Dedication through Adversity
Wendy:
Eric's departure
Here we are in Manila again, but not for much longer. Dwayne is doing the dirty work of going into the smoggy city every day doing business while I'm enjoying a cooler, more comfortable time at my parents' home, getting some work done also. We came out with Eric (Dwayne's brother) since he was leaving to go back to the States. It was also time for Dwayne to do his yearly license renewals and fun stuff like that anyway. It sure is nice to see my parents more often these days!Helicopter Pilot training
While we've been here, we were able to talk with John, a friend of Dwayne's who is here for other work but very interested in helping us get a helicopter pilot training program going. This is a big need as there are very few mission-minded helicopter pilots in this world. We're very excited about that possibility and all the details that go with it and ask for your prayers in the expansion of our work to the rest of the Philippines. Time is short! We need to reach as many as possible.
Sponsored Kid to Academy
On our way out of Brooke's Point we stopped by Palawan Adventist Academy in Takras, a couple hours from our house, to register a promising, half-Palawano boy from the Cabar church (the church near our land). Eric is sponsoring him. It was cute, he was so excited.
He really wants to learn English, which he knows he will do at the academy. He spent the night with us the night before and was full of questions with his limited English. He is not shy! He wanted to know what mushrooms and garbanzos were when he saw the cans and asked for a Tagalog-English dictionary so he could look them up.
He spent the whole time on the computer trying to learn how to move the mouse and click in the right places to do Internet so he could communicate with his idol, Eric. He didn't even know what "email," "Internet," "inbox," "mailbox" etc. were so you can see we were really starting from scratch! They do not even have a real mailbox or a cell phone so it was hard to explain! But he eventually got it when he looked it up in the dictionary.
Cocoy
The kid, Cocoy, was adopted by some older relatives when he was a baby. He seems concerned about what he will do when they die. He kept saying he wanted to go live with Eric in "America" so he would have a family. He was already preparing himself by trying to be vegetarian! His adopted dad has advanced Gout (very common here, I'm finding) and is deformed and hardly able to walk, but they wanted to come too so we accommodated them--lifting him in and out of the truck, etc. He's a very sweet man and still hobbles over to distant neighbors at night to do Bible studies. 
(Often he is pulled on a cart by a borrowed Caribao to get places)
On our way out of Puerto, Dwayne and Eric took the opportunity to overhaul the truck, which was showing the usual and predictable effects from many trips up and down a very bumpy road.
Eric
Eric is gone now and already greatly missed. He spent around 7 months here helping Dwayne oversee the construction, the workers, and also doing lots of run around errands whenever needed. He was also involved with the Bible studies and lots of friendship building. Putting their two brains and expertise together made for a great team. I believe he had a good experience here that he will forever be changed by. As with most missionaries, he had his share of challenges, growing, and waiting on God.
New Neighbors/lay workers
We have some new neighbors that we've loaned our "empty" apartment to recently. They are lay workers from local churches that have been leading the Bible studies we started out near our land. They are now also leading many other Bible studies around the broader area of Brooke's Point in preparation for some evangelistic meetings that Quiet Hour is sponsoring in a few weeks.
So, they needed a place to stay for several nights a week for several months. Our apartments are very basic and would be considered the poorest of houses in the States, but here they are quite nice, especially for the Palawano friends we have around there. So, they were like little kids getting put up in a fancy hotel when we offered it to them! They just had three Bible students decide for baptism right before we left!
Dedication Through Adversity
These lay workers are so dedicated and sacrificing to the work. One man, Brother Nitz and his high-school aged daughter, Darlene, have had multiple attempted attacks in one area near a Bible study. They have stoned at on occasion. Then the other day they had a spear thrown at them! Luckily it missed and someone else had their spear ready to fight back for them but they told them it wasn't necessary and that God would protect them. It's just one guy basically who has some kind of grudge against them and is usually drunk when he does these things.
Darlene has been so helpful to me lately. She has done some cleaning for me in order to make a little money for school. She also would like to go to Takras Academy but can't afford it. She does about five of the Bible studies on her own--Daniel and Revelation, prophecy and all! She just asked her dad if she could join him in the work for the summer and he said "sure!" She borrowed my health posters as well, and has done smoking lectures, etc. She came and learned how to take blood pressures from me the other day because she is interested in helping me when she can with the medical work. She's very meek and quiet and yet bold and confident in her presentations.
Visit to Kemantian
We took a recent trip to Kemantian (where we used to live in the mountain village); that was so much fun! I was visiting a post-delivery patient who was having some trouble in a near-by village ("near" by helicopter, but many hours’ hike into deep jungle otherwise). We were doing another transport of a patient and it worked out for us to be able to stop into Kemantian for an hour or so. It was Sunday and market day, so lots of my friends were there, and it was sooo good to see everyone again! It was hard to leave but I am so thankful I am close so I don't have to worry about the extended good-byes.
Clinic Work and God's Provisions
We have had a couple different individuals or groups provide medicine for us recently and other random donations that have been a big help. God has been so faithful! My medical supplies are growing so I have expanded to the empty apartment next door (they were in the attic before with over 100 degree temperatures and I was worried about their life expectancy).
I continue to hold medical clinics and health talks for those around our Bible studies but it can be difficult being the only medical person. The church members are a great help but they need a lot more training. My last mobile clinic I held there I had planned to meet with the church members for at least an hour before we started but they came an hour late! I always have to specify when I meet with them if it's "American Time" or "Filipino Time!" They laugh and understand.
But this time I had failed to specify. So, I did the bulk of the work because I didn't have time to train them (in hindsight I should have trained them anyway). They were so faithful, though, and were very helpful with registration, basic vitals, and praying with patients--even health education. They stayed with me 'til almost 7:30 at night! I didn't eat a bite all day, but I made sure they got food this time because last time they got sick afterward from not eating. I'm used to it from Kemantian days. I just drink lots of water. I praise God for giving me plenty of strength that day.
Michel's Arrival
I'm very excited about my friend (and former co-worker and roommate in Kemantian years ago), Michel who is coming to join us when we go back! She is a teacher but also loves the Palawano people and is the epitome of Dorcas! She loves to sew clothes for kids or any underprivileged person making sure they have what they need, whether it be food, love, or someone to talk to or encourage them. She can help me with the medical work as well since she is knowledgeable in many areas and is easily trainable. She is with us here now at my parents' and is already translating health charts for me and sewing clothes!
Hangar/Duplex Construction Progress
The hangar and duplex construction work is going well. The guys, with many long hours were able to get the foundation in before Eric left. They had hoped to get more done, but we all know how things go in these parts of the world. We are in great need of an experienced construction worker to help oversee things as Dwayne cannot do it all. We also trust God will provide the funds for this big project as he has done all along.
We value your prayers and letters and support as always!
Love, Dwayne and Wendy
3 Responses to “Dedication through Adversity”
July 16th, 2009 at 7:40 pm
I continue to pray for you both and the work you are doing. The new website is great, love hearing about all the things you are doing and how God is blessing you and His work
April 27th, 2010 at 4:12 am
Thank you so much! We appreciate and value your prayers so much.