* Youth Outing

The First Reformed Church of Bulacan organized a combined youth outing for this past Tuesday, December 21.  Young people from the FRCB, the Berean PRC, and the Christian Faith Ministry of Batasan Hills attended.  Three ministers also joined them.  The outing was at Eco Park in Quezon City - a little over an hour from here.

The Young People from the FRCB

Yes, they all squeezed "comfortably" into Kleyn's Toyota Revo

Our Merienda and Lunch Spot

Playing a Mixer Game

Taking a Walk and Throwing a Frisbee

(till it ended up in the water :-))

Working up an Appetite

Some more Exercise

"I think I can!"

Rev. Smit led Devotions and Singing before Lunch

John found his own store

Enjoying some Shade

"Push, Push, Push!"

"Grab the Rag" game

The youth and pastors had an enjoyable day together.  On the way home some were asking, "When is part two?"  We believe this was a good way for the young people to get to know each other, and thus also to promote fellowship between the churches here.
   

* Things Bright and Beautiful

This week we were able to witness the beauty of God's creation in a couple of unique ways.  Sunday we were driving to First Reformed Church in Bulacan.  It was raining off and on and the sun was shining, so a huge rainbow was stretched across the northwestern sky, for most of our two hour drive there. 

Notice the double?  Did you know that when there is a double rainbow the second one is a mirror image of the first?  The order of the colors is in  reverse.

And the bow shall be in the cloud; and I will look upon it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is upon the earth.  Genesis 9:16

Tuesday night was the lunar eclipse.  We climbed to the top of the grassy plateau (the second floor, we found out it's called) in the subdivision at about 5:30PM just as the sun was setting.  There was a beautiful cooling breeze, but at first no moon.  Then right at 5:45 the moon appeared over the distant hill and showed itself in all it's beauty.   We quickly called the Smits and they all joined us. 

To him that made great lights: for his mercy endureth forever: The sun to rule by day: for his mercy endureth forever: The moon and stars to rule by night: for his mercy endureth forever.  Psalm 136: 7-9
   

* Our Neighborhood - Part 2

                                     

A few of the flowers we see on our walk around the neighborhood.

The Collared Kingfisher

A Woodpecker

Philippine Cuckoo Hawk

On our walk through the neighborhood we can drop in to say hello to the Smits.  Their new place is only a few blocks further than their old one from our place.

The street to their house

Smit's new house

Then we'll stop in at the subdivision office for our new gate pass for 2011.

The office

On our way back we'll pass the Roman Catholic chapel.  I think every subdivision has one.

Sacred Heart Chapel

And you can even go to the dentist if you want to!

Thanks for visiting.  Come back again sometime!

Exiting the Subdivision gate

    

* Our Neighborhood - Part 1

Welcome to Beverly Hills Subdivision!  So nice of you to take a jeepney ride to see us!

Handy that the jeepney will drop you right at our subdivision gate.  From there it's only a few blocks walk.  Or you can take a tricycle if you want to.

They just recently redid the whole entrance area, so it's looking pretty spiffy!

You'll pass Smit's old house on your way up the main road.

Turn left on 3rd Ave., take it a few blocks down to Sunrise Dr. and you are almost to our house.

The white lion by our neighbor's (our landlady) gate is a good landmark. 

Our house is behind the green gate.

Home, Sweet Home

And now that you've had time to relax and have something cold to drink with us, let's go on a tour of the neighborhood.

We usually take this road on our early morning walks.  You can buy your phone cards or potato chips, if you're hungry, at the little corner store (sari-sari) on the left.

A little further down that same road we can take a walk up a track to the top of a grassy plateau.  From there we can get pretty nice views of the city.  There's even a rainbow this morning....

 And lots of smog!

In Michigan the snow takes over the roads in the winter.  Here the green growth takes over in the rainy season!  You can still get a car through though.

An unused track at the edge of the subdivision.  Of course my husband has to try it!

Next time you come we will show you some of the birds and flowers we see and also some of the different buildings.  We look forward to your next visit!

   

* Grocery Shopping

Today we have to go grocery shopping.  Need to get some things for supper tonight.  We'll go to the wet market in Antipolo and to some of the grocery stores nearby.  There is lots to choose from, so I hope you're ready!  First we'll shop for our meat.

You can buy your fish from Hypermarket, or..........

Shopwise, or......

Antipolo Wet Market.

Some varieties of fish...

and other seafood.

You can also choose from a wide selection of beef, pork or chicken.

Chicken heads or feet anyone? 

(The Filipinos, with their sense of humor, call these the helmet and adidas!)

If we are cooking a Filipino meal (breakfast, lunch or supper) we have to have rice.

Do you know which kind to get?!  And you thought rice was rice was rice!

Now for some veggies and maybe some fruit for dessert. 

One thing we have learned here is that there is an endless and amazing variety of fruits and vegetables in God's creation.  So many things we never heard of.  Here is a short list of some of the names. 

Fruits: Atis, Dalandon, Durian, Guava, Guyabank, Jackfruit, Lanzones, Makopa, Papaya, Pomelo, Rambutan, Santol.  Just the bananas alone present a big variety -- saba, cavendish, senorita, etc.  Some of them can be fried and then carmelized with brown sugar.  Yum!  Some can be boiled.  Some are eaten as they are.  (Hmmm.  I wonder which ones make the best peanut butter and banana sandwiches.......)

Veggies:  Ampalaya, Alogbati, Eggplant, Kangkong, Okra, Pechay, Sayote. 

I'm sure there are many more we haven't learned about yet.  Some  of the names are familiar, but not real common to North America.  You can also get the common everyday veggies here -- corn, beans, broccoli, cauliflower, lettuce, onions, potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, cabbage, etc.

So have you figured out your menu for tonight yet?