Happy New Year!

It is officially 2008 in our part of the world. We are just about to head to bed, but I thought first I would share just a glimpse into New Year's Eve in Manila. (It's late so please excuse any typos or strange wording) This town loves this night. It is indescribable what it is like to be here on News Year's Eve. The sky is filled with fireworks for 2+ hours until the city completely diasappears in the smoke. Our ears ring with what sounds like a major battle. It is an amazing thing to see fireworks spread across the whole skyline as far as you can see. These aren't just cheapo bottlerockets either, although we do have our share of those. It is an impressive display of huge explosions filling the night sky. So here is 40 seconds or so of the city taken about 8 minutes before midnight. My digital camera doesn't capture the true spectacular expanse of it.

Playing with the cousins

This summer in the states, our kids were introduced to a fad sweeping the American tween population. Just 3 days after arriving in the US, we traveled from Pine Mountain to Greenwood, SC. We stopped off at a mall in Atlanta to look at computers and eat at Chick-fil-a. During lunch this hurried looking woman with 2 kids stopped by our table and asked.."Are you from here? Do you know where we can find Web___?" We said no and after she left, I asked Allan, "Did she say webcams? Weblings? What is that?" If you have a kid between the ages of 6-14 you will probably know exactly what she was asking about....that online craze called Webkinz. Our kids learned the very next day from their friends the Hollisters who took them out and purchased them each one (Thanks Susan). It seems everywhere we went this summer, kids were obsessed by these webkinz. For those of you uninitiated to the world of Webkinz, these are stuffed animals that have codes for an online website where they live and play. While we have tried to keep their addiction to a bare minimum, there has been an upside to this fad. It has been a way to spend time with their cousins 9000 mile away. Most Saturday mornings you can find our early riser, Will, up and at the computer with the Vonage phone in front of him turned on speaker phone. On the other end of the line, it is Friday night and his cousins Laura and Beth are in the same position. Each of them is logged into Webkinz World where they are playing games against each other and visiting each other's houses. Emily, our slug-a-bed, joins in after she gets up. Often they play until the cousins have to go to bed. (thankfully my brother has a new landline phone plan with free long distance) There is lots of giggling and laughing and a good time is had by all. This Fri/Sat time seems to be the one constant time they are all up and free at the same time. School, bedtimes, and church tend to fill in the other times. For Christmas, Mimi sent Emily and Will each a new Webkinz because you certainly can't have just one!? They have enjoyed the days of vacation which has meant some extra mornings and also a couple evenings visiting with their cousins.
The Webkinz trend is beginning to spread through the missions community as well. We obviously weren't the only ones to be introduced to them last summer.

Maligayang Pasko!

Merry Christmas from the Gilmers!

Capiz shell Parol-

the official Christmas decoration of the PI

It has been a really nice day in the Gilmer house. Allan and I really love tradition and this year was spent like so many before, whether here or in the US. We ate the same breakfast cassarole I have had every Christmas morning since I was a child. We took turns opening our gifts and spent time with family as we talked to them on the Vonage phone. One of our new traditions in the PI is to eat a Crown Pork Roast for Christmas dinner. We really like this. It makes an impressive show and tastes so yummy. Mags likes it too since she gets some bones, fat and a little meat.

Hope you are spending the day with those closest to you--even if, like us, it is just by telephone.

So as we say here...Maligayang Pasko Po!

Allan, Ginger, Emily, & Will

The Children are nestled all snug... on the floor???

I have blogged so much in the last 2 days, but I want to be the first to wish you a Merry Christmas. It is officially 12:01 AM on Dec 25th. There are fireworks exploding all around us. This is when the Filipinos celebrate Christmas. They will eat a big meal in the next little while, visit grandparents and godparents for gifts and money before finally hitting the hay in the wee hours. Their celebration will be over before most of the US even goes to bed on Christmas Eve. Actually before most people even eat dinner.

We have had a nice evening together as a family. We ate the leftovers from the meal we had yesterday with our partners. They left this morning to spend Christmas in the province at the New Tribes base camp in northern Luzon. After dinner, the kids put on their new Christmas pjs. Most years I make them new ones. Afterwards, each of them opened 1 present from their Nana and Gramps. Will and I then played the new PS2 game he received while Al and Em watched a movie.

We ended our evening around the Advent wreath with a devotion, singing and prayer. The kids were able to strike a match and light the candles on the wreath this year. They have gotten so old. This is the first time we haven't had the traditional colored candles in our wreath. I have imported them in the past. Not this year though. They are all white because that is what is available.

Things in the house are quiet now. Emily and Will are off in dreamland; dreaming of gifts they will open tomorrow. They are sleeping out on our lanai under the Christmas tree with Maggie. I am sure they will be up early, but have been told not to wake Al and I before 7.

So until tomorrow.... Merry Christmas to all and to all a goodnight!

Just for you Billie!

Here is a Christmas treat from the Philippines. It is a favorite of our friend Billie Holmes. It is called Puto Bumbong. It is a common food sold on the street often after the misa de gallo, the dawn mass on the 9 days leading up to Christmas. An online Filipino cook book describes it as "a dish made from purpled-colored ground rice cooked in bamboo tubes that are placed on a special steamer-cooker. Then, they are removed from the bamboo tubes, spread with butter and sprinkled with sugar and niyog (grated coconut). They are then wrapped in wilted banana leaves which will keep them warm and moist until ready to be eaten."
To me it's just OK. We actually haven't even had any this year. (sorry Billie)

Here's their picture of it:

Christmas Carolers

Each year in the Philippines, children Christmas carol from house to house each night beginning on the 16th through Christmas day. They carry homemade drums and bells and anything else that will make a nice sound to accompany them. They sing a mixture of Tagalog and English Christmas songs. In return, they receive a Christmas treat. It is similar to American trick or treating I guess. Emily loves to run to the gate and pass out little goodie bags. The songs they sing at the beginning may vary, but they usually end with the same thank you song that is sung in English to the tune of "Someone's in the Kitchen with Dina". This year we filled little bags with cookies, p-nuts, a sucker, and a kiat kiat.

Kiat kiats are tiny little minature oranges available at this time of year. We love them. They are so sweet and just the right size for eating.

Here are 3 little guys who have come by every night this week.

Photos from recent weeks

Our Internet was so sporadic a few weeks ago that I didn't blog much. We have been quite busy and I just downloaded these pictures from my camera. Thought you might enjoy...

Christmas Piano Recital

They played 3 songs- a solo, a duet, and a Christmas carol that the audience sung along with

Will's soccer banquet --His team placed 2nd

Will still loves swinging in the backyard, Maggie is usually right by his side

Emily and Maggie just before the piano recital

Orphanage Christmas Party

Last Saturday, Cindy, Emily and I took Cindy's bible study girls to a local orphanage for a Christmas party. Cindy does this type of outreach for their Christmas party every year. The girls loved playing with the little kids. One of the leaders, Guia told the kids the Christmas story using a felt board. The girls then sang and danced a few songs. Emily fell in love with a little baby girl named Camille. She was wanting to add something to her Christmas wish list.

Playtime!!!

Cindy's girls loved playing outside on these swings and slides. Most of them do not have access to these.

Wish I could remember the words to this song. It was a great one about Jesus being born to pay the debt for our sins.

Christmas Cookies

The dental team that came in November brought us some goodies from the US. One of the things they brought was a bag of Andes peppermint crunch baking chips. I made cookies from the recipe on the back and I have just one word... YUM!!! These are great cookies. I highly recommend these. I told my mom about them and she also found chips made from real Andes candies. They are one of my Mom's and my favorites.

Today the kids and I began making Gingerbread men. These are one of Will's favorites. Hopefully tomorrow we will ice and decorate them.

Thanks-

Last year some friends from Greenwood got together and shipped us a box of goodies for Christmas. One of the things in the box was a Gingerbread ornament kit from Walmart. It consisted of 30 foam gingerbread cutouts--houses, boys, and girls, and glitter to decorate them. I thought it was the perfect thing to take to Cindy's bible study(see post below). I knew some of the girls would have to wait to get started on our pillow project and some would finish quicker than others. The girls really enjoyed decorating their ornaments. I am not sure how many of them have Christmas trees, but I know they have hung them up somewhere at home. So thanks to whoever sent that to us. I wish I knew who sent it so I could thank you personally. I am only sorry that I have one picture of the decorating. (I was a little busy that day.) Your gift was really appreciated by 20+ girls and one boy(Will). Emily used the extras last Friday when she had 3 girls sleepover. (They made pillows too)

Christmas Pillows

On Easter Sunday 2001, two 12 year old girls knocked on the Nelsen's door and asked Cindy if she would teach them about the Bible. Since that time, Cindy has met each Saturday with a group of 5 girls. I had the privilege of leading them while Cindy was on furlough last year. It is one of the best things I have done while in the PI. In the last 6 years, the girls have gotten older and matured. Last year most of them graduated from high school. Cindy thought it was time for them to begin discipling some girls of their own. So Saturday mornings have changed. There are now 12, 10-15 year old girls who come to the Nelsen's. The older girls are leading and teaching. Cindy still meets with the older girls for planning and oversees the Sat am meetings, providing some leadership and food. The girls have really done a fantastic job taking a leadership role. That's how our jobs as missionaries should work. We need to be working ourselves out of a job.

The last few weeks I have been helping Cindy and her girls with a project. We have been having fun making no sew pillows for the girls to give as gifts to their moms for Christmas. It has been so fun and the pillows came out so cute! Here are a few pictures:

Beginning the process

Stuffing in the pillows

Busy Hands

The finished product

Everyone with their pillow

Mondays

Today is Monday. Mondays are different days for us. We start the morning at piano lessons. Afterwards we go to the library at Faith Academy. Emily soon heads off for a flute lesson with the band director. The kids spend the day doing their schoolwork in the library. We then all get to have lunch with our friends. Will eats with the 5th grade boys, Em with some 7th grade girls, and I get to eat and converse with some grown up ladies! After school the kids go to puppet prectice. They are part of a puppet ministry. Today I am also checking emails and internet stuff since we are once again phoneless at home.

At the end of the Faith school day, the 5th grade comes into the library for their library program and the wonderful elementary librarian lets Will join in. A few weeks ago, Emily helped out by acting out a book while it was being read. I think the title was The Girl Who Wore Too Many Clothes. Em loved helping out.

Out in Manila

We are once again phoneless at home. This time it doesn't seem as if the lines have been stolen. It seems to be a local problem with our line since we are the only ones without. Hopefully the phone company will be out soon. So far it has been over a week. I do love having the new laptop though. We can check emails at other places beside noisy internet cafes. Wi-Fi service is exploding at coffee shops, restaurants and malls all over Manila. Today we are checking the net while eating lunch out after church. We are eating at one of our favorite restaurants in Manila today because of it's free wi-fi. It is truly a Filipino restaurant. We like eating the authentic Filipinno dishes while here. Will is trying to finish his order. He has a big piece of ground meat between 2 pieces of bread with potato strips on the side. Em had the same potato strips with some fried up strips of chicken. We have adapted well to the culture here. We are becoming so Filipino. Here's a picture of Will and I. By the way, the name of this truly Filipino restaurant is TGIFridays.

72 Degrees

We woke this morning to a wonderful day. It's not sunny and clear, but a rainy, cloudy, cool 72 degrees. For those of you with mornings in the 30's, I realize this isn't cold, but for those of us who haven't seen temps below 70 in 2 1/2 years, it is really cool. I am beginning to get in the Christmas spirit. At times the rain is so fine, I can almost imagine it is snow. The Christmas lights are glowing, Christmas music is playing quietly in the background and the kids and I are sipping hot chocolate as they do their school work. Al and I are dressed in the same clothes we normally wear and just enjoying the nip, but the kids seem to be freezing. They had to go back to their rooms and put on long pants and a sweat shirt. You can tell Will's sweat shirt is getting a little short in the sleeves. I will obviously have to make an investment in some sweat shirts when we are home in the States.


Maggie is even curled up in a ball on the floor. Emily took this picture of her a few minutes ago.



If only it would last. It may be this way all day or it could clear up and be blazing again by dinner time. We will just have to enjoy it while it lasts.

Happy Thanksgiving!

The smells of Thanksgiving are filling the air as my turkey cooks in the oven. On the counter waiting to go in, I have cornbread dressing and carrot souffle. The cranberry sauce is in the fridge and the potatoes are cooked and just waiting to be mashed. Cindy is next door cooking a wonderful pumpkin crunch. It is truly Thanksgiving. The only thing missing is a nip in the air and family gathered around our table. We will have a great meal this evening with our friends and partners, the Nelsens, but this day is a day I long to be home or at least with those closest to me. If only I lived in the Star Trek world, I could say "Beam me to my Mom's house, Scotty". Last year we had a great time with my parents celebrating here with us. The year before, our first in the PI, we ate alone and I broke down and cried at the dinner table. (The children just love to bring that up) I guess this will be a different Thanksgiving from the last 2 years--no family and, I hope, there will be no tears.

This morning we did a Bible study as a family on Thankfulness. We studied Exodus 15. It is a song of praise by the Israelites just after crossing the Red Sea and having it crash on Pharaoh's men. I love verse 11 that says: "Who among the gods is like you, O LORD ? Who is like you—majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders?"

This song of thanksgiving goes on for 21 verses, yet just a couple verses later, the Israelites have forgotten all the good God has given them and are grumbling and complaining because the water they have is bitter. Our goal as a family is to be Thankful of the Lord's blessing regardless of the circumstances in our lives. We want to live out Ephesians 5:19-20-- "Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."

I hope your Thanksgiving was a time of thankful reflection of the Lord's blessings to you.

Thanks, also, to all of you who help make our ministry here on the other side of the world possible. May God bless you richly in this holiday season!

Because of Him,
Ginger, Allan, Emily, and Will

Dental team visits

We have had a busy start to this week. On Saturday, a team of 4 dentists, 1 hygenist and supporting helpers came for a week of ministry to our area. This is a varied group with 1 from Alaska, 1 from the US territory Saipan, a few from the lower 48, and 1 returning Filipina. We are very fortunate to have them help in the clinic. Their service is greatly needed in the impoverished community we serve. They are providing extractions, fillings, education, cleaning, and flouride.

No wimps here. Strong muscles for the dentist and character building for the patient.

Of course, some eating together and getting to know one another.

TV Time at the Gilmers

This is a common sight at our house...Will laying on Maggie and watching TV. I took this picture tonight while he was watching a movie. Normally he is on his back with his head on her side. He doesn't seem to mind the hard marble floors. He will do anything to be with his puppy. Will has always wanted a dog and he enjoys being with her so much. They spent the afternoon out playing by the swings. I think Mags enjoys the kids homeschooling this year. She gets a lot of attention during the day.

This summer Will and Emily kept doing gymnastics in my parents bedroom at the lakehouse. I couldn't seem to keep them out of there. They were constantly doing somersaults and rolling all over the floor. It took me a while to realize they were just loving the feel and softness of carpet.

More from the Grocery Store

A few weeks ago I posted a picture of some cleaning supplies. The same day I took that picture, I also took this one. It is of Chef Boyardee Ravioli. I had never seen that here before and really contemplated buying some. When the kids were little and Al and I went out for the evening, or Al was on call and we didn't eat at the hospital, the kids would have a can of Chef Boyardee. Ravioli was one of their favorites. So I thought we could take a trip down memory lane one day for lunch or dinner. That is until I saw the price.....337 pesos! For a can of Ravioli???? Ravioli, that to me, is only fair at best. That's over $7. Obviously Memory Lane can get expensive. I put the can back and decided we can take that trip when we are home on furlough.


By the way, people really look at you strange when you take pictures in the grocery store. When you walk off, they always go and look at whatever you were taking a picture of. I try to be inconspicuous and wait until no one is around, but the flash always gives me away and it is rare to be anywhere alone in this city. I guess I would do the same if someone was taking a picture of a shelf in Walmart.

Moments from childhood

Do you have memories from childhood that are so vivid you can almost re-live them? I have a few events that can replay in my mind as if I am there once again. When I was about Emily's age, my parents had this big old green Chevy Impala. I don't remember it being a pretty green. It was a cross between an avocado and an olive green and the glossy finish had long since faded. My dad got a deal on it when my grandfather bought a new car and sold it to him cheap. I have a vivid picture of climbing into the backseat of this car and slamming the door on my mom's finger (I think it was her thumb). My stomach still clinches and hurts to this day when I think about how much that must have hurt.

For the last 12 1/2 years, I have lived in dread of history repeating itself and one of my own children shutting my finger in the car door. The closest we've come is the time Emily shut Will's head in the sliding van door during residency. That is until now....

You know how parents are always saying, "When you grow up, I hope you have a kid just like you!"? Well mine didn't really have to say that. Unfortunately, when I grew up I still had myself. Last week payback came when I shut my own finger in the car door. Can you believe it?? It is purple and blue, I am probably going to lose the nail, and Al thinks I should get it x-rayed because it might be broken. I often find myself telling Emily to "pay attention to what you're doing." and "Quit acting so harum scarum". Two expressions I hated, that my Mom used to tell me. How can I expect my child to be something that to this day I am still not?

By the way if you know where the expression harum scarum comes from I'd be interested.

Making Connections

This past week I was invited by another missionary to join their medical outreach in our city of Antipolo. Like us, this missionary is supported by Calvary Chapel…but not of Greenwood, SC. They are from Calvary Chapel Chino Valley, CA. They are church planters working in squatter areas on the far edge of our city. Some of their church members found our website and after contacting us, invited me to help their short-term mission group setup a one day medical assistance in their area.













In comparison to our clinic, this was a smaller scale medical program providing basic medical care. I passed out more advice and recommendations than medicines. There was one other doctor, a Filipina pediatrician and we had several dentists and dental students. Our clinic area was outside under beach-type umbrellas (which was greatly appreciated since it drizzled rain most of the time). The dentist pulled teeth right out in the open with all the expectant patients watching on, anticipating their turn in the chair.

Calvary Antipolo church members provided counsel and presented the plan of salvation. At the end of the day, their short-term team was off to another ministry opportunity. The pastor and I talked about some future ministry sites and I explained our teaching program for training healthcare workers.

Cool Fall Morning

Do you ever have one of those mornings when you just want to stay in bed? The weather feels just right for staying curled up under the covers all cozy. This morning was such a morning. Granted cozy under the covers in this case meant only a sheet. After 2 days of intense rain, the temp dropped into the lower 70s last night. We woke this morning to a temp in our bedroom of 77.2 and 40% humidity. I know this doesn't sound too cool, but since we normally hover in the low 80s, it felt good. It is amazing the range 10 degrees can have: 78-82 is ok night temps, anything above 84 is just stinkin' hot, and below 78....ahhh! that's nice. Emily came crawling into bed with me this morning stating "Why is it so cold? I'm FREEZING!" How is she ever going to survive a true winter again? Not that South Carolina gets really cold, but it is colder than here. I was thankful that after a few days of low water pressure, we had enough pressure to get some hot water this morning. While I relish a cold shower in hot season, I really despise them when it is cool.

Mr Clean

When I was a young newlywed, just beginning to keep a house of my own, my Mom recommended a great cleaning product--Mr Clean. I really liked old Mr Clean. We have spent many a day cleaning the bathrooms and the floors together. Well, times change and people move on and grow apart. Mr clean and I have been distant for some time now. Just last week though, I saw Mr. Clean's cousin here in the PI. This is the Filipino Mr. Clean.....Maestro Limpio. I am going to have to look into this though because that is not the word I know for clean. ***On further inspection, I have discovered that this isn't Mr Clean's Filipino cousin, but his Spanish one. I could not figure out what the second word was in Tagalog. It didn't translate clean. The Tagalog word for clean is malinis. Of course the Cebuano (one of the other languages in the PI) word for clean is limpiyo. I am sure that is due to the couple hundred years of being a Spanish colony. By the way, I didn't buy Maestro Limpio. I stuck with the brand I normally buy...Kleen. This is probably more than you wanted to know about my life in the Philippines. If you think we are living some exotic life in a foreign land, I guess this is proof that our life is just a tad bit boring and mundane, just like in the US.

Auburn Alumni Club Manila

Yesterday we had the final meeting of the Auburn University Alumni Club, Manila branch. After 3 football seasons, our friends and fellow tigers, the Brooks, will be headed back to the US in 2 weeks. We have had fun "tailgating", listening and occasionally watching the Auburn football games with them. We will miss having someone to cheer with.

Meet Bob!

A couple weeks ago, we were up at Faith for their annual "fall" Bazaar. This is a day of fun and fellowship in the missions community. There are booths set up in the gym selling local handicrafts and other items made in the PI. Outside the high school classes sell food and things to raise money for their class. The week before this event, the school chaplain had run into a guy at the American Embassey Bazaar selling something he had brought up from the southern most island of Mindano. Don knew the missions community, especially the American missions community, would be interested in buying some so he invited him out to the school. What a wonderful surprise on that first Saturday of October to see bright orange pumpkins of various sizes! People who have lived here much longer than us said they had never seen real pumpkins in the Philippines. (We do have some pale orange and green gourd type squash available) I bought a few of the little pumpkins and gourds for a fall display I had on our kitchen table.

The kids wanted a pumpkin to carve and since they sometimes seem to be richer than me, I told them they could buy it with their own money. Will decided to save his money, but Em bought a medium size pumpkin of her very own. (OK really it is a small medium size one) Since this is the hot and humid PI and not the cool, dry fall temps of October in the US, Em's pumpkin began to rot at the top. So tonight, we decided to carve it. I think this is the first time, Em has carved a pumpkin completely by herself. She had a fun time and did a great job.

For those of you who don't know my kids well, they name everything! So meet Bob--Emily's Filipino pumpkin friend. In a country that is already celebrating Christmas, he lit up our evening with a touch of fall harvest. We have already gone online to research how to plant the seeds from Bob. Perhaps by next year we will have a whole host of Bob's offspring. We aren't known for having a green thumb so we will have to give some seeds to Scott to plant as well.