Trike Proverbs

Here in Bontoc motorcycle trikes are the main form of public transportation. As you can see, they line the main street and it is easy to catch a ride to anywhere in town. We don't often use them preferring to take advantage of the nice weather and exercise.

Just because they are small, do not underestimate their usefulness. We have fit our entire family in one. We have seen large hogs loaded on them. I have seen boxes strapped from just above the ground in the back and going all the way over the top, ending just above the windshield.

You don't see trikes much in Baguio because of the steep grade of so many of the roads there. Around Manila, many of the trikes are bicycles instead of motorcycles. But here in Bontoc, the 125cc motorcycle reigns.

Most show the wear and tear they have seen over the years, but some are kept in very good condition. One thing that we have noticed however, is that regardless of the condition, most of the trikes share a bit of wisdom. Usually it is a bumper sticker on the back, but it may be painted on the frame or letters sewn onto the vinyl roof. Here is a sampling of some of the wisdom offered by the Trike Operators Association.

Discipleship in Relationship

Friday morning we returned to the Municipal Health Office to provide glucose testing. This time Alexie joined Lisa and me. She is interested in nursing and has always enjoyed caring for people. She helped as a scribe as we tested people's blood sugar. This week we took a blood pressure cuff and stethescope and I took blood pressure readings on a number of people as well. (Alexie is learning how to do this as well.) None of the sugar levels were as high this week, but we had several with very high blood pressure. Just like with the diabetes, some have been prescribed medicine but cannot afford it.

Despite the fact that we had more people this week (about 30), we were disappointed that the people who had high glucose readings last week did not show up. It is our desire to use this ministry to help people physically while building relationships to walk with them spritually as well.

Friday night at our YWAM family potluck and SSM Fun Night, we played a number of games. At different tables there was a game of Jenga, UNO, Skip-Bo, and Toss-Up. At 10-15 minute intervals, the winning and losing person from each table would rotate to different tables and pick-up where another winner/loser left off. The Toss-Up and Jenga tables seemed to be the loudest and most enjoyed.

Today, Lisa had several games in store for Kids Club. We revisited Duster Hockey (see September 6 post) as an ice breaker. Then she had a 10 Commandments word relay. She had even come up with a version Wheel of Fortune (complete with wheel) to review the 10 Commandments.

After Kids Club, we went to the base to visit with the SSM students. We played a game of UNO with several of the students. In case you wonder, when you play the UNO Splash version of the game with so many people it can take a long time for someone to run out of cards. There were also a few hands of Wig-Out!

One of our daughters talked about how playing games is not ministry. We talked with her that every interaction with others is ministry, if we allow it to be. Our experience is that evangelism and discipleship are often most effective within the context of relationship. We are connecting with people because God loves them, just like He loves us. Naturally, as we spend time together, we will share the relationship that is most important to us - our relationship with the Maker of the universe. Whether our friendship starts because we pray with someone as we help them care for their body or laugh with them as we play a game, we become closer to them. As God provides opportunities within those friendships we pray that we will be faithful witnesses of His great salvation.

Random Shots

No trick photography here; the goat is riding on top of the bus.


Note the rubber strap holding the gas pedal up.

The Shack

While in Manila to work on our missionary visas, I was able to get the book The Shack. It is fiction, but a powerful parable. I am still meditating on the many spiritual truths it contains. Many have a shack in life including me. No I haven't had the same experiences as any of the characters but I have had pain and loss that have left me with many questions. I have struggled with striving to earn God's love. But over and over God is speaking truth to my heart that it is not about rules. It is about relationship. It is about love; His love for me. Unlike so many human relationships, His love is not based on what I do or don't do. As we are here to minister, I have found God is teaching us so much, some things that are difficult to express as of yet but I'll keep listening as He continues to reveal Himself.

Lisa

Here's a link: www.theshackbook.com

Update

This is just a note to those of you that check the blog but never let us know you are there. We have sent our latest update letter out via email. If you have not received it and would like to, send us an email at:
We will add you to our mail list so you will receive our newsletter and urgent prayer requests.

Glucose Testing

Friday morning, Lisa and I sat in the Municipal Health Office offering glucose testing to the people of Bontoc. This idea came about as we talked with a local pastor and found that he is diabetic. He struggles with his health as a result. One problem he faces, like so many others here, is that testing his blood sugar is expensive and inconvenient. Few have their own test equipment and having it tested at the hospital is expensive. Because of the generosity of Lisa's mother, we are able to offer the testing without cost every Friday morning as long as we have supplies. We were scheduled to offer the testing from 8-9 am. Of the 20 or so we tested, only 3 were there before 9. (So much for scheduling in the Philippines!)

Of those we tested, 3 were high; 2 extremely high. One lady, whose son died of diabetes at 37 leaving 4 children, had fasted overnight but still her level was over 250. We advised her to see a doctor but she has no money for medicine. One man who came tested at 352! Sadly, he recently went to a "health" seminar and is convinced a special liquid of antioxidants is the answer to all his ailments. Talking more to him, it soon became apparent that it was a money-making scheme as they convinced him to be a distributor and host a seminar. It makes us angry that these people prey on the vulnerable people here. They are so poor that they can't buy medicine but are convinced this is the miracle and not only the ticket to health but financial success as well. We tried counseling him that his diabetes is serious and he needs medical treatment but he is convinced that this product will bring him health. In the end, we prayed with him that God will guide him.

While it is great to be able to offer humanitarian aid, we hope that through this ministry, God will open doors to share His great salvation.

Grace,
Tom

Visas, Buses, and Annalise

The many prayers said regarding our long-term missionary visas were answered! We went to Immigration Tuesday, signing in at 9:15 a.m. We encountered absolutely no lines. Our file was immediately pulled and we were escorted to a lawyer's office. He looked through our file. Once again, there were questions regarding Annalise's birth certificate but he seemed satisfied with our answers. He asked to see our passports, asked who was the oldest child and then asked Adriana "How old are you?" Then he looked at me and asked "Who are you?" When I answered that I was the mother there were no more questions. Thomas signed a paper and then the lawyer signed his name. We need to return in 3 months to see if our file has been released.

I felt it very important to take the time and stop to tell the head of the legal department "Salamat po." (Thank you) The girls were already starting down the stairs when she motioned them to come back. Once again I was amazed at how God worked through Annalise. This lady, who had seemed so grouchy before, held Annalise's hand and suddenly transformed into a loving grandmother.

We had asked the lawyer for a phone number that we could call to check if our files were released, but he insisted we must inquire in person. Three months from now puts us right in the Christmas season and we wondered when the government offices would be closed. No one seemed aware of the schedule, but downstairs one of the employees graciously gave us his personal number not wanting us to travel so far to find the offices closed.

Those close to me know I struggle with worrying. God has done a great work in my heart and slowly this burden is lessening. I had such a sweet peace about our hearing. I recognized we were asking for much but just trusted that God would take care of all the details. I prayed a simple prayer of faith and truly left it to Him. At 9:30 a.m. we were outside getting a cab! (9:30 a.m. was when they agreed we could see if a lawyer would be available for our hearing.)

We got on the bus and journeyed the 6 hours to Baguio to renew our tourist visas as they were scheduled to expire November 27. Our plan was to go Wednesday morning to renew the visas then continue to Bontoc. But we found that Wednesday was a holiday celebrating the end of Ramadan. The number of Muslims is increasing in the Philippines and there is much said about keeping peace with our Muslim neighbors and so, in respect, all government offices were closed. So our return home was delayed. On Thursday morning we greeted the immigration officials in Baguio that we have gotten to know by name. (Ironically two of them have been waiting for years for their visas to go to the U.S.) Renewing in there is really easy as the office is much smaller than in Manila. We were able to leave in about 20 minutes with our stamped visas in hand. We are quite familiar with the process by now but we did not know there is a special fee if you stay more than 6 months. Renewing our tourist visas for two months this time cost more than our long term missionary visas but hopefully it will be the last time we need to.

"Back into the bus," seems to be a common phrase for our family as once again we were back in the bus on our way to Bontoc. The bus broke down a few times but still the trip took only six and a half hours. We arrived home to the news that Annalise's photo had been in the September 28 edition of the local newspaper, Mountain Province Exponent. Evidently we were not the only ones who noticed this friendship during the Am-Among Festival.

Lisa

The caption reads, "This is a different perspective of Am-Among."