October 27, 2023, Manila- A family of five came by, as we were resting from the previous task. Once it was determined that they needed about forty-minutes' rest, before heading to a bus station to Rizal Province, northeast of here, a table was set and light refreshments were served. The great-grandparents, grandmother, mother and young daughter were just glad to get in out of the humidity.
I was determined to be more productive today, than yesterday. That wish was definitely fulfilled. I reminded Norlie that the National Spiritual Assembly member who was here until a few days ago had expressed a wish that the bookshelf be restocked, with more up-to-date publications. So, we set about removing the old books, many of them tattered, and thus in need of tender loving care-in the storage room.
Once the shelves were cleaned, it took about an hour to carefully restock them with study materials and more recent expository volumes. Thus was another goal of this visit achieved, and in short order.
Before
After
The afternoon was broken up by the arrival of the family. After they had had a fairly good rest, it was time to escort them safely to a bus station on the other side of Makati. Thus came a short taxi ride, two jittney buses and a fair walk, with a few street crossings here and there. Philippine streets, as many of you know, are not always marked with crosswalks, let alone traffic signals. Stop signs are almost non-existent. Still and all, most drivers here know what they're doing, as do most pedestrians. Honked horns are plentiful, but collisions are rare- at least from what I've seen and heard thus far.
My main tasks, as I understood them, were to carry the family's food box and to make sure the grandfather was not left behind. His wife came to the back of the line, about 1/4 mile before we reached the bus terminal, and guided him past some dark areas, where slippery tree roots lurked. Evceryone made it to the outside waiting area, safe and sound. A vigilant station agent brought a portable bench and the family was able to sit comfortably, during the remaining fifteen minute wait for their van bus to Rizal Province.
With that, Norlie and I headed back towards the Center. After stopping for a split ear of corn, we crossed to catch a bus. In the full jittney back to Santa Ana district, there was room for me, in the aisle. I knelt, quite comfortably actually, for the fifteen- minute ride to Dian Street, from whence it was quite easy to walk back to our work station, which is also her residence. A couple of tasty muffins and a bottle of water intervened on our behalf, but she was safely escorted home and I was back in my hotel room, before 9 p.m.
This was a fine Friday.
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