Elizabeth (on left)

Elizabeth is 4 and has big beautiful eyes that are always watching! We went to church with Lani's family and while we were sitting there on the benches, she walks in and sits at the end of our bench. My mom was holding one of Peter's little girls, Elizabeth just kept watching us. Soon she came over and stood in front of me. At that point we had only really seen her in the streets, she was wearing a cute little flowered dress it was dirty. I knew it was the best she had and she was trying to look nice. The thing I will always remember about her that day is how she looked at me and my mom! In her eyes you could see a wanting, a wanting for someone to hold her and care about her. I picked her up and gave her a hug! It was so hard to fight back the tears she was so cute. I later found out she had walked to church 2 miles by herself in a place I would dare stand by myself. The bishop told us street children did some times come, but it was usually just so they could take a piece of bread. Maybe that is part of the reason why she came, but I knew she thought there was something special about this place and she felt good and safe there. I learned a huge lesson her small little unspoken testimony!

Lornez-(Lola)

Lornez or Lola (meaning grandma) is the mother and grandmother to many of the workers. You will always find her smiling, a beautiful smile that you see in the faces of her children. She is in her 80’s and is always working around the home or helping with the children. She smiles because she is happy! She has a wonderful family, who love each other and take care of each other. Before her husband died the family had to take turns physically pumping the machines that kept him alive. This was because they didn’t have the money to pay for the other machines . They did this for two months before he died, and when he did the Dr. cried. He said in the Philippines you don’t see families do this, they don’t stay together. This is the kind of family she raised. Even though not all the workers are family, Lornez’s family structure has no bounds. She loves all! She was a great example to me of being happy for all the blessings we have in our lives!

Peter

Peter is a very dedicated hard working father who loves his wife and 4 children. Peter has been out of job for months because of his age. He is only in his early 40's and in the Philippines that is very old in the work force. So he does pearl work with his sisters. Although it is women’s work he doesn’t care, he cares more about his family! We often found out that he would work until one or two in the morning and would be back the next morning at seven. He is a great man!

Philippino Kids

All of the children loved to see themselves in the camera and would pull funny faces and stunts just to have their picture taken! They loved to yell Americano and run away shyly and laugh at my Mom and I's extremely white legs and faces! We had a lot of fun with the kids we took tons of pictures, taught them games, and listened to them read. Even though they didn't have nice things or the best living conditions they all seemed pretty happy!

Amie

Amie is really where the pearl work started! She was found on the floor of her home with her two girls dying, by her visiting teacher, who had a feeling to go check on her. Amie's husband had left them and she had know way to feed her children so she poisoned them and herself, thinking it would be better, because she didn't want them to suffer starvation for weeks before they finally died. I can't even imagine being at that point where you could even come to that kind of choice. It is so sad! The visiting teacher was a wealthy Philippino who helped many people in her country. At that time seeing Amie and her girls she knew she had to "teach these people to fish!" She took them to the hospital and they lived! The one daughter was left handicap and blind! But Amie learned to make pearl jewelry and was able support her family! She is a very strong women and a very loving mother!

Maybeline

Maybeline is in her twenties and helps work with her mom and aunts when she has time away from her other job! She is so sweet and soft spoken! Like the rest of her family she has a beautiful smile but was always covering her mouth because she didn't like her teeth! When she heard my mom had a necklace with her of theirs that she loved but was a little big, she instantly jumped up and found the necklace and started working! My Mom and Maybeline hit it off from the start and Maybeline wanted to show my Mom her gratitude and love by doing this as a gift. It was so sweet!