We slept a lot. Hahaha. We went outside to finally get a look around, and send our first email of safe arrival to the families. We met up with Marla, a member of the Focolare movement who lives just behind us and she informed us she was taking the Chinese couple upstairs (along with his visiting parents) to see a Dominican Retreat Center and the Super-market. She offered for us to come along and we jumped at the offer since we definitely needed to stock our cupboards.
The Dominican Retreat Center was beautiful. Everything was very finely manicured, and the buildings had beautiful architecture. Marla informed us that this was due to the retreat center’s affiliation with the largest university in the Philippines located in Manila, which has a major focus on architecture. She also mentioned that many members of the Focolare movement get married at this chapel because it is so beautiful. A priest that runs the facility played a major role in the presentation of an honorary doctorate to Chiara Lubich (the founder of the Focolare Movement). After reading one of her books he believed she deserved this doctorate in Theology, and after 7 professors reading all of her writings, she received the doctorate.
The Super-market was very similar to ours in the U.S. except for the fact that there were just as many workers as customers. Every time we turned around someone was saying, “Good morning, Miss/ Sir”. It must be another way to give jobs. We picked up the essentials, and discovered the prices really weren’t all that great. Marla told us there is another market they usually go to, so we decided to wait to buy more.
In the evening we were given a welcoming party by all the members of the Focolare movement here in Tagaytay. It was a great chance to meet everyone (although a little overwhelming, about 50 people) and I think I remember only 5 names. Many people here are from different countries, mostly surrounding Asian countries, and they performed lots of songs for us. It was great.
After all of this we were quite exhausted and hit the hay.
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Hey Michael & Colleen! It was great to be your last stop on the West Coast prior to your departure and we hope all is well in the Philippines! We continue to pray for you both and everyone there with you.
ReplyDelete- Ryan & Ginny
thanks! we had so much fun in San Fran...we want to live there, hahaha! too bad we didn't think about going to school out that way, would have been fun. although we are definitely going to need some time off from law school, so lots of visits!
ReplyDeletemiss you both!