Blessings

I talked with mom last night - she is in Dumaguete to tend to my aunt (her sister) who is undergoing blood transfusions in the hospital.  I asked her to put in perspective for my American friends - what they are able to do with the money they receive.  She said that she just bought a 52 kg bag of rice for 1,500 pesos that someone in the city gave her.  P1,500 is equal to about $35 (P42 per $1 exchange rate).  And that 52 kilo bag of rice will be distributed to about 25 people (approx. 2 kilos per family) - and that would be enough to feed a family of 5 for a day.

She also mentioned that she was thankful for the water filtering trucks the government has dispatched to Negros.  As I was talking with her, she said there was one such truck down the road by the river, filtering the water for the lined-up townspeople.  I thought that was pretty cool.

(photo by G. Dupio - used without permission)

Both of my parents are extremely grateful for the outpouring of love and support from so many people.   Last week Laura Story won a Grammy for her song "Blessings."  I actually thought of that song when I found out that it rained the day after the earthquake - while my mom was fretting about all her books being ruined, she also knew that was provision of much needed fresh water for drinking.  If you haven't heard it, it really is a great reminder of the fact that if you love Jesus - we truly are not Home yet.  And that the trials of this life may be His mercies in disguise.