EXPAT LADIES CHARITY INC VISITS BETHANY.

Recently the Ladies from ELCI came to Talakag as part of their (3rd) annual visit to Bethany. As always the children and staff were delighted to see the Ladies as they bring with them goodies for the children.

On this occasion the ladies treated the children to their morning snack which comprised of siopao, corn chips, chocolate cake, cup cakes and a fruit drink. How the children just loved this. When all the food was eaten the Ladies played parlour games with the children and to hear the laughing I don’t know who was enjoying the games most.

During their visit to Bethany the Ladies also inspected the rubber tree seedlings that they donated last year when they came and were delighted to see the progress being made.

During this visit Marilou and I planned a little surprise for the Ladies as a way to say thank you for all their efforts in helping Bethany.

The first surprise was to take them to visit a local farm owned by Amado and Elizabeth Noble who have built a weekend retreat and recreational area as well as a small botanic garden. The Ladies just loved this as it’s so beautiful and peaceful and allowed so many picture opportunities.
From the farm we took the Ladies to our house in the town for lunch and a chance to get refreshed.

The last part of the trip to Talakag was to visit the HELP Foundation a charity run by an American Keith Hooper that has a goat farm and training facility for local women in handcrafts as well as home economics and also gives micro loans to enable small businesses to be started.

The charity is funded by US donors as well as Rotary International. The Ladies were impressed by what they saw at the training centre. The feedback was that the Ladies thoroughly enjoyed their visit to Bethany and Talakag and look forward to next year when they will return once more.

WANDA TELLS HER STORY.

From time to time I receive mail from people who read my blog and I just love to hear from former Bethany children and their experiences in life since leaving the Philippines.
One such mail I received recently was from Wanda Swenson which I have reproduced here with her permission as I think it’s so touching and down to earth.

Wanda wrote, I would be happy to share my story. God certainly does move in mysterious ways and I have been very blessed in my life thus far.
Background: I was brought to Bethany by my Aunt; my birth parents were unwed students. I lived in Bethany for 5 years for a very happy childhood (from what I can remember!) Christian missionaries Paul and Barb North (& their newborn son Justin) of New York served at the orphanage for two years helping to build the music school and music/art program at Bethany. When they left they adopted another Filipino child- Lenny. So the couple came over a 'family of three' and left a 'family of five!
Since my adoptive father was in ministry, he took several pastoral calls throughout the U.S. so we lived in New York, Indiana, Iowa and California. All that moving around made I well equipped to adjust to new environments and make friends easily. I have always had an adventurous spirit and I joined the U.S. Navy after high school. My four years in the Navy onboard the U.S.S. LaSalle flagship were challenging but filled with wonderful travel, exposure to many varied cultures and an opportunity to make lifelong friends. My duties onboard the ship included coordinating mail delivery to over 40 ports of call in Northern Africa, Southern Europe and the Mediterranean and running the shipboard post office. Another perk to the Navy- that is where I met my best friend and husband Brian.
I used my G.I Bill to go to college at Michigan State University. I currently work in Sales & Marketing for an insurance company. I work with Indiana and Ohio Medical, Dental & Legal societies and train insurance agents who want to work with my company.
In my free time I am in a dance troupe that performs Middle Eastern, Polynesian and Spanish dances. My husband and I are avid cyclists and he is teaching me how to play hockey (I really need to stick to dancing!
I would like to share that so many people who hear that I am adopted say I am 'lucky'. I do not feel that 'luck' has anything to do with it; instead it is God's will, and open loving hearts of his servants that enabled me to have a fruitful life. I know He has a plan for me and my family and although I may stumble at times to find it, I know there is a plan for my Life, just like there is a plan for each precious child at Bethany.

Wanda with her husband Brian

Thank you for your time, I certainly hope we can keep in touch. . I have not been back since I left in 1980 but hope to one day.

BETHANY IN COLOUR PART 2

Entrance to Bethany

Entrance looking towards the School Library

Bethany Baptist Church (Currently receiving some TLC).

Bethany School's Mission & Vision

The School Yard

The School

The School Admin Block

To the Church



The road to Sugar Creek



The Kindergarden

To the Creek



The Creek



Bethany's Admin Block



So peaceful



Bethany Christian Home for Children in Colour: Part 1

I was asked recently by a former Bethany School student if I would post some recent photographs of Sugar Creek the name given to the upper part of the Bethany compound by Ms Louise Lynip (our founder) where the Children’s Home is located. Always willing to please, here is the photographs that I took yesterday..............so Joyce this is especially for you. I hope you like them and they bring back happy memories.



Nursery Playroom




Former Laundry now a Store Room




Administration Block




Older Cottage




Farm Building & Office




New Guest House




Cottage 11




Old Cottage being renovated




New Cottage



Older Wooden Cottage



Original wooden cottage




Basketball Court



SUSTAINABLE RUBBER PLANTATION PROJECT

Today I went to Bethany to inspect the Rubber Plantation which is now nearing three years since it was first started. The trees are now visible from the farm building and looking very good indeed. A Rubber Plantation is like a mini forest when mature and the latex is being tapped.


Parts for the grass cutter will soon be available and the grass growing between the rows of rubber trees will be cut short in order to reduce the possibility of fire during the dry season. When I look at the Rubber Plantation I’m so proud of all the financial donations given by my friends and colleagues in the UK to get this project literally off the ground and into the air.

Thank you one and all for you kindness for getting the project this far.




RUBBER TREES IN THE PLANTATION

 


RUBBER PLANTATION TAKING SHAPE



RUBBER TREES ON CLOSE UP

Provincial Governor of Bukidnon, the Honourable Alex Calingasan, Visits Bethany

Bethany was honoured today with the presence of the Governor Alex Calingasan at the school graduation of Preparatory, Grade 6 and 4th Year High School Class of 2011.

The graduates along with their parents and staff  were thrilled to be in the presence of the Governor who addressed the assembly and took time out of his busy schedule to speak individually with the students and parents and posed for photographs with them which, I’m sure, will be something they will treasure for the future.

The Chairperson of the Bethany Board of Trustees, Atty Chemene Nacua, also congratulated the graduates and reminded all parents of both present and future students that it is not an easy task to send their children to school in these difficult financial times, but to do otherwise could mean a bleak future for them.

Once again big congratulations to all graduates as they have made their parents and staff of Bethany very proud of them.



The Bethany Graduates
Preparatory, Grade 6 and High School Class of 2011

The Governor poses with some more graduates.

Lucky graduates pose with the Governor.

Marilou Cunningham with the Governor

BOOK DONATION TO BETHANY SCHOOL LIBRARY.

Good friends of ours and fellow British expats Mr & Mrs Trevor Ford who reside in Cagayan de Oro city have donated a large quantity of quality reference books to Bethany School Library. The books cover the subjects of History. Geography and Science and the school Principal Mrs Heidi Cansancio was overwhelmed when she received the donation, she said “ this will make a tremendous addition to our library and truly enlighten our pupils to the outside world”.


It’s therefore a big THANK YOU to Mr & Mrs Ford for such a valuable gift to Bethany.

Bethany is always grateful for any type of donation that you our friends and readers may wish to give.



Marilou handing over some of the books to Mrs Cansancio on behalf of Mr & Mrs Ford.



Mrs Cansancio with the balance of the books.