The Naked Truth

The last few weeks have been very busy. I know that I have probably said that before. It does seem that each week brings new challenges that just get added to the other things you have learned to do. But our capacity to handle new challenges seems to increase with each passing week.

Earlier this week we ended an eight-day trip to the Island of Negros. Negros is one of the other major islands that is encompassed by the mission. There we visited all of the proselyting areas in San Carlos and Tanjay Zones. We also looked at a beautiful home that we are trying to rent for a senior couple to be assigned in the Tanjay Zone and located in the City of Bais. The Negros Island is not even close to the population of Cebu Island. It is more like what I imagined the terrain and ocean viewing would be before we left for the Philippines. In an official announcement from the Mission President 2 weeks ago, we found out that there will be (3) new missions in the Philippines (currently there are 23). One of the new missions will be on Negros and headquartered in Dumaguete. This will take about half of the land area away from our mission with the current boundary alignment. The new missions will be active on July 1, 2024. This means there will be many changes over the next few months in preparation for the boundary changes. We found out yesterday that our Mission President plans to send Sister Epperson and I to Bogo, in the very northern part of the island of Cebu, unless more changes happen between now and then. This will give us the next 7 months to get our housing coordinator responsibilities in order for the next housing coordinators to take over. By then we should have it hitting on all eight cylinders and should just be in maintenance mode after that.

The past few weeks has brought home to me again just how different the area we live in is from home. Several weeks ago, when we could drive, I took Nina and another couple downtown to do some shopping and some business. My plan was not to park (since it is impossible to find a parking spot anyway). I was to drive around the block several times until they were finished. Turns out driving around the block is not a simple either. I got a little lost so I depended on the Nav system to get me back. Then it went offline and I was completely lost. Took more than 45 minutes to get back on track and find the place. I am glad I got lost however because as I was driving around in a stupor, I saw a 6ft tall 95lbs. Filipino completely naked standing on the curb facing the traffic. I could not believe it at first. But since I was stopped in traffic, it gave me plenty of time to process what I was seeing. Then another trip a few days later, this time with Sister Epperson and Sister Garner in the car, I said “There’s something you don’t see every day.” Another man, heavier this time, walking down the sidewalk completely naked. When I say naked, I am saying no clothing whatsoever. And it must be something these two do regularly because every part of their body was just as suntanned as the rest. Sister Epperson has made a habit out of making what she calls “beggar bags” for the people that approach your car at almost every intersection and tap on the window for some money or something to eat. She has a pass along card, a couple of items of food along with other items she will hand out to these people. It got me to thinking that I could make a beggar bag for naked guys with a pair of briefs, shorts and a t-shirt (not that these guys would wear it, they seemed to be fairly happy with the way things are).

The Balente Century tree near one of the areas we visited

Photo from vehicle near Cabagtasan

View outside our room in San Carlos

I realize that you probably thought I was going to have a photo of the naked guys. Not so, I am on a mission! This would be highly inappropriate! What do you suppose I am doing here?