SULADS STORIES

BLOODY BOLO BAPTIZED

by Daryl F. Famisaran

            In September 18, 1999, 81 were baptized in Lapangon Mission School.  This 3^rd batch baptism in the village and the largest group was led by the chief himself the most feared leader of the headhunters.  The vice chief came next to the water baptized.  He was known to be a notorious killer like the chief.  I was surprised to see that he has still his killer bolo on his waist as he waded to the water to be baptized.  I interrupted him and asked about the bolo.  He said, “As I will be baptized, my bolo should be baptized too.  So that as I rise from my watery grave of sin burying my past sinful life, my bolo too should be washed from the bloody sins.  The two of us will be washed and become new.  My bolo will no longer be used to kill but to be preserved to speak of how the word of God can change a stony heart like mine and a bloody weapon like my bolo.”

                Our student missionary Romel Mansaloon witnessed one day in front of the missionaries’ cottage a person guilty of adultery was chopped to death by the same person using that same bolo.  Romel cannot just hold back his tears of joy to realize how the holy spirit can work a miracle by changing these people’s lives. 

                Baptized also that day was an old lady who was the mother of that killer vice chief.  Coming up dripping from the water, she kissed one of the lady SULADS missionary and said.” Now, I can die safe in the arms of my Saviour.”

                After the baptism the SULADS missionaries assigned in that mission school gathered all the warriors baptized together with their killer bolos to pose for a souvenir picture with the SULADS missionaries.

                What a harvest! What a victory! Today the village is busy preparing to build their new chapel and school building.