Theses people literally have nothing, and not sure what they had before "Y". They have no electricity, so no appliances, no running water so no bathrooms. Cook outside and eat outside, mostly rice and fresh fruit, and meat, , so all they do is sleep in the hut, with big windows and a floor elevated about 4 feet off the ground by bamboo poles. So the floor and roof is there only protection from the elements. I did not see anything to sleep on, but did see occasional mattresses lying around in trash heaps. What little they had is strewn around in trash heaps from the storm. Food is basically brought in every few days for them by organizations. I've helped pack for 2 diff org. And it is basically, rice or noodles and canned fish. At least it keeps them alive. One of the nearby villages had been skipped and almost starved to death before they got food too them. Really it was the water more than the food. They usually walk good distances daily to get their water supply. But even that was cut off by Y. Thedelivery of supplies is from a list and if for some reason you miss the hand written list, you don't get anything. Remember, this is1 month after the storm and an island away from ground zero. 3 weeks before Y there was a 7.2 earthquake 1 island to the west of Cebu then Y was 1 island east. So resources had been hit hard, and the earthquake damage is jst having to wait till Y victims are stable. EQ island still has no electricity 7 weeks later. They are such patient and long suffering people, just getting by until help comes. There is another tragedy in the making. There is a major crack Ina mountain on Cebu. They are trying to evacuate almost 100 families before they are smashed by rockslides. With all the displaced families around, they don't want to leave what they have and risk having nothing. Here, the land is not there's in most cases. It is govt land and although they are not really permitted to build there, they do and the govt looks the other way. However, in the last few years the govt has been saying no to rebuilding if something happens. So if they loose their home they may be forced to relocate and not be with family rear job or whatever. Just 2 days ago I was walking around 4 pm and thought we were getting a big dark cloud but it was a fire downtown. Destroyed about 200 homes. There culture is just very fragile because of no codes and overcrowding and quality of building materials. Soo very any homes are basically dried brush which is what we see go up in flames every. Spring in Texas. They are very vulnerable to many natural situations. TP me it is so beautiful that it is hard to see dirty, but I'm sure cleanliness causes sicknesses to spread rapidly, closeness then causes more widespread illness. But when the dust settles, I see such a happy carefree country, I would be reluctant to want to see changes. If any of these things had to change, it would bring on such stress that it would destroy some of the charm. But when the dust settles, I see value in govt regulation, of things like building standards, occupancy guidelines, sanitation. I would not want to go back, but I see greater value now than ever before.
So back to the village. After they got the Nepa passed out the people took them to their homes for use. But before they parted, Val ha d Christmas package for each of them. Don't know what it was but it was in red plastic bags and pretty heavy, probably food items.with no water, they wouldn't need soap, combs or brushes, what nots, everyone wears flip flops so no socks, many of them are too late for tooth brushes, what do you give someone who has nothing. Anyway, my new. Friend Val is so intuitive. I had been unable to really contribute anything but a smile so far, and had taken up room in the truck, so was feeling helpless. The Nepa bundles weighed more than I could budge, so Val asked me to hand out the gifts. He had then lined up in 2 lines go I started passing out bags to everyone just as if it was Rally or Sales Meeting. I hugged ever neck and s lied and said God Bless you to everyone of them. They all smiled back and thanked me. Then we did pics of everyone , I didn't know they had already taken pics of me hugging everyone, but it was delightful for all of us. I thanked Val for giving me the opportunity to hug all of them. About 50. Don't think the men had ever been hugged by a white women before, but no one passed out. Val told his wife I hugged em all even the hot sweetie ones. I told her I didn't know who was sweater me or them. I was no prize, but felt like the winner. Willingness has gone a long way on this adventure, God has been faithful to provide everything else.
So next Val invited me to go up the hillside and see some homes. Most had cleared away the rubble and some had started to rebuild with 12-20 foot long bamboo poles. They put 4 upright in the ground the start to attach a pole to outline the floor, then the roofline. That is about as far as most had gotten, waiting for the Nepa. Some had retrieved old walls and made a little shelter from it. The home they were building would be more like a campsite than what we think ofBut they were happy. Many little children being carried by Momma. A lot of old folks, as wel. A new baby had been born that morning, and I met the midwife but not the Mother. Proof to all of us that life does go on. Those who I had a chance to talk with for a few minutes at their site, I told them we are all praying for them..., so please pray for the. The looks on their faces and their words said thank you and for some, that is all they ave, is faith that gives them hope. On our way up, we had stopped for coffee, but they didn't have any cups so we stopped again and had coffee and bread, then we stopped again at the river that meets the ocean and they said Val was getting fish. Well after we finished at the village, we went to Val's weekend getaway on the beach. Basically gone with Y. And he and some of the neighbors prepared lunch. The fish they caught that morning, the coconuts right off the trees, sautéed vegetables I don't know where they came from and did recognize anything but red and green peppers and onions and tomatoes, and pork. Now I didn't see any pigs either. Anyway it was awesome. Sooo fresh. We drank the coconut juice and ate the coconut meat. Al so surreal to this ole gal. Wow. Now Val's beach house. All I know from what is left is that there is a beautiful big round room about 20 feet off the beach lever, once covered with natural roofing, and a natural rounded set of steps leading up to in. Could probably entertain 50 people comfortably. All open air even before Y. As you come up the steps, there was a kitchen off to the side with cooking area and sink and I didn't notice much else but nice and large for cooking for large crowds and prep space. They cooked the fish and pork over an open fire of palm wood from the damaged home. On either side of the round room, but on ground level, were comfort stations with showers and toilets. Obviously a great place for friends and family getaways. They have had this for 12 years and will rebuild. The cool part is that all along the beach is private homes and everyone knows each other. So they all came by to visit and help and compare progress reports. Felt like Brock after a storm. On a level between the kitchen and round room was a huge table and chairs where we dined, everything overlooks the ocean. Between the house and the beach is grassy n with lots of flowers and palm trees and large flowering trees. They didn't loose trees but did loose a lot of the landscaping. Then a little step down to the sand from the grass, the maybe 25 feet to the beautiful clear as glass water. It probably went out 200 yards before it got over ankle deep. It was low tide. There were neighbors fishing, boating, snorkeling, trapping, everyone doing their own thing in their own ocean. Such a different atmosphere than any beach I've ever seen. Such quite and such peace, and such beauty. I walked around the each for awhile, visited the snorkel rs who were really picking seaweed. I had my gear, but it was too. shallow at that time, but you could tell. By the shells it would have been great. On the beach there were Many moving shells. I hated to walk on it cause I knew I was killing something. But when I got in the clear white water, I really had to stop. The ocean floor was filled with starfish and sand dollars. They averaged about 4 in in width and just payed there occasionally wiggling a foot. I stood amazed. There were hundreds in just the area I walked in about 20-30 feet off shore. Then they stopped so I could walk again. When I came back to shore I had to stop and pick my way carefully again cause there they were starfish and sand dollars whit against the white sand. I'll never forget the beauty of that. We hung for awhile and then back in the truck to come home. They made a shelter for the truck bed so they could have some shade. I felt terribly guilty in the cab. Now that I realized the value of a smiling unfamiliar face to these people who had nothing. It was just in outraging to them to know that someone out there knew they existed, gave me the impulse to wave and smile at everyone along the way. I felt like the queen in a parade, and they all waved and smiled back. I pray God will take the events and feelings of the day and magnify them to a point of usefulness. Back home now for a nap and a night out with my new friends.
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