7/20 - Enter Tinucoran

I woke up at 7am, took a Bukid Shower (as normal to me as a regular one now!! Cold water?? That's nothing!!) and finally met Casey and Judith as a couple. Casey--an American--has been working at the BOOST for years, and I've heard a lot about him from both Sylvette and the rest of the teams.  He is marrying a sweet Filipina-Judith from Manila in September, who started working at the BOOST a couple of years ago. Their story is SO precious, such a testimony....

Casey is a firm believer in being able to self-support yourself on the missionfield, and so he and Judith have a growing Coffee Business, as well as many other little side businesses...and boy do they make the best 'iced candy' (and coffee)!!!

I've never seen an engaged couple work so completely in harmony in a business, and not even  be married yet!! They have the same vision--foreign missions, helping others, and being good stewards with the talents God has blessed them with. It's been really rough at times, trying to their businesses off the ground, but it's still running, and what a testimony they have!! They're going back to the States in late August to get married, and are turning the business over to the care of some of their Filipino Workers.....

Many of the missionaries here in the Philippines have this self-supporting-within-the-country' mindset, and I really like it. I've never actually had the chance to really talk to missionaries about how they keep profitable while on the missionfield, and I've though I haven't gotten the chance to really get very deep on the subject, I have met at least 3 families who are really living it out here. Something else to add to my 'notebook'!!

Had Oatmeal and Fresh BOOST Coffee for breakfast-delish!!! Since Bong and Jordan were on their way back from the Bukid of Lawan-Lawan and Caskilan, where they did a lot of Tulis with the teams there, we had some time to relax, before leaving for our first post.

Bong's kuya (older brother) Rinel (BOOST Staff) and Algie (a translator)

Sylvette

Picture Board!!

While waiting, I journaled and had a wonderful quiet time with God on the hillside in the peace of the Country. I also had some wonderful conversations/swapped stories with different people, while sorting 'Reject' Coffee Beans. (Thanks Casey for teaching me!) I soon became known as the 'Voluntary Coffee Sorter' at the BOOST, as when there wasn't anything to be done, you'd nearly always find me like this:

The Supervisors - Bong and Jordan - got here around 9:30am, and after resting for a few hours, we had Chicken Adobo, Monggo Bean Soup, and Rice for lunch, where I was thoroughly questioned by the Filipinos there about my future 'plans', singleness, etc. ;p).

Originally, we were going to be spending our time at Casiklan, but Bong and Jordan had just come from there and Lawan-Lawan (which is beyond), and weren't planning on going back for a little while. So instead, we were going to Tinucoran (on the other side of the river) for a few days!!!

Bong getting ready to go

We left at 2pm for Tinucoran on motorbikes; the 4 of us - Bong and Sylvette, and Jordan and me. When we were half way to Tinucoran, it hit me that this was the first time ever my driver has been a white person!!

Jordan getting ready to go with Water Filter Team Leader - Adam

Gamay Sylvette shouldering one of the packs

Though it really doesn't make a difference, I found at the beginning one variance: Traveling as the only white girl is a LOT different than traveling with other white girls, because when people call out a greeting as you're passing, whistle, or whatever else, instead of knowing it's for ALL you girls, it is for you solely. Easy enough, right? Sometimes. From experience, I know that the Filipino drivers love the attention and the 'privilege' of driving their white passengers, but what about white men? That question made passing villagers a bit awkward at first, but after discussing it all, it become normal again.

Crossing the River in Canoes (something we did often after that)

We got to Tinukoran at 3:30pm, and met the team: Kayla, Lissa, Angela, Heather, the 2 Filipino translators: Belle and Arlin. Most of them were just about to leave for a Bible Study, except one who was sick, so I took advantage of the moment and took a nap until 6 pm. The team got back around 6:45 pm, and so we didn't eat until 8:15 pm - Chicken Gumbo and Rice - sooo good!!!

Filipino Chicken Gumbo is different than American Gumbo... The way it is made, is by chopping the defeathered, gutted chicken (or not?) into small chunks--all of it. After preparing the Sauce (1/2 flour to 1/2 oil, which is stirred and cooked until hershey brown, and spiced up), you put the chicken in, and boil it until done. At the very end, you add the vegetables, and voila! Actually, it is very delicious...you just have to pick out the bones. 

Lissa, Jordan and Sylvette on the porch of of the Tinucoran's Host's home

We then had Team Time, where we shared about the day - highlights and concerns, and then went around the room and shared prayer requests, with the person beside you praying for you. It's neat going to different teams and seeing how they do things....so many ideas and variants!!