SULADS STORIES

THE JOURNEY

by Myda Buta

November, 1996

When I decided to be a part of the student missionary work (SULADS), I was not in good health.  I was sick and physically weak.  Friends told me to stay home for my recovery but I attended the seminar regularly even if I’m still trembling with fever, muscle pains, and colds.  As the seminar went on, I became weaker every day.  I didn’t eat much food due to my lack of appetite.

My friends noticed that I did not look very well.  When they learned that I was planning to become a student missionary, they opposed the idea.  They tried to discourage me by telling me of the dangers I would likely encounter in the mountains.  They told of the trials I would meet and criticized me for even thinking of going as a student missionary.  I prayed and was not affected by what they said trying to discourage me from going through with my plans.

I made an agreement with God that I would not take any medications but asked Him to heal me if it were His plan that I continue with my plans.  On Friday of the seminar week, my situation had become more serious.  By Sabbath I was really ill.  I tried to act normal as I did not want others to know just how bad I felt.

Sunday morning, I woke up feeling very well.  I praised God for my healing.  There was no trace of muscle pains or fever.  I took this as an indication that God wanted me to go as a student missionary.  Then I became afraid—afraid of what I will do.  I did not know what my life would be like living in the mountain with people of another culture and lifestyle.  I thought of the possible dangers I would face from time to time and the hardships and trials that I would likely encounter.  I realized then the difficult commitment I was making.  Trusting in God and knowing that He was sufficient to see me through all the problems and trials, I decided to go.

The seminar was over.  I was one of those accepted to go.  The Board of Directors of the SULADS sent us out two by two just like Jesus sent His disciples.  My partner and I were assigned to Lawatano Mission School.  I had heard reports that this was one of the farthest missions schools—that one had to walk farther from the nearest road than any other school. 

November 4, 1996, we left MVC for our assignment.  We went with other SULADS who knew the way to guide us.  We reached the town of San Fernando that afternoon.  We started walking at 4:00 p.m.  We hoped to arrive around 7:00 p.m. in the village. 

As we traveled along, the road was slippery so I took off my shoes for greater stability.  We passed the sitio of Sulog just before dark.  There we made a torch called a “palong-palong” to give us light along the path.  By the time we reached the river, it was totally dark.  We stopped to rest a little.  We sat on a rock and had evening worship and ate our little supper of some pieces of bread.  We went on.  Seven o’clock came and went but we were not yet at the village.  My knees were trembling by this time.  My partner wanted to go on.  He said it was only another hour but that was for fast walkers.  I was too tired so we decided to spend the night in a house nearby.  We knocked at two houses and greeted the people but neither of them offered us a place to stay.  We went on hoping that there would be a house farther on with an open door for us to rest until the following day.  At last, the third house opened to us and let us in.  The family was native Manobo and a friend of our SULADS guide.  We spent a good night of rest there. 

The next morning, we had morning worship and at 5:00 a.m. we started on our way again to the mission school.  We said a hearty “Thank you” to the family and bid them good-bye and went on our way.  At 7:00 a.m. we reached Lawatano Mission School. 

The school was set beautifully on a hill.  The cottage was set on another hill but a bridge connected the two.  It was beautiful.  In an instant, I loved the place.

On November 6, we held our first meeting of the village people regarding the school situation, their contribution for the development of the school and many other items.  We then began the enrollment of the students in the school.  The rest of the week, we were busy cleaning our cottage and its surroundings.

November 11 classes began.  We also cleaned the school surroundings and cut the grass and re-organized the children into classes.  We have regular Bible study classes and serenade the houses every Sabbath morning.  We meet and talk with the villagers whenever possible to get better acquainted with them.  With these activities, we are praying that God will touch them, that they will accept His salvation.  We pray that they will have faith in Jesus and become a part of His family.