'Unpacking My Suitcase' - the last few items

So what about the palm trees and coconuts I mentioned earlier? Some of the men in the village climbed the trees and treated us to fresh coconuts, also in the village we were able to take advantage of the beautiful palm lined beach.

Drinking water from a coconut

On another day we went ‘island hopping’ in Honda Bay, snorkelling and enjoying the islands’ sandy beaches. Mission trips certainly aren’t all hard work!

The last item from ‘My Suitcase’ was something I observed when we went out for pizza. I hadn’t heard of Shakey’s pizza before in spite of it being around since 1954. While we waited for our order I noticed the sign on the wall; you could hardly miss it! But it was the exhortation to all Shakey’s customers including our missions team that I felt was so appropriate, ‘…your mission is to spread the Word’. Imagine that! I think Shakey had something different in mind but as we left the Philippines this message should have been ringing in our ears; it is our mission to take the gospel, to spread the Word, to every tribe and tongue and people and nation.

'...your mission is to Spread the Word!!!'

'Unpacking My Suitcase' part 3

Everyone on the team was looking forward to our visit to the Tagbanwa village in northern Palawan. As is so often the case, getting there was part of the event. There was some uncertainty about the journey as bad weather including heavy rains was expected for that area. We left in four-wheel drive vans and were able to make it all the way into the tribe with little difficulty. For the return journey we arranged for the NTM plane to shuttle us out to the nearest town and then travelled on by local bus service – all part of the experience!

Danny & Philippa Brooks were the only missionaries in the village when we arrived, their partners, Ray & Chris Pollock had gone home on a short furlough. In the evenings Danny & Philippa shared their testimonies with us; how they came to know the Lord, how they met and eventually came to the Philipines to work with New Tribes Mission. Their love for the Lord and for the people in the village was evident to us all.

During the day they took us around the village, visiting in homes and introducing us to their friends. There was a birthday celebration going on for a little boy at one house, so there were lots of people to meet and interact with there. Another family was making new roofing for their house. They showed us how to fold the coconut leaves and tie them together with ‘thread’, also made from coconut leaves. Learning this new skill was much less important than spending time with these warm and friendly people.

As we said in a previous ‘post’ the gospel was presented for the first time in this village a few weeks before our visit and about thirty people trusted the Lord. These new believers need further teaching and encouragement from God’s Word, with the Pollocks away it has fallen to Danny and Philippa to build them up in their faith.

While all of this has been going on other events have been taking place in the village too. The village is located on the coast right at a beautiful beach. Private businessmen have recognised the potential of the area as a tourist site and are keen to develop the beach front. This will have a huge impact on those who live in the village especially the small landowners who are dependant on their rice fields and coconut plantations close to the beach. Already the developers have employed security men who have been moving into the area in preparation for work to commence.

A few days after we left the Brooks were having a Bible study with the believers, some of the security men came to join in with them. After the meeting these men asked if they too could go through the chronological teaching programme. It always amazes me that when circumstances don’t look favourable, God is in control and in grace He can bring about good.

Maybe one or two items still to 'unpack'

'Unpacking My Suitcase' part 2

The majority of our time in the Philippines was spent at the mission guest facilities in Puerto Princesa on Palawan Island. Egil and Rita Gammelsaeter are the guest house hosts and supply buyers in Puerto. Norm and Jacque Rice came in from their normal work with the Palawano people to supervise the work project. Both these couples enriched our lives. They were fun to be with and yet demonstrated the value and satisfaction there is in serving the Lord unreservedly. Each testified that their years of serving the Lord, ‘were the greatest years of our lives’.

Norm & Jacque - Egil & Rita

What is your idea of a missions trip? Going to some exotic place with palm trees and sunny skies? Sitting around with locals drinking water from fresh coconuts? We actually did these things, but that was later. First there was a much less romantic task to be done – our project for this team was to dig and install a new septic tank and sewage system complete with multiple metres of trenches around the property. The soil was hard, the weather was hot and humid but the fellowship was good and as we took turns at the hardest of the work the job was eventually completed. There were other jobs to be done around the property, mostly painting walls and windows and of course it was a fulltime job keeping everyone fed!

The girls on the team were privileged to have a part in another project; the story goes something like this:
Nilda and her daughter Mona lived in a very run-down little shack. Mona, who is twelve, developed a genetic condition about two years ago and is entirely dependant on her family for all her care. There is no assistance available from the local authorities and no medical help because they don’t have the money to pay for it.

When missionaries discovered their circumstances they decided to help as best they could. With Nilda’s family still living in the house they arranged for foundations for a new house to be dug, walls to be built and a roof to be put up – all around the old house. Finally the old house was removed and the inside partitioned off into rooms. It was a transformation, a much more comfortable place for them to live. Even just having mosquito screening made such a difference.

One morning after breakfast Egil took some of the girls to visit Mona and her mum. Armed with brushes, rollers and paint they painted the entire outside of the new house while they were there. Later in the afternoon they took them out for something to eat.

I think we all like it when someone shows us some special care or attention. I know Nilda and Mona were overwhelmed by the provision of a new home to live in but I think they also enjoyed the girls taking them out and spending some time with them.

Still more to be 'unpacked'.

'Unpacking My Suitcase' - Philippines Trip

One necessary task for me after every missions trip is to unpack my suitcase. Things are not so neatly arranged on the return journey as they were on the way out. There are numerous items for the laundry, some additions in the form of gifts and souvenirs, some things that weren’t used at all during the entire trip and others didn’t make it home again. It only takes a short time but it’s a job that has to be done.

Another task I find equally necessary is to ‘unpack’ my mind; to reflect on the many things that have taken place, on the blessings and difficulties of the experience. Like my suitcase many events are untidily packed into my memory. Only as I look at pictures, read my notes and talk about the experience can I begin to recall God’s faithfulness and answers to prayer throughout the trip.

So I have started this familiar ‘unpacking’ process once again having just returned from the Philippines

Our time in Manila was brief but we were able to squeeze in a number of things before moving on to Palawan Island. At Faith Academy we were given a comprehensive tour of the school and learned how it meets the needs of many missionary children whose parents serve the Lord throughout Asia. We also learned of the needs the school has, primarily for qualified teachers to join their staff.

Payatas Squatter Site
Over 10,000 families live and work at the Payatas city dump. Scavenging for plastic, metal and other items that can be recycled, they make their living from the waste that is hauled in from around Manila each day. Payatas is a sad place with sad memories. In July 2000 after weeks of torrential rain the huge mountain of garbage began to move and hundreds of the squatters’ homes at the edge of the dump were completely covered. It’s reported that thousands were killed, mostly children. Pastor Vir works at the Bread of Life church in Payatas, he is an enthusiastic man with a heart to help the people both with their spiritual and practically needs. He told us of that disaster and of the twenty two church members who were killed in the land slide. He took us around the area and explained the various ministries of the church, from children’s and youth ministries to regular church services. This church is bringing real hope to people who have hope from no other source.

Payatas Memorial

How do we react to scenes of men, women and children living on the pickings of a city dump? Do we ignore or try to forget what we’ve seen? Do we leave with feelings of guilt that we have so much and they so little? We can of course contribute in some small way to assist ministries that are helping them. But what can we do of significance? It seems clear to me that most of these people will be unable to go far beyond the boundaries of Payatas. The believers there will be restricted to ministering to those around them. We, however, have the privilege of a social and financial status that allows us to go almost anywhere in the world. It is our duty to use that privilege to serve God and bring the gospel to those who need it wherever they are. ‘For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required’. Luke 12:48


More to be ‘unpacked’ later.