| 29th
MARCH for Christ Medical & Dental Mission
Tuao East, Cagayan
2nd-6th October 2005
Groundbreaking
Activities
When
the Metro Manila team arrived in Tuao that Monday morning,
the WBS (World Bible School) Team - composed of Alex Coloma,
Sam Seridio, Sharon Gonzales, Justina Mirador, and Zeny
Libatique - had already distributed invites to the free
clinics, enrolled several to a correspondence course, negotiated
for a house that we could rent for the church in Tuao, and
set up bible studies with a few individuals in Taribubu.
Since
May, MARCH and WBS had been to Tuao four times.
Free
Clinics
Day
1. Naruangan, Tuao East. We set up clinic at a
huge gymnasium right across the house of the Congressman
(who happens to be the brother of Mayor William Mamba).
At least a hundred people were already lined up when we
arrived at eight o'clock in the morning.
With
only six physicians in the Team, the medical clinic was
expectedly crowded. Dr Sam Cariaga had to be excused many
times to attend to more pressing cases, like that of a woman
who fell off the "kuliglig", a local mode of transportation,
and was rushed to the mission site bloodied and in shock.
One
would think that since there were sixty-eight of us in the
Team, there would be more than enough personnel to take
care of the patients' needs. We were short on counselors
and other support workers. Nevertheless, we made do with
what little we had.
Mayor
Mamba was there most of the day to see to it that we had
all that we needed for the free clinic. His brother (the
Congressman) hosted a sumptuous lunch for the volunteers
at his beautiful home.
At
clinic days' close, we had a total of nine hundred and sixty
eight (968) patients.
Snapshots
Two hundred or so schoolchildren seated at the bleachers
singing Jesus action songs with Bert Patricio, Steve Sepulveda,
Joel Montano, Janet Ramos, and Lai Siew Lian while Mayor
Mamba amusingly looked on.
An
elderly woman with a fractured shoulder, ashen-faced and
obviously frightened, being lovingly attended to by our
volunteers (Dr Sam, Shemer, Syrus and Jonathan).
Day
2. Taribubu, Tuao East. This tiny village is a
twenty-five minute ride on a dusty, bumpy road. We rented
three jeepneys to carry us volunteers along with the boxes
and boxes of medicines and supplies. When we arrived at
the basketball court (a third, in size, of the gymnasium
we used the previous day), there must have been at least
five hundred people queued up waiting.
It
was very hot and humid. Everyone was perspiring like crazy.
And yet nobody had a frown on his face. Everyone was smiling
and exuding Jesus' love.
Village
chief Arthur Taguiam prepared a banquet for the Team. Mayor
Mamba joined us too.
At
clinic day's close, we had a total of one thousand two hundred
and six (1,206) patients.
Snapshots
A young woman giving birth to a baby girl. Our very first
on a MARCH mission. Dr Josie Lopez was the attending obstetrician.
One
of our dentists Dr Bob Yumul in front of thirty pre-schoolers
teaching dental hygiene. Dr Peter Cating ably assisting
him in giving out toothbrushes and toothpaste to the children.
A
young man being rushed to the free clinic by his father.
Injured and covered with blood. He accidentally hit his
foot with an axe. Singaporean nurse Joanna assisting Dr
Sam. Tippi Cusi and Jonathan Lai served as nurse aides.
In
Retrospect
The
mission to Tuao was borne out of a Filipino sister's concern
for her family in that tiny village of Taribubu. Mildred
Delayun has been working in Singapore as a maid for eight
years now. Her husband Ernesto was baptized a long, long
time ago but has not remained faithful to the Lord.
When
the church in Pasir Panjang, Singapore heard about her wishes,
they began planning to sponsor a MARCH medical mission in
Cagayan.
That
was seven months ago when the idea about planting a church
in Taribubu was first brought up. Now four days since the
Team left Cagayan, forty villagers gather each night at
our rented house in Taribubu singing songs and studying
the Bible with our volunteer Bible teachers Jun Ma and Darwin
King, both of Metro Manila.
God
continues to amaze us! He brought all of us together to
touch all these people's lives. He gathered us to show these
people what Jesus would have done if He were here right
now. So He may be glorified!
Prayers
1.
For Jun Ma who has volunteered to remain in Taribubu for
at least a year. His bride will join him there in December.
Please pray for this young couple who is dedicating their
lives to the Lord's work.
2.
For other workers to get involved in this work and to assist
Jun in any way; for more people to give financially from
their hearts toward this work;
3.
For soft hearts in Tuao East, especially in Taribubu, that
will heed Jesus' call to salvation.
Many
thanks to all of you who have prayed with us for this trip.
May our Father never cease to amaze us with His wondrous
works. God bless you all.
Yours
in Jesus' service,
Gigie
M. Carranza
Missions Coordinator
MARCH for Chris
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