OPENING WINDOWS

We have been in the Philippines now for seven months and today for the first time we opened the windows of our apartment to enjoy the fresh air.  Usually the temperature is warm enough that we keep the windows shut and the air conditioning on.  Even at night it rarely gets below the high 70’s.  Today it was overcast and 72 degrees for much of the day.  When we left for church at 1:30 PM it actually seemed cold to me.  Tonight the forecast is that it will get down to 69 degrees.  Break out the blankets and sweatshirts, it’s gonna be a cold one!

It was also announced in the news today that the first Coronavirus death outside China occurred today in Manila.  It was only earlier this week that the first confirmed cases in the country were confirmed.  All flights into the Philippines from China were canceled earlier this week.  Since the virus’ symptoms are fever, sore throat, runny nose, cough and shortness of breath, it looks a lot like a bad cold to begin with.  The virus is also transmitted person-to-person before any symptoms are manifest.  We and all the missionaries have masks we can wear but medical experts are still saying that the most important thing to prevent spreading the disease is good hand washing.  I (Russell) feel bad for the mission nurse who has to deal with this.

On Friday, Eileen and I drove to the eastern part of the mission delivering wardrobe closets and clothes drying racks to a couple apartments.  On the way we saw two traffic accidents and one near miss that would have been potentially fatal for the bicycle rider.  The first accident occurred at a cross walk.  The two lanes of traffic were stopped to allow the pedestrian to cross.  I was in the van going the other direction and slowing to stop.  Facing me on the road’s center line was a motorcycle just coming to a complete stop protruding a few feet into the crosswalk.  The pedestrian, a young woman, decided to run rather than walk across the road.  Sudden moves in traffic rarely work out well.  I guess she was watching the cars so intently that she did not notice the motorcycle and hit it broadside, taking down the bike and both it’s riders.  It was a tackle that would make any football coach proud!  We were relieved when all three got up unharmed.  Each day when we return to our apartment complex after doing apartment inspections or going to the hospital Eileen says, “Another successful day of driving without killing anyone!”  

Filipinos line up in Manila to buy face masks. Photo by  Ezra Acayan/Getty Images

Lance and Bree before church starts. Many people in public are wearing masks because of the virus.

The view on the road to Malaya. The missionaries live about 1 km from here. Those are  rice fields with the lake in the background.

We were late for our appointment with the missionaries because of some kind of parade.

It looked like a 4th of July parade back home.

The elders are not carrying a coffin. They are hauling wardrobes into the Malaya apartment.  Previous to getting the wardrobes the elders were using  rope strung between windows to dry their clothes and then storing them in their suitcases.

We were very surprised to see this trike with the name of the church on the back.

The sunset from our apartment complex on Saturday night.

Eileen had a spot taken off her arm. Fortunately it was just precancerous and not cancer.

The doctor told me to get the stitches out at 7-10 days post biopsy. Russell removed the stitches after 10 days. At 12 days post biopsy I was swimming when I felt a ripping in my arm. OOPS. I guess it wasn't all healed up.

Tonight was the first time we have ever opened our windows. The breeze felt wonderful, and no bugs came in (we hope).