How would you respond if you were waiting to cross the street and a motorcycle hit you?

Fely, the lady who cooks all the food for the three discipleship groups and helps me with the household needs, was on her way home from work Monday night when just that happened. She sent me a text from the x-ray department of the hospital, but I was already asleep in bed!

Three pastors were already at our home when I read her message the next morning. Oh, no! Is she OK? The pastors, Paul, and I prayed for her. I quickly thanked the Lord that the salad was already made. “I can cook the rice. We will scratch the main dish because the recipe is in Fely’s head plus, Fely was going to the market on the way to work to buy the ingredients! Let’s see. KFC? Jollibee chicken? Hmmm.”

I ran up the stairs to get Styrofoam trays so we wouldn’t have to do dishes for the mid-morning snack and then I heard something absolutely unbelievable! Fely was at our house! With the marketing done! Wait a minute. She was hit by a motorcycle last night!

As the day progressed the story came out. So did her bruises.

The motorcycle was coming fast, skirting to the right around a vehicle as they commonly do. (Yes, drivers have to be very watchful for those two-wheeled menaces.) He hit Fely’s left side, knocking her to the ground so hard that she rolled several yards down the street! The good thing is that Fely had the left over rice from the week before and landed on the it – a lovely cushion!

The amazing thing is that the driver stayed put and has taken responsibility for the accident. All expenses (US$22 for the ER and the x-rays!) will be deducted from his salary. Knowing that, I instructed Fely to accept the company's payment for the hospital expenses, but to give that money to the young driver as she shared Christ’s forgiveness and concern for him. He knew it was from me, Fely’s employer. He will not accept the money, but he did promise to attend Fely’s church.

I have encouraged Fely to take time off and rest. She has not missed a day of work! She won’t even leave an hour early!

Back to my question: How would you respond if you were waiting to cross the street and a motorcycle hit you?

With a Grateful Heart - The story of GG

Here in the Philippines, a pastor’s wife is regarded as a pastora even though she may never preach. She is considered to be in ministry full-time and her church has very high expectations for her involvement in the church – even if she has a full-time job (often as a teacher) to support the family.

One of the wives in Batch 2 was just such a wife. GG is a full-time pastor’s wife, full-time mother of three, and full-time seasoned schoolteacher. She is the pastor’s wife who just “showed up” and stated, “I need this class!” She didn’t miss any classes, her homework was completed, and she readily shared in class.

GG and her husband recently came to visit us and shared the following amazing story:

First semester had just finished when, due to mismanagement of funds, the school laid her off. She came to class the very next week. After studying about half the lessons, GG and her husband began teaching the material in their church and seeing the real growth they had been asking the Lord for. We finished the classes the end of April and one week later the school called to ask if she could report to work immediately!

GG and her husband believe the Life Discipleship class was a divine appointment. Because she was unemployed and her husband’s income is very small, she received assistance with her travel expenses each week. Before they left the day of their visit, they gave us an envelope containing enough money to cover 13 weeks of her transportation money and the instructions that this money was to be used to pay someone else’s travel expenses!

Transportation subsidies for the current 25 pastors/wives amount to nearly $100/week! If you, too, would like to help a pastor or his wife pay their transportation to class every week, please visit www.actionintl.org/index.php?page=contact_us. Please also make a comment on this page so we can be sure to use your gift for this purpose.

FIRE!

When the distinctive sirens of Manila’s fire trucks kept going past our home and didn’t keep going very far Monday night, I, Patty, decided to take a look. Out the back was nothing until I looked up – huge black billows were up there! I ran through the house to the front deck, knocking on Adam’s door on the way. When I stepped outside … it was huge!

The fire was about 2 blocks from our home. Flames were reaching up to more than 11 stories gauged by the nearby buildings. It was one huge, hot fire. Explosions shot flames up even higher. Fire trucks continued to roll in from all over Manila. A real ambulance arrived (most are converted vans). Adam grabbed his video camera and got some great feed. We prayed for the victims, whoever they may be.

Tuesday morning found Paul and me out the door before 6:30 to see what had burned. To our horror 201 families had lost their homes! Young and old were sitting around in shock and grief looking at the 3 lots that had been home for so many. They all lived in an area we are guessing to be about 16,000 square feet of land. A few were already beginning to clear the rubble even as it continued to smolder. Those inside the wall were handing off corrugated roofing to those below who stacked it.


Everyone there lost everything but life. All the people got out safely, but they were not able to take anything with them. They have nothing. Others have provided clothing, sleeping mats and pillows. They have no money, no home, and no toothbrush.

God is always good. As I asked how many families had lived there they took me to a man with a bullhorn who was announcing breakfast served on the nearby university basketball court (covered so they can play in the rain). Melvin came up with smiles and a warm handshake, glad to see me again Thursday as we returned with ACTION’s Street Impact Team members to assess the situation and see what we as an organization can do. He is a city councilor and in charge of the relief! He was most helpful and a plan began to formulate in the SITeam’s minds.



ACTION never does relief for the sake of relief. It is always coordinated through local churches who take responsibility to do follow-up and evangelism. Paul and I sent texts out to all the Manila pastors who have taken our course. Many responded, but Ptr (Pastor) Onie and Ptr Larry were aggressive. We praise God they will be taking this project on.

As of now, we will be packing 201 kits of plates, forks, spoons, a rice pot, a frying pan and a simple sack lunch on Tuesday. Wednesday morning we will meet in an arranged place to present the gospel and give out the packs. Christ Jesus Our Life will be the sponsoring church.

This has been an amazing time of seeing God’s coordination at work. Please pray many will come to Christ.

One last prayer request: Jeff and Luv found a todder with a colostomy among the families. He needs further medical care. Pray that we can see this family come to Jesus Christ as we seek ways to help little John Patrick.

Batch II Graduation

Last Friday, we had the grand closing ceremony for the 2nd batch of pastors and ladies who serve in their churches. We also invited alumni from the first batch who were trained in 2007, and other special invited guests. All in all, almost seventy people attended including family members of those trained. Of the 36 members of Life-Discipleship trainees, 24 of them completed all course requirements and received the LD Certificate of Completion!

The main speakers were Rev. Doug Nichols, ACTION’s International Director of Pastor Leadership Development and Children At Risk, Rev. Jeff Anderson, ACTION’s Philippine Field Director, Pastor Norman Dagdag (Life-Discipleship’s Alumni leadership) and the two of us (Paul & Patty). The over-all theme was to challenge these trained pastors and ladies to train yet others who will spread their training both locally and abroad wherever the Lord may send them. Another feature of the ceremony was the showing of the “Fire Proof” DVD, http://www.fireproofthemovie.com/ that served as a great review about marriage relationships as were taught in the course. Some came into the kitchen area asking for paper tissue to dry their eyes. We have yet to fully discover what all this will be doing in a living way. We do know that this will be added to the great rejoicing in Heaven some day.

Pastor Manalang’s wife and daughter attended the ceremony (See previous blog for this story). Mrs. Gina Manalang represented her faithful husband in receiving his certificate. All who were there were touched because of her husband’s testimony.

Times Past Interwoven with Current Events

Pastor Marcos “Bong” Manalang used a bolo (machete) to murder his grandfather and two young relatives as a teenager. He was tried and incarcerated in the adult maximum prison just south of Manila. There he came to know Jesus Christ as his Redeemer and Savior. He went on to complete high school, earn a BA in Business Administration, and complete seminary. He also met a Christian woman who became his wife and the mother of his children.

As Pastor Bong was nearing release, he learned that a prison church in a large prison on another island needed a pastor and applied to be transferred there. There he was given a simple house to live in and his children were able to live with their daddy for the first time within the prison gates. He had a small plot of land to farm. He had to report for roll call daily at 4 PM or he would loose the “freedom”.

Several years ago Patty and I went to the long slender island on the west side of the Philippines to hold Life Discipleship training for pastors there. Pastors came from both ends of this island, some traveling over many rivers with less-than-desirable bridges (or none at all) as this island still has many very remote tribal areas.

After the three days of teaching was completed, one of the pastors brought us to see various ministry and tourist sites in his military-style jeep. Our first stop was the large national prison where one of the attending pastors was working with the evangelical church. It was with sheer joy that we stopped at the little church. The prisoners themselves were paying for its construction with their tithes from the meager, meager earnings making handicraft items.

We met the prisoner-pastor and were blessed by his love for his fellow-prisoners. However, he was limping on a very discolored and swollen foot. Infection was inching its way up his leg. He had been working fish traps in the river and a “mud-fish” had bitten his foot. Pastor had gone to the prison doctor and been given antibiotics for five days. Now the infection was raging again. The prison would not give him any more medicine. Patty and I were able to purchase appropriate antibiotics for this dear man.

It is interesting how the Lord works. Pastor Bong was released from prison and returned to the prison compound where he spent so many years to pastor a church. He learned about Life Discipleship classes in our home. He was one of two former prisoners to be accepted into the classes that began last October.

When the Friday group convened its weekly session on April 3, 2009, Pastor Joel announced that Pastor Marcos Manalang became seriously ill Thursday evening and was in critical condition in the hospital. Saturday evening I received a text message from Pastor Joel that Pastor Bong had passed away.

Pastor Bong had completed all course requirements by Friday, March 27, his last day of attendance. He was among the most faithful in attending the sessions, was active in dynamic group discussions, and submitted his homework requirements. Upon visiting his family on Sunday afternoon, April the 12th, his wife told me that her husband showed her often, from the Scriptures, what dying to self really means. Who knows what we’ll discover about this dear brother in Christ and how his life impacted others when we all meet together in heaven.

Good Friday

I did not want to go to San Fernando Good Friday, but then, neither did Paul. OK, we’ll both go. We took Ad and Ann, two mid-twenty singles along. We arrived about 9:30 or 9:45 and were the first ones to park in a cleared vacant lot with trees to give shade enough for two cars.

Paul, Adam and Ann took off to photograph the crucifixions while I pulled out the beach chair and made myself at home under the tree with the tailgate up. I had some Jelly-bird eggs from after-Easter sales last year and I passed them out to about 6 kids. I was busily writing recipes onto index cards for a new card file, adjusting the recipes for two people. I was excited with the progress I was making with one of my favorite recipe books.

The people there were very nice and called me up when the large group of flagellates and the guy with the cross came by. They were in time with the large group, including nuns, leaving the big church that was behind and across a fairly large field. I was able to stand on the edge of the road and get a picture of the people leaving the church. Then I tried to get pics of the penitents as they walked by. All I got was a big mug smiling at me as some guy walked by, a tricycle driver's back, etc. Oh, well.

After they had gone by I thanked them and mentioned to one of the ladies that I did not want to go see the crucifixion because it broke my heart. Jesus paid it ALL and nothing we can do can add to it or pay for any sin we do.

I returned to my chair and continued to write. I had just finished “salads” when one of the ladies came over to talk. No problem. I set my book, pen, and cards aside. She was so excited that I could speak to her in Tagalog as she was embarrassed to even try English with me. Well, from that moment on I experienced Philippine hospitality at it's best! Companionship. One of two ladies stayed with me continuously until Paul returned about 2:30! The younger woman had two children, Carla, an 8 year-old daughter and Rico, 5. We had fun. Little Rico was quite bold in asking for more jelly-bird eggs. When the sun was shining on my legs they moved my chair to new shade. It was an amazing day of companionship.


When the guy came around selling dried mangoes from a major exporter (the one for sale at Costco) I used the opportunity to share a little about Jesus and finally bought one bag. I tossed it in the car. I explained that I would use it to bake cookies with and broke out a cookie for them to taste.

Then came the peanut lady. Now we love garlic peanuts. P10 for a bag - about 2/3 cup. P5 for a little bag. I bought one P10 bag. Then I looked at Carla and pulled out P5, handing her the peanuts I received. Then I pulled out another P5 and gave little Rico the other bag. They were full of Jelly-bird eggs, so they ate their peanuts about 45 minutes later – one by one through a little hole in the corner of the bag. All the while they were playing around me. I played spider on Ian’s knee. He sang for me. I was Lola Patty (Grandma).

The crucifixions were late getting started. Then the crowds began to walk by. Paul called and I was concerned. He sounded out of breath to me and he was walking back alone. When he arrived all hot, red in the face, soaking wet and exhausted, little C and Ian took turns fanning Lolo Pa-ul with their mother’s paypay (a fan made of woven blades of wide grass) as he sat in my beach chair.

When Ad and Ann arrived, I started the diesel engine and the air conditioner. They grabbed the Blue Ice and started cooling their faces. Paul and I piled in and sat right there while we ate our big fat sandwiches on subway rolls. Yummy! Honey and Dijon mustard for the dressing, then avocado mushed onto the bread with orange slices on top of the avocado. Then I added rings of sliced onions, tomato slices, cucumber slices and lettuce. It has to be one of my favorite sandwiches. Of course we had kids looking in the windows to see what we were eating. Add multigrain chips and apples around topped off by Tollhouse chocolate chip cookies and mango cookies and we had quite a lovely meal sitting in the air conditioned car in the shade of the trees!

Many hands were waving as we pulled out of the parking lot - men, women, and kids. I left friends behind. I will always remember today. If I didn't know the language it would never have happened.

An amazing session

What an amazing session it was today while God’s Spirit was at work. Not one pastor was absent.

“Pastor Paul answered all my questions as he taught us and I never had to ask one of them. He was really Spirit lead today.”

This humbles me because I know that God was touching their hearts through my obedience participating with Him in teaching His word about parent-child relationships.

Another pastor said; “The reason you saw some of us talking among ourselves is because we couldn’t hold back what God was touching upon our hearts what we really didn’t realize before.” He also went on to say; “The reason you were interrupted several times during the sessions was because we needed time to discuss and digest a particular biblical truth to internalize it before we were ready to receive additional truth.”

It must be that many of you prayed for the Spirit of God to be manifested in our midst and for the authority of God’s word to penetrate into our hearts so that it would not return unto Him void. Isaiah 55:10-11. I had to pump these thoughts out on this blog so you would be blessed and encouraged. Your part in this venture of His great commission is well worth the cost.