By this time you have heard much of the MARCH for Christ series of missions in Sri Lanka. We are the third team for the follow-up medical mission, or the third "wave", hoping to create an impact (like the 2 "waves" before us) in the Lord's work in that area. Our team is composed of Felix Olidan, the secretary of the organization and minister of Midtown Church of Christ in Baguio City; second is Roberto Patricio, minister of Imus Church of Christ in Cavite; third is Shemer Sameon, a physical therapist; fourth is Evelyn Ignacio, physician, specialized in Forensic Medicine, and the last but not the least is me, Josephine Lopez, an Obstetrician-Gynecologist. We were tagged as the 'young ones', the energetic group (Pardon us, we claim this to boost our spirits).

Here are the details of the events of our mission last May 2-15, 2005.

May 2, 2005
We were bound with Singapore Airlines. We came from the different sides of the Philippines. To us, doctors, there were problems with our jobs in relation with this mission, nevertheless, we still joined. The trip was smooth and uneventful. We landed at Colombo International Airport at around 2:20Am of May 3, 2005. Passing the immigration was easy except that the medicine box was kept because a new order was released by the Ministry of Health in Sri Lanka effective April 26, 2005 that all drugs shipped in the country would necessitate clearance from them. So, we headed for Dehiwala Church without the box to freshen up then back to Colombo during the office hours. The person in charge to sign who is the minister himself was not around due to some important matters to attend to and might arrive after 3 days. We sought the help of Dr. De Silva, an acquaintance who is also connected with that department. Happily, he made a letter of approval, but warned us that the custom may not honor it. Better than nothing, we brought his letter with us to the airport. Felix was questioned repeatedly of the contents of the box and this interrogation lasted for about 3 hours before they finally released it.

May 3, 2005
Together with two Sri Lankan brethren, uncles Peter Thomas, and Lanty to serve as interpreters and guides, we travelled to Galle, Sri Lanka to meet Gigi and Minnie, the mission coordinators and who were members of the previous team. They endorsed to us the things left undone.

May 4, 2005
We reached Matara, another province on the south of Sri Lanka. We stayed in a rented house owned by a Muslim family. It was a cozy place, with ceiling fans (good enough). Shem did most of the cooking ( mind you, he knows lots of complicated recipes) and the rest of us did the dishwashing, cleaning of the house, and marketing.
We held the medical mission at the church building. The congregation was warm and blessed with a hardworking preacher, Bro. Eric Feber, a Sri Lankan. We started the activity with songs and prayers.

May 5-7, 2005
Medical mission was peaceful. The brethren also distributed religious tracts and leaflets to the patients. The lunch cooked by either Shem or Bert were shared with the brethren. We had daily fellowship with them.

May 8, 2005 MARCH hosted the Sunday Fellowship lunch. It was the first time in that congregation to experience such an activity. All went well until the owner of the church building who is a Muslim came to see bro. Eric. He was told to vacate the place as there were Buddhists pressuring him. He feared that they might do damage to it. Another option he offered was for them to buy the building and the lot.
We, then planned to scout another place for the medical mission preferably near the residence of bro. Eric.

May 10, 2005
We did our routine check-up for the patients. Bert stayed at the rented house to do the errands, and prepared for the children's bible school in the afternoon. Shem and Bro Eric left to look for another place for mission work. At around 10:30am, about 30 men came including two Buddhists monks identified in orange robes. They were hostile and trying to provoke us . We pretended to be calm despite the tachycardias and cold palms. The father-in-law of bro. Eric was nabbed by them and followed him as he ran inside to seek shelter. Felix tried to pacify but to no avail. Fortunately, he was not hurt. Some of the men closed all the possible exits in the building, others went on kicking the doors. We heard one man saying, 'we're very sorry, doctor good, continue', but others would gesture to us to return all the medicines in the box. We stopped the consultation. They forced the patients waiting outside to move out of the building premises. We decided to go back to Dehiwala. Our interpreters agreed. Bro. Chito, the president of MARCH also ordered us to evacuate immediately after hearing the news from Felix. The incident was reported to the police who responded immediately.
Parting was sad. We feared for bro. Eric. Lord protect him. We learned that the people near the rented house were angry at us because of the devotions done each night. They were irritated with our singing. They tried to talk to the house owner and persuaded that he do something about it but he just ignored them. He respected our stay there and told them that we are free to do anything in that house.
As we headed back to Dehiwala with a rented bus, the sight of the children accompanied by parents for the bible school made us guilty for disappointing them but at the same time inspired us.
When we reached Dehiwala, another unfortunate thing happened. The passport of Bert was stolen. No negligence was proven in this case. Bert's patience is tested this time.
The next day, we went to the police station in Dehiwala to report the incident. And so, our long back and forth, 'ping-pong' journey began. We spent the whole day with the police department as their system was not organize, I guess (we're used to it in the Phils, anyway).

May 12, 2005
Bert proceeded to the Philippine Embassy to get another passport. Shem, Felix, and us, doctors started the clinic in Negombo Church. The members especially the families of the preachers, one was of Nihal's received us graciously. They were also warm and friendly. We can see that they are very faithful to the Lord's church. They were saying that our visit there were answered prayers. We continued the mission there for two days.The brethren also enjoyed our singing.
Dr. Weeraratne, the good Sri Lankan doctor was with us. Those who joined the first mission know him. He travelled from as far as Matale, Sri Lanka to help us again in this mission. He is a solid Buddhist, principled and dignified man, truly a doctor by heart as he disregarded religious differences and beliefs. He treated the patients with compassion, and was very open to these activities. We also consider him as 'the father away from home'.
Bert stayed in Dehiwala church and taught music to the Tamil preachers from uplands who also attended the church workshops. They were saying that it was the first time they were taught of the reading of notes in the English hymnals.
We received a call from bro. Eric in Matara. He was happy to tell us that lots of people, mostly, patients seen during the med mission attended the midweek service and bible studies he organized. God is really working in that area.

May 13, 2005
While bro. Chaminda and bro. Suba. the preachers of Dehiwala Church of Christ coordinated for another medical mission in a refugee camp near their place, they suggested that we accept the invitation of Dr. Weeraratne to visit his place. So, we went and boarded on the 'infamous' train. As we were enjoying the green scenery along the way, the good doctor started his job as a tourist guide (free of charge) to us. We learned of the so called 'Bible rock', and so forth.
We reached Kandy after 3 ½ hours. As to climate, this place is comparable to Tagaytay in the Phils. Another extra bonus for us- we ate our lunch at the doctor's house. We met his wife, Grace who prepared the sumptuous meal for us.
We also visited the Royal Botanical Garden, free of charge (thanks again to Dr. Weera). Historically, this existed centuries ago, the biggest in the country. It was such a nice place.(You need to alot half of a day to to see the whole garden), the best treat for us after the challenging days that passed.

May 14, 2005
Medical mission was resumed in a refugee camp adopted by the local church. We treated 135 patients. The 3 guys together with the brethren taught the people especially the children. In the late afternoon, after the mission, the families of bros. Chaminda and Suba took us to the zoo, another treat for us.

May 15, 2005
Sunday worship service. Felix led the singing, and Bert was the speaker. He delivered the message in English which was translated to Sinhalese and Tamil by two preachers. 16 people from the refugee camp attended. After the fellowship lunch, we held another medical mission for the church members.

Indeed, everything went OK according to His will. God made Matara as a gateway for us to Dehiwala, Negombo, and other places for the people to see Christ in us.

Second MARCH Mission to Sri Lanka