Finally a comfortable hotel with internet connection and I can offer an update of my travels in the Philippines, including two long visits to our potential church in Doldol.

First I will point out that it is hot here.  Yes, a lot of you warned me about that, but I didn't realize how persistently hot it was going to be, and how often I would be in unair-conditioned situations.  I am drained at the end of long days, but still keeping up with all the acitivity.

We have visited six of the village Unitarian Universalist churches in the last four days   They are all plain single-room structures with wooden benches, a chalice table, a podium, and not much else.  But for our visits at least we find them filled with smiling people, of all ages.  Our straightforward free faith has created happy cohesive communities in villages that lack many of the comforts that we demand.  It seems to bring hope and comfort, even during this time of draught and pre-election insecurity.  These villages are often at the end of long, steep, bumpy roads.  Zach talked with a teenager who walked more than an hour to get to church that day.  Her faith is important to her.

The road that leads to our potential partner, Doldol, is long but at least it is flat.  Doldol is a rice-growing village, surrounded by the paddies.  The plants are a healthy green, but even here the threat of draught is real.  There hasn't been any rain since mid-January, and they are on their last days of government provided irrigation.  The harvest has started (half the basketball court is being used as a drying floor), but there is fear that the they will lose some of the plants before they ripen.  

On Friday we reached Doldol, where we were greeted by members of the congregation and by leaders of the village government.  The head of our UU congregation, Arman Pedro, is also an active member of the village council, and it seems to me that he uses his UU values to bring progress to Doldol.  Arman just celebrated his 35th birthday and he is a remarkable young man.  It will be a joy to work with him as he teaches others about Unitarian Universalism.

On Saturday Zach and I returned to Doldol for additional meetings.  A brownout put the fans out of commission, but still the day was exciting.  Zach interviewed children and youth with questions provided by our seventh graders -- and some questions he created himself.  He will report on the answers and ideas when he gets home.  I met with a women's group as it received exciting news.  Five years ago 25 women were trained in sewing skills in a government program.  But that was the end of it from the government.  No sewing machines arrived.  A committee from our Annapolis congregation is putting together resources that will bring sewing equipment and marketing possibilities to the town.  Annapolis will also help fund an initiative that will allow the residents of Doldol to open an internet cafe in the village.  The closest working internet connection is a 20 minute ride (and a much longer walk) away.  Someone from Annapolis assessed the situation today and said that connection can be made for less than $20 a month.  Does anyone want to donate a laptop?

That's all for now.  I need some sleep.  It's two congregations tomorrow and I think we will be back to hilly roads again.