Lets Take a Drive

Since this is not my first time in this country I realize there are a few things I have taken for granted that you may not realize I am blessed to encounter. I will grace you now with the revelation of what my trip looks like to the market.
I live on the bottom of a very steep hill that is covered with medium to softball size rocks. This is always my first challenge as I keep my balance on my motorcycle. About three times a week I have a bag of trash to dispose of half way up the hill. I come to a quick halt while holding the back break with my Right foot I attempt to balance my bike at an upward angle as I hurl the bag of trash to the garbage barrel. Only once have I not succeeded in this endeavor but luckily it was the one time someone seemed to be watching as he quickly came over to rescue the bag from the grasp of the ground and place it safely in its bin as I attempted to gain balance of both feet and give exactly enough gas to push myself the rest of the way up the hill without spraying rocks or tipping over.
I then drive past the students who always seem to be out in the court yard of the school no matter how early and I attempt to sign either good morning, noon, afternoon, or evening depending on the appropriate time.
This is proper in the hearing and Deaf culture here to great anyone you encounter with those words/signs.
As I come to the bottom of the paved hill I slow my speed and make a quick right turn while making sure no one is coming from the left and at the same time making sure no on is standing right in front of my right hand turn ‘lane’. (there are no lines on the roads.) Your lane is where ever your vehicle can fit. I have learned to use that to my advantage on a small 125cc motorcycle. As I make this first right turn I am greated with the first group of older Filipino men inquiring what my name is, phone number, where I am from. Sometimes it is just, “hey joe” or “where are you going”

On the right hand side of the road there is a mansion of a house that I would love to tour at some point, however I doubt I will ever meet whoever it is that lives there. Nearby there is a small shack of a home where a large family and extended family lives. Many men are involved in harvesting and drying out coconuts. Almost every day you can see them breaking open new coconuts and laying them out to dry in the sun. This appears to be very hard work. (side note, there is a teacher here whose father is the one who climbs the coconut trees to harvest the coconuts. He used to tell his children his job was a Coconut Pilot because he went up so high to get them. I thought that was so cute as she is still so proud that her father would give her children a sense of pride in him.)

There is a short cut I sometimes take, but it is limestone. When it is rainy it is impossible to drive on with out sliding everywhere and when it is not raining it is so dusty that my contacts begin to scream at me no matter what speed I attempt. I only take this road on special occasions.

The next right I take is infested with about 10 men called Hubble hubble drivers. They own motorcycles and they wait there for people who do not have a way to town except through them. Even though I have been here for so many weeks each time I drive by they all have something to say. It is never appropriate and usually entails the ‘Whit Whew’ whistle an occasional marriage proposal. When I do not feel like being harassed by these men I take my inconvenient short cut.

This last time I was able to witness a tradition here. The snakes are considered to have some kind of spirit or evil attached to them. So when a snake is found they usually kill it and throw it on the road for people to run it over. Well… I didn’t run it over but another truck did right as I was nearing it. Did you know that when you run over a big snake it sounds like a firecracker! Me either. Now we both do.

There are many groups of people along my trip who upon noticing my skin will yell or become excited. I still have not become used to this. I try to ignore them and keep my attention on the road.

Anyway…. It is an adventure each time I sling my feet over my bedside. And I am blessed to be here.

Teaching a Seminar... Christmas plans.

This past Saturday I was able to teach the high school teachers from Bohol Deaf Academy through and interpreting seminar. I was VERY nervous. I always remember wanting to be a teacher, but I realized that I don’t really have the skill it takes to be a teacher. As I took the past couple weeks to gather relevant information I became more and more nervous.
But as Saturday morning arrived I woke up at 5am:
This is even a little later than many Filipinos wake up. The best bread is sold at this time. Which means many women wake up at 3 or 4 to prepare it. Everyone is smiling. The air is not too hot, a little more comfortable. The sun is already beginning to peak, beautiful view over the ocean no matter what colors it gives off.
I spent about 30 minutes exercising, took a shower, made my coffee and spent another hour reading and reflecting on my morning devotions.

I arrived at the school an hour before my class started. I was able to chat with a friend from home who had many encouraging things to say before my class began. Originally I was not supposed to start the class. Lee had prepared some things to present for the first half hour. However, he was running a little late. Feeling confident at this point I began teaching. The principal of the school decided to attend. She is Deaf. This meant that I now had to teach the seminar in FSL. Before you shrug this off as an easy challenge, I want to remind you that this is my Third language.
How am I going to articulate all this information in my third language? A short moment of panic, but then I remembered that this is really only fair since FSL is the third and even fourth language to many of these teachers.
Accepting this challenge was such a blessing. It was an amazing day. The teachers were very attentive and asked many questions. I actually ran out of time. The past couple days more and more questions about what I taught have been brought to my attention. I have been asked to put together another seminar where I will teach linguistics of sign language more in depth. I do not feel qualified for any of this. But I know that by accepting this challenge I learn and they learn. So, win win.

Today was the start of another intensive week for the 5 trainees from Leyte. They survived the two week immersion at the elementary schools and have improved greatly in their signing skills as we had hoped. Many more activities are planned for this week and next week they will be on break before returning to their respective elementary schools for more observations.

Some good news:
My boyfriend is going to come and spend three weeks of December with me. He is going to help with the drafting plans for the extension of the Dao Diamond Hotel, run by the Deaf here in Bohol. I am very excited that he will be able to share all these amazing things with me.

I will be going to Indonesia from December 23rd until January 4th. A foreign exchange student from High School lives there and offered her home to me. This will be a little challenging I expect since they are muslim. And spending Jesus’ bday with Muslim people is never something I imagined for myself. But none the less God will use that time.

100 POSTS (and counting)....

I decided for my 100th post I would put some links up to my pictures.
I have a webpage that I have been working on through Shutterfly. you can go there and look through my pictures.

Hope it works well.

http://travelingtoni.shutterfly.com/



I need to email LeeAnn Scott. So, if you are reading this, send me an email... otherwise, can someone send me her email address. I have something i want to tell her. thanks. :) toni.ripplinger@gmail.com

another weekend over....already?

I realize that last time i wrote was on the weekend and i wrote all about the amazing adventures. well this weekend was nothing short of that.

On saturday i was able to go to the beach for the first time since arriving here. It was a public beach, not any tourists and the Filipinos were very respectful there. not many people occupied the space. The sand was white and there were seashells and sea animals to be found at every glance. I never experienced so many sea creatures up close. i was able to pick up a sea urchin and let him crawl around on my hands. not as scary as i thought. Yet, when i wanted to venture out to deeper waters i had to crawl/swim on my hands with my feet floating behind in 7 inches of water so as not to put all my weight down if i were to come across an urchin. They were everywhere. I found many amazingly different star fish as well. Some looked very ancient and some were brightly colored. I swam about a half mile out into the ocean with a mask and was able to view a beautiful coral reef. The fish were colorful and fun to watch as they swam together almost in teasing pleasure. the drop off that far out was so wonderful to experience. i will purchase my own snorkel and mask soon and return to that same place. The drop off stretched for miles on either side. So i will have plenty of coral reef to cover before i return home. If only i could take pictures to show you, but i know that it would not do justice.

I love to watch the discovery channel and read through national geographic. but to see these things with my own eyes, to jump off the waterfall, to swim with the fish, to watch the ants collect their food, to climb the mountain... simply indescribable.

I attended the Assemblies of God church this past sunday. It was so wonderful. I could hear Hillsongs being sung from three streets away as I approached my destination. An unexpected feeling rushed over me as soon as i entered the door. i began to cry and entered into worship with these people immediately. A three hour service that seemed to last 3 minutes. In a culture where the people are polite, quiet, shy, reserved i witnessed the most humbling thing i have ever seen in my life. They were weeping, screaming, singing at the top of their lungs for God to move in their city, in their nation. Not holding anything back, not caring what others outside the open doors may thing.. they worshiped. Truly worshiped with all that was within them. i will be joining the prayer services they hold on Tuesday nights as well as the Young Adults group every Friday night. I am excited to be a part of what God is doing through these people.

I also met a couple from Norther Ireland who have lived here for 5 years now. as well as a couple who started a fishing ministry that trains street kids to become fishermen. During their vocational training on their "fisher's of men" boat they share the love of Jesus and each man who has studied on their boat has accepted Christ. They have an amazing story and offered me to come fishing on the open sea with them in November. however, they have been having problems with Filipino Pirates coming and stealing their fish. They will come and drop their nets right inside of the couple's net and steal all their fish. But because they refuse to carry Guns, they have continued to be targets. So, i guess you can pray for safety for this couple and the men they train to fish.

ok.. i need to go. but much more happened.


understanding true love more deeply everyday,

toni

Leyte and bohol

Now that the Typhoons have passed and the five teachers from Leyte were able to make it to Bohol, the Southern Leyte elementary Deaf sped program has started to become more of a reality for IDEA. The longer I live here the more I notice the small differences between the culture of Leyte and the culture here in Bohol.
One of my favorite things that the people in Tacloban did everyday, all day long was sing Videoke. This is a favorite past time for all Filipinos, I am told, however, it is not as prevalent on this island. As I keep in touch with my friends in Tacloban I remember how much it rained there. Not a day went by in the two months I was there that it did not rain. Here in Bohol the weather is absolutely amazing. Although it does rain, it is not everyday and not nearly as hard as I remember in Tacloban. I am able to choose from 3 malls and many many coffee shops with WiFi here. In Tacloban, there were no malls and only one small coffee shop that had an unpredictable internet connection. All the American foods I seem to crave are readily at my fingertips for double the price I would even be willing to pay in America. This has been one of the lessons in self-control. I have not bought the things I do not need and have not given into the cravings of buying a Snickers bar for $1.35. All of this to say, had I not been to other islands before Bohol, I would not have a reason to venture off this beautiful place. It has everything I could ever possibly need or even want, except my friends from the other islands. I continue to think about the Deaf in Leyte and how IDEA is taking a huge step by starting this Sped program in Ormoc, Southern Leyte.
Lee Duncan put together a 5 day intensive Filipino Sign Language (FSL) course for the 5 teachers in training who will be placed in Ormoc. I was able to assist with this, but secretly learned a lot as well. To start out the week we gave a pre-test to see where each of the students were at in their knowledge of FSL. Only one was able to understand basic questions and signs asked. Through out the week 4th year Deaf students from Bohol Deaf Academy(BDA) assisted in teaching the main components to signing correctly. The majority of the class time was spent signing. This was an effective way to challenge the trainees to struggle through the signs they knew and learn more at the same time. By the end of the 5 days each of the trainees were given a ‘performance’ exam all in sign language. Each one of them was able to show the alphabet, count to 1 million, answer basic questions, and understand the vocabulary shown to them.
Since passing the exam the 5 students were placed throughout the 4 elementary Deaf programs IDEA runs around the island of Bohol. This is a 4 month observation time for them to grasp more of the sign language and also gain ideas of lesson plans for when they will be teaching in Ormoc. Although it seems far way, September is going to be an exciting time for many people. These trainees will start a new career in Deaf education and many Deaf students from all around Southern Leyte will be given their first opportunity to learn a language as well as gain an education. It is important to understand that the average ages of the students starting at this school are 11 years old with no education and no formal language. The challenge is great but the reward is astounding for these children who before this time had no hope.
In my short time here looking at the big project in Leyte I am overwhelmed. Then I am able to spend time here at BDA with students who are very intelligent and have great futures and such big dreams. Had IDEA not began; these same students would not have even gained a language. I can see the promises that are waiting for the Deaf in Leyte right in my back yard here at BDA in Bohol. Nothing, NOTHING is impossible or too complicated.

The best weekend yet...

All five of the teachers were able to pass the one week intense Filipino Sign Language (FSL) training with an exam on Saturday. Lee and I split the group and gave to the exams individually since the test was ‘hands on’ it was very interesting to be on the other side of giving a Sign Language exam. This, I think was the first time I realized I am Actually done with College. Wow.
This next week each of the new teachers are going to be placed through out the 4 elementary programs here in Bohol. They have a two month training/observation time within the classrooms. This is really a full immersion experience for them and they will be able to become fluent in FSL in no time.

On Saturday night I was invited to supper by Lee and his wife. It was great to get to know them more, although I think did most of the talking. It is nice to be around people who have English as their first language as well. I am always so worried about accidentally being witty or using an idiom that the Filipinos will have no idea what I am talking about, they would never tell me.

On Sunday I went with Lee and his three sons to a famous market in bohol and then to two more waterfalls. The market was very awesome. It is the Filipino culture alive at its best. This particular market is famous for the baskets the people bring. They are really neat baskets. It is amazing the things these people do with the resources God has given them. At the market you can find anything:
1. dried fish
2. raw fish
3. rice (of all kinds)
4. food for your chicken
5. fruits
6. vegetables
7. soaps
8. clothes
9. jewelry
10. breads
11. candies
12. and something special from the medicine man…
we asked the medicine man about a lot of his products. There was some rocks about the size of your hand that you set on your window sill to keep away the bad spirits. Something to tie around the baby’s ankle to help them stop crying from teething, sulfer powder, beads to keep away colds… many things… that I found not so useful at this point.

The first waterfalls we went to was amazing. The water was a teal green and nice and cool. I guess there was a flash flood there just two weeks ago and two guys were killed. Too much water came all of the sudden from the falls and they drowned. There is a clip on Youtube if you search Magaso falls. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AVyuGIqcrnU


Anyway, we jumped off some places that were VERY high. One was only about 25 to 30 feet and the highest, near the top of the falls was about 60 to 70. It was a rush. By the time I climbed up there with Lee’s 8year old son I knew there was no turning back. It was a rush. One really cool thing is a small cave underneath the water fall. It isn’t very deep but we could all fit in it and sit underneath the water streaming down. It was a bit difficult at first for me to get under the falls. We swim up to the falls and scale the wall, in your bear feet while water is pouring down on you. I tried to search out and memorize a few places to set my hands and feet in order to get the ledge where I could climb underneath. However, if you now me, I can only think three steps ahead and then I forget. So, as I got pretty much under the falls, the water is beating down hard on me and I can not think, nor feel where the next best place is. I am trying to open my eyes just the slightest, however my contacts were not too excited about staying in my eyes if I were to open too wide. I moved a couple more grasps to the point where I thought Lee was already, and I stuck my hand out in faith, He was able to grab me and pull me up under the falls. Alas, I made it. And it was dry, beautiful, and worth it. We rested there awhile and then jumped out from underneath the falls. We were able to follow the water down stream a ways to a great swimming pool area. It was tough to get to as we clung mainly to the rocks on the side, I fell in several times because it was so slippery. We were able to technically walk in the river, but the current was kind of strong and their were big rocks everywhere that were covered in about 2 inches of really slimy mud. So impossible to step on or hold onto. The water was in a huge area of light and the water was nice and cool. It was so neat mainly because it was just a giant open area in the middle of the streams from the falls. Lee thinks it was about 14 feet deep. Very Clear! I took my hair down and swam around pretending to be a mermaid. That is where I would imagine a mermaid to live. It was the most beautiful thing I have ever seen.



The second falls was not as high, but there is a deep cave. We didn’t enter the cave because his boys didn’t want to, again. But you bring your flashlight and you can swim through this cave about 45 minutes and you come into this great big room with awesome stalactites and stalagmites. Apparently also a lot of bats. There is an entry way that you dive under and swim a little bit to get to another room, and then again to another much smaller room. But I think if I ever end up swimming through the dark cave I will stop at the big room, before I would have to dive and swim into the dark water to another area where I would find air. I am not that brave.

All in all, a very full and adventurous week. I hope all of you are having a great time… most of you reading this experienced snow this last week. Before you complain too much, there are millions of people here would give anything to see it, even just one time. Appreciate where you are. 

New schedule.

This week we started teaching the 5 teachers from Leyte (the other island where the new Deaf elementary program will start next September.) It has been a lot of fun. I really enjoy the more concrete schedule. This helps a lot with the homesickness when I have things to prepare and more concrete goals for each hour.

The teachers are doing a fantastic job and will be placed through out the Four Deaf elementary schools through out Bohol over the next 6 months to prepare them to teach on their own next school year. This is very exciting to see them learning a new language in anticipation to teach these new students. It is going to be very challenging as I have mentioned before most of these kids who will start at the new Deaf school are average age of 11 and have no language. What a challenge! I am so proud of these 5 teachers as they have really stepped up and taken on a huge responsibility.

IDEA is looking for a few new personnel in certain areas. I won’t go into detail, but please pray that the right people will be chosen for these important positions here in Bohol.

As for the ants:
Many of you know that my favorite candy is chocolate covered raisins. Well, they do not have that here. I looked, and have even thought of making my own. I have been wondering if boiling these ants and covering them in chocolate may have the same effect. Probably not, but maybe if I mixed in some raisins as well… it would be cheaper, you know, add more water to the soup. 

There have been a lot of terrible things going on with the weather still. There was a typhoon sitting off to the side of the Philippines the last couple days that made it very windy and dark here. I didn’t mind as it was pretty cool. Many Filipinos have become sick due to the severe weather change though. Today there was 3 earthquakes to the Eastern side of the Philippines. It did not effect Bohol and our tide at all, but none the less, crazy weather.

A great weekend.

I will start with the news you all wanted to hear...

Yes, the typhoon went right around the philippines. It ended up touching the Northern tip of Luzon Island but the damage was nothing compared to the tragic hit last weekend.
Now, I know many of my friends who do not believe in God, or are unsure of his existence are reading my blog. (please read this next portion with my "this is another physical example as to why i believe in God" tone and face. You know who are, and exactly what i mean. :)....

Many people stayed up praying, and I know many of you prayed several times for the destruction of Typhoon to waiver and God to have mercy on the Philippines. Not only was Manila spared another terrible wrecking force tearing through its already drenched and broken city, but many other islands, previously in harms way, did not receive a rain drop. I didn't hear the winds at all during the night. This morning was Beautiful and sunny and remained that way all day. There is full moon tonight. So full and close to me that it was almost as if i could climb the mountain behind the school again I might be able to lean against it. This, can only be explained through the supernatural. Praise God. And many times i have used those words lightly. But, I truly have experienced another touch from something I can not see nor fully explain through any other way but of my own experiences.

..............

I have figured out several different kinds of ants that host themselves in my bungalow. I will describe them below. *note.. these are not scientific names...

The large red ant: This ant tends to form a line from the window sill in my shower to the drain. They don't bother me, ever... I just wash them away before my shower and allow them to continue what they are doing any other time of the day.

The Skinny large red ant: This ant finds any drippings of fruit juice in a matter of seconds. somehow there are at least 15 as soon as I walk away from cutting a mango and set the knife down. I don't notice them as they hide underneath the knife. When i lift the knife... there they are.

The tiny tiny tiny red ant: I have found this ant in two places. One of them is where I sit now at the high school. For some reason when i am sitting for longer than 10 minutes they find me. And you can't feel them crawl on you, but when they bite.. .It hurts SO bad. and they leave a welt bigger than a mosquito bite and itches twice as bad. I had to go buy cotton swabs and alcohol so as not to itch them. Everything here gets infected fast. So I am afraid to itch anything.
The other place i find this ant is on my toothpaste. They do not bother my toothbrush. I noticed them about 2 days after i arrived. so I put my toothpaste in a zip lock bag. Somehow, they are so tiny, they are still getting in it. And they find a way to climb up into the cap of the tube. I need to commend them, for I have taped the plastic bag all around the edges and TRIPLE make sure that the bag is sealed.. somehow, they still figure out a way to get in.

the large black ant: Any food left out will be taken over by these. They especially enjoy bread crumbs.

the small black ant:I only see about 2 or three of these at a time and they have no rhyme yet. usually they are on the floor, so i just step on them.

the tiny black ant that may actual be tiny spiders: They are always near my doorway. I haven't had any real problems with them, but i notice them. It is possible they may be a new hatch of spiders. so i am watching to see if they grow.

.....
My water was turned off starting Friday Morning in anticipation for the Typhoon. They wanted to conserve the amount of water waste in case of flooding in the drain systems. Good idea....

Things you can not do with out water:

Wash the dishes.
flush the toilet.
take a shower.
wash your face.
wash your hands after you just ate a mango. :(
wash your hands so you can take your contacts out...
drink a glass of water.
boil noodles.
and many more... but not to worry.. the water was turned back on this morning. so i could finally shower.

For no reason at all i wanted to let you know the breakdown of what i ate today:

4 cups of coffee
4 mangoes
3 mangosteens
3 bananas
2 Rambutans (spiky red fruit)
and some left over spaghetti.

yum...

good night...
toni

and update with a serious prayer request as well.

I will start off light.

This past week I was able to travel to all four of the elementary schools that IDEA has Deaf programs in. Each of these schools have dormitories for the children to stay at the school since traveling everyday is not an option. It was great to see all the amazing progress these children have been making. It is also wonderful to hear stories of children being found at early ages and able to start schooling at the normal age instead of 25 years ago when IDEA started and they had Deaf at 18 and 21 starting school for the first time, learning a language for the first time!

We were able to eat lunch at one of the dormitories. It was amazing! When i first looked at the meal, i wasn't too sure. But that was the best i have eaten since i arrived.


I was able to walk around town and find an amazing coffee shop, as well as all the other white people on the island. But it was the best Mocha i have ever tasted. It may be the reason I came all the way over here. jk. one interesting thing, they charge you about a dollar extra if you want to use the electricity, like to plug your computer in.

The inevitable happened, I got a flat tire. It was really bad. I had a hand pump but it wouldn't hold ANY air. It was only about 1 KM away that i had to drive it though. The man was very nice who fixed it. Apprently the inner tube was ripped in several places but the tire was fine. he told me the tube was from China and it was only a matter of time that it gave out. :) My friend Croy would have said the same thing. This man also told me he believes all the young White people who come to Bohol for a significant amount of time are working with the American CIA and FBI... I just laughed and assured him i was not smart enough to be an agent.



Next week the 5 teachers from the new Deaf school will be arriving,weather permitting, and I will be teaching them, along with Lee, all about Deaf education. As well as giving them an intense lesson on sign language. I am nervous about teaching them, but I know that it will be great. This is one of the reasons I have arrived here.

Today I was able to go into the Government Provincial office with three Deaf students, IDEA's social worker, and Lee. We had the three Deaf students interview, while Lee and I (mostly Lee) interpreted for them. They have never hired a Deaf worker in the Government offices in Bohol. After interviewing they agreed to allow the three Deaf students start next week for a six month internship/training period. The students will be allowed to work 16 hours a week. They will not be paid, but this is huge! They are going to be able to prove themselves in a government office. This is setting the pace for many Deaf in the future.

ok... I know you have all heard about the weather. It is very bad. Many people have died and even more people have had their homes and everything they own destroyed. If you have time you can look at more pictures. I am including one here. There is another Terrible Typhoon on its way for either tomorrow or sunday. All fisherman have been advised to stay out of the waters and to try and move their boats to a safe place if possible. Bohol will probably only be hit with Gale winds and a lot of rain, but it looks as though Manila will be hit again. This is where the terrible flooding is. I just praise God that I arrived when I did. Originally I wanted to come a week later than i had, I would have been right in the storm...

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This is a screen shot of the Typhoon headed this way. I pointed to the island i am on and circled manila, where the terrible Deaths and floodings are now. they say this is the worst in 30 years here. Also, i know that you heard of the Tsunami in Samoa, and there has also been a terrible Typhoon and earthquake in Indonesia, just south of the Philippines. A lot of storms.



I guess just pray for safety and that this does not hinder the plans that God has arranged for these new teachers.

Thanks so much. love you all and miss you a lot.