Typhoon Pablo, Fr. Noel, Camiguin, Visas, and more

Wow! What a week!
Tuesday. Typhoon Pablo was scheduled to make a direct hit in our area. I wasn’t too worried because it seemed that the locals always exaggerated big news stories. Soon the rain came. Then the wind. Then more wind with more rain. When we were preparing this house for us to move into, Sammy Romero and I opened all the glass windows and started nailing some of the screened windows shut. “Can’t think of why we’d ever want to shut the glass ones. It’s super hot upstairs.” I should’ve never said anything . Two beds were drenched before I could close the windows. We lost electricity first and then the water was shut off. We were thankful for the week’s worth of drinking water that had just been delivered. We only used one of the jugs to flush toilets and then we were catching rain from the downspouts for later uses. Didn’t realize how much water we really used per day. We then heard from our neighbor how the water and light would not be turned on for a few more days… “DAYS?!” We can do no power for many days but no water? We were thankful when the storm finally blew over but then regretted not having caught more of the rain especially to flush toilets. I was really concerned for those that already had limited access to water. My first thought was for our helper, Bebie, and her family. We ended up cooking her family a meal (thank God for gas-stoves) and giving her a jug of our drinking water.
Most of our nights we used candles for lighting our living room. As soon as the big candle gave out, then it was bedtime. We still said our bedtime prayers and Advent reflections during the candlelight but it seemed so early. One of my main concerns of not having power was not having the fans on to keep the mosquitoes away. The mornings came and everyone woke up with no bites or itching. Praise the Lord! After about 3 days of off and on water shut-offs we finally had everything turned back on including electricity. God is good and we survived. Please continue to pray for those in Davao and other areas that suffered many deaths and damage to property.
Just as we celebrated the Feast of the Immaculate Conception this past Saturday, we began to have a sense of God’s hand guiding us towards the “start” of our new mission here in Malaybalay. Rarely does our family not go to Mass together but we had to the weekend before as Stacie was recovering from the birth of Josephine (both are healthy and well). So, this past Sunday we all walked to Our Lady of Mount Carmel Chapel just as Mass was starting at 6:28am (even MORE rare that Filipinos start earlier than scheduled!). We weaved our way through the line of lectors, altar servers and Fr. Noel Suarez. We were instructed to sit at the very front row as it was the only one that would accommodate us. After Mass, Father mentioned how HUGE of a witness it is to show the parish that we all come to Mass together…and take up the entire row! Oh, I forgot to mention that he also invited us to join him and the rest of the servers for breakfast after Mass…right there in the chapel! Anyways, this gave our family some bonding time with our new parish and its priest. Abram was asked if he wanted to be an altar server. He almost instantly jumped out of his chair and answered “Yes!” with a big smile. Father also introduced us to the President of Bukidnon State University and the other parishioners. Meeting Mr. Taga and Mr. Santoninyo was an answer to our prayers. We have felt a call to visit those who are sick at home and widows too. “Oh! Last year I gathered all of the widows and widowers together for a special Mass and made a list!” replied Mr. Santoninyo. “And after we eat here, we are heading to people’s homes to deliver Holy Communion to them.” **WOW!** We also met a nice lady who is in charge of her neighborhood BEC (Basic Ecclesial Community). “I will visit you later this week and invite you to our next prayer meeting.” I don’t know but I swore I could hear the rusty hinges of some ministry doors opening in the background. More to report soon. Pray that all these opportunities will come to fruition.
Now that things were settling down, the Holy Spirit decided to surprise us with a visit from Father Joe. “I am headed to Malaybalay and would like to stop for a visit. Is that ok? I have with me Gogoy and Marion,” he said. “Yes, we’ll be here,” I replied. When they pulled up, I saw with him those he mentioned…and the rest of Camiguin Island! Twelve people poured out of two vehicles! Yeah, one of them was the famous blue Suzuki Samauri, which most of them were in! What a huge blessing that they would all come to see us and the new baby! Even more, I took Father Joe to Bishop Jose’s residence to ask him permission to celebrate a private, family Mass! It was awesome! We invited the Eckstines and our friend, Mayet Suazo, to join us. All in all there was 34 people in our tiny living/dining room about to worship, adore, and receive the King of Kings. It was a first time for us to celebrate Mass in our home and it will forever be one of the most special.
VISA RENEWAL TIME!!! NOOOOO!!! I don’t know why but I just hate paying so much money just to stay here. This one is especially high since we have to pay for an I-card. All of us. Even Julian. Arghhh! Anyways, we felt like since it is the law we should obey it and fork over the money. We had been trying to apply for the missionary visas and hoping we wouldn’t have to pay the tourist visas at all, but did not get back the required paperwork from the Bishop in time. I also forgot to write back to the office at FMC to raise the ATM withdrawal limit so that I can pay for the visas. Good thing I went one day earlier than when it was due. Even better was that I was able to find a good helper (thanks, Sarah Carroll) on facebook to contact our bookkeeper in Louisiana. Abe and I decided to stay in CDO until the next morning but it still was only noon! What to do? We walked over to a mall for some lunch and heard a familiar voice call out to us. It was Richard and the rest of the Camiguin bunch… again! Father had extended their treat. Most of them rarely get away from the island! I could see it in their faces that they were having a good time. Father then showed up and assured us that Abe and I would have a place to stay at the Cathedral. Good thing we had kept St. Phillip Neri in the laptop (We highly recommend this movie). Oh, how could I forget to mention this: I had checked the messages earlier in the day and found out that a certain family had donated $1500 to our mission. Our visas cost $1200 this time around and it was a huge relief to know that our funds were not depleted but restored and more! God is amazingly GOOD!!! Up early the next day and sped right through the line at the immigration office in time to jump on the bus for the 3-hour ride back home. May God bless ALL of our benefactors and may He hear our prayers for their requests.
Please join us in prayer for the following needs in our mission:

• For us to be able to apply and be granted missionary visas and be allowed to stay for a year or two with no more recurring fees
• For these possible ministry doors to be fully opened: weekly prison visit, multiple BEC meetings, High School Catechism class, work among the poor and sick, work among the native mountain tribes
• For us to learn the Visayan language quickly to better communicate with those we serve

***Got downstairs a little too late. This is just after the worst part of Pablo***

***Here is a little clip of Dianne, one of my students from last year on Camiguin***

Josephine Eva-Marie

She is here! We praise God for the gift of life and for blessing our family with our newest little daughter, Josephine! She was born on November 28th at 12:28pm and came in weighing in at a whopping 7lbs 2oz (our biggest baby yet)! Even though she doesn’t look that big, she must have a HUGE heart…and a lot of hair! This labor and delivery was one of the easiest and most peaceful. We want to thank you all for your prayers for our family and ask that you continue praying for Stacie’s recovery. Stacie did great and I have never seen her look so good after the birth. Many told us that a home birth was a bad idea (we’ve had 2 previously at home- both were awesome experiences) and some thought that a birth in a foreign country was even worse. At our send-off Mass from Mission Formation in Louisiana, our Director, Joseph Summers joked about how we were taking the FMC logo a little too seriously .

It is not too often that one would hear about a large family moving to the other side of the world to give birth at their place of residence not knowing if they’re American friends would make it on time to help with the delivery. Mark and Lora Eckstine (with their 10 children) arrived in Malaybalay on the 14th of November. Our family had just moved out of the Romero’s place and into the new house a few days before and after many plumbing repairs- thanks for your help, Sammy. So, if you add their twelve plus our eight…that’s right! Twenty of us living in a four bedroom home. Good thing Mark and I were able to fix a toilet upstairs or it would have been chaotic with only one useable restroom. Days before I was thinking, “Can 20 of us really live here and make it work?” Not only was there enough beds (or should I say bedding?) for everyone in this house and enough toilets but we even managed to squeeze both families into a Tamaraw! Kind of a good thing to not have to worry about seat belt laws here. The only trouble with a Tamaraw full of people is when it won’t start and it has to be pushed to “pop the clutch”- one of my new favorite techniques. It’s actually not too bad of a missionary vehicle. We are just on the lookout now for more downhill slopes to park on .
Back to the house though. Every morning had been immediately glorious in it. Mark brought out his guitar and the house soon filled up with praises from beautiful Eckstine voices and semi-on-key Alvarezes to open up our Liturgy of the Hours. The sounds coming from our home attracted Tito Vic one day to drop by and join us. Tito Vic is the owner of the house and offered it to us rent-free. Praise God! He has an adjoining art workshop next door and came intending to work. Instead, he joined us in prayer and worship. Thank God for the Baretto Family and their generosity!
Now that you have a little background information on how and where we live, I will get back to the main character of this post. Josephine was born exactly when God wanted her to. The Romeros decided after much prayer and discernment to return to the U.S. and share their testimony of how God used them here. Susanna and Rebekah already had their plans to continue their mission and leave for India. That left the Romero’s place open for the Eckstines to move into. We all gathered to pray over Sammy,Lindsey, and family and also for Rebekah (Susanna had already left). So, the very morning that the Eckstines were going to move, Stacie began labor. She woke Lora at midnight to give her a warning that the contractions had started. Romeros and Rebekah leaving, Eckstines moving, us rearranging the rooms…it was all working in God’s perfect timing!
We didn’t have a way to communicate with the Eckstines if they had moved out. All that morning Stacie labored and the contractions got more difficult. We prayed through them together as Lora and her daughter Abi prepared for delivery. Our oldest, Maddie, was also present and helping with preparations. This was it! As it got closer to noon, Stacie was starting to feel the urge to push. It seemed to me that she only pushed a few times and then she was ready. Finally, the time came where we knew that this baby was coming out. Stacie got into a squatting position in the middle of the room and began to deliver our baby. It was an awkward position for me to “catch” but Lora noted that the cervix is able to open 30% more this way. I held the baby’s head and waited for that last push to bring the shoulders and body through. Stacie pushed one last time and yelled," A baby girl! It’s my baby girl!” I couldn’t believe it. I was shocked because I was thinking it was a boy this whole time. Stacie was able to see her first because of the way my arms were blocking my view. It really was a baby girl!!! WOW! “Praise God!” is all that came to my mind. I didn’t think it would be 12 years until we’d have another daughter but God’s plan is perfect. We all smiled, laughed, cried tears of joy together. Well, since it IS a girl, we needed to name her. We found out about the pregnancy on the Feast of the Annunciation back in March and we prayed that if it was a girl born on a Marian feast day that we would name her Miriam Esme. We waited through two Marian feast days – The Feast of the Presentation of Mary on November 21, and the Feast of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal on the 27th, thinking surely it would be either of these two days. Since those days had passed, we thought it must be a baby boy to be born near December 3rd (Feast of St. Francis Xavier) since we had chosen to name a boy Xavier Emmanuel. I have always loved the name Josephine. Stacie looked at her newest daughter and said, “She doesn’t look like a Miriam. She looks like a Josephine.” God had made it clear. Cool with me.
P.S. Here are some facts about the name Joseph/Josephine:
St. Joseph the worker is my Confirmation saint. St. Josephine Bakhita is my other favorite saint. My mother’s name is Josefina. These are three of the main reasons why we picked this name.

Here is one of the myths of why we picked this name (inside joke lang):
We named her Josephine after our FMC Director, Joseph Summers. We did it to “score major points” with him so that he would feel SO honored and give us an all-expense paid, first-class trip to Rome to have the baby baptized by Pope Benedict XVI.

Well, maybe. But if that was the case, then we would have named her Josephine “Genie” Brooklyn Alvarez for maximum point value. Until then, we will settle for her to be baptized by our priest from last year’s post on Camiguin : Father “JOE” Villamil  .

She's a "keeper"

"So, what do you think about being born into the Alvarez Family?"

Josephine's 4 Bodyguards    

Custom-made booties from Big Sis

                                     

Ain't a party without a lechon 

Even though he wanted a baby brother...he'll settle for her :)

The first group viewing of the littlest sister

Mexico Mission in Pictures (Part 1)

 

This a small collection of pics from our mission in Mexico this past summer (April-July)