them and Tim is just too busy to be working on photography....I will be sure to get back into taking some soon.

Thank you all again for the congrats, encouragement, support and prayers....the proof is in the pudding and the pudding seems good.....prayers are working.

Be blessed.

NARM Exam results....

PASS!

God is faithful.

Thank you oodles for the prayers. I am a certified midwife. :)

Be blessed.

Adjusting

Greetings! I am writing from my kitchen table in very hot, sunny Davao City....Promise and I made it back safely without any major issues. :)

After the incredible miracles God performed while Promise and I were in Oregon, I was certain that our flights home would be covered in the grace and mercies of God.....and they were. Despite all flights being insanely full, I managed to bargain my way into getting Promise her own seat....and her own meals. However, she screamed most of the way from Portland to Tokyo with 2 hours of interrupted sleep in between. After a wonderful sponge bath in the Tokyo handicap bathroom, Promise and I headed to our 5-6 hour flight out of Tokyo to Manila....we sat next to a little old lady who was gracious enough to let us out 3 times to pee and get diapered. :)

We were so blessed when we arrived in Manila because immigration was speedy and though it was after 10 pm, Promise was still coping. We managed to get out into the humid air 30 minutes earlier than expected and we were overwhelmingly blessed when we saw Christina (Tim's mom) in the distance looking around for us. :) We ran to her and got BIG hugs. She had ordered us a van from her hotel and put us up in a wonderful room for the night. We were greeted by the Philippines Impact Nations team and my dear friend, Danielle, even gave me some of her halo-halo. :) Exhausted, we lumbered up to our room and Christina watched the Bird while I showered. By midnight, I was almost in tears from exhaustion...I tried to get Promise to go to sleep....she wasn't taking the bait. By 2 am, I was crying and Promise was wailing...I was sure everyone in the hotel was thinking that I was beating my child or something. I put on some soft worship music from my computer, gave Promise some infant Motrin and rocked her until she dozed off...only to wake up again at 5 am. Poor baby.

But Friday morning held a wonderful reunion. Steve, Christina, Promise and I boarded a plane bound for Davao to see Tim. They let me run ahead while they got the luggage from the baggage claim....I ran outside to see Tim in tears and Promise very sleepily say, "Daddy!". She leaned into his chest and rested. It was sweet. I cried, too.

While I was so grateful to have my hubby back, I couldn't help but feel an aching sense of doom. I didn't want to be in Davao. I wanted to be in Oregon still. Feeling my purpose for this season unclear and daunted by the overwhelming feelings of exhaustion and the responsibility to "DO" again, I started to withdraw.

This week has been very hard. We've had several earthquakes, power outages, water shortages, extreme heat and that doesn't include my questionable attitude and sheer exhaustion. I am sure that being pregnant is not helping...though I am so thankful to be healthy and strong for this little baby boy.

Promise is adjusting okay to all the changes again. She is finally in her own room (PRAISE GOD!) and is no longer breastfeeding! YEAH!!! During the day, the heat gets to her and she is getting eaten again by mosquitoes. She struggles with jetlag still, but is doing great at sleeping through the night. The many Dora the Explorer dolls help. :) She and her daddy are two peas in a pod and are enjoying every moment together despite her terrible crabbiness. In all honesty, this little girl has been through a lot and for what she has endured, I'd say she is pretty amazing and fantastic. She is handling it better than I could ever ask....and she is cute, too.

This week has been filled with visits, trips out and about with Steve and Christina and bacon. Yes, I have bought bacon nearly everyday this week. It's hard to come by here because it's pretty expensive....but my preggo body is craving it like water.

Tim and I were also blessed this week as Steve and Christina bought us a package deal at a very beautiful hotel here in town....they have a pool, several restaurants, air con and gorgeous rooms! This week, they are watching the Bird for a FULL 24 hours, so Tim and I can enjoy a day of rest together away from the stressors of home....and from water shortages, heat, and power outages. :) I am TERRIBLY excited. I wish it were Thursday right now.....one more day and Tim and I get to be in "honeymoon" mode for 24 hours. LOVE IT. The last time we did something like this was Valentines' Day 5 years ago!

So, I suppose that's the quick update version....no news on the results of the NARM exam. My ultrasound results came back showing a perfect little baby boy situated in a perfectly healthy womb. God is so good. His little kicks remind me of my Father's faithfulness again and again.

My parents in Oregon have been so encouraging as I have been transitioning back here...their prayers are certainly making a difference. I miss them.

Tim will update soon on all the crazy and awesome goings-on here. Cool stuff. I am so proud of him.

Be blessed.

In over my head.

I'm sitting in the Manila airport, listening to Dashboard Confessional, awaiting my return flight to Davao. I've just wrapped up a last minute trip to the province of Pampanga, where some very interesting stuff is going on. I was so pleased to be able to join Mum and Dad and a small JOC team who are working in a couple different cities here in Luzon. My parents will be visiting us in Davao soon, but this visit was a very nice bonus.

As Dad has been traveling around the world this year (he is in his seventh country in as many weeks), he has spoken to church and political leaders about the biosand water filter. It seems that I have become the Impact Nations "clean water guy", a resource to project leaders and apostolic leaders from around the world.

Throughout the last few weeks, I have received a number of Skype calls from Dad so he could introduce me to the men he is working with. We have made the most of some very limited bandwidth in countries such as Kenya, Zimbabwe, and Uganda. I've had the privilege of encouraging men like Langton, who is working with his team in Zimbabwe and have already installed over one thousand biosand filters, making a significant dent in a very serious cholera outbreak. I'm working with men such as Robert Mponye in Uganda and Simpson Rebbavarapu in India as we explore ways to train their teams to bring safe drinking water to communities all over their respective countries.

Some of these discussions have included potential partnerships with governments at both the provincial and national level. One such possibility came to my attention five days ago. As the JOC team was working in Pampanga, Dad had an opportunity to meet with and pray for Governor Panlilio. During their initial meeting, Dad spoke of the biosand filter and the governor expressed significant interest. As had become our protocol, Dad called me to arrange a Skype meeting with the governor and his staff. I suggested that I hop on a plane, since I live in the same country and a face to face meeting would likely lead to bigger things.

Two days later I was on a plane headed to Manila and then a bus to San Fernando. It was great to see Dad again. I hopped off the bus and caught a ride to a local church where he was teaching a bunch of pastors. It was felt good to listen to him doing his thing as I sat at the back and did a bit of work on my computer.

He wrapped up his session and we headed to the provincial capitol. We got a few minutes with the governor who seemed genuinely pleased that we had come. We proceeded to a boardroom where I spoke to about eight of his senior staff about the filter technology. It was neat having Dad in attendance so he could see me do my thing.

As always, I was peppered with technical questions as people struggled to understand the power and simplicity of this thing we call the biosand filter. After the presentation, the provincial administrator invited us to her office where we agreed in principal to move ahead with a plan to bring clean water to the province of Pampanga.

I have already written a rough draft of a Memorandum of Agreement that I will bring to my lawyer tomorrow to turn it into a legal document. The proposed plan is to start a new filter manufacturing center in Pampanga as a private enterprise, with the government purchasing filters for distribution in the coastal communities.

The ramifications of this deal could be huge. It brings us to a whole new level of influence. It will very likely lead to other provincial contracts (I have leads in both Sultan Kudarat and Agusan del Sur). It will certainly strengthen our business, giving us profits that can be reinvested in other projects around the Philippines and perhaps the world.

It seems that the Lord has suddenly accelerated things and brought me to a whole new level. A couple months ago I was focused only on Mindanao, but today I am contemplating ways to make our Zimbabwe project profitable, drafting job descriptions for project leaders in Uganda, India, and northern Philippines, and beginning to get a vision for an integrated global clean water strategy.

I'm excited about the possibilities, but I'd be lying if I told you that this stuff doesn't scare the crap out of me. I'm in way over my head. I'm just a mediocre musician. A university drop-out. Now I meet with governors and draft province-wide strategies? How did this happen? Do I really want it to happen? This stuff is hard work, and I don't know how to do a lot of it. I feel like a fraud.

However.

This morning Dad preached a message that speaks directly to this issue. I'm a child of the King of kings and He has called me—you too, by the way—to the family business. He sees what is not yet, and calls it as though it were (Romans 4:17). While I may see my current limitations, God knows my destiny and has set it like a horizon before me. He has put a purpose and a passion in my heart that will serve as the vehicle to get me there. I'm just along for the ride.

Cheers,

Tim.

CATCHING UP WITH LIFE!

Greetings! Bethany here...writing from sunny and cold Gresham, Oregon!
These past two weeks have been such a blur...a "brrr blur". When Promise and I touched down in Portland, exhausted and smelly (Promise barfed on the plane), my precious dad was there to greet us with coats and smiles. :) It was such a blessing to see him...Promise recognized him, but was just a bit unsure about life.

The next few days proved to be very trying and tiring. I got the flu. A bad bad flu. Promise wasn't sleeping and spent each night calling out for her daddy. We cried a lot and between barfs and diarrhea, we coped. My mom came back from California the Sunday after we arrived and Promise greeted her as if she had been missing her for years....screams and screeches of delight and excitement bursted from her and of course, my mom was equally excited. Grandma Con is her friend. :)

Mom and dad helped me through the woes of the flu and manned The Bird for me as I tried to study for my NARM exam. My brother even volunteered to watch her here and there! However, studying was just not happening....I was just feeling too icky, tired, jetlag and overwhelmed with life. I was feeling as though my urinary tract infection and fever were returning, too...making me nervous.

Then my dear friends, Heidi and Kate came from Vancouver to pray over me and to encourage me. They made the 6 hour drive just to bring me vitamins and build me up! I was so blessed! We had an amazing whirlwind time of prayer for our futures, for the NARM exam, for Promise....you see....about 3 months after Promise was born, I noticed a little physical abnormality but was not sure if it was something serious or something that could just be dealt with later in life. After having my suspicions confirmed with the advice and expertise of nurse practitioners, Heidi and Kate, I felt like it was time to go to pediatric specialist. However, I have no insurance and no way to receive care for neither Promise or myself.

Then enters a very special doctor......I had met Dr. Sayson in high school....the father of a saxophone rival of mine, he and his wife came to all the competitions and concerts. I had no idea at the time that our paths would cross in such a divine way.....
Dr. Sayson runs a free clinic for patients without health insurance in the Gresham area. The Good News clinic serves people of all races and walks of life and last Tuesday, they served me. I was floored.
My mom, Promise and I entered the clinic to find the whole volunteer staff doing devotions together. We were greeted so warmly and were told that there was one opening that morning for me!

After devotions, the nurse checked me in and I had to pee in a cup for the urine analysis. Dr. Sayson came in and after discovering our strange past connection, he asked me what I was up to now....I shared about the Philippines and the journey we've been on....he got so excited sharing that he is Filipino and has a vision to start a charity medical/midwifery clinic in the Philippines, too! We were able to encourage each other and he asked me to come and speak at his Bible Study that Thursday night. I was so grateful as my urine analysis came out completely clear of infection! He referred me for an ultrasound to make sure some of my other concerns were alleviated and also checked out Promise, agreeing that a referral to a pediatric doctor would be necessary.....I left there feeling at peace, but recognizing that there was quite a lot of work ahead of me.....

Wednesday came and I headed to my long-awaited NARM midwifery certification examination. I drove to the testing site in tears....grateful the day had finally come. Completion. The first half of the exam was a challenge and despite my many trips to the washroom, I managed to finish the first session 2 hours early! I headed out early to find some lunch.

While lunching, Dr. Sayson called sharing that he had booked me a FREE appointment with a pediatrician for Promise for that very afternoon. I was so thankful, but mildly concerned as my exam was to last until 5 pm. The pediatrician said I could come as late as 6 pm....I wasn't sure that we would make it in time. However, 1 pm I was allowed to reenter the testing site and take the second part of the 8-hour exam. I prayed that the Lord would quicken my mind so that I could get Promise for her appointment....I finished in 1 hour and 40 minutes. The 8-hour exam was finished in 3 hours and 40 minutes. God either answered my prayer or I REALLY had no idea what the right answers were! Ha ha ha! (I find out the results in 3 weeks).

I raced to mom and dad's place to pick up my mom and Promise. We booted to the pediatrician making it there at 4:30 pm. :) She saw Promise and shared that the problem was not as serious as originally suspected and that a simple regimen of medication should solve the problem! I was so blessed. The fun part was that this lovely pediatrician knew my brother and had attended his church! What cool connections!

The next day, I went to purchase Promise's prescription...$150.99. OUCH! I felt the Lord gently remind me that He was going to take care of all the details....so I put it on my visa and prayed that God would provide in all the places I lacked.

That evening I had an opportunity to speak and share the adventure Tim, Promise, and I have been on these last 3 years....the group I shared it with were so encouraging and upon leaving, I was given a "blessing" that I later opened up in the car on the way home....can you guess what it was?? Right...$150 cash. God cracks me up! I was so humbled. I also received a check in the exact amount that I had arrived in Portland with that I had spent on necessities such as groceries, underwear, and items I couldn't purchase in the Philippines....THE EXACT AMOUNT! God floored me again.

This morning, my brother asked me share a message on stepping out from fear and stepping into faith to a bunch of high school students! Well, with the kind of week I had, I had lots to share!

After speaking, mom and I headed to the ultrasound clinic to check out on my pregnancy. Though I have no insurance, my mom gave me the precious gift of seeing the little one inside...we marveled together at the sight of this squirmy monkey in my belly and the ultrasonographer, though not at liberty to comment medically on the state of things, shared with us that the little monkey is A BOY!!! We're having a baby boy! Meanwhile, we had a wonderful conversation with the ultrasonographer and found out that he has a deep desire to serve the poor overseas! What a coincidence! Mom and I shared about Dr. Sayson and about Impact Nations...he was excited to discover that so many opportunities were waiting for him! We'll see where it all goes! I am hoping to find out the results of my ultrasound by next Tuesday.

So two weeks of Divine appointments come to a close and I am FRIED....but my soul is refreshed and my spirit is invigorated knowing that my Saviour has prepared my path and has spoken clearly the steps I am to take all the while making some incredible connections! I have been floored by His mercy.

We are missing Tim terribly and know that he is very busy at home making some amazing connections with the water project. We are eager to see him next Thursday.
All this to say...THANK YOU FOR PRAYING FOR US! YOUR PRAYERS HAVE MADE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT! God is on the move and we are so thankful to be leaning against Him as He continues to move us on.
Please pray for this coming journey on Wednesday as Promise and I (somewhat reluctantly) leave my parents and her cousins to board a plane for a very long trip home. Thank you all again.
Be blessed.