August 1, 2003 As we begin a new month today we are within view of completing the Food Manufacturing plant. However, there are any number of details that must come together in the next week or two before it can begin operating. The chief one is final installation of the electricity. So far we are using a temporary line for essential use such as welding machine and testing. Various approvals have been assured but not yet finalized by the agencies involved and at the last minute we are informed we need a larger platform for the transformers so as to provide enough space for the workmen to stand and connect requisite wires. Today a large leak appeared in one of the water lines that Brother Meme is now attempting to repair without having to break up the floor. These are just samplings of the details involved in this final stage. I attach a foto of the mail work room. The various machines displayed are employed in the process of jam-production. Largely invisible is the boiler which provides steam to operate the various machinery such as the kettle, the pulpier and others. The second foto is the front view of the building itself with the entrance and porch. We are still working on the landscaping. The parking lot will be located where the bags of stones are situated in the foreground.

Next week will be my last full week here... Accordingly, I will be preparing my last round of classes and the final chapter talk in the coming days. On Sunday we expect to begin a series of meetings with Sister Fidelis who is a specialist in communication and who will give instruction to a couple of the monks on moderating dialogue. She will also lead the community in some sessions of exchanging experiences in view of facilitating future dialogue at the community level.

Meantime, this country is dealing with the aftermath of the military rebellion of a portion of the armed forces that has been causing a good deal of political and economic turmoil. The rebellious soldiers have serious complaints regarding corruption at higher levels of the service which are generally admitted to be based on fact, but they went about the affair in a way that has done a good deal of harm. It does seem that some good will probably come out of it in the end. Already one general has resigned. In any case, life on our island remains peaceful but not easy for the large majority who are poor. A workman here, if he is lucky enough to have a job, makes about $3 a day. Farming is also in a crisis in the Philippines. We ourselves lost money on the farm last year, though it was a small amount, it is an indication of the hardship felt by the many who depend on their farm for a living. Fortunately, we have other sources of income including our store and guesthouse as well as our food manufacture.

Abbot John Eudes Bamberger
Our lady of the Philippines