We discovered in late November that everything and everyone shuts down for at least two weeks around Christmas and New Years so we decided that would be a good time for a holiday. We were acquianted with a lady in Manila whose family lived in Cebu and that is also where our missionary friends, Doug & Marla Sharpe, who we met in Peterborough over the past year also live. It seemed ideal to visit this island about an hour flying time south of Manila.

We arrived here on December 19 and it has been a wonderful experience. Girlie, our Manila friend booked us into a small resort with a swimming pool and next to the Carmotes Sea...so a choice of chlorine water or salt water. The salt water is awesome...we float like a cork. Now looking at us that may be hard to imagine but it is reality. We keep forgetting to ask someone to take our picture but hope to soon prove it to you.

On the 20th, Saturday evening Doug called and arranged a ride to church for us with a local lady, Mylene, who lives close by. Mylene, still a total stranger although a sister in the Lord, called and invited us for breakfast before church. During the day she informed us that she was taking her family to Manila on a holiday so if we would bring them to the airport we could use her SUV for the next 10 days. Wow...that was an unexpected blessing but sincerely appreciated. This has allowed us to visit and travel well beyond our expectations.

This is also the first time I have actually driven a vehicle (beyond an ATV) in the Philippines and it sure takes some getting used to, especially night driving. Probably near 10% of vehicles have no lights or so dim you can't see them. Then there's the many bicycles and tricylces also moving around in the dark. Sometimes 2 lane traffic turns into 4 or more lanes with motorcycles darting in and out of everywhere. But we're catching on to the 'madness' and seem to do OK by the Grace of God.