Back from Mindanao

Wow - it is good to be back. I was very much anticipating the landing at SFO. Being away for over two weeks really made me appreciate what we have, our families and friends. But at the same time I've grown more aware of needs, more conscience of our world and the people who make it up and more thoughtful about how to optimize my part in advancing the good news of the Kingdom.

Returning back I had an email in my queue from Pastor Tom Johnston talking about a trip next year to San Narciso. Others are already making plans for next year while we were still in route from Manila. We have a world opened up to us and for the most part the resources to participate in those places in the world.

And yet, it is vital that we pause and spend time with God and seek his face on our part. For me I'm seriously asking God about us - the living hope community - and our role here in the Bay Area. This trip increasingly bothers me about our ineffectiveness - my ineffectiveness in reaching "our" world here in the bay. Too easily we can travel and reap a harvest and yet we leave our work for others to tend - disciple and bring to maturity. Jesus asked us to "go and make disciples." That "go" is about our life right here ... as we "go" about our business in life, we are to make disciples. I know we can care for each other and we do - mutual accountability, prayer support, partnerships in ministry - but I want so much more of the Lord in my everyday life - at work, home, community - that draws people to him.

So I'm praying. Join me as well in these coming months. There will be pressure to "commit" to next year soon. Davao, Cagayan, San Narciso, all points in between. But let's draw even closer to the Lord so we hear him better. Let's naturally express our love for him in care for those around us here in the Bay Area.

Not sure what to say about heaven on earth ...

There was a strangely beautiful sound emanating from the room. I thought to myself that this hotel was nice, but the sound system was excellent. Then I noticed the live music coming from the lounge.  Now this is five star!  

Spent a couple days here to relax and recharge. Yes, the contrast with Mindanao was noticeable and I couldn't help thinking about the disparity between the rich and poor. But at the same time I was thankful for the opportunity to rest in a very nice location - Makati. 

Angels Carry M-16s!

We had security from Cagayan de Oro through Iligan City and across the water to Ozamiz. But that was it. No more beyond Ozamiz. The next time I saw an M-16 was at the Dipolog airport. 

I first encountered having armed guards on a mission trip four years ago when we conducted a medical mission in Bunawan, near Davao City. It was a strange site to have medical personnel and all those people coming for care in a Christian context and seeing guards all around. The local believers - especially those who work in civic employment understand the nature of community and surrounding regions and felt it was important that we have physical protection in these exposed areas.

In Iligan City we had armed guards in our jeepneys and buses. They were always present. And they listened in during our services, ministry to kids, basketball evangelism, everything. It was sad to see them leave when we crossed the straights to Ozamiz where we picked up a new crew for our visit there and in Oroquieta. 

But we were always aware that the Lord was watching over us as well. It made me think about angels and their role and their choice of weapons to weld in the heavenlies. Do they really use swords or is that biblical imagery that resonated with the biblical writers. Were they actually seeing something more powerful than a sword? Were the angels welding light sabres? Or could we see angels today carrying the latest in weaponry such as the new lighter weight military rifles? Our guards had M-16s. But do angels weld super duper weapons to keep the enemy at bay? If our enemies - in the flesh - observed our actions and notices "extra" support teams - who were really angels manifested - would swords scare them off or superior firepower!  

Whatever the weapon of choice for angels unawares, we were glad to be supported by these really nice armed guards. We don't trust in natural protection but we do exercise wisdom. 

We paused for one last photograph before flying back to Manila. An example of one of our guardian angels possibly?

I Want a Laker Jersey Too!

Now why is my brother Jun hanging out in that strange bamboo structure? Well you can guess. But what I really want to comment on is Jun Canoy's wardrobe. On every mission trip to the Philippines he's worn that Laker jersey. It is so old Kobe Bryant was still number 8 (now he's 24). Or was Kobe 8 year's old? 

Now I have to have a laker jersey too for next time. So in Manila I found one for cheap at Greenhills Mall!  Yes, I have a Laker Jersey too. But wait a minute. Did I say next time?  Desiree, don't read this.

Thinking about the Process ...

Because I’m journaling on my blog I can write what I want to write. I have some questions regarding the documentation process that was required for this trip in order to report back to the  Foursquare Foundation our results. I am very grateful for their support as we were able to purchase medicines, fund the medical team that traveled with us and conduct a fair amount of ministry in partnership with local doctors, nurses, youth leaders and pastors. Our ministry reach went pretty far with the resources afforded us. 

In the photo that's Joams and Nicki!  They were a huge help to our team - such servants!

Some observations about the process which really tie into other thoughts I have about our purpose overseas and the role we can effectively play in Kingdom advancing in Mindanao. I believe Rich eluded to this transformation that should take place over time where we do a more “lasting” work here in Mindanao. A few of us have talked about what we can do - briefly - but nothing definitive yet. We hope to meet in early September and talk more.

But just some thoughts that come up to the top - that “bubble up.” First, how can we do a more effective job of participating in either the discipling process or doing more to equip the young leaders we are partnered with so they can effectively follow-up? I say this on the heals of seeing over 600 folks come to Christ. There were about 11 kids I prayed for at the first campus - who received Jesus as Savior and Lord but we had no time to follow-up in that conversation and prayer. And I didn’t have the means of hooking up those leaders - those youth leaders with those specific kids. Shoot, I’d want to spend a lot of follow-up time with all eleven and lead them into a closer encounter with Jesus. This troubled me. We prayed for our youth leaders and co-laborers that God would direct them with wisdom and the ability to hook up with all those kids who received Christ. 

At the clinics, it seemed to work, having a process that included a decision card and a photograph. However, we asked ourselves repeatedly, is the photo necessary? The reason we asked is the processing time to print the photos. We were good at taking the photo and following a process to link the card with the photo - but the 1+ minute print time kept a couple people really busy when we were able to print. The first clinic had no power and that meant printing back at the hotel - when we were able - it went into the early morning to finish the 220 plus photos. Even with two printers humming along. At the second clinic we had power and most of the printing was completed before we left - but we still had work to do late at night. Do we need the photo? Can we hunt down the 10 second color printer? I know lasers work that fast but now we are talking expense, weight - but compared to the cost of the printer ink...laser may just be cheaper!  Something to consider next year - can you print direct from a camera to a printer?  We’ll explore next time.

The process - was good for us this year. Do read my blog entry on the salvation ratios. 

And When Do we Recharge?

There are times when you have nothing more physically to give. And then there are times when you are just plan grouchy and you have to work at being civil.  The weeks and months leading up to the trip really supercharged me to have a lot of endurance for the long flight from SFO to Manila, through to Cagayan and the long day leading to our first evening in Iligan City. We hammered for four straight days from Thursday (Campus Ministry, Basketball Evening), Friday (Campus Ministry, Basketball preaching), Saturday (Marriage Seminar, Youth Rally) and Sunday (Preaching in CDO, Youth Rally and Basketball Game). We were burnt but so glad to serve!

On Monday we took the day off and enjoyed Cristiana Falls and a major swimming hole (65 feet deep) with wonderful water falls gracing the landscape. But we didn’t fully recharge. The next day we were back in the saddle traveling to Oroquieta with an evening of ministry in Ozamiz. The next couple days were just as busy and fruitful from a ministry standpoint, but I was wearing down. I didn’t have the rest I really needed. My times of quiet were hard to find. We were getting to bed later and later caring for needs. I was beat.

I had a bad day. It was the day we traveled from Oroquieta to Dipolog. I was woken up an hour earlier than planned after getting to bed after midnight. It’s a story I’m hoping to forget because I was really wanting that last hour of sleep. I was awaken at 4ish. I grumbled at the perpetrators but moved on. Then that morning I had to do the hotel sweep to make sure nothing was left behind. I found something I had to report in to one of the leaders. At that point I was concerned that I was now viewed - not so much as a snitch but as one who caused a problem for three of our team. The reality was that nothing happened. My fatigue led to my paranoia. Crazy. But that wasn’t enough. When we arrived in Dipolog, we had to travel to the Dakak resort. It was a nice place but the road there was under major construction. Under normal circumstances it was border line unsafe. And we had a hard time imagining what it would be like to travel that road at night with rain. And that’s what happened the first night. But we made it.  

That first afternoon at lunch, after we drove to the resort, dropped off our luggage and then drove the hour back to Dipolog. Of course, the coordinator had a full schedule planned for us (campus ministry, motorcade, visit the governor and mayor). At lunch we grouped the leaders and discussed what to do with the location of the resort and the road condition. We all discussed and prayed about our options. We wanted to return before dark and pressed for canceling the motorcade. We also wanted to move into town rather than stay at the resort if we could swing it. Where was our faith?  

As we drove back to the resort in the dark, it rained, on a very iffy road. But we made it!  God got us there (using our very brave drivers! I had a bad day but God came through.

We ended up staying at the resort as we had committed to the price. We couldn’t afford to leave. For those three days, we managed to endure the long commute to our ministry locations. We had a great resort to stay at after a long day of ministry. And we hung out on the sand for “church” on our final Sunday in the philippines. We had a very meaningful gathering time before breakfast!  We rested that day!  We started to refresh!  

Medicines for the Body ...

I’m thankful for Pure Works and the ability to secure medicines for the many people (over 1000) who needed care. There was nothing too major on the medical side but a lot of folks have needs - especially in the more rural areas and among the poor. They just don’t get medical care and were grateful for medical care coming to them. Having a dental group made it even more exciting - reality tooth pulling TV! Ouch. 

But medicines are for the body and I thank God for medical science. You know what I’ll say next. But this is where I wrestle with scripture, with history and with some evidence of God’s supernatural move in the lives of some people who are miraculously healed. It happens and it is clear that God is in the middle of it - it is a work of God and can only be attributed to him. But on this trip I didn’t see that. Miracles didn’t accompany the ministry of the Kingdom on this trip. We put in a lot of good hard work and human effort in place but somehow I’m still thinking about the Kingdom being very evident through a direct encounter with God. It will come! Stay tuned!

Those Coconuts Make me go ... coconuts!

These Coconuts are, well, a laxative if taken as a liquid from the young nut!  I was a nut to go along with drinking the liquid. Others did the same but the impact on my digestive track was rapid and more urgent. But I did get to visit the AG church plant out there in the rural land near our medical clinic. And I got to meet some nice folks and use the upstairs bathroom - and there was a seat and a bucket of water. So it was good. Just not going to go there again so I don't have to "go" there again!

Why Such a High Salvation Ratio?

This is one subject that I’m still "noodling." I’m not so sure how to think about this and it may be that a doctoral study is in the works for the future to explore and understand this element of cross-cultural ministry and the dynamics of evangelism in the third world, in a Catholic Christian culture. Why did so many come to Christ at the medical clinics? Didn’t they already believe? Didn’t they already have a saving faith in Jesus Christ? Weren’t many of them already in attendance at various churches? I’m puzzled. 

A dataset to consider. At the third and fourth medical clinics we saw over 250 people at each venue. of those 250, about 220 decision cards were gathered up. Every person, family group that comes through the clinic is pre-screened by medical personnel and then passed on to the counselors. The counselors both hear their medical need but also inquire into their spiritual need. For the third clinic we had local bible institute students. At the fourth clinic we had local pastors from various churches - different affiliations. 

With the bible students counseling, 83% of the folks made a decision to follow Christ. These weren’t rededication's (5%) as this was explicitly asked on the decision cards. That’s a lot of folks coming to Christ! Praise God. But it seems high to this analytic skeptic. At the next clinic (the final clinic) we had roughly 56% coming to Christ. Many more rededicated their life to Christ through counseling (21%). Different cities, different counselors, same process. Did it have anything to do with the bible students versus the pastors? Not sure. The statistical analysis doesn’t yield enough data to make that determination. Does this particular set of ministry teams believe in multiple “events” of coming to Christ in the life of a person? Do we have different definitions for things on our decision cards that need to be sorted out? 

All of this calls out for more preparation work with the ministry teams and maybe this can be coupled with a more thorough analytic study that can be published to benefit other short-term missions teams working in developing world contexts. I might sign up for that someday!

This Team Can Preach!

It may be selective memory loss on my part but I can’t remember a missions trip which included more preachers than this group. Of course there were the expected preachers in Pastor's Brian Goodell, Nelson Dizon, Dominic Contreras and Jun Canoy. It’s expected because they’re pastors and have training and experience. But there was another level of preaching that occurred.

Paul preached up a storm at a youth rally. He was nervous in preparation, taking seriously the responsibility placed upon him. He preached and brought the Word forward to the young people.  Justin preached at another youth rally - even one where a lot of kids on the periphery were talking and chatting and texting. But when he made the appeal to decide for Jesus, many responded in sincerity. 

Henry preached both at an evening celebration and at a Basketball game. Mark Palazzolo preached at a Church and at a high school campus and at a basketball game. Coach Carl seriously declared the word of God at many basketball games as well as encouraged the team on many occasions. And Renee preached from her heart a message given her by the Lord. 

So many examples - who did I miss - declared the Word of God boldly to young and old. Most if not all have no formal bible college training. They turned to God and said, “help me hear from you.” And then they were obedient to what God impressed upon them to deliver!  

We serve an awesome God.

Seriously, do we need an Escort?

Won’t a Toyota Suffice ...?

A little car humor for those who care.  Seriously, we had armed escorts for most of our time in Iligan City, then to Ozamiz and Oroquieta. But then nothing after that. I understand the importance of wisdom and I know God is with us even through the armed escorts. I looked at them as representative images of the real angels doing battle behind the scenes. But people with flesh and blood are actually out there who want to hurt people - especially bus loads of people who are traveling. It wasn’t known by the team but a different bus was held up close to the time and nearby (30 km or so) by bandits. It wasn’t extremists - just thieves preying on people. The armed guards are a great deterrent. And we were thankful. This group of guys hung out with us all the time - even if we wandered off down the street, they would follow - doing their jobs. And from what I understand, they were observing us all the time. The photo in this block is when we waved goodbye to the team that stayed with us for several days in Iligan City. We departed at the boat docks and picked up a new crew at Ozamiz. 

We were safe. In more ways than one.  God is good!