Friday, May 23, 2014

The Philippines and the Liahona Children's Foundation

I am very grateful to the Liahona Children's Foundation to have been invited to help screen children for malnutrition in the Philippines. It was an extraordinary trip.  


We spent some time in the country

...and some time in cities.  

local bus
People consider themselves lucky to have a tin roof instead of a roof made of bamboo leaves.  



We screened children ages of 6 months and 5 years for malnutrition.  Malnutrition in children of these ages creates lasting physical and intellectual delay. 


We weighed and measured the children, and then plotted their statistics on a growth chart to determine if the child was the 3rd percentile or less for his or her age.  



Each screening lasted approximately 2 hours and involved anywhere from 30 - 200 children.  We conducted 1-5 screening sessions per day, based on the time that we needed to travel between locations.  

I discovered how many different things can be made of bamboo - everything from church buildings…

 the bamboo church from the inside 

…to home-made basketball hoops.  





Some church buildings looked more like this one.  These church buildings stood in stark contrast to most other buildings in the area.  


I also learned that most Filipinos smile quickly and say "thank you" easily.  


Approximately 60% of the children who came to our screenings measured in less than 3rd percentile for height/weight and qualified for monthly nutritional supplements, micronutrients, and other forms of support.  


On my way back to New Zealand, I rode in an airport shuttle-bus driven by a young man from South Korea.  I mentioned that I had just read that North Koreans are an average of 4 inches shorter than South Koreans.  

The shuttle-bus driver looked over at me, and in broken English said, 
"Because North Korea….people eat….no enough." 
(interesting article about North Korean height shrinking, see here) 

Research shows that all basic differences in height among ethnic groups (the group, not the individuals within the group) would be erased in 2-3 generations if people had equal access to equal nutrition and sanitation. 
 







Sunday, May 4, 2014

A Very Exciting Week


A beautiful autumn morning from our front door

later in the day

Another back yard shot

So now the exciting stuff...

1.  Noah works at the YMCA youth program during the school holidays.  He catches his foot while vaulting over this railing and lands on his head on the gym floor.  He blacks out.  

After a day at the hospital, we learn that Noah only has a severe concussion and has torn the A/C ligament in one shoulder.  We are very thankful that Noah will have a complete recovery.

2. I give a solo piano recital at St. Mary's Cathedral.

St. Mary's cathedral in New Plymouth
 3.  Mike and I celebrate our anniversary with an overnight trip to temple in Hamilton.
Fat Pigeon Cafe
4.  We host a youth orchestra party at our house on Saturday night.  Favorite activities are loud games of "Mafia" and night-time swinging on the giant swing.



5.  I receive my tickets to fly to the Philippines next Thursday with the Liahona Children's Foundation.
Going to Bacolod and Iloilo!

6.  I come home from New Plymouth Orchestra rehearsal with my very own double bass.  I've been wanting to learn double bass for a few years now, with the goal of playing in the community orchestra.

At least the new guy doesn't need to be fed.  

 
7.  Sage!  A second loose tooth and she learned how to pump herself on a swing!