arrived in Amlan

I promised more detail, and we had some great pictures to share, but our internet connection where we came to work on this is painfully slow, we worked on it for a couple of hours, then lost the few pictures we had been able to upload. We are having technology nightmares. Hmmm maybe it's because we are on a remote island in the middle of Philippine nowhere. Anyway, this week we will try to conquer. In the meantime you get only words and a picture of our little friend who lives in our bedroom. I know, sounds romantic and exotic and all to have a cute little gecko in your room, but 1) he makes a clicking sound that will wake you from a deep sleep, and 2) when you watch him on the ceiling above you, could you really sleep wondering how sure footed he is, and will he land on your face?
We drove to the bottom of Cebu island yesterday and the deeper we got, the more jungle surrounded us. Still, at least along the roadways, the people are as dense as the vegetation behind their little towns and villages. It was more and more clear that we were getting ever further from anything remotely familiar.
A wonderful couple from Arizona, who are here on an extended vacation/learning experience with their 3 youngest boys, heard we were coming and rode the ferry over to meet us and get us on the right barge. Oh people are so good.
They are on our angel list for sure.
An important aside: We have decided not to add names of members or missionaries on our blog, for the sake of their privacy. We may add pictures, but you won't know names, unless we forget.
We were met at the ferry-landing on the island of Negros by the zone leaders for the Tanjay Zone, and they drove with us to show us our new home.
It is lovely--it is completely furnished, right down to sheets and utensils. Of course it is extremely different from anything we are used to--all tile floors, air con in bedrooms only. windows that open out, but that when closed have great gaps to to let in mosquitoes and or anything else. a shower that is seperated from the rest of the C.R. (aka comfort room, aka bathroom) only by a curtain. Different, but all perfectly fine and manageable. We just have to be flexible
Here is what I'm grateful for:
a water heater (seems silly in this climate, but warm water is still good for showering, even in the tropics)
bottled water
my companion
Missionaries who are willing to help us
plumeria
ear plugs (that gecko!!)
MANGO AFTER MANGO AFTER MANGO Elder Cropper is in heaven!
SAints in Amlan and everywhere else.
We went to church today.
We drove in to the property about 1/2 hour early. Some families were already there and a few little kids ran to the car to greet us and everyone, young and old were so welcoming. I tried to just enjoy their sweet spirits, but it was super worrisome to know that of all the names they said, I could understand and repeat maybe 1/4, and of those I could remember only a couple. I wrote down as many as I could. They care so much to be recognized by the "senior couple", and I hate the thought of not giving them enough love by forgetting names. Can you pray for that particular for us?
The people are amazing, the lesson and talks were in varying percentages of English and Bisayan, with Bisayan being predominate by far. They mix it up in the most fascinating way.
We have been told that we can "get by" in English, but it is very evident that getting by is not sufficient, and learning Bisayan will be crazy hard
We have no idea what we will be filling our days with--we get to mostly define it as the time goes by.
We are sitting at an outdoor table at the little resort that is next to our home. We can hear the waves lapping on the shore, and the cicadas and crickets are singing. Katie calls this our working vacation, because the surroundings are so lovely. And it's true, our immediate surroundings are, but right next to us, people are cooking on open fires, children have deformities that would make you weep if you thought too long about it, people have no jobs and no food other than what they can scavenge. God is good, but life is hard here, and gold and silver have we none to offer (it's not even allowed for us to help people financially), but we have the gospel and it is already evident, from the faithful saints we've seen in Amlan Branch, that the gospel blesses families in very tangible ways.
Thank you for your emails and comments. I'm off to settle in for the night, with the big guy (Elder Cropper) and the little guy below.