THE BIG TEST
By:
Hilton Almocera
Kamansi
Mission School
September,
2000
It
was already 10:15 that Saturday evening.
The moon was shining bright. I
was about to sleep when heard a call.
“What is it?” I asked. Something seemed wrong and urgent. I can’t
understand their language yet, but the whole village is awakened now. The call for help came from a nearby hill
some 500 meters away.
And
then… “Sir!” Somebody called. “May I borrow your hammock?”
“What’s
the matter?” I asked.
“Somebody had a miscarriage, and she’s
bleeding so badly,” the youth leader said.
I handed him my string hammock and he left.
I
put on my short pants, my boots, and my jacket.
I went directly to the village leader’s house. There I saw the patient in a pool of
blood. I doubted if she could reach the
hospital alive. I observed the ladies
desperately applying herbal medicines.
They were using anything they could grab from anywhere. Gentlemen were busy making a kerosene torch
and an improvised stretcher using my hammock.
The
cool breeze worsened the patient’s situation.
I saw that the family was too poor to buy a blanket so I offered my
sleeping bag to keep her warm. When
everything was fixed and ready to go, I suggested that we pray first. I prayed that God would preserve the life of
the patient, and keep us safe in our night walk. Then we started our hike carrying the
patient. We took turns to keep us
moving. The steep rocky trail made it
more difficult and dangerous. Then we
crossed the river. The slippery stones
and the waist deep water scared our patient.
“Don’t you worry,” I encouraged her.
“You are on safe hands. The Lord
will take care of you, and I’m praying for you.”
“Your
turn sir”, somebody asked to be relieved.
So I took it. Many times I hurt
my feet because of the big slippery stones.
We were tired but we reached Kawali safely. Kawali is the next village from Kamansi where the patient’s parents are living. The hospital is 15 kilometers farther
on. There are more rivers to cross when
we continue our hike. So, the parents
suggested that we should stay there for the night, and look for a cart ride
first thing in the morning.
Their
house was too small for all of us. So
some of us decided to go back to Kamansi that night. But before we left, I offered again a special
prayer for the patient. “Lord, our
trusted Great Physician, I am pleading that you heal her, in Jesus’ name… amen.” We left.
On the way, I was praying in my heart that He would heal her. We reached the village of Kamansi at 2:45 in
the morning. I was exhausted and went to sleep.
It
was already seven in the morning, when I woke up. I did not hold class for the adults that
morning because I was so tired. At
around 2 o’clock in the afternoon the husband of the patient came to the
cottage informing me that his wife’s condition had gotten worse. I was not able to ask why they did not bring
her to the hospital that morning. I
assured him that I would be willing to help in whatever way I can. “Lord,” I prayed again. “Please heal her.” The husband asked me to go with them to the
hospital.
On
the way, I prayed again that God would perform a miracle by touching her with
His healing hand. It was already 5:00
p.m. when we reached Kawali. To my
surprise, I saw the patient walking in the yard. “You’re well!” I greeted her with a smile.
“Yes
Sir, I’m well. It was a miracle.” The father of the patient, who is a Catholic
animist, shook my hands and said, “THANK YOU MAESTRO (TEACHER) for your
prayers. You’re God is GOD!”
Dear
Friends, please pray for us, as we continue to challenge the meeting of the
spiritual needs of these people. If you
have questions about any part of this work, please send you questions to :
Our
SULADS MISSION is to “reach the unreached” who are especially the unserved
indigenous tribes of Mindanao by providing them non-formal education which
helps alleviate illiteracy, poverty, diseases and promote social awareness, yet
give due respect to their traditions, beliefs, customs, aspirations and
interest so that they may see the richness and the beauty of their cultural
heritage and their whole life.
If
you would like to become involved in the work, you may mark your donation to:SULADS
C/O AWESNA
2417 S. Azusa Avenue
West Covina, CA 91792
Note:
Donations from the United States of America may receive a tax deductible
receipt if sent thru this address. If are outside USA and wish to be a sending
missionary direct to SULADS please address to:
C/O: Dr. Fred L. Webb, Financial Consultant
Mountain View College
8709 Valencia
Bukidnon, Philippines
No comments:
Post a Comment