"Outreach"

I looked up the definition of outreach out of curiosity and I found this:

"A systematic attempt to provide services beyond conventional limits, as to particular segments of a community". I've been thinking about this because I have been involved in so many activities here that are called "outreach". This past week I participated in two new outreaches.

Last Friday, I got to help facilitate a Youth Program Outreach. There is a Vineyard Church here in Butuan who set up a campus right across the street from the local high school. Every Friday from 4:00-5:00, teenagers (or "youth" as they are called here) are invited to hang out in a place that is welcoming, comfortable and does not look "churchy". We had 16 students show up and we went from games to music to study. I was pleasantly surprised with how much sharing happened; almost everyone participated. For me personally, it was a nice change to spend time with a different group of people than I've been living with the past 2 months - to see groups of teenagers who are not street kids. It gave me another new perspective on things here.

Sunday, we made a 2 hour drive to a place called Del Monte. I was told we would be leading a Tribal Outreach. Unfortunately there was signficant flooding due to several days in a row of rain so we were not able to go into their community. The alternative was to set up our program at the church that many of them attend. The downside to this was that the number of kids who attended was much lower than we expected. The kids who live here at PDK (former street kids) had put together a 90 minute program complete with puppets, skit, dance, testimony. They did a great job. I'm always amazed with the effect puppet shows have on kids. The children in the audience did not understand english, but when the puppets popped up over the sheet, all the kids were shrieking with delight.

Beautiful people, Beautiful place, wonderful day.

everything is an adventure here...

...visiting 3 stores to buy kleenex only to be directed to the toilet tissue; stepped into a nice pharmacy, asked for "facial" tissue and was handed a trial size packet from behind the counter...

...going out to lunch can take 3 hours beginning with the walk down our gravel road to wait for a "tryke" which can take 5-15 minutes depending on time of day; some pedi cabs and trykes don't travel down the main road into the city, so you may have to transfer to a jeepney and walk a block or two (after transferring from pedi cab to jeepney) to reach your final destination...

...ordering off of a menu does not mean you'll get what you read on your menu - turns out if something isn't available at the market that day, the cook simply leaves it off of your plate (but you're not told that in advance)...

...the public library does not allow you to check out books; they advertise the ability to check out periodicals, but the "officer in charge" has to approve who checks out items and the officer's hours are not the same as the hours the library is open nor do they know when that person will arrive at the library...

...not knowing the language places me into a childlike situation every time we go out - not always sure of what is being discussed, why people are laughing, whether or not we're all getting out of the car, how long we'll be staying...

I'm just along for the ride~

Thursday night Streetkid Outreach

It's the same drill every Thursday. We spend 3 hours during the day cooking the rice and "porridge" (chicken, carrots, onions, flavoring) then filling small cellophane bags with this warm meal. We pack up 50 bags of food and 50 bags filled with drinking water. These styro coolers get loaded into the back of the van and we take off around 6:30.

Our first stop is The Plaza; 2nd stop is the Market; 3rd stop is the (bus)Terminal and 4th is close to the Bridge. These places were chosen because it's where the streetkids typically hang out at nighttime.

Once we're in the van and in town, every Thursday evening is different. Last night we got to the Plaza and no one was hanging out - except for a few teenagers we see every week. We knew that might be the case since they are currently rennovating the Plaza grounds and police were all over the place. Street kids learn fast to stay away from police... These teens told us that the kids were probably hiding out at Guysano (their version of a dept store) sniffing rugby.

The Market and Bus Terminal was empty of streetkids. It was also fairly quiet, but we spotted a group of "tribal people" and stopped to give them food and water. As it turned out, one of the little girls squatting there with her family had a birthday that day so we sang happy birthday. I reminded myself to fill my pockets with something to hand out (other than money) for this type of occasion. We did sing happy birthday to her as a group and prayed over her before we left.

We decided to go on foot, walking down the streets where the rest of my team knew that streetkids usually hung out. For no apparent reason, we could not find them anywhere. We expect this on nights that it rains because they won't come out in rain. I've heard stories that police occasionally do "round-ups" where they decide to clean up their city and haul kids in or simply get rid of them. I put that thought out of my head.

I see children everywhere - unattended, playing in the street, dressed in rags and in some cases filthy -  but am told "they're not streetkids". I ride home in silence trying to process this Thursday night outreach...

BYO - well everything, quite frankly

I've been going to the Provincial Hospital every Monday night, but still can't get over their set-up. It baffles the mind... I understand that it's the Philippines and I understand that it's a public, government hospital.

I don't understand why they staff nurses. Last night was the first time I actually saw a nurse enter a room to do something - she had 2 shots in her hand. I usually see the staff sitting around a table that is behind the main entrance, or sitting at the various stations in each hallway - seemingly busy with paperwork.

I don't understand why the place is filthy. The windows and screens are caked with dirt and dust; floors show no signs of having been scrubbed and polished; dust is everywhere; oxygen tanks are ancient. Don't get me started on the CR (bathroom)...

I don't understand why a boy who broke his leg has been in this place for 4 months. Maybe it's because they didn't set it properly, or because he can't elevate his leg, or because there is no such thing as physical therapy (or it's not an option for him because he can't afford it) or because he can't afford crutches.

I don't understand why you are required to bring EVERYTHING you need to the hospital if you have to stay here. NOTHING is provided, which means you bring your own sheets, pillows, blankets. There is NO food, so your family/provider must bring your 3 meals per day. NO water is provided so whatever you drink must be brought in. Bedpans - no such thing. Forget having your forehead washed with cool water - there are no washcloths and no basins to be found. We did find an ice machine, but it costs money, so forget getting an ice pack in this hospital.

What I do understand is that everyone deserves a little dignity - some quality time and a smile. So, in the midst of this dark place, I can squelch my frustration, put on a smile and spend a few minutes with someone who had the great  misfortune of ending up in this place.

^"For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me."

Field Trip

Sometimes we just need to ignore the schedule, get out of the house and go have some fun for a few hours!

As part of my weekly Life Skills Training classes with the kids here at PDK, I've asked to take them on some field trips to places like the library and the museum. Yesterday we went to the Butuan Nat'l Museum and apparently some of the staff needed some time out because most of them joined us too.

Although everyone had been to the museum before, it was the first time they had a guide take them through the entire place. I think it had something to do with a "foreigner" being with them. :) I must admit that I was impressed with the place - very detailed information with artifacts and photographs. It was a great way for me to learn some history about Butuan and also some archeological and sociological facts about this area of the philippines.

After the museum tour, we crossed the parking lot to the "arboretum" and spent about an hour in the park. I think all of us had cabin fever (or as I call it "compund fever") and really needed to get out and play.

the Kids at PDK

The value of 50 cents

If you dropped 50 cents, would you pick it up? If your dollar bill flew out the window, would you stop or backtrack to get it back?

I was sitting in a full jeepney (think open air bus) the other day. Across from me was a woman with her granddaughter sitting on her lap. The girl was holding a 20 peso note (worth less than 50 cents/US right now). This 20 peso note was her bus fare. As we drove along, the little girl fell asleep - and her 20 peso note flew out of her hand. The jeepney is open in the back so this 20 peso note quickly flew out onto the road.

I didn't think much about it, but suddenly everyone else on the jeepney started making noise and got the driver's attention to stop his vehicle! At this point, we were headed up a bridge, but without hesitation, the driver stopped, and literally backed up (with traffic approaching). The driver backed up until the passengers told him they could see the 20 peso note. The little girl - awake by this time - jumped off the back of the jeepney and ran to grab her 20 peso note. Everyone smiled and the driver took off...

What would you do for 50 cents?

because a picture tells a thousand words

victim of typhoon

street kid

street kids we see weekly

evacuation center education

When was the last time you were in an elementary classroom? For me, it had been a while - but I had an opportunity to visit and walk through two different evacuation centers last week.

When Typhoon Washi hit, all the school were out of session because of the holidays. Someone made a decision to turn schools into evacuation centers. While it seemed like a good idea at first, it has presented some unique challenges - not the least of which is what to do with all the people now that school is supposed to start this week.

Can you picture the size of that elementary classroom? Now imagine 6 families - yes 6 - living in that classroom. Families - meaning adults and children - together living and sleeping in one room. I spoke to one woman who told me that she was living with 12 families! They sit outside to eat - making their own campfire of sorts to cook over and I noticed trash barrels lined up outside - about every other classroom.

I noticed several tents set up in the front yard areas - perhaps for people who came late? The interesting thing is that none of the people given tents were actually inside the tents. The ground is still muddy/wet so naturally it's not conducive to sleeping on. Ever resourceful, they were putting together tables and chairs as makeshift beds so they could at least stay dry for the evening.

When I asked the woman who was living with 12 families "if I could wave a magic wand and give you one thing, what would it be?" She responded, "the financial means to rebuild our home. We just want to go back".

I didn't have a response for her...

a different kind of heartache

Meet Mariana, Beverly and Angie ("ahn gee"):

I met these girls a few weeks ago when we were out on our Thursday Streetkid Outreach. Angie (on the right) and I were completely smitten with each other from the minute we met. She is so beautiful and her dark eyes looked all the way through me. It's a look I won't forget (met a girl last year at the dump with a similar look who still haunts me). She was wearing a coin purse belted around her waist.

When I asked about it, I found out that Angie's mother is dead and her father has diabetes - which is untreated because he has no money for meds - because he can't/won't work. All of Angie's siblings have left home so she is now earning money for her dad. On the first day I met her, she and her friends were caroling, then begging for money (customary here during holidays).

I didn't have a hard time getting her to follow me across the street to the location our car was parked and where we were handing out hot food (rice porridge with chix) and bags of drinking water. Her friends were a little skeptical at first, but came over after a larger group of kids seemed to sense that it was ok. I talked with these 3 girls and we sang a few carols and I told them to stick together, be safe and I would be back next week. Angie softly, jokingly said something about "money money" but I ignored her and gave her a hug and say "god bless you" as we all left. She smiled and waved good bye...

We were back last night to hand out christmas bags at the same location. Thanks to a church's generous donation, we filled 50 sport bags with items like soap, shampoo, toothbrush and handed them out in the same locations we go to on Thursday nights.

Angie came running up to me - with Marianna and Beverly in tow. Angie was without her coin purse and Beverly was without shoes. There was something different this time. I said "I told you I would be back" and made small talk but they flitted off. When they came back a few minutes later, I told them we had gifts and their eyes lit up. All three followed me back to the van this time without hesitation. As soon as they got their bags, they rummaged through them quickly to see what was inside. They posed for pictures without hesitation. But this time, when it was over, Angie said "money, money" with a charming smile and little giggle. I said, "no money - we give you gifts - necessary items". She repeated "money, money" and I shook my head. As they started to walk away, I went back to them, gave them a hug and said "stick together, stay safe and remember god loves you".

Angie lives every day thinking mostly about "money" and has already learned at the age of 10 what works to get the most amount of money. When she saw me, she wasn't thinking about my smile or kind words; rather a white person - who was good for "money"...