carlson ray imogene 1985 philippines

8/9/2019 Carlson Ray Imogene 1985 Philippines

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CEBU CHRIST IAN

MISS ION

/-/Z-

S t S^

P.

Box

41

Cebu Cit y, 6401

Philippines

August 19, 1985

Dear Chris t ian Fr i end :

I would like to discuss the subject of American Christians retiring in the

Philippines. There is much to be done. There are 800 New Testament Churches in

this country. This leaves room for eight hundred American couples to lend

their

encouragement to these brethren. You may have no Bible College training. Never

mind. If you have some experience in an American church you can lend comfort by

your fellowship and

love.

You will have read of the insurgent movements in the country. The local

authorit ies for

the

most part

are

handling these very well. The U. S. Navy

at

Subic and the U. S. Air Force at Clark

are

commitments by our government to

defend

the

Islands from external aggressors. There has been no such threat

for

forty

years. Many U. S. military people are comfortably retired in the Philippines.

This program is not for those

who will

yearn for the ease and comforts of

U. S. living. The Lord told Ananias regarding Saul: I will shew him how great

things he must suffer for my name s sake. You are not to become martyrs, but

the greatness of the Cause weall love brings a great price. Like the fellow said,

You pays you money and you makes yon bets. Christianity is better than this

because we have

the

great hope.

But

there is a price to be paid. Are you ready to

join

God s

servants

in

this?

Speaking of helpers, many of the mechanical, labor-saving devices of America

are not easily available in

the

Philippines, but we do have helpers. Do not call them

servants . Call

them helpers . It

will make them feel so much

better.

You

say

you cannot afford

them.

Well if you can get a fulltime helper for

10

a

iveek would

you

not.

use

one? They

are somuch better than mechanical

aids because

they

have

brains, hearts,and often will do the unprogrammed

needs.

Whoever heard of a me

chanical device that was companionable?

To anticipate circumstances use your local library. Read up as

much

as you

can on current publications. Do not get involved in the

complex

politics. We have

lived here a long time and no one interferes with the preaching of the Gospel. The

economy

has been affected, sure, but there is a great love of the Scriptures here of

which

advan tage must be

taken.

Go at this proposal carefully. Talk to as many knowledgeable people as you

can and then make your own decision. If you

are

interested and in good health,

come as a visitor

and

make your own survey. Do not cut off all your connections with

out

being sure of

what

you

do.

My suggestion is

that

you make up your mind to live quietly in the barrio

(or

community) of one

of

the

churches. You will not take over any of

the

leadership

of the

little

congregation,

but

simply by your unfai ling presence

act as

a counse lor

of good will if you are called on. If you can use some of your acquired skills

to

teach

others, so much

t he b et te r.

Many things will be different, but there can be no doubt

that

it is God s

will that the Filipino people be taught and reached. Many here will be willing to help

you. Many folk speak English. This will help. ,


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Expect to lower your standard of living a bit. If you

are

rural people, th e

prob lem will be

easier. Many

places now have electric ity,

but running water

may

be

scarce.

Gasoline costs

now

about

1.80 a

gallon.

A small pickup

truck might

be

more useful to you. Domestic ai r travel is

very

reliable

and recent

computation

has found that local air fares are from 70 to 90% lower than charged on do

mestic ai r services in other countries. If you

are

65 or older you can qualify

for

Golden

Years'

Fare of 30% deduction

with proper affidavit of

age.

On

July

5, 1985, President Marcos announced

the launching of

the

Philippine

Retirement Park System making

this

country a

retirement haven fo r retired

Amer

icans and

Overseas

Fil ipinos . Several special incentives

were

announced:

1. Tax exemptions provided under Decree 1217.

2. Guaranteed repatriation of any foreign exchange remitted, or reinvested

in the system

or

its development project.

3. Extension

of

all

Balikbayan

(home coming) privi leges and exemptions

to present and former overseas Filipinos coming home to take up permanent resi

dence

in the

projects

of the

system.

4. ITie grant of permanent reside.ice

status

to

foreigners

taking

part or

re

siding here through a minimum investment of 50,000 in the trust fund of the,system.

Iliis

status would be given the spouse and

unmarried

children below 21

years of

age.

5.

Exempti on from customs duties

and

other

present

and

future

taxes

on a

one-time basis up to 7,000

for the importation

of furniture.

6. Importation of one car for personal or family use, free from all import,

customs,

and

other taxes.

Further information

many

be secured from

Mr.

Florencio Orendain, Chief

Executive

Officer

and

General

Manager

of

the

Philippines

Retirement Park

System,

Manila,

Philippines.

The

Philippines is a tropical coun

try.

Light cotton clothing is the most suit

able.

'Natives take full advantage of siesta hour in th e afernoon. This is

most

refreshing.

Medical expert ise is reliable

and

skilled. A

private

room in a hospital is

available for

perhaps

a tenth of what would be

paid

fo r the

same

service in the States.

Some health and medical ca re insurance issued in America

may be

pa id b ene fits in

t

Is lands.

There is plenty

of sunshine. Beware of sunburn and skin cancer.

There are

thousands

of miles of

sandy

beaches

and

wavy palm trees. Don't

le t

a coconut fall

on

your

head.

The road sys tems have been much improved. Telephones

are

available

in th e

towns

with

international

connections.

Radio

and

television

programs

leave

much

to be desired,

but

perhaps

you will

not

miss them. Books

are at

a premium.

Make

arrangement

with your local U. S.

book store.

Propane

gas

fo r cooking is available everywhere. If you have have a helper,

she can

easily

cook

out-of-doors over an

open

f ir e and an

improvised

grate.

Cooking

over

an electric grill

is

expensive.

All

electricity except fo r lighting

is a

luxury.

Sometime ago,

we thought we might use

some

of the

ideas

of th e

Peace Corps ,

calling

this

th e

Christian Corps. Thisis still

something

of the

same

idea. No

doubt

th e

home church from which you come will

help

implement some of your programs.

RAY

CARLSON

carlson ray imogene 1985 philippines

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