Back to Butuan

Last week we went up to Butuan to visit our German coworkers who are in language school there. The NTM language school that we attended so many years ago is back, and is now held out at the 'Farm' in Bancasi. They have really fixed the place up and it is nice! I sat in on a couple of the classes and it was fun to see some of our old friends as the teachers! Mimi Fortune and 2VJ Odango, in particular. 2VJ is now grown up and speaks excellent English, he looks like himself, but about as tall as his dad and on the chubby side. A very nice guy!

We stayed at the Almont Inland Resort, a new place near the center of town, and very nice! We had supper there with A&A and then breakfast there with Bryan Thomas, who was also staying there. He is there to do his every other year teaching of the pastors. it was really good because we were able to have time to talk to him about our concerns. This was a relief because he is really in a position to address them more completely than we are. Diane was not there yet, as she was in Indonesia helping with an NTM language school they are setting up there.

The other thing we wanted to take care of in Butuan was finding an orthodontist to take care of Maymay's teeth, the bottom ones which had gotten knocked in when she fell from our top bunk. We didn't know where they lived in Nasipit, and their cell phone wasn't working, so we went to their church and asked their pastor. He sent his daughter with us to show us the way. They live down a cement path between two buildings, down a loong staircase and into a small valley. Their house is small, and perched on the side of a hill, with their chickens underneath. Bebeng was pleased and happy to see us, as were the kids. We took Maymay to see two dentists and she was a great patient! We also took her to lunch at McDonald's which she really enjoyed. Next week we will take her back to Dra. Yee and make arrangements for her treatment.

We will go there again tomorrow. Dad will take Maymay to the dentist, and I will speak to the pastor's wives about preparing the young ladies in their churches, including their daughters, for courtship and marriage.