We have two katulongs or helpers that work for us. Before you panic about how demeaning this is to them and how ridiculously wealthy we must be to afford it, please understand that life here is VERY different than life in the good old USA. First off, everything has to be cooked completely from scratch, laundry is an 2-day affair, and there are no walmarts so shopping takes a LITTLE longer than usual. Also, it is customary to have house help here - not only for the middle class. Virtually every household has someone helping them with some task during the week. To refuse to do so would be rude as we would be refusing someone a chance at legitimate work. Oh - and labor here is dirt cheap. We are paying an excellent salary for the area, and yet are spending just over $30 a week for both girls combined (and the mission is re-imbursing us for the one to provide childcare while we are in language study).
We have a 17-year-old named Mhey (May) who is helping take care of the kids and a 52-year-old grandma named Ate Baby (Ate is an endearing term for "big sister" and is used as a show of respect.) Ate Baby is wonderful and an excellent cook (great Filipino food and learning to cook American as well). Mhey is still young and has a lot to learn (particularly about caring for kids), but she is teachable. The kids are slowly adjusting to these extensions to our family. All 3 are having some issues with questioning their authority, but we are working through it. Zach in particular is having a difficult time with this. Please pray for him - and for us that we would be consistent and also loving.
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