Well, I know that the team is back in the UK now, and I hope they will use the blog to download some of their thoughts on the fortnight in the Philippines. And some people reading this may even have begun to hear some stories, straight from the horses' mouths, so to speak. But I thought that, given a bit of a lull today, I would post some updates on what we actually did, then leave team members to add their thoughts.... (he says, elliptically).
The team did a major amount of work on the varandahs at Joyland over the Monday to Wednesday, so we felt everyone needed a break from that. Gordon and Reg in particular had toiled like Trojans under the sun, so we packed them off on a jaunt to Silay, known locally as the Paris of Negros. No Champs Elysee or towers there, though some of the driving reminds me a lot of driving round Paris. But there were plenty of old buildings to prove of interest, and from what we hear, some of the locals enjoyed getting an eyeful of two white guys, taking photos and enjoying life in a filipino provincial town. Reg's photos are particularly good, so grab a look sometime. You may even get a tale or two of some friends he made!
I went out to Joyland to pick up the older kids, who then joined about 50 kids aged between 9 and 13 at the swimming pool on Emma's subdivision. It was great seeing the joy on their faces, and their enjoyment of swimming in a pool. We had taken a lot of these kids to a pool back in October on the Crowe / Chapman / Randall team, so we were pretty sure they would enjoy the experience. But it may well have been a first for some of the Joyland kids.
That is Joey in the pink rubber ring, posing for the photo. The first day we went to Joyland, Joey sat on his own, crying. By the next day, he was everyone's friend, posing for loads of pictures, and the swimming did him a power of good too. A few weeks ago, he was quite literally living on the streets of Silay .. Vanessa, the social worker at Joyland, showed me his spot the other day. He is still sad sometimes at night, as he is the only one of the 15 kids living there who does not have a sibling living there, but his life is so different now, so much better. I have a real soft spot for Joey... He so much exemplifies what CAN be done for children and young people here, as long as people care enough.
Around lunchtime, there was a change of shift at the pool. The younger Dacutan kids went back to the village, the Joyland kids were delivered back home, Reg and Gordon were collected from their wanderings, and the older young people (aged 14 to around 18) replaced the younger Dacutan kids. Again, much enjoyment, though a lot more posing and performing to impress from this bunch..... Teenagers, the world over, perhaps.... But again, still, great gratitude for the outing...
But I think all of the team would say that what little we gave to them, we received so much back in return, later that evening.....
1 comment:
O o, that we did.
But not just that evening. Even at swimming the children blessed us with their smiles, their laughter and their singing. And that evening proved to be a moment of true harmony between us and them, a moment of complete acceptance and peace.
A moment that will stay in my heart forever (and I know i am not just talking for myself here.) That evening was one in which each of us shared ourselves (in whichever dance form that took...) and we were received by loving and caring people, who may not have much in life, but whose lives reflect those who are rich and fulfilled.
It was indeed, a great night.
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