Our last day in Baguio and some random pictures

Baguio City


Wood Carver



Kori and Kendra-K&K-

They always have the best times together

K&K on Jeepney

Riding a Jeepney was a highlight for all of us

Then the flood.....

Eating Strawberries from Baguio. They came straight from the patch.

Kori, Kendra, and Jordan at Starbucks at Robinson's Mall in Manila.

Me and my Doll Kori.

I love this picture. They always smile.

Kendra, Kori, and Melani at the American Cemetery in Manila.

Kendra, Kori, and Jordan at Krispy Kreme in Manila.

THEY SAID this was their scared face. We left them alone in the van to buy bus tickets.

Greenbelt in Manila.

Melani and Me in Manila.

Jordan and Kori at bus terminal in Manila.

K&K on bus to Baguio

Peter Rabbit the Porter

Mark and Kori. Read about Mark on Melani's blog at questmiles.blogspot.com

Melani checking in one of our hotels.

Wherever they are, they will be having fun and taking pictures.

Jordan at breakfast in Baguio

Church in Baguio. Pastor Eugene and Jimma Banez. Great people!

Kori, Kendra, Jimma and Eugene Banez

I love that girl!!! She is missing her dad....she said so tonight.

Strawberry patch in Baguio

The Manor in Baguio

We didn't even have to tell the restaurant we were coming they would just reserve us a table

Working thru computer issues together

Kori and Melani in the Strawberry Patch

Things I saw on my 6:45 a.m. walk today. Jeff wrote some things about this area.

The Manor at Camp John Hay - Baguio, Philippines

From WWI to WWII to the Korean War and the Vietnam war, Camp John Hay was the oasis of peace in the wilderness of war. This Mile High retreat in the northern mountains of Luzon island is now the summer vacation spot of the Philippines. The typical heat of this tropical country is left behind the further you climb until you get the sense of Colorado in summer time. Cool evenings and glorious days.


Really cool chess set in lobby of hotel

It seems everything grows here. A walk over the rolling hills is quite a work out but well worth it for the views you will see.

Simply beautiful

When I was a boy growing up, this was the one place my family was able to truly escape to for a vacation. When the sun came up, it was father and sons, headed for the golf course. There was always a heavy morning dew on the ground and many days, fog blanketed the lower lying areas. It seemed impossibly calm, quiet and cool, to this lowland, city slicker raised in a city of 14 million.

Jack Nicklaus' Golden Bear International redesigned this course a few years back and everyone says it is awesome. However, I will miss the old layout that I knew so well. Back in those days they would let us bring our two German Shepherds, Apache and Raider, to run while we golfed. On holes 8 and 9 there were some agressive blue birds that didn't like our dogs and without fail, every day, they would swoop down and peck our dog's heads while screeching out a warning.

And... I will miss the 3rd hole, the infamous, dastardly, diabolical "Cardiac Hill." The green was at least 400 feet ABOVE the tee box! It was so steep that there was a large hemp rope that wound around pulleys and would literally pull the golfers up the hill. In those days there were no golf carts either. They would not have been able to navigate the extreme hills. Good thing Cardiac Hill was early on in the round because if it were later, I am sure there would be some that would have just said, "Forget about it!! I ain't doing that!!!"

One day my dad and I were on the tee box waiting for the sun to come up and we finished out 54th hole of the day as the sun was going down. What were we thinking?!!? 3 times up Cardiac Hill in one day?

I remember that one day my brother Gerry had an errant shot and it skipped across the road at a high rate of speed (maybe this very road) and smacked into the back of an unsuspecting jogger. "Wack!!!" We could hear the sound of that ball hitting the poor lady in her back from a long way off.

When we got to the lady, she lay on the side of the road, in the grass, writhing in pain. I heard Gerry say, "Shoot!! That's my math teacher!!"

And it was. Gerry has some 'splanin' to do.

On the way up the winding road to Baguio you are greeted by many sights. One of them are waterfalls. (Not like this man made one, but real torrents spouting out of various mountains and cliffs.

I'm so glad they posted that sign....

Also, on the road to Baguio, you look over the edge, (no guard rails in many places) and can see the rocky ravine so far below. You can see the mangled, rusting remains of buses, jeepeny's and cars that sure would have appreciated some guard rails.

Brenda literally anointed all four bus tires with oil before she got on. She also found a way to sneakily anoint the bus driver with oil. He didn't know what that oily spot on his back was, but vaguely remembers a white lady clumsily tripping over something and her hand hitting his back. He thinks to himself, "The weird thing is that she said, 'In Jesus Name.'" as she stumbled.

There are many legends of Japanese gold bried up in these far,
blue mountains. In fact, as legend has it, President Ferdinand Marcos,
(husband of the woman with all the shoes) purchased his way to power
in the early 1960s with some of this fabled treasure. It does make sense
since this former WWII solider, who had no great political connections,
family wealth, or power, could suddenly, one day have enough money to
do ANYTHING he wanted.

I heard from an old man who claims to have seen that very treasure
with his own eyes that there was a solid gold Buddha that must have
weighed a ton or more and gems and artifacts from all over the South
Pacific.

In the closing months of World War II, in the Philippines, several of Japan's highest ranking imperial princes hid tons of looted gold bullion and other stolen treasure in caves and tunnels, to recover later. This was the wealth of 12 Asian countries, accumulated over thousands of years that they had robbed in the early years of the war. Expert teams accompanying Japan's armed forces had systematically emptied treasuries, banks, factories, private homes, pawn shops, art galleries, and stripped ordinary people, while Japan's top gangsters looted Asia's underworld and its black economy. When American tanks were close, the chief engineers of those vaults were given a farewell party 67 metres underground in Tunnel 8 in the mountains of Luzon, stacked with row after row of gold bars. As the evening progressed, they drank great quantities of sake, sang patriotic songs and shouted banzai (long life)."He went on to say, "At midnight, General Yamashita Tomoyuki and the princes slipped out, and dynamite charges were set off in the access tunnels, entombing the engineers. Their vaults would remain secret."
Apparently the young Ferdinand Marcos was watching from his hideout as this drama was being played out, and years later, it financed him to power.

Now imagine a young boy, (me) growing up hearing of stories like this, from old men
over faded and worn chess tables, on countless evenings... oh yea, when I looked out
cross those mountains I wondered every time, "I wonder if I am looking at one of those
sights right now." Gold. What an allure it has.
I must admit that at time I might still might wonder if I am looking at the very spot
where those treasure tunnels were.

The history between the Philippines and America is long and complex, like crazy

cousins who love each other but at times, MAN do they bug each other! For the most

part, the love between the Filipino and the American is strong. WWII saw some of the

greatest stories of loyalty and dedication being on exhibition between the Filipino and

American soldier. Their mutual respect was high and the Filipino Scouts were some

of the most courageous fighters in the entire war, according to those who fought beside

them.

Statue of Abraham Lincoln

Manuel Quezon

The path I took on my walk this morning.

Thank God for a Condo!

Pool on the 2nd floor

View from Patio

Another view from patio

Melani in living room

Kendra and Jordan in dining room

Brenda and Kori in Kitchen

 I know it's been a few days since I have posted anything on this trip.  So here I am.

The plan was for Melani, Kendra and me to fly to Manila last Sunday night after a service in Iloilo.  Jordan and Kori flew into Manila on Friday night.  On Saturday I rushed to catch the 11:00 a.m. flight back to Manila to be with Kori, she was not doing good.  Melani and Kendra followed me on the afternoon flight, you see we HAVE to stick together.  

I got to Manila, hugged Jordan and Kori then found a pharmacy, bought water and juice trying to get Kori better.  She's better now.  Thank you Jesus and thanks to the POA for all the prayers.  

Sunday was a day of rest for us...WOW..what a change that was!!  Jordan and I did look at a Condo in Makati.

Monday we got up and I felt a little urgency to find my family a place to live, since we needed somewhere to go this Saturday.  Jordan and Melani thought I might need a chill pill.  But I survived the day.  After looking at many places, I didn't have a good feel about any of them. None of them gave me that feeling like, "Oh I can make this cozy".   

I felt even more uneasy last night (Monday).  Then I talked to the love of my life, Jeffrey.  He seems to make all things better.  He told me that God has a plan and it will all work out.  I believed him.  He not only makes sense most of the time, but he can make me laugh like none other....and for that I am grateful.  As I fell asleep last night I told God, "It's in Your hands", and went to sleep.   

When I woke up this morning I felt a peace about the very first one I looked at.  I texted (that's what they do here more than anything) the man and told him we wanted it if it was still available.  He told me it was.  I told him OK, then we want it.  I told Jeff and he felt good about it also.  He and Jeff talked a few weeks ago on the phone and really hit if off.  Come to find out the man likes missionaries.  So I told the group that we were going to see our new home.  

We met Johnny at 1:30.  The condo is on the 10th floor in the very area we wanted to live all along.  It has a laundry place that will pick up and deliver our laundry, it's located on the first floor.  Since we won't have a washer and dryer, this will come in handy.  It also has a barber, a travel agent, rental car place.  Jordan and Kori are pleased with it, Kendra thinks it's cool, and Melani likes it.  

SO, after a few days of being unsettled, I have a peace about it.  Jeff is going to love it.  He knows that area like any local here.  I feel safe there.  There is everything we will need, because at this point we don't have a car.  We can walk to just about anywhere we will need to go.  And it's within our budget!!!

Tomorrow we get on the Deluxe Victory Liner Bus Line and drive north to Baguio, it's a 6 hour drive.  The drive will be an adventure. We have our Dramamine and motion sickness bracelets ready.  I hope we make it without anything major happening.  I will enjoy being there with our friends the Banez's.  Just wish Jeff, Morgan, Terry, Bradyn were with us.  

Right now me, Kori, Jordan, and Kendra are sitting in Starbucks so we can have decent internet service.  For the last 3 nights this has been our hang out.  When we come in all the Barista's call us by name.  

I thank God for leading us to the right condo.  As long as I have a cozy place to retreat too, then I can handle just about anything.  

It's along way from 4800 Whitehall Blvd......but I think it'll be just fine.

Thursday Night of Ladies Conference

Pastor Nonato, wife Jenimar and girls. They both were our Bible School students at ACTS in 1996. They are doing an AWESOME job in their city! God has given them favor. He is close friends with the Mayor.


Kiesha Tenefrancia, daughter of Pastor Nonato and Jenimar. There is a special anointing on this little 7 year old. She stood there for 15 minutes worshipping just like this, tears streaming down her face. It was sweet. In their family devotions she is the one to lay hands on her parents. It was so fun talking with her. You can't imagine you are talking to a seven year old. She is very bright.
VIDEO COMING SOON


WORSHIP! It's ALL about HIM.


Kendra doing the Revelation Song. The worship was so powerful, she just fell to the ground in the middle of the song.


2 sweet ladies from the POA gave Melani money for ladies to be able to travel the boat ride to this conference. The fare was $2 each. These are those ladies!!!! They are SOOOO thankful. Thanks Mom and Nan. Money well spent.


Pastor Tom and JiJi from Handumanan. I LOVE them!


2 of our students from 1996. They are so happy!

A visit with Danny-click on video to the right

Danny's house


As we were leaving the last church, the pastor's wife, Rita asked if we would pray for a man that lived across from the church. He had heat stroke and was not doing good. We walked in the door and there he was, lying on the concrete floor with a small pillow and a sheet.

Melani knelt down and asked for some oil and the only kind they had was what Rita used in Reflexology. She put some on his head and hands and we began to pray. It was so powerful. The presence of God was there so strong. Melani said he would look up and say, "In Jesus Name". It was truly an amazing experience.