More Real Life Learning

We have been taking a break from our school books so we can join the Baguio DTS in ministry. However, "Life is school. School is life."

"That's amazing!"

and this is what she saw when she looked at the slide.

The Letter of the Week seems to be L..landslides,lice!

Thump, Thump

On Friday the YWAM Baguio DTS team joined us again for the YWAM Health Clinic. We did not have as many patients as usual, perhaps because of the athletic tournaments at the schools and the parade. But it was still a good time talking with people as we took blood pressures and checked glucose levels.

Did I mention the parade? When taking blood pressures, you are listening for the pulse in the artery of the arm. You try to listen for the thump, thump of blood in an artery with a parade of several school bands going right outside. No contest - drums win!

But once the parade passed, we were able to begin again.

Below are some stats about our clinic since we started in October, 2008:

• Number of patients served: 496
• Total attendance: 996
• Number screened positive for hypertension: 296
• Number screened positive for diabetes: 152

We really enjoy being able to serve the people here. Many have become friends that we look forward to seeing each week. When walking about, it is common to stop and talk with one of our friends from the clinic.

Grace,
Tom

All About Landslides

Tuesday we assisted the YWAM Baguio DTS team as they put together packs of relief goods for victims of the landslides caused by the rains from Typhoon Pepeng. Each family pack included a rice pot, rice, a blanket, powdered milk, canned sardines, noodles, bath soap and laundry soap. They also brought school supplies that were packaged to give to students.

Wednesday morning, after a little discussion as to whether the roads would be okay, we decided to pack up and drive off in the rain to Lubon, Tadian where we were scheduled to distribute a portion of the family and school packs. The roads were rough and Lisa and I longed for the US highway system and the comfortable seats of our minivan. But we really could not complain. We were offered the seats in the front of the jeepney while others had the benches in the back or braved "top load" in the rain.

At the local elementary, the DTS team got the kids going with a couple of action songs and told them of Jesus' love for them. We then distributed the student packs to the children.
We then went back to the barangay hall where a pastora and the barangay officials had gathered together some of the families whose fields had been destroyed by the landslides. Since previous relief had been distributed to those whose houses were destroyed, the relief brought by the team was designated for a portion of those who lost rice fields.

These ladies immediately adopted Annalise and Lisa.
After a few presentations and sharing, the team distributed family packs to 50 families.
The lady with the green hat sat holding Lisa's hand during most of our time in the barangay hall. But we found that she was extremely ticklish. If you tried to touch her she quickly pulled away and said, "I'll be the one!" with a twinkle in her eye. When Lisa tried her Ilocano to ask the lady's name, she said, in English, "I don't understand." So much for today's language lesson...We were told that if it wasn't for this mountain range, you could see the ocean. Since the mountain range did not get out of the way, we enjoyed its beauty instead.
Remember how at the beginning I said we considered not going because of the potential road closings? Well we were able to make it all the way to Lubon (about 2.5 hours) and most of the way back. Then the road was closed by two landslides not far from Bontoc.
Here, the narrow point of the road is about 4 feet wide. On one side were unstable rocks the size of a jeepney. On the other side was the ravine going down to the river (perhaps 50-80 feet at this point).

They did have equipment working on it, but it was going to take a while. We decided that most would walk and a few would stay with the vehicles to wait for the road to clear.
Then there was the second slide... After passing through the first, it was only a couple hundred meters before we came to the second. The fire department was on the far side with their floodlight shining on the mountain side. Rocks were still falling from time to time. Our firefighter friend, Steve, (wearing one of the helmets donated by our friends at home) asked what I wanted to do. The proverbial, stuck between a rock and a hard place.

Just to make it more interesting, it began to rain. We all decided that if we waited, the rain would continue to loosen the soil. So very quickly, we moved past the slide. Then we got to walk the rest of the way in the rain, about 2-3 kilometers.

It was not until late the next morning that the road was once again cleared and the guys who stayed with the vehicles made it safely into Bontoc.
It was a full day and we were all ready to finally crawl into bed - but not until we had washed the layer of mud off.

Can-eo, A Beautiful Valley

The weather was beautiful Friday as we drove to Can-eo. The road had been closed because of slides caused by Typhoon Pepeng. There had been 6 slides blocking the only road through the mountains to the village. But they were all cleared and we were driven all the way to the village. Unfortunately, the weather changed and rains kept us from making the hike we had planned to Chapyosen on Saturday.

Alayna was so excited because it was her first opportunity to ride "top load" on the jeepney.

Once we got to Can-eo, we went for a walk through the village to pray at different places and to help the team better understand the people of the area. We also stopped at the house of one of the students from our Student Sponsorship Ministry and Tracy tried to learn about the magnificent weaving that the village ladies do.

This is a backstrap loom; so named because of the strap that goes around the weavers back to adjust the tension.

We learned that not only do the people grow rice and weave, they also grow sugar cane and press and boil it into molasses. But like the rice grown here, it is only enough for their own use and none is sold outside of the village for income.

The men and boys are sitting in front of the rice granaries, preparing the sugar cane stalks for the press.

Alexie enjoying the sugar cane like the other kids in the village, right from the stalk.

Although they were not ready to press the cane, the residents allowed the team to work the press to get a feel for it. I think most agreed that carabao (water buffalo) could keep the job.

The kids found a weed that could be used as a dart on clothing. Throughout our time in Can-eo, someone was always a target. Though I don't think anyone was as "targeted" as Alayna in the picture below.

Alexie and Tracy chillin' on the church floor.

Village life is a little bit different than in other places. The girls were able to go to the spring to wash their hair and bathe. I was not so fortunate. Everytime I went to the spring, there was always a small group of local ladies who were already bathing. As joining their group seemed inappropriate, I ended up bathing using a jug of water in the comfort room at the church instead. (I always left before I could tell if they were as embarrassed as I was.)

Besides the service on Sunday morning, there were gatherings on Friday and Saturday night for worship and Bible Study. We always enjoy seeing the truths of God's salvation portrayed through dance and drama when YWAM teams come.

A beautiful view of the morning sun pouring into the valley.

Sunday school for the children at Can-eo Station Church

Adriana and her new friend, Raza

Jasmine enjoying some time with Raza, too.

No, I did not preach. Jason, from the DTS team, shared the sermon. I just shared an encouragement before closing the service in prayer.

After the service, our family and the team enjoyed talking and playing with the people who came.

Annalise and Jason, "horse-ing" around

Sunday afternoon, our LP tank ran dry. So for dinner the team (with Pastor Rudy's help) cooked over a campfire. Another memory for their outreach journals.

Sunday evening, we lost power for a while and gathered in the "upper room" of the church. We were reminded that most of the people in the village and throughout the country were observing All Saints Day. In this region, that means candles lit at the ancestors' graves and prayers made to their spirits. Food offerings are also left at the graves for the spirits of the ancestors, or anitos. We took the opportunity to light candles to illuminate our temporarily non-electric room. Then we worshiped the one, true GOD. We also prayed for the spiritual darkness that exists in places like Can-eo. Unfortunately, the high place we prayed at is not the only reminder of the pagan beliefs and practices that are still strong in Mountain Province.

Going Can-eo"ing"

The Discipleship Training School team from Baguio came this week (see earlier entries 1, 2, and 3). This time the whole team is here and will be in the area for about 3 weeks as part of their final outreach. The girls have been so excited as we looked forward to their arrival. We made friends when the team was here before and during the times we have visited Baguio during the DTS.

So far the team has made a visit to the Bontoc Museum and has been spending time playing with the kids at the plaza. We just came from the YWAM Health Clinic.
After lunch, a jeepney is scheduled to take us to Can-eo. We will spend the weekend there and come back on Monday. We also plan to make the hike to Chapyosen while we are there.

Thanksgiving Harvest Feast

Sunday morning we went to Maligcong to attend the Thanksgiving Harvest Feast at Maligcong Christian Fellowship. I was invited as the guest speaker.
Maligcong is famous for the terraced mountains that surround its three sitios. You can see more pictures of this beautiful area at our post, Stairways to Heaven.)
At the beginning of the service, they have a Sunday School for all of the children. Alexie read a story from Read-Aloud Bible Stories. It was not something we had planned on, but we brought the book with us in case an opportunity arose. Lisa and I were proud of her willingness to do this in front of the whole church.
During the service, the children moved about. Yet it did not seem a distraction - most of the time. When a little boy crawled onto the stage, one of the guitar players kept an eye on him. When the child got too near the edge, he picked the boy up and took him to his mother. Nobody seemed to be bothered. But when these boys leaned through the window with their frog, some of the girls nearby became a little uncomfortable. I chuckled to myself and Lisa took a couple pictures.

I once had a pastor who put up a large sign. As you were leaving the church, you were reminded that the mission field was all around you - not just on the other side of the world. This idea fit well with my message about an eternal harvest, so I had a similar sign made which we gave to the church.
In so many ways, I have had visual examples of different stories from the Bible since we moved here. Yesterday it was the idea of bringing your first fruits into the house of God. Before we arrived, there were some bananas and palay (sheaves of rice) on the stage. As more people came, the stage became filled with rice, bananas, oranges, peanuts, etc. This was an actual harvest being given to God.

I can only imagine how large it would have been if all could have come. The largest sitio was closed for observation of some of the cultural traditions. Nobody was allowed to enter or leave that part of the village. So they could not attend the service or bring their offerings.

Pastor Agustine and his mother

After a lunch of pancit, chicken, and rice, the offerings were divided. Much of it was loaded into Pastor Agustine's jeepney. As he drove us back to Bontoc, we stopped at several homes. Young men jumped out and dropped off bags of palay, bananas, and oranges before we continued on our way.

When we stopped at our place, I paused to say good-bye and to thank Pastor Agustine for the hospitality we had received. I was so surprised when I walked around the back of the jeepney and saw three young men carrying bundles of goods to our apartment. Their generosity of the people of Maligcong Christian Fellowship was humbling.
After we took these pictures, we divided the gift and took portions of it to our landlords, neighbors, staff families, and those living at the ministry base.

We went to Maligcong hoping to encourage the people there. We left being abundantly blessed.

Grace,
Tom

Bags of Blessing

Yesterday our staff had lunch with the students of the Tribal Discipleship Training school. They have completed their lecture phase and are preparing for their outreach which is scheduled to go to several areas that have been affected by Typhoon Pepeng. In preparation, they have collected donations which they will distribute to families in need.

After lunch we put those donations together into Family Packs. The packs include 5 kilos of rice, a can of sardines, 12 plates, and a blanket.

Okay, this may not be the most efficient way to move bags, but Joshua and I had a good time doing it.

What is the best use for empty rice bags? A sack race of course! Joshua had never heard of it before, but learned quickly.

This week the team will be leaving to go and serve in Lubon and Betwagan. Please keep them in prayer as they apply what they have been learning by serving in places of such great need.