Day Three

From Zamboanga to Jolo

There was a surreal feeling as we gently lifted off the wet cement pad and easily found ourselves ten feet off the ground.  The prop speed of the helicopter idling for 10 minutes or so as the co-pilot ran down his check list fooled my senses into thinking we could not possibly have enough thrust to lift off the ground.  I was wrong.  We were soon gliding over the southern archipelago of islands off the coast of Mindanao.  The cool blue water was smooth and haunting as we again moved farther south over some of the most remote jungles, mountains and islands found anywhere in the world.  The Philippines has over 1,700 islands.  Hard to reach and for centuries isolated by geography, history, politics, economics and conflicts, the Sulu Province is home to a percentage of the Filipino population that was converted to Islam in the __________ century.  Our mission is to go to the heart of that minority population, in need of medical care (Operation Smile and Knightsbridge) and to introduce my new program, Flutes Across the World to the some Muslim school children of Jolo.

 I could not help wonder about the thousands of roads I have been down over my fifty years on this planet, that somehow all have been leading to this moment in time, in my life. I do not know why I was so overcome with this sensation as we floated in the misty skies above the glittering seas, the untouched beaches and islands that dot this South China Sea.  I it seems less than 72 hours I have made new friends that seem to have been destined to also have taken their own path in meeting me and for doing this work in common for others in need.  We are human beings just trying to help out a little in this world of ours.

I am covered in sweat after our last downpour when we made touchdown here at Camp Batista.  Just sitting, your T-shirt is soaked and drooping.  Our barracks were a sudden inprov due to is missive order, even though our SF mission liaison, Peter, has been throughout and complete in all his planning.  Each room comes with termites, a few spiders, leaky faucets, pail flush toilet, no running water and a paint job that might have been here when first constructed.  Ramon and I are sharing a room, while Ed is with Walt and the other Doctors and personal sharing also in the building.

 The base here sits at the edge of the Jolo airport.  The base is run by the Filipino Army, yet shared with American Marines and Special Forces. 

 Everyone here is so supportive of our work here with the children.  Right down to the hardcore Marine and solider. I have the odd feeling that a shift is taking place.  Call me hopeful, delusional or a bit off, but I could swear we are starting to learn a valuable lesson about when to use force and when to use hearts to create a peaceful existence on this planet of ours.  It feels like a wonderful shift.  Or maybe we are here to just help create another moment that I am feeling

 Flying to Jolo, Philippines:  Ed, Ramon, Johnathan, Peter, John and Richard - pilot on Rt.

 A view from the chopper.

Central Jolo from the helicopter.

Landing on the pad in the jungle at Camp Batista - Armed Forces Philippines, American Armed Forces and Special Forces.  

Sir Edward Artis, John Z, Bishop Leto Lampon of Sulu Province and Doctor Joeseph Llenado from Tawi Tawi 

 Johnathan Cohen of John Hopkins with head nurse of the ward preparing family members for Operation Smile and 40 operations about to take place.  

 John with Muslim mother and child before operation.

 Before the first day was over, I played Hawaiian nose flute in the ward for all the children and for the nurses outside as the kids were falling off to sleep. 

Over and out, until next time...

 JZ