Typhoon Hagupit (RUBY) gave us a scare

On Tuesday evening we were having dinner with TaTa and her husband, daughter and the sister missionaries from Lubao.  TaTa's husband asked us what we thought about the typhoon coming so late in the season.  At first I thought he was talking about the typhoon that hit last year, but then he turned the channel to the news showing a typhoon headed for the Philippines.  This can't be real - was my first thought... then I thought it's just our luck ... sorta to see what it was like for Jessica living here.

Map of typhoon Ruby's path is directly over the southern part of Luzon

IT was very interesting to watch as all the locals didn't really give it much thought as they would say, it's going to hit south of us, but if you look at the plotted predicted course - it is projected to travel directly over the southern part of Luzon - in other words - directly over us.

As the week went on it showed how the storm was volatile and how it now had three projected paths depending on what the winds did.  The red area is where we are.  The biggest problem for us is that we are on the west side of the island and the storm is approaching the east side of the island but the airport is on the east side of the island.  So in other words, in order to get out of the Philippines we have to drive directly into the path of the storm.  

The storm hit as predicted but then slowed down dramatically.  The wind speed was still the same, but the speed at which it traveleds slowed to 7 kmp - this was very good news for us - because it allowed us to get into Manila and out of Manila before causing damage in Manila.

taken photos from the TV of the damaging winds

 We drove into Manila late Saturday night and stayed at the Marriott Resort in Manila.  We stayed on the third floor, so we were safe from any flooding.

We are three

We were ever so lucky - Heavenly Father truly answered our prayers in slowing the storm down long enough and in an area so that people didn't get hurt or damage to their property long enough for us to get out of the country and then allowed the storm to continue on.

Day 10 (Monday): Make it out of Manila - head Home

This was such a BLESSED day.

So to start we have to catch the 7:10 shuttle to the airport so we pack up the night before and get to the lobby by 7:00.  We have everything we need.  The Marriott shuttle takes us over to the Airport.  Just as we are departing, sprinkles of rain fall - nothing heavy but the storm is approaching.  We arrive at the Philippine airport with a light rain, we go inside get checked in.  We find out that they messed up the seating assignments again - but we got it fixed.  We search for souvenirs for the kids and us.  We found tee-shirts, flags, etc., also bought a neck pillow.

By the time we get to the gate, it is pouring rain.
By the time the plane boarded we were worried we might not get to take off,

Once we landed in Tokyo, we learned that 200 flights already had been canceled from Manila.  We made it out just in time.

In Tokyo Jessica and I had a super fun time shopping for souvenirs.  We even found (she found) a Pikachu pen for Devon.  It's so exciting.  We also saw traditional Japanese dress.  Jessica and I got our pictures taken with them.

On a side note, I had accidentally left the DVD player when we landed in Tokyo a week earlier - I was able to get it back today!  Silver lining.

We were so happy to finally get home.  I couldn't wait to hug my kids.

Day 9 (Sunday): Stuck in Manila

Since we drove to Manila on Saturday night we have the day (Sunday) in Manila.  We had planned on attending church and returning the car, but when we over slept couldn't figure out how to get to a chapel, we decided we would have our own devotional and then return the rent-a-car.

After a delicious breakfast at Starbuck in this most amazing and glamorous mall (I had a cinnamon roll and hot chocolate and a diet coke) ...

delicious breakfast

Betsy with her large coke zero

Mark and I go for a walk and leave Jessica to skype with Tate.  We walked all around looking for some place that had "Manila" tee-shirts.  There was nothing - not one store.  We gave up and decided to return to the hotel to return the rental car.

It was around 11:00 when Mark and I left to return the car ... we followed the directions very carefully - turn for turn - but kept going around in circles - it was a nightmare.  After passing all three terminals several times, we decided to park at Terminal 1.  Thank goodness Mark had a cell phone with international service.  We called AVIS and told them we were waiting for them to come get us... we weren't driving another mile without direction.

They came - all was well.  It only took 2 hours.!  OUCH!!!

At the entrance to the hotel with the hotel guards - and their watchful dog

Upon returning to the hotel we decided to relax and read by the pool.  The sky was completely covered by clouds - but the rain had not come yet.  Wow!

Sisters

with my tropical virgin strawberry daquari

What a miracle.  The rain was supposed to hit the day before, but the Lord has answered our prayers.  Our only hope is that it will continue this way until we need to leave tomorrow.

We enjoyed a very pleasant night.

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.