Robinablog

The days of bubble baths, they end too soon

2009-11-25T20:18:00.000-05:00

Preaching to Ronald

2009-01-28T07:56:00.003-05:00

Last night, I ran into one of my 'favorite' characters, Ronald Mc Donald. So I began preaching to him about a plan I have, to change all the beef products at McDo's to veggie burgers, and continue to use the special patented secret seasoning so that people are still addicted to the taste. This changeover can happen around the world throughout 2009. Healthier bodies and minds, and a positive change for our planet and agriculture will result. The deal was sealed, as you can see by the big thumbs up from Ronald, and the rest will be history.....

My Guys

2008-07-28T22:51:00.001-04:00

Books & Books

2008-05-02T00:37:00.002-04:00

At the book signing, Books & Books, Coral Gables Florida.

I wrote chapter 6 in "Women Moving Forward: Justice,

Toward a System of Right Relationships"

with editor Raul Fernandez-Calienes,

whom I also know from the Broward County Human Trafficking Working Group

Florida

2008-05-02T00:25:00.001-04:00

Sighting Manatees with my sons.

Always incredible!

Good Morning

2007-12-01T22:49:00.000-05:00

This is a staircase I made outside my backdoor.

It's on the side of a mountain in Antipolo, Victoria Valley.

It was still there, after all these years.

The last step says INGAT (Be Careful!)

a God Rock

2007-12-01T22:43:00.000-05:00

I had the chance to visit the home we lived in for over a decade. Here is the stone in front of the house, that I realized gave me much inspiration, both artistically and spiritually. Do you believe in deriving spiritual inspiration from a rock? There is much insight to be had from rocks and stones (they've been around a lot longer than we have). I feel like I "cultivated" this rock, as I watered and planted around it, and that it shed it's 'light' on me.
If you look at many of my paintings, you can pick up on the inspiration that I took from this rock, and others.

Revisiting Past Dreams & Plans

2007-12-01T22:29:00.000-05:00

I was able to revisit a piece of land that we nearly bought in 1999, before being redirected to go to the United States. This is a very large area of multiple lots, owned by a bank. They were about to sell to CCDF at a great price, and at the last minute they changed their mind on selling, unexplainably, but we knew that God's hand was in it. This would have been "pioneering" in the extreme to cultivate this roughed, mountainous piece of property. It has a great view of the Taktak river and overview of the metropolis of Manila.

God knows what's best.

Driving is dangerous in Manila

2007-09-23T23:45:00.000-04:00

it's always best to be cautious

Kanlungan Center for Street Children, Manila, Philippines

2007-09-23T23:38:00.001-04:00

MAYOR LIM IS BACK!

"Go ahead, make my day, !"

one of the many girls at the center. they are so precious

Paintings by Street Children

2007-09-23T23:35:00.000-04:00

The Street Kids

2007-09-23T23:27:00.000-04:00

I took these pictures of some of the kids at the Kanlungan Center for Street Children in Manila, our partner ministry. I would like Mark to continue to do a series of portraits of Filipinos, since the one that we had at the show (and sold) received a lot of feedback. So, while I was taking these photos, other folks began to throw jokes at us (Filipinos are REAL JOKERS): they claimed I was training these kids in how to take mug shots so that they'll be ready once they get arrested, and that they were preparing for their future in jail!! These kid's tender spirits were already transformed by the Holy Ghost, so they all could laugh at the joke because it is less of a reality for them.

Whatshisname

2007-09-23T23:22:00.000-04:00

Good old whats-his-name visited Mark's art show at the Rockwell Center, Makati, in July 2007.

If you know who this is, leave a comment on the blog.

Dominique

2007-09-23T23:09:00.000-04:00

at our art show

& Starbucks of course

This summer in Manila, I was able to finally meet with Dominique, the son of Cathy our

co-worker. Cathy died unexpectedly in March 2007. Dominique is the only child, and his father is an American soldier who abandoned them, just like Cathy's own father had done, in previous military times. Dominique is 3/4 American but has no American rights. Please pray for us as we pursue God's plan for Dominique's rights. Pray for him in his time of grieving and adjusting to a new life. He is living in a dorm and taking studies to become a nurse.

Lotsa religious telabision in da Pilipines

2007-09-10T22:17:00.000-04:00

no wonder people are confused

Television in Manila is so much more interesting....

2007-09-10T21:26:00.000-04:00

I spent the summer in Manila, and was able to watch cable television. It's amazing how much of the WORLD you learn about in a foreign country!! Not like here in the US where we live in a sludge bowl of media--plenty of channels and no content! And we are so ignorant of the world.

Japanese Guy (plenty-o-kung fu fightin)
The BBC is always great (albeit a snooze factor sometimes)
Was this Al Jezera? I don't know, but I enjoyed learning about the pilgrimages and seeing the Holy sites of Saudi Arabia.
"hey friend, whassup?"
They also had channels from Hong Kong, South Korea, Japan, and China.

Lots of dance

For the Green League: a sampling of images for consideration for the Green Directory

2007-08-27T08:06:00.001-04:00

Asleigh prints his postcards on "Astrobright" card stock, as you can see in these images, but we can get permission to reprint them in just black ink, on whatever recycled paper we end up using. I have more than 100 appropriate "pot-shots" to choose from, if you all are interested in obtaining these for the directory.

Let me know your feedback and comments!

As I mentioned in the Green League post, our shop- Mission Gifts- will be a distributor of Ashleigh Brilliant products, in the near future. I love his stuff! I was first introduced to his postcards in Berkeley 25 years ago, and I kept a flipbook of my favorite postcards, as a Laugh Therapy Kit during the dark days of the Revolution in the Philippines (he has some that are very lighthearted--more than 10,000 now).

christmas 2006 with family on a cellphone

2007-06-16T22:50:00.000-04:00

im tired of cleaning my kids room

2007-06-16T22:47:00.000-04:00

2007-06-16T22:44:00.000-04:00

proud parents

2007-06-16T22:39:00.000-04:00

my dad, Frank G. Haines, and Mark's mom, Beverly Merrill

at the show of Mark's artwork at Butterfly World, Florida

opening reception April 13, 2007

2007-06-16T22:38:00.000-04:00

2007-06-16T22:34:00.000-04:00

2007-06-16T22:31:00.000-04:00

2007-06-16T22:20:00.000-04:00

my son john and husband mark

Seder Dinner

2007-04-18T01:01:00.000-04:00

Just one of the Seder dinner's we went to this year.

My kids are becoming very Jewish here in South Florida.

(They even blow the shofar)

Spring Break 2007 in ?

2007-04-18T00:53:00.000-04:00

Morrocco (Disney's Epcot) saying hi to our good friends, the Morris family

Orlando......Disney's Animal Kingdom

my kids

2007-04-18T00:46:00.000-04:00

i took these pictures of my children through a glass cube divider

in a wall at a chinese restaurant

"Abstract Realities"

2007-04-18T00:39:00.000-04:00

I'm having a show right now at the Upper Room Art Gallery in Fort Lauderdale Florida. It's a bit of a retrospective on my paintings, about 20 pieces from the past 10 years. February 3- April 28, 2007.

"ON MY HONOR

2007-02-24T00:41:00.000-05:00

I WILL TRY...."
boy scout statue, downtown Manila

Siestas

2007-02-24T00:39:00.000-05:00

are a good thing

the new cultural center

2007-02-24T00:36:00.000-05:00

at the new, overly expensive

Cultural Center in Miami Beach.

nice waves

anniversary dinner

2007-02-24T00:31:00.000-05:00

watching the cruise ships go right by us at an outdoor restaurant.

they are unbelievably huge, like floating cities.

15 Years

2007-02-24T00:27:00.000-05:00

Mark & Robin Merrill, celebrating the 15th wedding anniversary, on Miami Beach

MABUHAY!!!!

2007-02-24T00:23:00.000-05:00

LONG LIVE THE PEOPLE POWER REVOLUTION!!!

"I was there!" EDSA People Power Revolution, February 23, 1986

what a week

2007-02-17T01:57:00.000-05:00

my four year old split his head open
his first football injury
8 stitches

My Husband

2007-02-17T01:44:00.000-05:00

on the street in front of our ministry center, downtown ft. lauderdale florida
mark's version of a prayer walk

his light: a lit cigar

he said: "i'll be the smoke offering"

he walked behind me as i carried the candle (far behind me)

he blew smoke in the air and declared

"holy--holy--holy"

i appreciate his participation

Prayer Walk

2007-02-17T01:40:00.000-05:00

in Fort Lauderdale

with a Mission Gifts handmade paper candle cover

bringing the light of Christ to the streets

My 2 Boys

2007-02-17T01:35:00.000-05:00

rare extremely lovable

Rose Kyle, the Saint

2007-02-17T01:30:00.000-05:00

Visiting Gramma Rose in the old folks home.

She has been my mainstay and spiritual guidepost in life.

Visiting Mom over Christmas

2007-02-17T01:27:00.000-05:00

2006

My Siblings

2007-02-17T01:23:00.000-05:00

In birthorder

Celebrity Dentist

2007-01-14T01:15:00.000-05:00

With the outrageous cost of medicine in the US, we have to get all of our medical and dental work done in the Philippines, where it's more affordable. Here I am getting a tooth yanked by Doc Buizon.

Amazing find

2007-01-14T01:09:00.000-05:00

I made a nostalgic trip back to my neighbourhood in the mountains of Antipolo, a subdivision called Victoria Valley. I found these signs still hanging all over....my husband Mark painted these signs 10 years ago, in response to the widespread fires. It was our feeble attempt to stop the 'slash and burn' tactics that destroyed the land and our homes. The burning continues, but the signs remain!

Samaritana Center Opening Reception

2007-01-14T01:05:00.000-05:00

Melba Maggay, Arlene Villaver, Robin Merrill, & Thelma Nambu

Long time no see

2007-01-14T01:00:00.000-05:00

Great to see Mari & Enchang Kaimo at the opening of the new Samaritana Center. after that, we kept running into each other!

Bataan Death March marker

2007-01-14T00:58:00.000-05:00

In Subic

2006-11-01T23:52:00.000-05:00

with Manila Mayor Lito Atienza

Admiring his shirt

2006-11-01T23:48:00.000-05:00

Olongapo Mayor James 'Bong' Gordon

we got spoiled...

2006-11-01T23:42:00.000-05:00

having a police escort everywhere.....the 'town' of Manila sure got smaller. we had no idea how close things really were: what normally takes horrendous amounts of time in traffic, with the magic of a police officer on a motorcycle VIOLA! you are there

Rizal

2006-10-13T00:18:00.000-04:00

As part of the Ambassador's Tour, we had a wreath laying ceremony at the Rizal Monument at Rizal Park, downtown Manila. Replete with 21 gun salute, Navy band and Honor Guards. My father was an Honor Guard in the US Navy. This was a very moving event and I was glad to attend.

Meeting the President

2006-10-08T00:59:00.000-04:00

We met the President in Malacanang Palace the day after we arrived, July 14. This is the Florida delegation that I was with. OH MY GOSH, am I that big?? It looks like GIRAFFE WOMAN. No wonder people call me AMAZONA, or GIGANTE. And this time I heard some guys look right at me, not knowing that I know Tagalog, and say "Grabe, ang laki!!" (Im too huge). Good thing I wasnt standing next to the President, she's small but vicious. I actually think she's a woman with great potential and great talents, but something has definitely gone wrong. Because I dont live there right now and not privy to comment, I won't even begin to speculate, only pray.

Noli de Castro

2006-08-30T10:49:00.000-04:00

Holding hands with the Vice President.

actually, we were afraid of falling over the edge

(in Subic Bay, opening of a real estate development)

All we are saying....

2006-08-30T10:45:00.000-04:00

Give Peace a Chance!

The Crew

2006-08-30T10:06:00.000-04:00

Great crew! The making of the documentary "Searching for Sandy"

"Searching for Sandy"

2006-08-30T09:58:00.000-04:00

found him

American Memorial Cemetary in Manila

2006-08-30T09:45:00.000-04:00

My companion in the "Search of Sandy" is Manuel Quezon III, who is the grandson of President Quezon who was serving during the war and the time period that Lieutenant Nininger was killed. I am grateful for Manuel's participation and he added an incredible element to this historical yet personal documentary. Manuel is an historian, opinion columnist, and has a new television show on primetime called "The Explainer". He certainly did a lot of explaining during this filming.

Documentary

2006-08-30T09:35:00.000-04:00

Its rainy season in the Philippines....I was able to shoot the opening scenes of a documentary I'm making called "Searching for Sandy". It's my journey to find the first Congressional Medal of Honor awardee from WWII, Alexander "Sandy" Nininger. Mark & I came across his memorial statue in Fort Lauderdale Florida, where we now reside. Intrigued by it, we found out that he was killed outside of Manila. I also found out that he had an interest in the arts. Thus begins my journey....

Manila Info

2006-07-27T10:00:00.000-04:00

RICK WARREN & the BLACK EYED PEAS are in my hotel with me. (but we are in separate rooms). At my previous hotel, the "FAB FIVE" gay boys checked in right as I was checking out ("queer eye for the straight guy"show).
For those of you in Manila, my cell phone number is: 0918-530-3902. Im NPA (no permanent address).

Manila, Philippines

2006-07-17T06:45:00.000-04:00

Hello! Im here in the Philippines! Sorry I dont have the capacity to upload photos right now, but i will later. Im having a phenomenal time on this package tour! The flight was very difficult, and the last portion had everyone screaming when we hit violent, unexpected turbulence. You know its bad when the stewardesses are scared...lots of crying out to God and a bottle of soda exploded all over me, with sticky soda drenching my pants and shoes and scaring the heck out of me, because I had no idea what was going on. I was very sleep deprived at that point. After arrival, it was a breeze to have the Diplomatic entry thru customs, great!! I have brought thousands of dollars in artwork for a show of Marks work, and I looked at the new airport customs form that said no more than $350 worth of goods can come in, so PRAISE GOD customs didnt even open our luggage because it's a diplomatic tour. Well, thats just the arrival, I will write more later. Thank you for your prayers and I will continue to need them! Blessings, from Robin in Makati

My Kids

2006-07-13T02:23:00.000-04:00

I take off for the Philippines today. Please keep my family in your prayers while I'm away. It will be tough to be away from these two precious ones---I love them dearly, and they are very lovable. They wish they were going with me. Next time, God willing and finances providing, we will be together in the Philippines, ministering as a family. Join us in your prayers.

SAINT ROSE

2006-07-11T01:31:00.000-04:00

Gramma laughing at three-year-old John's interpretation of Scripture
My sons visiting my sweet Grandmother in her assisted living center: I asked them to read her beloved scripture to her, because she has lost her memory and doesn't do it herself.

ARRRAY!!!!

2006-06-23T01:07:00.000-04:00

It will be this painful to leave my family for 5 weeks to head to the Philippines. In case you are wondering, this is a penitant during Holy Week, in Pangasinan, getting crucified.
We didnt receive enough money for our entire family to travel to the Philippines this summer (mahal nga! it's expensive--$10,000). But we did receive enough for one person--me-- to go. So, it is with great sorrow that I will leave my wonderful two little children....Mark on the other hand, after 15 years of marriage, 5 weeks is no big deal, ha-ha. OF COURSE I will miss him, but these little ones grow up DAILY; Mark & I just get older and fatter, 'di ba?
Here is the plan: I will leave July 13 until August 25. PBS did not raise the money needed for them to accompany us this summer, so they are not coming. That doesnt mean that the documentary plans are over, just delayed. I will be going over on a tour package, the Philippine Ambassador & Consulate General's Annual Tour, guests of the Dept of Tourism & Foreign Affairs. This will be nice since I will be arriving alone; I will be with them for the four day tour (staying at Makati ShangriLa), and then all of us are on our own. I will probably stay at Malate Pensionne. For all of you in the Philippines, I need to figure out what my cellphone # will be so that we can be in communication via text...but in the meantime, just email me. So much to do in so little time. This blogspot will be the place where I communicate. Come back soon! Mabuhay.

some Lady Artists

2006-06-23T00:59:00.000-04:00

This is in remembrance of Inday, leaning on my shoulder, who won't be there when I return to the Philippines. She's with Jesus, showing him how to paint.

7,100 Islands

2006-06-23T00:52:00.000-04:00

OK, this is the norm for the Philippines. Idyllic, coconut groved beaches and vistas. The Philippines is totally paradise on earth, be it not for sinful creatures, those of us made in God's image. And don't forget that all of my photographs are copyrighted.

Going to the Philippines

2006-06-23T00:15:00.000-04:00

As I made my travel plans today, the US Government warned me in their official posting that they are issuing a HIGH ALERT travelers warning for terrorist attacks in the Philippines. Simultaneously, I ran across this satirical, yet real, photo of me with one of the summer college students that I had when I was leading summer college teams in the late 80's-early 90's. No, I don't smoke, but I remember how incredible that cigarette (shoved in my mouth by a soldier) felt---I smoked the whole thing! The story: I took the students for a trip to "The Palace in the Sky", and little did we know that it had been taken over by soldiers to brace for an attempted coup attack. Because it was a remote area, we were under severe threat (from the soldiers) because I had a truck load of good looking college students. Think fast! To avoid rape or kidnap for ransom, I began joking with the soldiers in my limited Tagalog. Since members of the Peace Corp were being held for ransom at that time on a different island, I told the soldiers that we needed extra spending money...perhaps we should stage a mock kidnapping, take pictures of them holding us hostage (which it seemed a few of them were thinking of already!!), and we'll send photos to the parents and split the money with them. Hey, I figure you might as well face the fear and name it out loud. The leader thought about it seriously, and realized it might backfire, and didnt want to be seen in the photographs. Instead, he had all of us "model" with the firearms while they rolled around in laughter, and insisted that our driver go out and buy them a couple of crates of beer and some cigarettes. Now normally we wouldnt use "God's money" to buy beer and cigarettes. But when it's to appease soldiers who might turn on you, the answer is an easy YES SIR.

PBS Documentary

2006-06-19T01:58:00.000-04:00

WXEL Palm Beach, is a PBS/NPR station. Here they are at the CCDF cottage in Fort Lauderdale, doing a feature for their "South Florida Today" program, which aired this year. They would like to do a full length documentary on CCDF's ministry in the sex trade industry, via the arts. We would like to leave this summer, and they will accompany us to the Philippines as a family, doing follow-up stories on some of the women who have transformed their lives. However, we are still waiting on God to supply the adequate funding. Your prayers for this are appreciated. Did you know that Oprah did a feature on June 16, "Child Sex Slaves"? This was her first time to broach this subject, and fortunately will create greater awareness and interest in this issue. Pray for our funding and God's protection during this documentary making.

Sheyla & Robert

2006-06-19T01:53:00.000-04:00

Sheyla and Robert are volunteering thru CCDF to minister to the poor and homeless in downtown Fort Lauderdale. They are helping out with our friend's ministry, "His Walk", which is just down the street from us. Sheyla and Robert attend Calvary Chapel and have been a great blessing.

A Cottage Meal

2006-06-19T01:47:00.000-04:00

Patricia Green & Robin Merrill, having a meal in the cottage, during Patricia's visit to South Florida in April 2006. New Zealander's are fine guests.

Banaue Ladies

2006-06-16T01:11:00.000-04:00

This is a photo I took of women in Banaue, the rice terrace region on the island of Luzon, Philippines. Today I was looking at some of their fabric, a woven skirt, that I have hanging in the cottage as a room divider. I was curious about the current status of the steady decline in new generations giving up the garb.....everyone wants to wear tshirts and jeans now. So homogenized, all these remote tribal groups have lost centuries of traditional weaving, to the more comfortable and western tshirt and shorts.

Heavenly

2006-06-16T01:05:00.000-04:00

Hidden Valley, Philippines, one of my favorite places in the world to go to. The resort has many fresh water pools, some of the water you can drink! It tastes like Calistoga water. Seen here is a painting I did on site, of the large elephant ear leaf. Mark and I did many paintings there, and sold many of them as well. We bartered some paintings with the owners of this resort, to get future stays. In this rain forest, there are some trees so large, that you have to climb over their roots.

Uncle Ed

2006-06-16T00:47:00.000-04:00

This is my late Uncle Eddie in Detroit. He was a union boss (treasurer), sprinkler fitters union and he got my dad a job that he kept for his entire working life. Uncle Eddie used the N-word a lot. He hated them with a passion. I suppose he had his reasons. I didnt share his views, but I loved my Uncle Eddie. I lived with him and his family while I was in art school in Detroit. When I got the job at the television station for the wacky preaching show, this family--good Catholics--freaked out! But they watched every night, to hear me commentate, and when I would come home at 11:00 at night, they would pester me with inquiries about the bizarre things that they witnessed. Everything that they thought was fake healings, I would have to tell them the inside scoop. Eventually, since we knew that Uncle Ed was watching, I would have dear sweet Cleta, in her southern drawl, dedicate a song to "Brother Ed". That would make his hair curl, but I think deep down he appreciated it, even though his family would ridicule him in an uproar.

Bobby Chalk

2006-06-16T00:32:00.000-04:00

Lately I've been thinking about a superb former co-worker of mine, Bobby Chalk. Bobby played the electric organ during the tv show and the church services. He was such a classic performer, stirring up emotion right when needed, accentuating the proper emphasis of the preacher with those organ squeals, so dramatic. I wonder where Bobby Chalk is now. He was so good at what he did, and a real good "team player". Perhaps I've been thinking about Bobby Chalk because Bobby Jones is coming to town, to build a huge black gospel music center right here in Fort Lauderdale. We'll hear a lot of that type of organ music then.
When I found this photo recently, I was reminded of something I had forgotten: this photo was taken by another crew member (shown in the other posted photo) on the front lawn of my relatives house, where I lived in the east side of Detroit. We were shooting a commercial at the time, inside our house, using the kitchen sink because it was an ad for a water purifier. Later, I got into so much trouble. My aunt said the neighbors could see me with black people that I brought on the yard and in the house. Boy, was I in trouble! It just never occured to me that this was an issue. Actually, it wasn't so much that my relatives were prejudiced, but that they were caught up in an entire prejudiced society.

Cory Aquino & Robin

2006-06-16T00:16:00.000-04:00

Cory Aquino is one of my heroes.
She may not have been one of the greatest presidents, and she did make some crucial mistakes.
But it took incredible courage to do what she did.
One thing I learned from her, is that Christian principles don't always cross over into politics. She tried to run the government from a Christian perspective, and occassionally that turned out to be a disaster. I learned that the Kingdom of God is completely different than the Kingdom of this world....we need to wait until Christ returns for some of the more utopian principles of Christianity to be applied widespread. In the meantime though, we ARE COMMANDED to live it out ourselves, even if we are relegated to our own counter-cultures.

Strange fact: her nephew hunted me down after meeting me in a sporting goods store (he was buying a new concealed weapons holster, I was buying a snorkel). He aggressively tried to court me, and what a tale that is. I dont think I have the photos to back it up, but i should write it down someday, it's a crazy story.

Faith for Miracles!

2006-06-15T23:59:00.000-04:00

This is the "Faith for Miracles" crew, minus me (I'm taking the picture). When I was in college, at the Center for Creative Studies in Detroit, I worked for a local Christian television show. This was the days before cable- we were UHF!! Channel 62. Notice the red velvet chairs. Much of what I know (& practice) today as a Christian had formation during that short time on the set of a faith healing enterprise. I went in as a stone cold cynic. I THOUGHT I was applying for a job as a sound tech at the local jazz station, WJZZ. But it turned out to be this television show, and when I saw the set with the king and queen chairs, I tried to back out of the whole thing, but THE REV went aside and prayed, and came back and said that God had told him to hire me, even though he was not expecting or wanting to hire a woman for the position. So, in one of the scariest moments I've experienced, my first week on the job I went on as a LIVE sound technician, and eventually the live announcer as well. "LIVE....FROM DETROIT.......IT'S THE HAPPIEST COUPLE ON TELEVISION....RICHARD AND CLETA BROOKES!!!"

My Sister

2006-06-15T23:25:00.000-04:00

This is my sister. She is OLDER NOW, but the same attitude. Mike too.

My Brother

2006-06-15T23:22:00.000-04:00

My brother now, as "New Genre" artist.

My Brother

2006-06-15T22:54:00.000-04:00

My brother as a teenager.

Happy Birthday

2006-06-15T12:55:00.000-04:00

I just turned 45, and my mother sent me this photo of myself and my father.

HERE WE ARE

2006-06-14T00:45:00.000-04:00

This will be our new blog for family and personal stuff.
I hope you join us for the journey!