Back from Haiyan

My friend and YWAM coworker, VJ, and I spent the last two weeks in the region of the Philippines where Typhoon Haiyan/Yolanda left a path of devastation.

YWAM Cebu staff has been tirelessly serving the incoming/outgoing teams with good food and clean beds.  While there I met a Discipleship Training School outreach team from Mexico who arrived to do ministry in the area of YWAM Cebu.  When the earthquake happened, they adapted their ministry to assist with recovery.  Then they had to evacuate due to the typhoon.  They finished their outreach assisting with relief efforts for the typhoon.  What a great group of students - what an incredible outreach experience!  I also had the privilege of meeting others who were on their way to apply their skills and resources to assist with relief and recovery efforts.

While staying at YWAM Cebu, I instructed several teams so they could make rocket stoves where it may be helpful.  We also made a day trip to Bogo at the northern end of the island of Cebu to assist with food distribution.

Preparing relief packs for distribution in Bogo.

Bound for Bogo...

Church in Bogo

VJ praying with a victim of Yolanda in Bogo.

Isn't she adorable?

We also met with two other coworkers from YWAM Baguio to spend a weekend ministering on Bantayan Island.  There was so much destruction there and we heard that many of the smaller islands surrounding Bantayan Island were much worse.  We surveyed the area and distributed tarps to about 45 families; it was more than two weeks after the storm and people still did not have roofs to protect their families from the rain.  We had the honor of helping install tarps on a few of the houses.  At one point I was waiting for my coworkers to come with supplies and had a great time playing games and singing songs with the children who had gathered to watch the "Americano" stand in the downpour digging post-holes with a tool resembling a flattened pipe.

Recovering a boat sunk during the storm.

Bound for Bantayan Island

In the video above, the children are singing a song about their "sparkly" house above the clouds. 

Preparing one of the 45 or so tarps we distributed.

Morten, me, and VJ with Moises and part of his family whom we helped by installing a trap on his roof.  Their house was shifted about 6 feet backwards due to the storm.

YWAM Baguio Training Center team enjoying dinner.  There was no electricity, but the flash lit up the room.

Then we spent nearly a week in Tacloban, one of the areas most affected by the storm.  Here the damage was unbelievable.  On Bantayan Island, houses were damaged, moved, and sometimes utterly destroyed.  But in Tacloban not only was the damage to structures so much worse, but the storm surge also washed away their belongings.  When we arrived, no businesses were open.  No food or other goods were available for residents or workers unless it was brought in from outside of Tacloban.

Just a few scenes around Tacloban

 We did our best to minister to people, but a week will not accomplish much in a place where recovery will last for many years to come.  The first morning we went out at low tide and our group recovered or buried 13 bodies.  One day we cleaned the building we were allowed to base our operations out of; the men cleaning the muck and destroyed appliances out of the lower level restaurant.  On other days we cleared the rubble and muck from the house, yard, and street at the home of a resident; assisted a neighboring fisherman build a shack over the water near his boat; distributed water filters to neighborhood leaders; charged phones with our generator and showed Gospel films at evacuation centers; and distributed tool kits so people could begin building shelters for their families.

Charging phones, lights, etc. for residents at an evacuation center.

Setting up water filters in different neighborhoods

VJ writing messages of hope

Mahal ka ni Hesus - Jesus loves you!

Sorting clothes for distribution

It was an honor to be able to work alongside such a great group of compassionate servants.  We had no electricity.  Our drinking water was from a water filter.  Baths were with cold water and a flashlight.  Sleeping was done on the floor with whatever mat you may have brought.  Foul smells were everywhere.  The work was often filthy and disgusting.  Yet there was excitement and joy as we helped the people of Tacloban in any way we could.

Part of the team of YWAMers after cleaning a local believer's home, yard, and street of muck and debris.

In the end, I believe that we were able to reach out to sojourners as they explore faith as well as encourage disciples as they follow Christ.  May God be glorified!

How to Bind a Team Together Without Ropes

As a way to keep us focused on our purpose of knowing God and making Him known and getting to know each other better as staff, the staff and families of the Crossroads Discipleship Training School went on a short-term outreach to the Rizal Province of the Philippines.

First we took a 7 hour bus trip to Manila. From there we had a 2.5 hour trip in the back of a jeepney to the small town of Jala-jala. It was my first opportunity to  spend much time with Tom and Soonim's children. Andrew, their 4 year old, and I quickly established the boundary of the "Boy Zone" and enjoyed thumb wrestling, counting anything, and checking our status as our jeepney "raced" the vehicles around us. The trip went well and the adults kids kept the kids adults entertained so they did not get too grumpy as kids adults often do on long trips.

From upper left corner:  Soonim, Tom, Amie, Marvin, Merly, Alayna, Adriana, Lisa, Annalise, Andrew, Alexie, Andrew, me

Sunday morning the team divided into 3 parts so that we could preach in 3 different churches. Our family stayed in Jala-jala and I preached at the church in the area our team's ministry was focused for the first few days.

In the afternoon, the church held a youth gathering and our team was united once again. Merly taught about the heart of worship. Lisa then taught about leadership, using Jesus as the perfect model. After Lisa's teaching we divided the 40 or so teens into groups to further discuss the topic. It was great talking with the students in the small groups.

God's Heart Mission in Jala-jala.

Monday we returned to the church to meet with others who would lead us on house-to-house visitation. For several hours we went throughout the area neighborhoods inviting people to come the next day to a seminar about the rocket stoves in the afternoon and a showing of the Jesus movie in the evening.

Jala-jala is a small fishing town on Laguna de Bay, one of the few large lakes in the Philippines. Talim Island is the land in the background.

Monday night, the men from the team went to the nearby town of Tanay. There, we encouraged those attending a prayer meeting of community pastors.

Tuesday afternoon we returned to the church in Jala-jala for the rocket stove and solar bottle-light seminar. The kids in the photos are students at the school the church has. They participated in the seminar also. They were really interested in the rocket stove but with so many hands eagerly trying to help, it took a while to get the fire going.

One of the highlights of the trip was the film showings. Our first, was Tuesday night in Jala-jala. We had obtained permission from the barangay officials to show the movie at an intersection. (Although we still had to allow traffic to pass along 3 of the 4 spurs of the intersection.) The intersection was full of people watching the movie throughout the entire 2 hours - no chairs, no popcorn, no soda provided.

At the end, our hostess, Margie, talked with the people. She spoke in Tagalog so I could not understand the words. But her heart and the effect it had on the people was clear as many responded to her sharing.

Jesus movie on the streets of Jala-jala, Rizal.

The rest of the week our focus was on Tanay.

New Hope Christian Church in Tanay, Rizal.

Pastor Eric from New Hope was excited to have us help him establish an outreach into the relocation area  being built not far from Tanay. Southville is a government housing project where people displaced due to flooding and other disasters can go. The units are small and numerous in the project. Our first task was to go house-to-house talking with people and inviting them to a rocket stove seminar and a showing of the Jesus movie later in the day. While we talked with people, we had them fill out cards for follow-up later from Pastor Eric and his church.

We met in a clearing under a spreading mango tree. There we taught the many who came how to make a rocket stove. This was excitedly received as most of these people moved here with few possessions, little money, and almost no livelihood prospects. This simple and reproducible technology will certainly be beneficial in that place.

In the center: Pastor Eric telling the people about the love of God and inviting them to the Jesus movie, while holding the completed rocket stove up for all to see.

After a busy morning at the relocation area, we had a relaxing lunch at the beautiful Daranak Falls.

Adriana at Daranak Falls

Back at the church, we held another rocket stove seminar for people from the neighborhood there. This time, I still did all of the talking, but I had Tom and Marvin do the cutting and fitting of the parts. As you can see in the picture below, they did a great job.

Marvin showing off a hot rocket stove with everyone from the seminar.

Then it was back to the mango tree at the relocation area. Again we were amazed at how many people showed up and stood or sat on the ground for the duration of the movie. (I was so excited about how God was using the equipment that as the movie was playing, I sent a text to one of those who provided it asking her to share our thanks with the rest.)

Jesus movie in Southville relocation area.

Thursday morning we had a surprise visit. The mayor, vice-mayor, and barangay captain, hearing of our ministry in the community decided to pay us a visit. The mayor was especially interested in the solar bottle-light and rocket stove. We had a nice visit then prayed for them in their work before they left.

Praying with local government officials

Pilgrims and Indians don't mean much in the Philippines, but food and celebrations do. Our family and Tom were the only Americans but Thanksgiving did not go unobserved, thanks to Margie, our hostess. But instead of turkey, football, and parades, it was more "outreach style". We had grilled pork chops (not traditional, but delicious), mashed potatoes, carrots, beans, and...rice.

Thanksgiving pork chops, potatoes, veggies, and rice

After lunch we returned to Tanay, this time to a garment factory behind the church where the owner allows all of the employees to participate in a Bible study (with pay) once a week. Alayna and Alexie performed an interpretive dance before Marvin shared a message with the employees. Many stayed right at their sewing machines while others crowded into the open areas on either side of the main room.

Garment factory in Tanay

Our final film showing was later that night at the church. We decided to continue with the outdoor set-up as that seemed to be more inviting to people just passing by. We had to get a little adventurous to hang up the screen, but after both Tom and Marvin had climbed the tree to make adjustments, the screen was taut and at a good height to be seen from the street. This time, we had chairs but not as many people. But we trust that God brought those He wanted to hear the Gospel that evening.

Jesus movie at New Hope Christian Church in Tanay

Our team with Pastor Eric's family and our hosts

Finally, the week was over and it was time to return to Baguio. It was a great week of ministering together. God really opened doors and we are confident that there will be follow-up by the local believers to the work we were able to do. We also got to know each other better and draw closer as a team, something that will be helpful as we work together for the Crossroads Discipleship Training School.

Andrew, "See ya later!"

Method: Media - Message: Unchanged

I was blessed with an opportunity to minister to a couple of villages when our friend, Greg, offered to pass through Bontoc on his way north. He and a friend have a film showing ministry with churches north of us. He graciously offered to take a few days in Bontoc to show gospel films in our area before continuing on his way.

We started by showing a film about commitment to Christ to our Student Sponsorship Ministry students the evening Greg and Arnold arrived.

The freshly planted Maligcong rice terraces

Our first trip was to Maligcong. A wedding was taking place the same weekend, so we were not sure how many people would leave the wedding festivities and hike through the fields to watch a movie. We were thankful when the church was full during the showing and Pastor Frederick was able to share with the people afterwards.

Pastor Frederick, Arnold, Greg, Jordan, Jay-ar, and Pastora Cynthia in Maligcong

The next morning, we left Maligcong and headed straight to Saclit, our next destination.

We arrived in Saclit in mid-morning and had to wait for evening to show the film. In the meantime, I showed Jay-ar and Jordan how to make a rocket stove. They are both connected with our YWAM Student Sponsorship Ministry and wanted to join us in ministering in the villages for the weekend. At dinner, they were eager to use the rocket stoves to cook our meal - and did a great job.

Jay-ar and Jordan cooking dinner on the rocket stoves

Just before dark we set up the projection equipment in an open area in the middle of the village. We showed the Jesus film which tells the story of Jesus based on the book of Luke. There were people sitting on benches, stones, stairs, walls, and hanging out of windows as the movie played. Because there was no moon it was too dark to attempt counting how many people were there, but when flashlights and torches shone in different places you could see people gathered in every direction from which you could view the screen.

After the movie Pastor Steve talked with the people

I was excited about the opportunities these days provided.  First, it was great to share using media to help people in both villages understand the gospel. It also provided an opportunity to include Jay-ar and Jordan in ministry.

Grace,
Thomas

Light in Saclit

Saclit is a couple of hours east of Bontoc and located beyond the end of the road near the top of a mountain. Alayna and I visited there this weekend along with Pastor Steve who serves the community in this remote place.

Alayna hiking to Saclit

Our Saturday evening Bible study was cancelled because a wedding was taking place. In communities like this, nearly everything else stops for such an occasion because everyone is connected to the couple getting married. Being of a much lighter skin and notably taller than anyone else in the place, I was not able to just blend in and watch what was happening. It was not long before I was invited to dance, to eat, and to stand in front of everyone and give "advices" to the newlyweds. I gave my "advices" before the next dance began. But before I could join in the dancing, we were escorted to where the food was being served. Alayna and I shared a generous serving of rice and a few chunks of boiled pig. We did not make it back to the dancing because Alayna was not feeling so well and needed to go and rest. Even though we went home, the party continued until daybreak; we could hear the gongs and the PA the MC used all through the night.

Dancing and playing the gongs

Giving "advices" to the new couple

Of course, the night brought other sounds too. Between the ceiling of the room below the church where Pastor Steve sleeps when he is in town and the floor of the sanctuary above, there is room for the rats to run and play. At various times, they were quite active and woke us from our slumber. Then we could listen to the gongs or the MC at the distant wedding.

In the morning, some people were already hard at work. Apparently we were not the only ones who left the wedding. The first sign of such work was when the neighbors carried off a pig - before moving to the Philippines, I never knew how noisy pigs can be. Then outside of our window I noticed a man plowing a rice field.

During the service Sunday morning, Alayna presented a selection of the Read Aloud Bible Stories to the children - and everyone else who came.

Alayna reading the children Bible stories

 Afterwards, I led a discussion of Jesus healing the blind man as it is recorded in John 9.

Studying God's Word

 After lunch, we had some left-overs and these children were eager to give macaroni and cheese a taste test.

Beautiful faces

Later, some of the children returned to the church to hear the stories again - and again. They especially enjoyed holding the book themselves and turning pages as they listened to the Ilocano recording.

Enjoying the story of Zaccheus

By then people began to gather to learn about rocket stoves and solar soda-bottle lights.

Ungan's house where we gathered and later installed the bottle-lights

Before we began talking about how to build stuff, we prayed for Ungan and his house. He has been fearful recently. I could not get a clear answer as to whether it was due to spiritual fear or physical fear because he is not originally from this place where tribal tensions are still higher than in most places. Regardless, we prayed for God's peace for his home and his family.

The weather could not make up its mind. When we began, it was lightly raining and we stayed under the eaves of Ungan's house. Then the sun came out so hot we had to seek shade near the church building. By the time we were installing the bottle-light, it was overcast once again.

Learning about rocket stoves

While water was heated for coffee on the rocket stove, we prepared solar soda-bottle lights for installation.

Thomas and Pastor Steve with the double bottle-light installed

Quite a view from up there - notice all of the rice granaries on the far hills

Thomas, Ungan, and Alayna in the newly lit room

While we were working on the roof, these young men were sitting nearby playing a homemade instrument made of bamboo and a few pebbles. The bamboo strings were plucked and had a soothing sound. They told me the name, but I forgot what it was.

Ungan sitting in his doorway

Later we visited a few people at their homes. Anabel, standing next to Alayna, invited us to have dinner with her family. Pastor Steve tried to keep us in the conversation by translating. But mostly Alayna enjoyed holding the baby while I watched and listened, until the man in the lower left of the photo below came into the house.

He is not very fluent in English, but I appreciated the effort he was making to talk with me. We talked about the number of children we both had and other simple topics in an effort to get to know one another. We did not make it too far, but we were both trying. When we were getting ready to leave, he invited us to visit his house for a while.

At his house, there was some friendly conversation and some serious encouragement in faith and discipleship as we all talked. I really enjoy talking with people and sharing time with them in their homes.

His youngest daughter was so excited to have guests she barely stopped running back and forth long enough for me to get this photo.

We were all tired when we finally made it to bed. Happily, the rats did not keep me awake too much during the night.

In the morning we hiked down to the jeepney which would take us back to Bontoc. I was happy that I did not need to hike up or down the entire mountain during this trip and was surprised to find the jeepney empty when we arrived. But there must have been quite a line of people not far behind us because before long it was crowded inside and on top with people going home from the wedding.

As Pastor Steve talked with people, they asked us to give them a teaching during the long ride to Bontoc. Unsure of how to proceed, we got out the speakers and the Read Aloud Bible Stories and went through each of the stories we have translated. This was a group made up of mostly adults and we had a great discussion about each story and what we could learn from them. Pastor Steve and I were both amazed at how God can use even a jeepney ride through the mountains with a group of sleepy people as a time to teach and to learn.

Pray for Pastor Steve as he works to revive the church in Saclit. It was established long ago by YWAM missionaries, but floundered and eventually disbanded. He has a heart for the people there and the work is challenging.

Grace,
Tom