Back on line...

Padre Burgos

I bet you were wondering where we have been!  We're now back in Manila.  The last day in the Philippines. For the last week we have been as far south in Leyte as you can get at a place called Padre Burgos.  After retrieving our precious package in Taclobon (and ensuring everyone was healthy - thanks for the prayers as Naomi recovered as you prayed).


We journeyed South across the most beautiful country  - imagine....jungles, rice patties, ocean - blue of a kind you've never seen. we were awed by the beauty of this country that gave us two of our children.  We stayed at a place called Padre Burgos Castle and it was the perfect place to just sit with our Jacob and let him absorb that he finally has a family, a home.  It was a wonderful and fulfilling time for us as a family - Jacob left that place very much part of our family.  As we snorkeled, swam, explored and just laid on the beach there something wonderful happened...Jacob became part of us, he became what we knew he would be....son and brother.  It's like he's always been here.       

Visiting Everett

We  returned to Manila on Thursday, 10 May.  Another beautiful drive through this exotic and beautiful country reaching the airport in Taclobon around 3 PM.  Funny thing about that airport -  as you wait everyone is facing the same way in seating very similar to  movie theater - so we did what came naturally to us - moved to the only available space (the front) and became the show.  Lots of wondering who these 2 Filipino kids are with this obviously foreign family - it was funny.  We boarded the plane - whisking us home.  As I watched Jacob look out the window - I knew it was both hard for him and exciting at the same time.  There are people, good people that we know (and have grown attached to ourselves) in Taclobon that love this boy too.  He has friends in the orphanage and many tears were shed.  I wish I could understand the deep water that was stirring in his heart as we flew away from Taclobon.

Who the Artist Saw this AM

Yesterday we paid a visit to my uncle Everett.  The first visit from family since he left Texas in 1940 to be stationed in the Philippines.  At the US cemetery there is a memorial to those who's bodies were never recovered and I found him.  I could not help but think that he was smiling as he saw one of his family with his family - and low and behold two of them are Filipino.  Naomi told me later - she "asked God to say hello to him" for her.

I'm not even trying to understand the depth of all we have experienced - I'm just soaking in it - taking it in. So here we are in Manila watching as a local artist by the name of Alberto Magsumbol sketches the two great gifts given to us by this great country. As I reflect, I just Praise the Lord who made us all...who was, and is, and is to come....  Have a blessed day.

The Worthey Clan