Naga memories 2.0

ent Mental Hospital”.

reminded me of a horror movie. was suffering too & how He is with
Another girl was with her telling me them always.
her story & how she wanted to die. Time went pretty quickly and this
The scars alone around her neck had time it was harder to say goodbye
proven to me the desperation of her because we all knew I was leaving to
need/want to die or be helped. go back to Australia.
There were many stories, tears, They told me to keep them in my
laughter, questions, and singing with prayers & said that ever since I first
everyone. I told them I wanted to met them everyone seemed happy.
come back, but for now it was Then, as we were leaving, tea
goodbye. Just in case arrived. Their focus was
I couldn’t return, everyone waved automatically off us & all attention
goodbye to Australia. I physically on the deliverer’s of the food –
touched as many as I could for squeals of excitement &
blessings. joy. I didn’t look back.
The following week I was again
permitted to spend some time with I can only pray for the Lord
the women at the Mental Hospital. to wrap his angel’s wings around
As I was walking down the path
toward the women’s section I heard a each one of them & give them
couple of calls, “Australia”, peace.
“AUSTRALIA”; I smiled & when I
entered the enclosure was greeted
by them all saying “you back, you
come”. “Yes, I’m back to see you”
I gave many blessings & spoke to
the women about how beautiful
they are & about nothing being
impossible, but for them to keep
telling themselves that they are
possible.
This time I clipped nails for them, &
we talked about how, along with
their suffering, the Lord

Ladies Morning Everyone kept clear, but after an

5.10.15 - Yesterday I was moved
from the children's section to the hour of this the Brothers were called
adult women's section of the center. in to help move her to the dormitory.
I have been socializing with them on By the time I left 3 hours later she
was still psychotic. You could hear
special occasions so they have all
her throughout the Center.
seen me before.
A volunteer Social Worker was
I was welcomed with open arms,
sitting in the office when I walked in.
bringing them gifts of crayons,
We started to talk about the
colouring books & Johnsons
medications that the residents were
moisturising cream.
on & how for a lot of them, like the
We shared a wonderful 'Lady'
one having the turn now, their drugs
morning together where I rubbed
cream on their hands arms & legs. A no longer have any or little affect
lot of the women loved to colour, so and so it is becoming harder to
control them.
while I was massaging cream onto
I asked that apart from a Doctor's
each lady, the others waited
new prescriptions, what else can be
patiently & coloured in.
When finished we were all smelling & done? She said they would have to be
looking 'daragang magayons' – like returned to the Government Mental
Hospital. There she would have
beautiful girls....ladies
Unfortunately there was an incident constant meds that would keep her
with one of the residents when an calm.
In the evening I spoke to Father
"Atte" carer found one of the
about the episode we encountered
younger ladies hiding & taking the
today with the girl & Fr also said, “if
crayons from every one, & being
she were to get much worse she
rude to the others. She was
chastised & the colors were taken would have to be returned to the
Government facilities”.
from her for not sharing & being
Let us all pray.
rude.
It was like a switch had been turned Naga - Philippines

on to full overload. The young lady

had a psychotic episode, hitting

residents, throwing things,

uncontrollable screaming & thrashing

about.

Oct

5

Fun on the dance floor

Everyone loves getting on the dance floor. With the music pumped
up loud the young & elderly get up & give it their best. Another
thing the community love to do is to have singing competitions with
each other - a couple of them are quite good. This way they all
gets to burn off some energy & have some quiet time for a couple
of hours after lunch.

October 5– It’s raining, Brothers & I caught a bike back to
Monastery. A bit squishy but we made fun of it.

Takes me back

October 6 at 6:02pm ·
While writing my posts, I look out at the monkeys in their cage. My
thoughts were taken straight back to the Mental Hospital.
I imagined the different levels of mental health patients all mixed in
together. The large number of women & men in each hospital cell. These
two monkeys have personal space & room to move.
1 medium cage – 2 Monkeys, compared to the Hospital, 1 medium cage -20
women. MOP monkeys live a better

Oct

6

Big Day Out brushed flowing hair, bu
close to some of the Chi
For the Center after breakfast & returned after hair, twisted between ti
4pm. Big day! be pried as gently as pos
sticky grips. HEHEheheh
The Center had visitors from one of the private
Science secondary schools- one group in the They soon had their hair
morning & one again in the afternoon. One lot of
the children that visited today had never visited It was an extremely hot
the center before & some of them were a little dancing, singing & having
timid, scared to go near or touch anything or the residents went back
anyone. The teacher had taken them aside & afternoon sleep before t
spoken to them about why they were there. came through.

The resident children enjoyed all the attention. The afternoon students

The students provided the entertainment for all center, were pretty good

the residents of the Center, with competitions, reminded of a couple of

games, singing & dancing, prizes. The school even they had had enough of

provided the lunchtime meal & drinks for would bring the ½ filled

everyone. counter where I would in

they hadn't finished yet

The students' primary goal was to interact & feed teenagers, they would sa

the children. This was funny to watch because enough. I’d pick up the b

when the girls first arrived they had beautifully to the child they were f

ut as soon as they went child, I would start feeding with no problems,

ildren, great handfuls of “Look, still hungry”. Giving them the bowl of food

iny little fingers, needed to again I would ask the students to imagine that this

ssible from the little food was the only food they (the students) were

he. given to eat all day until tonight, “Do you think you

might be hungry, do you think you would want to

r tied up. eat all the food, ?” the answers were always a

timid, embarrassed YES. I would then get up &

t day. At the end of all the say, "I’ll just leave it with you then" & walk back to

g fun with the students, the counter, where I would watch them from a

k to the dorm to have an distance. Usually when the students came back

the next group of students with the bowls they would show me that the food

was all gone. I would congratulate them for a job

well done, smiles all round. With this lot of

that came to visit the students when they were saying goodbye to the

d, but needed to be residents, a small group came up & asked if they

things. One was that when could have their photo taken with them. I asked

feeding the children they them if they would visit the children again. All of

food bowls back to the them said yes they would come back to help with

ntervene & tell them that feeding & playing.

t. Teenagers being

ay the child had had Later that afternoon the children were all tired,

bowl & ask them to take me exhausted and just wanted to sleep.
feeding. When with the

My Keys door & I told him that I had locked
the key in my room and asked is

October 7– there a spare key here somewhere?
“Hmm let me go & have a look”.

When Br Joel had returned he had a

Ooopps package of some sort, “bad news, we
don’t have a spare key here, Brother

Deon is in Manila & he has the spare
– as soon as I shut the door I knew set with him”
that I had locked the keys in the

room. “So I’ve got these tools, lets give it a

Ok, what now? All the Brothers are go”.

watching a movie, should I disturb Brother Joel was trying very hard

them? OMGNess they’re going to but didn’t seem to be getting

think what a ditz that I locked the anywhere so he went to get some

keys in my room. help.He bought back another Brother

& they seemed to be working on it
I saw Brother Joel standing near the for ages until, finally yes, they’ve
door watching the movie so I
broken in.
approached him.

I was so apologetic, offered to have
The movie was quite loud, so I tapped the lock replaced & promised not to
him on the shoulder. Brother looked do it again. They both looked at me &
at me & smiled, I smiled back &
laughed, “that’s Ok you’re in now”.
asked if he would come with me for a

minute. We walked to my bedroom Thank-You Thank-You Thank-You.

Community Shopping day

Shopping day for the Fr & the Brothers with Br Joey & Br Johnson. Had
a meeting with Fr last night where we went through the list of items that
the Brothers needed & made up a priority list of items. from urgently
needed items to luxury items wanted.
I also asked Fr if there were any sports stores for me to be able to
purchase some soccer nets for the goal posts. A part of the gift from
Over 35’s footy team boys.
Loraina, myself, Br Joey & Br Johnson had a wonderful day out shopping
for the Missionary & Center. Again another long day as we didn’t return
home until after 4pm.

OOOhh someone has a new watch – Ah look it even matches your
ring. Loraina & I have become good friends, she
has been a great help & generally cool person to
have a good laugh with while I have been at Naga.

Oct

7

Football

October 8 at 5:34pm · – Go you mighty Stags….
Apostolate Brother Phillip, this is worth a $1.00 isn’t it. Brother Phillip e

The new nets went down a treat for the Brothers, heaps more fun. No mor

earned the MOP $350.00 for wearing the shirt, thanks Samford over 35’s
re guessing if it was a score or not.

Oct

8

“Good Morning Children, thank you

for allowing me to visit you today”.

I pulled out of my bag a calendar of

Australian Outback animals, “Who

here knows about Australia?, No!

well to start with it’s a long way away

over the seas. We have lots of

Naga Phillipines different animals that live in

October 8 at 5:39pm · This morning Australia?” Does anyone know of

Br Joseph is taking me to the school one?” A little hand went up. “Yes”,

to meet the children & the teachers. the young girl said, “elfalents”.

When Br Joseph & I arrived to the Hmmm, no we don’t but we do have

door of the Grade 1 & 2’s, the camels – I showed them a picture of

children were busy with copying a camel from the calendar. I pointed

sentences off the board & writing to a kangaroo on the next page &

into their exercise books. A couple asked if anyone knew what this

were at the teachers desk, being animal was – the same little girl

marked. I noticed one was asleep on yelled out “Kangaroo”, “Yes that’s

a bean bag. right” very good.

The teacher looked up & saw we had

arrived. Br Joseph said he would pick I chatted & asked questions for

me up in about 2 hours, “Ummm, Y-ep about 10 minutes, then it was photo

that’s great” (OMGNess I thought time. The teacher arranged all the

we were just going to be saying hello children in front of the board, Click

to each classroom, give them the Click, Click Click, Click. “Excellent,

gifts I had brought, then go. thank you children”. I said my good

Think quickly, off the cuff! The byes ,thanked the children & the

Teacher tapped with a pen for the teacher again for the time they had

children to stop what they were given me. Teacher told the children

doing & to listen. She introduced me to thank me for visiting, “thank you

to the class & explained that I was visit Po Charlie” The children were

all the way from Australia. The told to return to their seats & finish

children’s eyes lit up in awe, they off the work now before lunch. They

replied by saying good Morning Po all moved in different directions to

Charlie. “Ah”, their seats & some to the teachers

desk. I waved bye then left the room

to visit the next grade

Oct

8

After the school visit we went on a tour to Balates, the dump. When I say
the dump I mean it in a literal way, some of you may even call it 'the tip'.

But unlike a typical dump, this is where a large community of people live &
earn money by scavenging through the site,

finding food maintaining their house/shanties from the throw-away
cardboard boxes & if lucky metal sheeting.

Unfortunately This is also how the Malnutrition, Cholera & many other
diseases manifest through the way these people are living.

We started from the most poverty stricken people in Naga who lived in the
tip site itself, & worked our way to the still poverty stricken, but people who
had been blessed by the generosity of the Brothers & Missionaries from
Melbourne who had built houses for some of the families.

Balatas has a church in the community. The Brothers built the community
church & the locals all helped. Once a month at 5pm Fr holds a Mass at the
“Balatas Community Church”.

By seeing & talking with the people of Balatas, I have experienced the true
meaning of “fulfilment within the lack of possessions”.

The people of Naga, these are people who are poor of possession but in
spirit & gifts of love & happiness they have an overabundance.

I have been reminded of the importance, how we should step outside our
comfort zone every now & again so we can re-affirm the point that, less is
more & that God will provide us with all we need to live our lives.



With all the rain we’ve had all the rice sacks got wet so needed to be
dried again this took a week of emptying bags onto tarps spreading out to
dry in sun then in the afternoon bagging it again all to do it again the next
day.
Don't we have machines to do this?

Every couple of days the Musical Brothers would have practice.

Our adventure

October 10– Going for a road trip with Fr & some of the Brothers,
Driver Br Joseph, Br Michael, Br James, Br Riccardo, Br Joey,
Loraina….
First stop a Birthday blessing for a 1 year old (Rancey) in the Provence
of Guibanopa.

Oct

10



Next stop volcano – Cagswa

Unfortunately there was cloud covering the volcano so we didn’t get to
see it but, had fun anyway.

Honored

Moving right along Godmother”. “But I’m not family &

we head for Fr they don’t know me”.

Lawrence’s old Fr, “I am & I know you so you are

hometown along Godmother”

with Br Michael’s. I spoke to them about what it means

We had a short to be a Godparent & they agreed it

stop to visit Br’s Father & family. Br was the same for them. What else

had only lost his Momma last year to could I say, “I would be honored to

Cancer. play a part of your son’s life & be

Off to the chapel where there’s a a God mother”

Baptism to be done. “YES” – Everyone happy, on with the

Father Lawrence’s younger service. Now this was something

brother’s baby – Ephraim 5 months right out of left field.

old, born May 16 2015. After the service we went back to

This was a small affair. Just our Father’s Mum’s house where she had

entourage, Fr’s Brother Sunday, his laid on a beautiful feast for all. She

Wife, Ephraim, his older sister & a also knew I was vegetarian so heaps

Godmother. This is so sweet. of food available. Something tells me

We were about to start the service this was a set-up.

when the family was calling me to After a big meal we were all sitting

come up with them, I just said No around talking when I noticed this –

No I’ll take the pictures for you. All the Brothers being quiet, anti-

Sunday came & told me I was a part social watching TV. God Bless

of it, “You are God Mother”. Them – they don’t get to see TV

Hang on a minute, What? very often.

Fr said, “ they want you to be



We stayed for a couple of hours then had to make another stop for a
blessing of a shed. Fr said it wouldn’t take long so Loraina & I stayed in
the truck.
“All aboard” Next stop, thanksgiving Mass for Br Lorenzo. The drive
wasn’t all that far. Wen we got there, the Br’s unloaded the truck again
& set up in the church
And again more food, OMGNess we all just couldn’t…..? We sat &
mingled with the people for about ½ hour then had to say our goodbyes
& move on. Hang on – where did you get this Baby from Father?

I still needed to pick up a couple of we needed then father asked the

things from a grocery store & it Brothers if they were hungry, silly

was a couple of hours drive to get question really, YES, we sat down

home so we decided it would be at “The Carnival Grill” we all

best to move on. ordered food.

The day was coming to an end & All that was going through my head

after our big feed at lunch & with was I need to get back to home so

the heat I started to become a I can start cooking the Beetroot

little weary. for tomorrow, this needed to be

It got dark pretty quickly & one by done tonight so that it would

one everyone in the truck fell marinate in the stock overnight.

asleep, me included. When we finally arrived home we

I woke at one point & looked at the all looked as bad as each other, it

driver Br Joseph & saw he too was late at night.

looked tired so I offered him some Everyone disappeared pretty

lollies & asked if he was OK he said quickly; I went straight to the

he was a little tired but he was kitchen & started on the beets. A

alright to drive, thanked me for couple of Br’s came & told me to go

the lollies. to bed but I said I would soon just

Before we knew it we were pulling had to cook these, I then told

up at a shopping center, we all them to go to bed.

needed to get out & stretch. We Oh this bed is heavenly…

all strolled in & bought the things

After I led them in the grace I sat

The Feast down, They all served themselves &
sat down to eat. Listening & watching

October 11- 6am I’m back in the the Brothers enjoying their feast

kitchen, preparation of the food for was a great buzz for me. I couldn’t
eat a thing.
tonight’s feast.
10kg rice, 10kg potatoes, 12 chickens, The Brothers laughed & spoke out
5kg bok choy, 48 eggs, 5kg milk, 6kg aloud & to top it all off Fr Lawrence
cheese, onions white & red, carrots, excused the Brothers from their
night classes & said they could all
4kg beetroot, herbs.
I have managed to prepare a large watch a movie together.
Great cheers & laughter followed,
Beetroot salad with mung beans &
this was luxury.
mustard seeds; 5 potato bakes;
All of the food was eaten except 1
steamed veg’s with oyster sauce;
potato bake & a little Beetroot salad.
large chicken curry. All for 70
I was pretty stoked with the night.
Brothers. I’m glad I had helpers,

they were a huge help.

A great night was had by all.

Oct

11

– PS: Later that day afte

thought was the perfect

after informing a few sel

hit the floor. Another sen

the room & before anyone

pretend, he panicked : SI

alarmed all the other Bro

to me & was trying to see

OMGNess what a debarkl

took Br away & explained

the Apostolates passed t

life & one of the Brother

Afterwards I apologized

I’m a teacher? said he was so scared – he
too much work & too hot
October 12 Today I changed my hat for another. ended up laughing but goi
Today I am a teacher to the Brothers, teaching react in a real situation, a
Basic first aid & CPR, class time from 8.30am to bit scary.

11.45am. Coming to the closing of t

Brothers that there will b
The Brothers were great students. When we came to give them. I explained
to the practicing side of things that’s when all the pretending but I wanted
fun took place. Getting them to pick a partner each, to treat me as in an emer
wow, didn’t think it would be that hard, so I paired time of the day, you will n
them all. Bringing one pair out the front at a time I happen, we could be out p
would give them an accident scenario to act out,
meal or even in the kitche
this was fun, heaps of laughter. One being the
times. I expect you to sav
helper the other, victim.
we have learned this morn

Now I hadn’t even given it a thought when I asked understand – YES – OK T
for someone to partner up with me, that there you later. Please don’t let
would be a problem. laughed & said they would

er lunch I chose what I Balatas Mass Feast
timing for my collapse .
lect, I pretend fainted & October 15 – Sorry I haven’ been able to post
nior brother had entered for a couple of days, been really busy. Spent
e could tell him it was all some time with the ladies today & with some
ISTER SISTER which of the Brothers. In preparation for my leaving
others, came rushing over Naga lots of goodbyes & tears.5pm Mass at
e if I was alright….. Balates, the dumpsite, tonight.
le, the brothers came & An amazing turn up with heaps of smiles
attached.
d what was going on. YES A couple of people I had met when I first
their test, they saved my visited Balates came up to me & said hello. I
rs. also saw the two sisters & talked with them.
After the service Fr invited me to talk with
to Br for alarming him,– he the people of Balates. Then it was food time,
e thought I had been doing all hands on deck. Even though there were
& just collapsed. We all hundreds of people hanging on to bowls,
ing over how we would waiting to be fed, they were very patient.
all agreeing it would be a There was no pushing, everyone gathered
around and when served they would move away
the class I told the from the line for the next person to collect
be a test that I am going some food. The children were fed first, then
that it would only be me the adults. Once all the food was handed out
them to take it seriously & people started to leave the chapel.
rgency situation. At some
not know when this will
playing sport or eating a
en, keep an eye on me at all
ve me using the skills that
ning. Does everyone
Thankyou Brothers, I'll see
t me die today. They all
d save me.

Oct

12 Oct
15

That’s something I’d like to talk about, the Chapel, built by the
Brothers with materials that the Balates people had gathered &
saved up. The floor is of all broken tiles that were being thrown
away and that they collected. When I first saw the Chapel, without
knowing the background of it’s construction, I thought it was
gorgeous that the Brothers would build this for the people. But
knowing the story now, I think it’s quite beautiful & along with the
community they all pitched in & collected, saved & added special
touches to make it the Holy place it is today. Everyone in Balates
has great respect for the Chapel

Sr Agnes cooks a wonderful
Indian meal, which we all enjoy

By the time the night had ended & everything had been packed up &
taken out to the truck we were ready to return home.
I had spent the majority of my time with the people outside the chapel, I
had mud everywhere, I was filthy dirty. The first thing I was going to do
when we returned home, was to have a shower.
Reflecting on the evening I saw & experienced a genuine love of the
peoples belief of the Lords presence in their lives from the elders down
to the small children. EVERYONE, those who couldn’t fit inside the
chapel, were seated on crates & boxes outside in the mud, me now knowing
why the Brothers put speakers outside – for people to hear the Mass – all
actively participating & listening to what Fr was saying in the Mass. This
to me made it even more special, it was like some spiritual presence had us
all entranced. Not just a community Mass but more, the feeling of a
Family Mass United as One.
& another great night was had by all.

The Weather

Naga – Philippines feeling
Woke this morning all excited to be pa
SOMEONE’S got other plans – typhoon warnin

CANC
We have had heavy rain, wind & a lot of
This didn’t excite me don’t know when I wil

sad October 16 at 6:49pm ·
acking my bag & traveling home tomorrow
ng – category 1 – category 2 – flights out of Naga
CELLED.
f water on the ground for over a week now.
ll be able to return home – very disappointed.

Oct

16

Going Home

Naga – Philippines – ·
Saturday morning, went to airport this morning after receiving a
notification that my flight was on again, flight leaving at 10.30 am.
OMGNess – my bag isn’t packed & I haven’t got my washing off the
line – AAHhhh!!! By the time I had stuffed all I could into my bag, all
the left over stuff I gave to Sr Bernadette & Sr Agnes. No time for
tears & cuddles here, I had to get out the door & quickly. I didn’t know
where anything was. All I knew was I had to get to the airport &
quickly.
By the time we had reached the airport the time of the flight
departure had changed 4 times & then cancelled again.
All flights have been cancelled, Typhoon now category 3.
No guarantee when flights would start again, they say probably
tomorrow but can’t say for sure.
Locals are saying a few more days. Media are saying late next week.
When I arrived back at the Monastery I walked through the dining
room, all the Brothers got up out of their seats & sang, “it’s great to
see you again” – they are all such sweethearts.
I’ve got to say though I was soooo relieved the flight was cancelled,
I didn’t want to fly in this windy, rainy weather It was quite strong a
tad scary.

GOODBYES
ARE NOT

FOREVER

GOODBYES

ARE NOT THE END

THEY SIMPLY
MEAN

I’LL MISS YOU

UNTIL
WE MEET
AGAIN

Naga – Philippines·

Welcome to Naga – A place were nothing goes to plan, everything runs on
Naga time & if you have no patience you will be driven crazy.
Pete’s a little worried, frustrated he can’t help me, but I’m ok.
We can’t change the weather so might as well just go with it. So it’s going to
take a little longer to get home but that’s alright, Ahhh Well….

The next day I bought a bus ticket for Fr & I to Manila leaving 8pm the
next evening, meant to be a 10-12hr trip but because of weather possibly/
will take longer.
If flights are cancelled in Manila also, I might stay at the MOP Manila
monastery until weather clears & flights start up again.
LOVE TO ALL MY SONS- I WILL BE BACK BEFORE YOU KNOW IT. X X
o XOO

children & adults of the Center who

A Lesson are reined with an abundance of
love, shelter, clothing, bathing, food

October 19 I reflected on Fr’s & drink.

Homily being directed at how we From these people to the other

must not accumulate possessions, as extreme – the people of Balatas,
it is without possessions that the they literally have no possessions
except a make shift house made of
Lord will provide.
In leaving behind all possessions the sticks & cardboard boxes & maybe
if they are lucky, a couple of iron
Lord will provide greater things,
sheets.
greater than you can imagine.
He likened the story to my travels, They may have nothing, but with
how I left all my possessions & loved what the Lord provides for them,
ones (Husband, children, country), they are always sharing all they
all to find an abundance of children, have, genuine love, interest &
families, sharing their love with me blessings with others.
To me….To me this is better than
here.
anything you can buy from a store,
I found by leaving everything
behind, not only family & loved ones this is purely from the Lord coming
from their hearts & generous
but home & all
without fault giving their all.
worldly possessions I have
Many in society may look at them &
experienced the true meaning of
have pity on them for living the way
“fulfillment within the lack of
they do, but I see people who are
possessions”.
oozing the Lord’s gifts & sharing
The people of Naga, these are
people who are poor of possession them freely
– the Lord always provides for them,
but in spirit & gifts of love,
all their needs.
happiness, they have an
Blessed be the Lord.
overabundance.
What you give away, the Lord will
I have been reminded of the
importance, of stepping outside our provide 10 fold

comfort zone every now & again so

we can re-affirm the point that, less

is more & that God will provide us

with all we need for our lives.

This fact rang true with the

Oct

19

Tonight was the official goodbye to Charlie evening. We all ate, then
it was speech time.
Fr spoke of the Brothers reaction when they were told that a
Charlie from Australia would be arriving soon & staying for a month,
then to add to their confusion, Charlie is a girl.
The brothers all surprised, “a girl” – with a boys name?”
Fr thanked me for all of my gifts & work that I had done with the
Brothers & that I would be missed, then handed it over to Br
Michael.
To my surprise Br gave an extremely heartfelt talk about how he &
the other Brothers saw me as a person & how I had touched them. I
too was touched & surprised to find out just how much they had all
been watching & taking on board all I had been doing while on my
stay with them.
After his speech, all of the young Apostolates all got up & sang me a
song, then it was time for the Brownies to sing.
After all of their giving of speeches & singing, it was my turn, I had
warned them all from the start that I would be looking at my notes a
lot so that I wouldn’t cry.
After my speech & blessing to them all, lots of cheers & clapping, I
went back to my seat to find Fr with tears in his eyes.
“Oh Fr, It was meant to be me crying, not you”. I thought I did
really well not to cry.
Photo time, & then our personal Good-Byes.
This goodbye was very different, there was no rush, so all of the
Brothers could come to me & talk, take our time, with lots of good
wishes & safe travels.
I was surprised how genuine they all were, most all of them hugged
me tightly & wished me a safe trip, and they all said they were
looking forward to me returning.



Bus Trip

October 20 Naga – Philippines
The bus trip was an experience (No chickens or goats).
The bus was full, most people had the same idea, get out of here
quickly. Fr & I sat together, I remember dozing on & off until the shock
of my waking to find myself with my head against Father’s shoulder &
my arm lying ½ across him. Correcting my position in a flash, I sat
upright and this kept me wide awake. I made sure that didn’t happen
again, how embarrassing. Thank goodness Fr was asleep.
Being awake for the majority of the trip I watched out the window, at
one point the bus almost pulled up to a stop, there seemed to be a
traffic jam. It was more than a traffic jam, it was a pretty bad road
accident. It looked like about 3 cars, people lying on the side of the
road, heaps of debris, people everywhere trying to help, also people
standing around watching.
Thank goodness we didn’t stop, there were enough onlookers & helpers.
The bus made pretty good time and I woke Father when we arrived in
the bus depot. 10 hours.

Now Fr called the Manila Bros to pick us up.
Before long the Brothers pulled up & we were off driving again, this trip
wasn’t all that far only 15 minutes.

Slums of Manila

When we arrived at the Monastery I was led to
a room so I could freshen up before we
attended Mass.
A Brother came & collected me for Mass. When
we made it downstairs, I couldn’t believe who
was standing there, it was Brother Cyrus, Br
Richardo & three other Brothers from Naga.
It was great to see them again, each of us
amazed to be seeing each other.

After Mass & over breakfast we talked about
my stay & I asked them how their mission work
was going.
Time to say good-bye again, Father borrowed a
car & took me to the airport where we said our
final good-byes. He asked if I would like him to
come in with me, I said no, I would be fine, but
thank-you.
I walked toward the terminal doors, I didn’t look
back, I couldn’t.

Oct

20

I went straight to the service desk & unfortunately everything had cream on

asked where I would find the Miascor it, sweets or meat.

Lounge. The lovely young lady informed OK I’ll ask someone for the showers, I

me that it was up on the 1st floor but I asked one of the staff where I could

wasn’t able to access it until the gate find the showers – I’m sorry M’am the

was opened & I got my boarding pass, “ showers are currently out of order. I

when would that be?” Approx 5-6pm – took a deep breath & asked where I

All I could think was, Hmmm this is could freshen up a little & get changed

going to be a long wait. I thanked her, into some other clothes., Yes M’am

went & sat with the crowds. Had I had there are public toilets back down the

known this I would have stayed at the hall towards the gates. Emotionally

Missionary to spend more time with tired & wrecked I said look don’t worry

the Brothers & Fr. I picked up all my things & told them I

I guess it wasn’t all that bad, I met a wouldn’t be staying, walked out.

few different people traveling all over It was interesting an experience

the world. But time didn’t fly that day getting changed in a small toilet

& 10 hours later the gate opened, I line cubicle. I probably would have had as

up, and by this stage I was needing a much room if I were in the plane’s

shower and I was becoming overtired & toilet.

emotional. I went over to the sink, splashed some

I finally made it through the gate & water on my face, dried it off then

headed to the Miascor lounge where at left. I stopped at a café, purchased 2

least I would have food, a shower & bottles of water along with packet of

drink. dry biscuits. I just wanted to cry, time

The lounge was nowhere near my gate seemed to be flying & all I had seemed

so walked for what seemed to be to be doing was walking from one end

forever. When I finally arrived I gave of the airport to the other & back

them my booking document. Yes m’am again. the gate wasn’t quite boarding

you can go in. Thank you. yet but I kept moving in that direction

The lounge looked nice enough, there I just wanted to eat my biscuits &

were only 2 other people in there, one drink my water.

had some food & the other had a When going through the gate the

coffee, I decided to look at the food, steward was about to confiscate my