Bogo Lodge

While in Bogo City, our team stayed at Bogo Lodge. 

 

 

 

We soon realized that it was on the corner of a main road that buses (like to Cebu City) take.       There was a bank on the first floor next to the Lodge office and under rooms.   I reckon we felt safe with the armed guard there round the clock.   I do like the armored cars--one was parked there often as well.   

One day I walked past the Lodge and bank on down the street and took the following pictures.;

 

 

I was surprised to find the water front within a 3 block walk!!

 

first year college youth (16 years) doing street cleanup

happy to pose for picture!

these eating places only open in the evening

Mopping of stairs and hallways was done daily--mostly to keep down dust.   I must admit that, since it was rainy our first few days, we tracked in mud!     The men, especially, had muddy shoes from the construction sites.

We expected cold/cool water and we had that.   We expected power outages, but I believe there was only one outage during the night one night.   We were frustrated because the last 2 days there we had no  Wi-fi connection.

There were other Americans staying there.   The first group we met was 3--apparently through Church of Christ.   One of the men had a business card stating he is a fulltime volunteer--though how does one make a living by volunteering?      He was nice to visit with.   Katie is a professional poker player.  She came in November shortly after the typhoon and was given a special visa.   She plans to stay through February in the Philippines.     She told me about Lily's Place near SM in Cebu City.  An American couple from Texas adopted a little girl from Guatamala named Lily.  They ended up in  Cebu City and now run an orphanage for homeless children.     Brent says he knows about it.  Anyway, she has spent time there helping teach the alphabet and such at the orphanage.      They were busy working on construction.  I wasn't clear on exactly how many or which groups were sponsoring their work.         Another group of Americans arrived--they tended to keep to themselves more--I believe the one in charge was from Texas??    They were busy doing construction every day, also.   (near Bogo--but don't know exact areas)

While at the beach Sunday for the baptism, I met a gentleman from Ireland who was in the area--again, I didn't get the church/organization he was with--but the focus was rebuilding a school.   
Have I mentioned that I saw UNICEF tents; various Red Cross (Philippines, Japan, Korea, France,and others) and also Red Crescent represented.     One evening we spoke with a Filipino with the Red Cross, Philippines.  He and his team were working hard to document and imput material into computers.  His estimate was 10,000 dead from the typhoon ; though many buried and no accounting of them.   He mentioned the  French Red Cross was focusing on health. 

these groups will come and then go.    Pastor Revie, Pastor Henry, the Grace Driven Church, Brent--well, they are they for the long haul--and not just the physical relief and rebuilding, but rebuilding of lives (jobs!!)   and presentation of the new life available through the reception of the Gospel.

In Mandaue City (Cebu City) our team stayed at Lylie Hotel.   We had warmer water there!   Still had intermittent Wi-fi.     It was also on a main avenue which within a block intersected with another main avenue--so both locations were rather 'noisy' with traffic, primarily.       It is also difficult to get away from roosters crowing and the noise of horns.