Phillipines, part two

Our week on Cebu Island was almost over. We had spent a good portion of the week digging through layers of coral and red earth that composed the foundation. The work was hard but not as harsh as the Philippine climate. Hot, humid days would eventually give way to hot, humid nights filled with all sorts of biting insects. We were the only foreigners in the village of San Remigio which brought allot of attention our way as we walked back and forth to work. Walking through the village was quite a culture shock as the locals went about their business in open air markets. People would just stop what they were doing and stare at us. Their emotionless faces would fill with large smiles as we broke the ice and waved hello.

Soon we packed our bags, boxes of gifts and tools and headed for the port where we would be traveling by ferry to Leyte Island. The ferry was loaded with people and trucks of all sizes carry supplies over to an island that was still recovering from devastation inflicted by Typhoon Yolanda in Nov. of 2013. The Philippine Sea was beautifully calm, full of dolphins, whales and flying fish that would fly for the longest distances as the ferry’s bow plunged down through the clear water.

After about an hour and a half out of the port of Bogo we passed a small uninhabited island about 45 minutes off Leyte Island. Kalanggaman Island is a Philippine National treasure, sporting pristine coral sand beaches and incredible coral reef diving. It reminded me of Gilligan’s Island and as we passed, I fully expected to see Mary Ann and the Skipper waving to us from the shore. The island had lost half of its coconut trees to the fierce winds of Yolanda.

We landed in Palompon, on Leyte Island. It was a very busy port with trucks loading and unloading materials for rebuilding the infrastructure of the Island.  We were picked up by the Head Chief of all forty-nine districts or barrios. He had a giant python riding with us in the back seat, so I thanked God I was seated in front with the driver. Soon as we were settled, the Chief drove us to the small village where we would be doing the rebuilding.

The small village was really a government sponsored slum area located in the tidal flats of the coastal mangroves. The first image I saw  was of a young boy using a hand pump to fill his bucket with fresh water. We wandered through a twisted group of bamboo and coconut lumber huts. The ground was always wet and strewn with trash due to the ebb and flow of the tide. All the huts were built on stilts five feet above the ground.

After a short tem minute walk we arrived at the hut we would be re-building. All that was left of the home was six poles sticking out of the mud. The roof, walls and floor system had blown away in the typhoon. These people were poor and had no funds to rebuild their home. The government was busy rebuilding the basic infrastructure and had its hands full; unfortunately this family would be last on the list, if a list existed at all? There were many other families who lost homes in the village but our small team of six with donations from goministries.org and Gateway Community Church would only be able to rebuild just this one family’s home.

I wanted to get an early start to lay-out and start building the floor system before the rest of the team arrived. Skipping breakfast, I got an early start and asked another family if I could look under their hut to get an idea of how they constructed their homes using only bamboo, coconut lumber and tree trunks set in mud for stilts. Using a water level I was able to get my layout marks and stated to nail on the floor supports. Soon the other team members arrived and we continued working all day long in the hot sun.

As you read and study your bible you find that Jesus taught that it’s not all about work and doing things but rather about relationships and building friendships with other people. You can imagine all the people in the village were curious to what was going on as many children watched as the hut began to be reassembled. The children were so very cute and happy despite what little food and possessions they had to live on. One suitcase I brought was stuffed full of gifts and candy for these children.

Dean will continue his story next week, if you want to help, goministries.org and earmark your tax deductable donations to Dean Kellio / Philippines relief.