Honor to Whom Honor Is Due

 

Dr. Samuel Cariaga is a general surgeon. His wife Elvie is an accountant. They are two of the finest Christians I have ever worked with. Dr. Sam works full time for BandS and is our representative in the Philippines. Elvie keeps our books and is so thorough in her work that I sometimes get bored reading the details. She refuses any pay and says it is her ministry in the Lord. Dr. Sam conducts many medical clinics in churches that are isolated and very difficult to get to. Recently he drove 7 hours and walked another 5 to get to the village he had promised to help. More than 200 patients were treated including several minor surgeries.

The churches in these small towns are asked to feed the volunteers who make up the team that travels with Sam. They also open their homes for the workers to have a place to stay.

The medical mission for this week had to be cancelled due to the unrest in the area where BandS had planned to go. The communists and government forces were fighting and it was too dangerous to travel. We have rescheduled the campaign for later in the fall.

Dr. Sam, Elvie and their two children are a great asset to the Kingdom and I am honored to have them as partners in the work we do in the Philippines.

Friends and Fellow Workers

 

I could fill many pages of pictures of the people I work with in the Philippines. Each of these photos has a special meaning for me, but I hope they will serve as a reminder of the great family God has all over the world. Some of them are even pretty.

The First Leg of Our Journey

 

Greg Smith, John Bailey, Gary Daniels and Danny Carrigan made a hurried trip to the far east. These photos were taken in NRT after a long flight from DFW. I wanted you to see how fresh and awake we were at this stage of our trip. After 9 days with only 5 nights sleep, having visited 4 countries, 5 islands, spending 50 hours in the air and traveling over 25,000 miles, we didn't look so good. Sen. Phil Graham said we are a nation of whiners, but not these guys. There was never a discouraging word even in the midst of a typhoon, 4 overnight flights and a few hours of suffering an uneasy feeling in the abdominal region. Notice I changed from the first person to the third person. The reason is I stayed in the Philippines 3 more days to attend to some business. I wanted to stay a few days longer, but I could not get my ticket changed. However, when we approached the counter there was a sign saying the flight was over booked and they were offering volunteers a nice package to stay. I jumped on their offer and got to stay in the finest hotel I have ever stayed in. The food was great, but this luxury only lasted for 24 hours. However, the package I received also gave me $200.00 so I had the funds to pay for the other two nights in a lesser hotel, but none the less, adequate.

You might wonder what the rush was, so I will explain. Greg, Gary and Danny are all working for a living. Greg and Gary offered to make this trip to photograph some of the things BandS is doing in Indonesia and the Philippines. They took over 1300 pictures and several hours of video. I have seen some of their work and they captured the story on film. These are the same photographers who documented our trip to China last year. Danny has been interested in BandS for some time so I thought this would be a good trip for him to get a close up look at what we do in some of the places we work. I could not have had better traveling companions.

I'm ready to go to China in 5 more days. I had cataract surgery a couple of days ago, so I will be traveling with my dark glasses on. I hope I will not be singled out for extra security checks. I don't think I will be because I have read that there is no profiling and I certainly believe what I read. I will not be doing any surgery on this trip because I am not certified to do any procedures in Braille.

Texting Is An Art in the Philippines

 

When it comes to texting, America is a backward nation. The real pros are in the Philippines. They can text in the dark, with both hands while driving! They have their own texting language that is a mixture of English abbreviations and common symbols with some Filippino dialects mixed in. There are signs at cross walks in Cebu that read, "NO TEXTING WHILE IN CROSSWALK". Notice in this picture both Sharon and Gigi are texting using two phones each!

It doesn't matter. I love them. - Papa

Historic Day - Rainey Bailey

 

Rainey Bailey lost her first primary tooth this morning. The historic event took place while she was eating her breakfast waffle. Congratulations are in order. Papa

Not Mine

If you read this blog you will know why I chose this picture.
The trip to Indonesia and the Philippines was great. We had to weather a typhoon in Manila, change our travel plans that ate up one nights sleep and got a day behind in our very tight schedule, but we all survived and almost without any problems.

As expected, the younger guys, Danny Carrigan, Greg Smith and Gary Daniels, all suffered from the food they ate, but it was an illness of short duration and minor consequences.

Greg and Gary were the photographers who documented our China trip last year. They did the same job on this trip. We were able to witness 95 eye surgeries on the island of Nias. We went to Cebu and saw the "Give A Kid A Goat" program that is going extremely well and has potential beyond anything we have done to help move people out of poverty.

We went to the island of Mindanao and visited with the Leyte orphans that we have built houses for. These kids who have lost so much, are doing remarkably well. We have received a few more students, so we are expanding both the boys and girls dorms.

To summarize, this whirlwind trip of 12 days covered abut 26,000 miles, 12 flights, 50 hours in the air, included 4 countries and 6 islands. Our hotel cost were minimum because we were flying on four of the nights.

I have some great pictures of eye surgeries, pretty scenery, beautiful people, but I hesitate to post them because I am unsure if anyone visits this blog.

Lake Weekend!

Bailey brought a few friends to the lake...it was so fun spending the weekend with them!

Bailey and Reagan

Reagan's First Wakeboard Run of the Season

Happy Birthday Papa!

I have no idea if you will see this but know that we are thinking of you today and wish you a happy birthday! I blogged a few pictures of Reagan's track meet. He ran the 200, 400, 4x100 relay and did the long jump. Midland Christian won the meet. I thought you and mom could talk about your old days running track...for Western Christian and of course Mom's Farington Field glory! Love you both.

MCS Banquet

Hutton actually just took a few pictures at banquet and then had dinner with us at the Country Club...but he looked very handsome. He promised he would go next year and take a date if I wouldn't make him go this year...we will see!

On your marks...

This is the start of the 4x100...he looks pretty focused!

2nd Place 4x100 Team

Reagan ran the first leg of the 4x100 relay for the 5th graders. We were second to a sixth grade team from Odessa but we beat our own sixth grade team...let's just say our boys were pretty pleased with themselves!

Long Jump

Reagan was 7th in the long jump out of about 30 5th and 6th graders. He jumped 10'10''...I'm sure it is in his genes from Papa's "hop, skip and jump" days in Canada ;)

Roy & Helen Visit

Play Ball!

Reagan and some his baseball buds at Opening Ceremonies. Go Rangers!!!!!

Happy 17th!

I love these boys...Happy Birthday Hutton! I am so proud of you.

Let it Snow!

We had great snow all week...starting after dinner at P.F. Changs in Colorado Springs.

Mountain Men

Reagan loved skiing with Tod...I was a little slow for him!

This is the Colosseum, and the last one is of me in the Capoline Museum in Rome.

Greetings from Italia!

Hello family! I am enjoying my semester abroad and just wanted to give you an update and post some pictures. I have been enjoying Florence, and we just got back from a ski trip after a trip to Rome. Early next week we leave to tour southern Italy, so we have been exceptionally busy. I love you all, and I would love to hear from you...but I don't have much time to respond to emails. Here are some pictures I think you might enjoy:

The first is for Rainey; it's the European 99 cents store.

On the right is a view of Florence from the top of a hill.

The great deer hunt of 2007

Hey Bailey Gang,
As you probably know I have never been a hunter, but Hutton has always loved hunting and fishing. Earlier this summer our friend Paul Horne asked what he could do to help us. Paul is one of the most respected outdoorsmen in this part of the country. I asked him if he would help me stay connected with Hutton. Since then he has invited us on a couple of hunting trips. He called me earlier this week and asked if we wanted to hunt deer. I almost had the words out of my mouth before Hutton said yes. He was great to bring along his little brother. We met Paul's friend Tommy Hill in Big Lake. This is only my second time to hunt for deer, and I have never heard anyone describe an experience like ours. John, I think you would have loved it. We saw more than 12 bucks in 3 blinds, including 3 twelve points. We had to choose between several to shoot. They asked us to shoot 8 point bucks and leave the 12's for next year. Reagan's was a mainframe 8 with 2 extra stickers. The boys and I had a blast. Paul was great. I think we are spoiled. I don't think it is supposed to be like that all the time. The pictures are a little grainy, because they came from my phone. One of the guys took better pictures and should send them to us later. Thought you might like to see what we were up to this weekend. Tod

Reagan's Trophy

Reagan shot this deer with the first shot he ever fired from a rifle.

The next morning Reagan shot a beautiful 10 point.

The happy hunters. It was getting dark, but the boys were both excited.

The great hunt

Hutton's first buck, a nice heavy bodied 8 point.

Happy Birthday Jordan!

A teenager no more! We love you and heard the show was excellent. Can't wait to see the DVD. Have a wonderful day. We are glad you were born!

Uncle Stephen, Aunt Stephanie, Rainey and Em

Cowgirls

I don't have much to say, but the lack of new posts on this blog is depressing. So, here are a couple of little cowgirls to brighten things up a bit. Much love to all from the Bailey's of North Hurst.

Bailey's Graduation

We are looking forward to this weekend. Bailey Anne Brown will graduate from Midland Christian School. Rosalyn and I will leave on Thursday to attend the graduation and to take in one of Reagan's ball games.
I have a new camera, so watch this blog for more frequent posts.

Update from Searcy

I don't know if anyone reads this anymore, but it has been quite a while since the last post, and even longer since my last update. I check it periodically, and it makes me sad to see the lack of new information, so here is an update on my life as a college student. It is the week before Spring Break, so I am participating for the second time in the thrilling ritual of what people in the know call "mid-terms." My professors were kind and split the tests between last week and this one, so I already have approximately half of my tests behind me. I'm officially a sophomore, and the current plan is that I will graduate a semester early if I take manageable course loads and a few summer classes. The play that I'm in is coming along well, and it's fun to be part of a theatre crowd again.
Spring Break will be a much needed time of rest and fun with a side helping of job hunting. Come visit me because in Spring it's gorgeous here, and I can always use a distraction from all the studying my parents are paying for me to participate in. Hope to see everyone soon!

Bailey

Hey all,
18 years ago today the world forever brightened for me. She caused some trouble getting here so I thought she might turn out a little stubborn. I had no way of knowing how much favor God was showing me that day. It hadn't been very long since I had been a kid and I remember wondering about her future.

I had some modest dreams that day.

They told me that all fathers think their daughters are pretty. I was hoping for moderately cute. God gave me stunning, catch-my-breath beauty.

I didn't hope for genius, but I asked for some intelligence. God gave me a brilliant, clever, sharp, witty girl with deep understanding.

Given her genes I knew better than to expect athletic stardom, but I did hope for her to share that part of my life. God gave me a hard-working competitor that has made me so proud in so many arenas.

I had only one exceptional wish. I asked for her heart to be great. I wanted her to be kind and good. I wanted her to stand out in a crowd as a lover of people and a follower of Jesus. I was dreaming for someing way beyond average. God so far exceeded my expectations. I cannot describe what happens in my heart when I think of the lives she touches and the leadership she provides everywhere I turn.

I love to watch her with her brothers and with little kids and with people who really need love. I love to watch TV with her and talk about nothing. I love the way she gets a joke and can give it back with clever grace. I love when she does cheers in the living room becasue she thinks nobody is watching. I love it when she laughs. I love it even more when I can make her laugh and light up the room with her smile.

Already the prospect of not having her around has started to dim the brightness of my world. But I am happy for the world that gets a girl like her. Greater men than I will never know the privilege of being a father to someone so terrific. Whatever else I do or don't do with my life, no one can take from me this: I am Bailey Brown's Daddy.

I love you Bailey!

Love,
Dad

Happy Birthday Bailey

Happy Birthday, dear Bailey-----

What a wonderful day Jan. 25 was in Oklahoma City all those years ago. It seemed to take forever for you to put in your appearance, but you were certainly worth waiting for. You have brought us so much joy and we love you. I'd like to post a picture so that everyone could see how beautiful you are, but that is way beyond my computer skills. I know that your big day tomorrow will be great and we will be thinking about you. Love, Rose