White Picket Fences

No white picket fences ...

A few years ago I had a discussion with a friend who was contemplating her husband’s retirement from the Air Force. She had enjoyed the adventure of a lifetime travelling, seeing the world, enjoying different cultures and now she pondered her return to the States and the seclusion it encompassed.

In her mind’s eye she saw her husband transitioning from the Air Force into a safe government job; getting the new house with the two car garage; and the white picket fence. After all, that had been the natural progression for many she and I have served with. It provided for a nice, safe and secure future without challenge.

The words she spoke after that have danced in the back of my mind ever since … “what if we find out that is all there is … what if we get the dream house, and white picket fence, and get stuck there?”

Those words of wisdom and insight have served as a catalyst in my life ever since.

Immediately after I retired from the Corps I got that all illustrious government job … the fence around our house was not white, nor was it picket, but it provided the same function of corralling us into the expected norm of what life should be after retirement from military service.

Thankfully Catherine saw that the norm of life was literally draining the life out of me and we broke the fence down … and moved to the Philippines to serve the poor as missionaries.

There is no greater pleasure or fulfillment in serving a purpose greater than one’s self.
There is no greater freedom than breaking down the white picket fence and living the great adventure God has planned for each one of us.

It is a sad reality that many plod along in their daily existence going from day to day instead of enjoying the freedom of operating within God’s will. God has a challenge for each of us!

One friend always closes her emails with “The softest pillow to sleep on is being in God’s will”.

I hope you are sleeping well …

Starbucks Don Salvador Style

We just returned from Romblon and all the adventure associated with the voyage.

As we prepared for a visit to the mountain church in Don Salvador I resolved that this was going to be a ho-hum visit. After all, how could anything interest me after the excitement of the past few weeks?

Upon arrival in the mountains I tool a stroll on the path behind the church. I like to walk this path as it leads to a overlook point where one mountain takes a definitive dip towards the river and the other mountain is staring you down asking if you have what it takes to come aboard.

Before I reached the line of departure I gazed at two children in front of a bamboo hut. One was pounding something with a wooden beam and the other was picking through something with the greatest of care.

Vanessa and I took a closer look and discovered that the young boy and girl were pounding coffee beans.

We sat there for about ten minutes watching their archaic process of grinding the beans and picking out the undesirables.

Always amazed ... never a dull moment ... everyday is an adventure.

Don't Eat Five Peso Ice cream...

I left Romblon three days ago (and made it home last night), but Romblon has not left me.

Saturday the kids and I found a "hamburger joint" in the remote paradise of Romblon. The kids and I had one of the local burgers and a soda. They did not taste like cat and did not look like rat, so we thought it was a decent burger.

Considering the nearest McD was a 13 hour ship ride away we thought we were really on to something.

I wanted ice cream and they had a machine with "Homemade" ice cream on it. The "homemade" should have been my first clue.

Ice cream is my weakness. Sampson had his hair ... I have ice cream. Want me to do something? Bring ice cream.

I got the mango flavored. It was the only one they had ... which should have been another warning sign.

The ice cream went down smooth ... Sunday I could barely get up for the church service ... and I was the presiding pastor over an ordination.

I have since left Romblon, but it has not left me.

Alex tells mom I should have noticed the "Homemade"sign ...

Mom says I should know better than to eat five peso ice cream ...

By the way, don't drink the soda either ... it is actually gasoline.

The Trip - Romblon

Preparing for the trek to the remote island of Romblon. We have a small church tucked away in the mountains and we are going to install a new pastor.

How do you prepare for a one hour high speed vessel ride - four hour bus ride - a night at the port - a four hour pump boat ride - four hour jeepeny ride - a night at the port - and a one hour ship ride?

Making sure the MP3 is charged and I have a fresh book to read.

More to follow on this adventure.

The Team

I know it has been a few weeks or so since the team left, but the impact continues!

Each year the medical/dental team from Okinawa, Japan with members from the United States and within the Philippines comes to provide free medical and dental care to the poor.

This year the team, consisting of 82, concentrated their efforts in Bacolod City. The end result is that over 4000 people were provided care over seven days of outreach.

Aside from that, local members of our church in Bacolod City and in the mountains of Don Salvador were truly encouraged to see the heart the team members have for the poor of the Philippines.

They remain encouraged and motivated by the efforts of the team. Needless to say, many tears were shed when the team left.

Catherine was able to see her good friend from Okinawa, and Tiphany was able to see her good friends as well. It tore my heart apart as we stood outside of the airport in Silay as their friends proceeded into the airport.

It brought me back to the time a bit over two and a half years ago when we departed Okinawa to come here. Nick, Sandy and the girls saw us off at the Naha airport, and the tears would not stop flowing then either.

We now find ourselves trying to get back into the "routine" of life in a third world country, if there is such a thing.

Catherine went to the mountain church Thursday to have a women's Bible study there. She is always encouraged to spend time with the women in the mountains and to minister to them.

Next week I will make the trek to the remote island of Romblon to install a local pastor in a church there.

Everyday is an adventure ...

In case you were wondering ...

The Caplinger Family currently lives in the city of Bacolod on the island of Negros in the Republic of the Philippines.

Todd and Catherine met in 1983 while Todd was a Sergeant in the US Marine Corps assigned to the American Embassy in Rangoon, Burma and Catherine's parents were assigned to the French Embassy. They married in Bangkok, Thailand in 1987. They have three children.

Todd retired from the Marine Corps as a Master Sergeant after nearly 24 years of service in June of 2005. The Caplinger Family stayed on Okinawa after retirement, believing this is where the Lord was leading them.

They attended Yomitan International Church, and were involved in short term missions to the Philippines and Cambodia. It was during these missions that God laid it in their hearts to serve the poor of Asia. It was during the 2006 missions trip that it became evident that they should concentrate specifically on the poor of the Philippines.

They arrived as full-time missionaries in the Philippines during November of 2006. On July 1st of 2007 they opened the House of Worship, a community based church.

They currently minister in Bacolod, Don Salvador, Sumag, Punta Taytay and other outlying areas of the city.

Visit http://www.caplingerfamily.org/ for more info.