We have been Earl John's correspondents since April 2010. I will continue to update this post as we hear from him.
We have received 57 letters while corresponding with Earl John, along with one
project director's letter, one
pastor's letter and one
country director's letter. His birthday is January 25. Earl John lives with his parents and two siblings, a younger brother, Jeter Jade, and a younger sister, Ellen Joy. Earl John's father is a farmer.
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Project Info and Activities:
Earl John attends PH-278 in Barangay Princess Urduja, Puerta Princesa City
* Home to approximately 6,000 residents
* Primary ethnic groups are Tagbanua, Palaweno, Coyonin & Cayanin
* Most commonly spoken languages are are Tagbanua, Palaweno, Coyonin & Cayanin
* Most common work is work is farming
* Average earning is $60 a month
* Regional Diet: chicken, fish, rice, beans & bananas
* Common Health Problems: malaria, coughs, colds, malnutrition
* Typical Houses: bamboo, thatched roofs
Center activities: Bible teaching, medical and dental checkups, health and hygiene classes, field trips, recreational activities, opportunities for community service, tutoring, school supplies, tuition, medical assistance, musical instrument training, and Bible teaching for parents and guardians.
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Miscellaneous Info from Letters:
* Favorites: group games, soccer/football, bicycling, baseball, walking, volleyball, marbles, basketball, running, reading, art/drawing, singing, listening to music, other ball games, story telling, spaghetti, fruit salad, rice noodles with meat and vegetables, fried chicken, soup, color: green, “Kay buti buti” (God is good all the time), toy car, dog, English, Filipino, geography, music/arts, John 3:16, swimming, pet cat & dog, “You’re Real Good Lord”, kick-ball, volleyball, swimming, ducks & chickens, Filipino, takraw, swimming, John 3:16, parrots
* Dreams: to be a soldier & to travel outside his province and country, to be a sailor & to visit many places, to become a sailor in the Navy, visit Cuba
* Studying bread and pastry at the project
* Playing takraw and basketball in high school
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Letter Highlights...
"It's also jolly to be a big brother/eldest of my 2 brother and sister, especially to our youngest baby girl she is now 5 months old and she is really funny."
"My grandfather told me I'm industrious because I'm able to care for my younger brother and sister. And I'm helping my mother with her chores."
"Ma'am Hannah, hope you pray for me and my family for our safety everyday, may I grow healthy and considerate boy and may you'll not get tired supporting me. And now I've changed, I not longer persistent with my own ways and not moody to my younger siblings. "
"Thank you for including me a part of your family…Sir Eric, I like that you are my big brother. I am happy for that."
"We are happy for you, because you and Sir Eric already have a baby. What can he do now? Can he laugh? Who's resemblance is his face? Ma'am, he is so cute in his picture."
"I gained many friends and we're always happy in what we do (in school). Our teachers are kind and our school is beautiful."
"With Juanito's pictures, he grows up quickly and he is good looking, he looks like Sir Eric and he looks like me; a Filipino. And how is baby Juanito now? And may he grow into a good boy."
"When I grow up, I'd like to become a seaman so that I can reach different places."
"And I was born at very early boring that's why I was called 'Earl' meaning 'early' in the morning. And John was also taken from the Bible, 'John the Baptist.'"
"And I'm so happy to know that you've given birth to baby [Rosie] safely. I am thanking the Lord that he did not forsake you and your children Rosie and Juanito. Juanito is bigger now."
"And being gentle is being slower to get angry, loving and understanding."
"Thanks also for the artworks of Rosie and Juanito; they are growing to have ability in arts."
"I would like to watch a sea lion if how it can do some tricks and what I like to know is why a penguin could survive the winter. And Ma'am Hannah, we also have Iguana here in P there are lots here, any place here in P have Iguana."
"And my family is also fine and are always happy and together, when we have trials we are able to overcome it as a family because of God's help to us."
"And thank you so much for the letters that you sent...I value these things and keep it and read it at home."
"And Jose is sweet to look at because he is healthy and according to Juanito he has a big hands. I bet he will become a boxer when he grows up."
"I'm also enjoying my major class of bread and pastry and I enjoy backing cakes and cookies at the Senior High and my skills is being added to and my knowledge continue to grow."
"By the way Sir, Ma'am, thank you for my picture when I was still small and now that I'm big, I'm thanking the Lord that I grew up like this strong and healthy."
"How's my sister and brothers there? Juanito, Rose and Jose, it's fun to see them grow. I'm glad that they have loving and kind parents and God loving. Please give my big hugs to them."
"[In] June [2016] I will be in Grade 12, after that, I'll be in college. I'll be taking-up the course Seaman or Marine course. Hope to reach my dreams."
"My studies of Bread & Pastry is also ok and I have learned here how to bake cakes, cookies and I could also use this skill but I would also like to become a seaman."
"And we had a JS last February 27 and I got an award being "Mr. Awesome." And I was happy because it was my first time to join in the JS Prom."
"Thanks also for your letter which says "I'm a special child of God." I am glad that I'm special and no one is like me. You are also special to the Lord and to our family."
"And how are you now Ma'am? Have you delivered your baby? How's your baby now? I am sure that your family is happier for the coming of a new member as it says: "The more, the merrier." Congratulations to both of you and Sir Eric! for your new baby."
"And Ma'am, I already received Jesus as my Savior and I'm not yet baptized. I received him when I was 10 years old during a revival in the Project."
"I'm so happy because you have deliver Matthew safely, your fourth child. Congratulations! once again to you and Sir Eric and I also have seen his cute picture with you altogether. I know you are happier now because you have a new member of your family. May he grow healthy and safe always."
"Ma'am, Sir, thanks so much for your praises, reminders and inspiration that you always give, most especially for the word of God that become my guide and light for my spiritual life... By the way, how's Juanito and Rosie? Are they able to write and read now? What does Jose able to do now? I bet you so much please because your kids are healthy and beautiful kids. How's Sir Eric's work? May God continue to bless your family. Big hugs to my beautiful and handsome sister, brothers there. I love you all."
"And Ma'am Hannah, thank you very much for the Birthday gift that you sent worth P1,148.91 and the things that I bought were: shoes, 5 shorts and a t-shirt and I used some of these, I used during our Christmas party and thank you very much for these, I felt glad because I have new things again."
"My on the job training was also successful, held at PPC, in one of the restaurantes there I served there as waiter. I'm excited now because in March I'll be graduating in High School, being Grade 12. Pray that I could continue my studies as a seaman (in college)."
"Ma'am, how's Sir Eric's work now? And how's your 4 kids? Especially your new baby? What are the things that he can already do?"
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Artwork
Earl John frequently includes little sketches of mountains and the sun on his letters:
Earl John also drew this beautiful drawing after our wedding! And sent this sweet message, "Ma'am Hannah, I know that Sir Eric is a gift of God to you, what is his nationality? You looked perfectly matched!"
And he made a sweet welcome note for José's birth in 2016!
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Recipes
Instruction of Fish with Vegetables
1. Clean and cut fish
2. Drop to boiling water, onions, garlic, some sliced tomatoes
3. Drop the fish and green vegetable like Kangkong or kamote leaves
4. Put salt and savor ingredients to taste
5. Eat with cooked rice
Fried Fish with lemon juice and soy sauce
1. Clean and cut fish
2. Fry fish
3. Eat with cooked rice
Mung beans with pork, bitter gourd and malunggay leaves
1. Drop the washed beans to boiling water
2. When boiled, reduce the heat of the stove
3. Sauce the cooked beans with garlic and onions and some pork cube
4. Add some water to pan and pour the beans and boil
5. Add malunggay, salt and savory to taste
6. Eat with cooked rice
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Gifts
We were able to send Earl John a gift in 2014 when a fellow sponsor visited her kids in the Philippines. We received this great thank-you photo from Earl John!
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Extra Photos
Earl John has included some fun family photos over the years:
And in 2016, he sent us a "photo tour" of his life! I shared the photos in
this Mail Call Monday post.
In 2017, Earl John sent us photos from his prom: "And my exams were all ok and thanks for your prayers, thanks also for getting me as being a "Mr. Awesome" that night and me and my partner don't forget that night! I really enjoyed it a lot. Did you experienced to join a Junior-Senior's [Promenade] during High School? And also Sir Eric?"
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To read the other posts in this series, click
here.