'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'.