Hi all
We said goodbye to Will on Friday. Was so good to see him, and it gave us the opportunity to take some time out. Apartment very quiet since he returned, although strangely tidy again!
Busy week this week, we have two lovely girls here volunteering with us who are an ecologist and anthropologist respectively.
Although we had tried to prepare them with email information and pictures I don't think they quite grasped how things were on the dump site as they kept sending us plans of greenhouses they wanted to build, 'green' roof projects and digging gardens for the residents to grow vegetables. When we showed them the 'houses' (mostly no roof) and the spaces between them (none) and the open space (none) they were horrified.
They then suggested bat boxes (no bats, and if there ever had been they would have been casseroled). One of them wanted to get in the river to take some samples to test, we had to hold her back, and after she had dipped a bottle with care and tested it she realized why.
The mercury levels are dangerously high and according to the press there are 150 tons of domestic waste and 75 tons of industrial waste dumped daily (and we've seen a lot of it going in as it's right outside our window!), effectively a huge sewer system.
Apparently the Pasig is the most polluted river in the world. When we were in Indonesia we were living in the most polluted city in the world - pattern emerging?
Next time I'm putting in a request for somewhere in Switzerland - surely there can't be any pollution there?
On Will's last day here the CEO (who also runs a large high rise office in Makati) invited him, and us, up to the top of the building to take some photos on the helipad.
70 floors and no guard rail - didn't do Stan's vertigo any good! But what a view - in one direction the high rises of Makati (could be New York) with the mountains behind and in the other direction in the distance Pier 18 (the dump site). The contrast never ceases to shock.
We have passed a milestone - this week managed to pay salaries and start the payment schedule to the creditors - PTL. Now for stage two, how to either increase income or reduce outgoings and this is being reviewed now. The boards in UK and here understand the issues and are talking together about them
which we think is positive progress as it wasn't happening before. They asked us for transparency and by golly they are getting it, they must dread getting another email from the Rothwells!
Prayer requests:
- For guidance for both PCF boards on the next steps they must take
- For continued health - we are both a bit wheezy
- That the two volunteers leave here with an insight into the problems - and want to fund-raise!
- For continued guidance for us
- the children and families supported by PCF - may that continue
- For the talk we are giving at the British School of Manila on the 27th - for the right words
Check back soon, Stan will be adding some photos
With every blessing
Sue and Stan