Camp Workers

Many house boys are employees here on camp, they work for the company, as well as for private homes. They work during their time off. I am always surprised to see our lifeguards in their street clothes, going to work after work.

Most of the workers on camp make about 260.00 per month, so they do whatever they can to send home more to families. We have a gardener. He comes six days a week during his lunch hour. He is only here a few minutes, he weeds, waters, rakes, and hoses the cement off. He "sub contracts" to other workers for mowing once a week (or two) and edging. (once a month or so)
All the workers on camp have to wear these jump suits. They look like prisoners, I know. But I understand that it helps protect us as well. We can see and recognize them better, but I feel really bad for them when the heat is at it's worst. I think they wear different colors for different departments. Our gardener happens to be an irrigation (sprinkler guy) here on camp. We have men that sweep the gutters, everyday. In the U.S. we have a car called a street sweeper doing this. Here we have a guy in orange using a giant palm frond sweeping the streets.


They also have garbage men, tree trimmers, construction type workers, all kinds of men. These men all live in a place called "man city," off of camp. It's a totally weird concept to me. And I try not to think about the goings on there.

These men are hired by a contract company to our company. An old painted school bus drops them off each day, early in the morning, and picks them up in the evening. Like seven or so. Our life guards work much longer hours, but still ride the buses in and out. Most of the workers are from Bangladesh, India and the Philippines. But there are also those from Pakistan, Afghanistan, and regions near here. For the most part, they are all quite nice. I wave hello, but as you can imagine, keep my distance. Peter tries to learn as much of their language as he can. He practices with workers around camp, and with our house cleaner. You should see the smiles he gets when he speaks their language. They light up! It's just simple a simple hello, how are you, things like that. But most westerners here make no effort to speak to the workers at all. And many look down on these people, it's very sad. Peter is a wonderful example to our kids, teaching them to show love and respect by speaking someones language. I'm sure many of you returned missionaries know this. (Don't worry, I tell the kids to never talk to the workers. Be polite, but they are strangers!)

Our gardener, D., is a work horse. He will be sweating like you've NEVER seen, out in 120 degree weather, and act like it's fine. When I see him, and others, like this, I think that in America, we go to the gym to sweat like that. Here, you just actually work. Not work out. (but really, I've never seen water pour off of a person like this - so it's actually much worse)

We have a member of our branch that is a worker here on camp. He is a handyman, so to say. He is from the Philippines and hasn't been home to his family in five years. When I think of him, and his little bit of tithing, and the hard work he has to do to earn that little bit of money, I am stunned. Here, in our little branch, is an endowed member of the church. Sitting with all of us Americans, sharing the truthfulness of the gospel. He bore his testimony last fast Friday, and it was so nice. His English isn't the greatest, so he had written it out. But he spoke of how much he loves and misses his wife and children, how he knows the church is true, and how blessed we are.

While working in the Branch Pres. house, this man saw a picture of the Savior, and a hymn book, and asked David if he was Mormon. He then said, so am I. He hadn't been to church in five years because there hadn't been a branch here, and he wouldn't have known about it anyway, the way things are here. This sweet man adds much to our Branch. And reminds us of the humble circumstances so many people in the world, and members of the church, come from.

Most of the workers, and many of the salaried employees on camp are Muslim. I think they hire so many because it's a Muslim country and they want to keep it that way. Just as a fun tid bit, I thought I'd tell you that our company will give the employee a ten thousand dollar bonus for joining Islam. Crazy huh? Can you imagine if someone tried that in the U.S.? It makes me laugh just to think about it. Although, believe me, I've thought about it. (haha)