SULADS STORIES

HOW WILL I PAY YOU SIR?

by Golly Policarpio, MVC Student Missionary to Lawatano

as told to Mrs. Nelita B. Janoyan

“Ma’am, how will I start washing these clothes?  They are wet with the stool of our patient who has cholera”, asked Golly to the woman who was in charge of the laundry in German  Community Hospital.

It was December 13, 1994--Tuesday morning-- when Golly Policarpio was on his way to Halopitan, San Fernando, going to Lawatano Mission School.  It was a three hour hike in order to reach his territory.  Under the heat of the sun, with sweat on his whole body, he really wished to be in Lawatano as early as possible. 

He walked two hours, and reached sitio Balaas, a place before Lawatano, with joy in his heart.  That joy soon turned to tears and fears.  “Sir, please help.  We have a dying man,” somebody cried.  Immediately Golly searched for the patient.  To his surprise, he saw a man almost dead, terribly dehydrated, and still struggling for his dear life.  His eyes were both white and pale.  “Lord, please save this man,” Golly prayed.

Fortunately, the German Doctor with his companions were in sitio Balaas having their free clinic.  The doctor tried everything in order to save the life of the patient.  They put dextrose in both hands because of the serious condition.  Unfortunately, they still needed more dextrose but none was available.  Golly was instructed by the doctor to boil water to replace the dextrose. 

“Toto, ampo hay kaw to magbabayo.”  “Toto, pray to God,” Golly said to the patient.

 

After a few hours, the doctors still observed that the situation was still very dangerous.  They decided to bring him to the hospital in Valencia.  After improvising a stretcher made of a sack and some sticks, they carried the patient to the hospital.  It was already 5:30 p.m. when they started down the hill.  Saul Llamera, Golly’s fellow student missionary, carried the dextrose bottle while several men carried the stretcher.  The trail was slippery and muddy.  There were times they almost fell because they could not see the trail in the dark.  Rain come, making the trail more slippery.  In their desire to save the life of the patient, they did not pay any attention to the hardship they met.  When they could reach the place where the doctor’s car was waiting, they would be able to relax a little. 

They finally reached the hospital around 8:30 p.m.  The student missionaries took care of their patient.  This care included bathing him as he had fouled himself and washing his clothes.  They assisted the nurses in attending the patient in any way possible.  They did not sleep the whole night and only later realized that their own wet clothes had dried on their bodies.

By God’s help and guidance, the patient recovered from his illness and was back in Lawatano after three days.  The people in the village couldn’t believe that he was still alive after what he had been through.

The following day, Toto visited the cottage of the student missionaries.  With thanksgiving in his heart he said, “Thanks a lot sir.  How will I pay you?”  With gladness, Golly said, “It is God who helped you, we were just His instruments.”

 

Arthur S. Maxwell said in THE BIBLE STORIES Vol 8, p 189, “Remember that whatever you do like this out of a love-filled heart is reckoned by Jesus to have been done for Him.  He will never forget the kindness throughout eternity.?”

“What will you do to show that you are really thankful to the Lord?” asked Golly. 

“I will attend Sabbath Services from this time on and help build the school for our children here so they can be educated and be ready when Jesus comes.” was the sincere reply of Toto.