Week 1 and 2

It has already been two weeks since we left our home...almost to the minute (4:30 am which is pm here - no I didn't get up in the middle of the night to write this blog). As of Friday, October 31, we have arrived at our somewhat permanent residence during our stay here. Our home is in an agricultural research station compound where we can also access reliable internet connection. It is a 4 room house with indoor plumbing and running water (bonus). The bathroom has a flush toilet (also bonus) and a shower but no hot water. Water although definitely cool, is never as cold as in Canada, so a cold shower here is ch-ch-chilly but bearable. The BIG bonus is that the bedroom is equiped with a noisy but effective air conditioner...at least one room where we can escape the 30+ temperatures and 90+% humidity from time to time.

We have already met our next door neighbours who are also protestant christians and invited us to their church yesterday. People here continue to be very outgoing and welcoming. We actually already had visitors on Saturday and Sunday including the church pastor. On Friday when we arrived one lady was there to find out our meal desires and went shopping for food and cooked our meals on Friday and Saturday. With some persuasion we suggested that we could look after ourselves on Sunday and Monday morning but she already insisted to cook on Monday evening. Another lady comes in daily making sure everything is in order and quickly picks up a broom and sweeps out the entire house, does some dusting and collects the dirty laundry. So friends we feel we're in good hands...God's care is immaculate!

Most of the first week we spent in Manila. On Thursday after arrival we travelled with an acquiantance to 4 dairy farms in a province to the south of Manila where they have renovated some coconut groves into pasture lands under the trees. A very interesting concept for the area but unfortunately the province of Isabela does not have coconut groves. But it does give insight to what can be done to address the challenges of heat stress in dairy cattle.

I hope in my next posting I will be able to provide some pictures of what we have seen. This blogging is still new and needs some time to increase my abilities.

Our second week was spent with our acquiantances from our former project in San Pablo. We reviewed with them their development of the dairy project. While the volume of raw milk processed is still very small, an increase of 350% over the May production does mean it is moving forward. Farmers are breeding their animals again to improve their production. The Processing Association is seeking new producers and new markets...all positive results and encouraging for the small group of movers and shakers that are determined to succeed. We met with the Regional Department of Education who seem willing to partner in a school milk program and have suggested how the group can possibly address this opportunity.

Cathy is doing well...she is mesmerizing the people we meet with her musical talents. This time we brought her accordian which gives her the opportunity to play, liven up our home and thrill neighbouring listeners. The neighbours also have a daughter that plays a keyboard so I'm sure there will be some future interaction.

Today we began our work in the Province, first a meeting with the Vice Governor and then a day long meeting with representatives from 11 different municipalities that would like to explore dairy entrepreneurships. We have now set a schedule that takes us all the way to December 18, three days after our scheduled departure as suggested in the application for our return...not at all a surprise (our last project was to be 4 weeks, then 6 and we stayed for 10). Also there is now a greater initiative in the works that I will tell you about in my next blog so please stand by.

...until next time (this time I promise an update on the week-end).

Thank you everyone for your emails, a few blog comments and please continue to keep us in your prayers.