I can’t believe it’s been a year since I met Mary Grace in Dumolog, Capiz. I look back and think of how much we have all accomplished this last year. 13 children are going to school and have sparkling new teeth - almost. As of Sept 12th, 2009 the dentist has completed 75% of the dental procedures. She has been seeing them whenever she has time, and also when the children don’t magically disappear when it is time to visit her. It is all paid for and she hopes to be completed by November.
I had a bit of upsetting news. Mary Grace has once again dropped out of school. Her mother is pregnant again and has left with the new man (this seems to happen with each child since her father was murdered). So I fear it won’t be long until her siblings also drop out. I will see what I can do when I am there to ease the situation and hopefully get everyone back in school.
I will be going to the Philippines from November 22nd, until January 9th. I will be spending a few weeks in Capiz and will come back with lots of new pictures and video messages for all the sponsors. It has been a challenge coordinating everything from here and apologize for not having anything new over this past year – other than words. I do have to thank Che Che who has been invaluable to this project working - I know some of you have received photos from her when you sent gifts to the children.
Since I will be there at X-Mas, I am hoping to have a gift for each child – a bit of a reward for going to school. Their X-Mas is pretty much non-existent, so I think it would be a great experience and incentive for them to continue working hard. I know not everyone celebrates Christmas, however, the Philippines is 87% Catholic and in Capiz, most are Christians. Just so nobody feels I might be imposing western values (The Spanish beat me to it 400 years ago)
I'll be back in the New Year with more news.
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