Day 8 (Saturday): Santa Rita then to Manila

This was one of our best days.  It started early and busy ...

Breakfast was quick at the Reef Restaurant and then back upstairs to pack up.  We aren't sure what the storm is going to do so we are checking out of the Camayan Beach Resort.  It took a bit longer than we expected but at least we are free and clear.  I had them help me get directions to the Marriott from Olongapo so we know where we are going.  It is going to be a stressful evening driving in Manila in the dark.

Onward - today's activities include Santa Rita.  The Elders gave Mark directions to get Santa Rita and we made it about 3/4 of the way and then Jessica said - this doesn't look right... ugh - here we go again... venturing into the unknown.  Well, we kept going and found signs that pointed us in the right direction.

Jessica kept saying, "we should see Yellow jeepneys."  Then just as we were losing hope, we turned the corner and there was a yellow jeepney.  We asked directions to the LDS chapel and instead of just pointing us in the right direction, he said follow me.  WOW!  What a great guy.  He took us there.  We parked the van there and walked to the the first house.

so happy to see a yellow jeepney

Jessica with Ian, Sheena and their two boys

We visited with Sheena and her husband Ian for about an hour.  They really didn't know any English so Mark and I watched "Captain Phillips" on the TV.  We gave them a few presents for their kids and then headed on our way.  Today was a walking day.

We walked and walked going through alley ways and small streets, this definitely a different area.  After we walked down an alley and around a corner we went up about 100 stairs, zig zagged and all different heights - it was crazy to think someone goes up and down these every day.  When we got to the very top there were too very small, somewhat destroyed shacks that substituted as houses.

Arriving at the Joven family home

the view from their front door

two adorable girls

daughters in their only chair

giving out presents

Mom, Dad and their 8 children with Jessica

on top of their bed for 10 people (bunk)

the view

We went to the one on the right - the kids were outside and started screaming and shouting as soon as they saw Jessica coming.  Then they hugged her as if they were never going to let go.  I knew Jessica had taught many people in many poor living conditions but this one is worth elaborating on just so we always remember just how little this poor family had.  This was a humble family of 8 kids and a mom and dad living in a small home probably the size of Marissa's bedroom and bathroom together.  There was a stripped couch with no legs or covering against the wall as you first walk in, and a thrashed chair with no legs against the wall perpendicular to it (opposite the front door from the couch).  Next to the couch was a bunk bed in the corner (double bed size) made of ply wood and no mattresses.  Opposite the coach was the "kitchen" - it was a sink and counter and some creates acting as shelves.  They had a small frig and a burner.  There was a back room with a doorway between the bed and the sink but it was a storage/closet area.  This was it - this one room for a family of 10 - 8 kids ranging in ages from 13 - 1 years old.  I was so humbled to see this living condition.  We passed out many presents - coloring crayons, coloring books, reading books, dolls, cars, etc. but I really wish I had brought them a few bags of rice.  They will cherish the gifts but they need food.  We visited with them for about an hour (maybe less) and then knew we had more people to see so we had to move on.

The family wanted to stay with Jessica so much that the mom and three of the kids went with us.  They walked with us down the stairs, down the street and then up another set of stairs - they went everywhere with us.

Walking down one of the alleys

The next stop was to see Wilma Abella at home.  Jessica was so excited to come to this home because she had bought three beautiful Christmas dresses for her girls.  One of the girls was sick and the mom had a bad mouth soar so we couldn't stay too long.

Wilma's three kids and a neighbor:  Shane, Sandy and Abby (sleeping)

Jessica and Sister Abella

so cute - they adore her

On the way to our next house we stopped and saw another sister from the ward.  Her daughter had just woke up so we gave her some presents.

We also passed out presents to kids on the street.  It was so fun to see their excited faces.

Look - more stairs = more and more and more stairs.

so many stairs

At the top of the stairs was the home of Donanta and Arjay.  Jessica was so excited to see them.  She taught Donanta (the mom), and she was baptized, then Arjay was so interested in the gospel that he was baptized.  Jessica was so excited - 

Arjay, Donanta, Jessica and Mark

having fun

Jessica in the hammock with Arjay

It finally came time to say good bye - they were so sad to go

When we got back to the church for the car, we saw people there.  We went to use the bathrooms and realized it was a baptism - how appropriate.  What was amazing was that several of Jessica's Young Single adult friends were there.  She thought this was perfect - she wanted to see them so much but didn't know how to find them all.  

While we were there they told us about a special Christmas party that was going on - that's were a lot of the other people were, so we drove there (with her two friends).  What a great treat, Jessica saw so many other people that she wanted to see.  There were several families because it was a stake/district Primary activity.

We spent all day visiting friends from her mission.  Now it was time to head towards Manila.  We stopped in Olongapo for food - we ate at a very popular Chinese Restaurant for a wonderful dinner before hitting the road to Manila.  

Betsy had made detailed directions that she printed at the resort.  All was well until we got off the NLEX and Mark missed our turn for the beltway that goes around Manila.  We are driving straight through Manila (headed towards downtown - again with no GPS - with nothing to tell us if we are going in the right or wrong direction except Betsy's guess from her phone map.)

You know what - Mark is an amazing driver, especially under pressure, and we made it.  We found every turn, every direction we needed to go, we did and arrived at the Marriott complex with no problem.  That's where it got complicated.  We pulled right up to where the Marriott was but the police man directed us to turn right for parking - but there wasn't any - luckily we were able to just "drive around the block" and retry entry.  We finally figured out that we have to go straight across to park at the Marriott hotel and resort.  

OH my goodness, this place is amazing!  It's a city in and of itself.  There is a casino next to it.  We checked into our wonderful and refreshing room.  Mark and I took a long walk through the casino and over to the attached mall - 4 stories.  We walked them all, just to stretch our legs and to scout out food for tomorrow.

The storm is still holding off - it's amazing.  It should have hit Manila by now, but it has slowed down to only traveling at 7 mph - great news for us, however, now we didn't get to go to church in Olongapo - I feel really bad about that.