The Lost Plates of Jack and Leiana

 Jack likes to take the bike out in the morning for an early morning ride while I sleep. He will often stop at the fruit stand on the way home to pick up bananas or mangos. Here are some pictures of the sun rising over the water as you look towards Samar island. I entitle this one "Where's Jack". It's a clever self-portrait of a man and his bike.

 Like many countries, members of the male sex will use whatever area they are in to urinate. Many times I have walked home past a guy peeing on the side of the road. Jack found a cool sign to combat that.  There is a sign on the San Juanico bridge that has a big P with the do not circle around it. We aren't sure if it means no peeing, no parking or no passing as any of them can apply. It must work as I haven't seen anyone peeing off that bridge. Can't say that for the other two P's. 

It's hard to move things around in the Philippines. I have seen several vehicles with almost as much stuff tied on top as the vehicle is big. I was able to get this picture. Inovative.  On the trikes, motorcycles with side cars, you can see all kinds of variations. Some hold passengers, some hold pigs or livestock, some carry supplies, some carry liquids. It is basically whatever you can weld together.  Vehicles are loaded as much as possible. It's common to see 3-5 people on a motorcycle. Jeepneys will often have people hanging off the sides. Public transportation is a problem that they have found creative solutions for.  

 With all the time we spend on the roads, we pass all kinds of interesting signs. I thought I would share a few with you.  This is one of Jack's favorite bridges as with the poles there, the big trucks can't go through. That means they aren't on the roads with us. 

 In the Philippines, elections only happen once every three years. The president is in office for 6 years and is elected every other election cycle. Senators and mayors are elected every 3 years. Elections will happen on Monday May 12, 2025. The next elections will be in 2028. Most people need to go back to their home area to vote. In some ways, it reminds me of Christ's birth, "every one into his own city." The missionaries are often asked if they are going home for the elections. Politics seem to run in families. In the Tacloban area, the Romualdez family is very prominent. In Baybay, it's the Cari family. In some areas the elections are very contentious. There has already been one shooting of a political party killing the daughter-in-law of a politician. They had thought he was in the car as well. Especially in areas where the elected officials are corrupt and don't want to lose power, the unrest is real. We had to moved foreign missionaries out of certain area...

 About every 6 weeks, we say good-bye to a group of amazing young people. They have been here for 18 months to 2 years working hard. They receive no pay for what they do. They deal with heat, rain, rejection, dogs, beggers and just about anything you can imagine. They give their heart and souls to their efforts. As a result, they grow and mature. They learn to love others. They learn to take care of themselves. They learn to rely on God for help and direction.  One of the best parts of our job is to spend time getting to know these people. They have different personalities and opinions. They come from all kinds of living situations and home lives. Some have only 1 parent. Some are the only members in their families. Some are rich. Some are poor. All of them are amazing in my eyes. They are the future and the future looks pretty bright.

 With less light polution, we get some beautiful evening phenomenoms in natue. The beauty is breathtaking. Here's a few pictures we didn't do justice to.