A Visit to the Carmelites

Last Sunday, my scrappin' friends Lee, Candy, and I went to Sta. Ignacia, Tarlac to turn over the money the scrapbook community we belong to raised to help build the Carmelites' monastery. Supposedly, it should be us - the volunteers - who will drop by the monastery, but Rachelle, Cookie, and Khei weren't available to come with us. It was sad to be just three of us, but knowing Lee and Candy, roadtrips are never boring when you're with them. And I was right. Although I wasn't really talking that much, I enjoyed the exchange of conversations the three of us had. We've talked so many topics, but my most favorite has got to be the one about food!

We left Metro Manila around 8:30am, and we arrived in Sta. Ignacia around noon time. At first, it was just sister Teresa whom we were speaking with, but after handling them the cards, the rest of the nuns gather round to take a look at the cards, too. They loved all the cards they received, and was very grateful to all the scrapbookers who created the cards which they can use to gather more funds.

They showed us around the place, and clearly, they needed funds to get the monastery going. It was just a new place - they are just starting, and for them being cloistered in the monastery, generating funds was difficult for them. Right now, they are aiming at producing coals out of dried leaves, so they can also help the people near the area and generate funds as well. Their place is really nice - air is very fresh, and seeing the clear blue skies and the mountain range from afar is very wonderful.

I mentioned about them loving the cards, Lee also showed them her scrapbook, and they loved it so much, they asked if we can come back and teach them the basics of scrapbooking, so they can start doing a history album for their monastery or do more cards to have more funds. In line with this, we are asking scrapbookers to donate scrapbook materials they no longer want (or need) - may it be papers and/or tools. Lee will post a message about this in coming days, so for now, I will just leave it at that.

The nuns had to do their prayers, so we decided to say goodbye. We promised we'd get back some other time to give the scrapbook materials, and it's one event I surely don't want to miss.

*** Jenn ***

ps - Thanks a lot to Lee and Candy for the great time! More pictures will be posted next time.