Notes from Luzon in March

The time we spend here in Pangasinan sometimes helps focus on the differences to our home. We have been richly blessed in our lives.  Here the blessing of family and home are common and good.  Most people  are humble and friendly. 

We recently went to the high school graduations of four of our members. When talking to the teachers, we find them concerned. The students work hard but have a handicap.  There are no computers available. Not even old ones.  The schools are begging for monitors and computers, they would like to have even the old ones that we threw away when we packed to come here. There are large container boxes of computers shipped to China for scrap every day. It costs about $25,000 to ship such a box to Asia. If only they could be sent here. They would have to use transformers or rewire the power supplies. The power here is 220 volts. Of the 2000 members in the Aguilar district, we know of only 3 families with computers. None are connected to the internet.  The internet is available many places, but too expensive for most families.  While the branch leaders are supposed to order their supplies online, few know how here.  Some kids in private schools get computer training.  Most kids don't. We can't fix all the problems of the world, but this one should have an answer.  

Elder Stamps