Laymen Ministries Philippines

admin May 20th, 2008

By Frank Gonzales,

Missionary-Teacher in Binuangan Excel School

Last year, during our year end seminar, I remembered we talked about TV. Some of our co-workers in the village proposed to have TV. Well, I didn’t know what is really in their minds. I heard some reasonable ideas to have TV in the village, yet in my own judgment I believed that the disadvantages of having TV outweigh the advantages of it.

Since, we started working here in the village, watching TV is one of the challenges that we are dealing with. One time, I asked one of our older pupils, “Why are they addicted in watching TV?” He replied, “I’m not inspired going to school if I can’t watch TV at least once a week.”

Last February, one of our villagers Tatay Stan bought TV set and generator. When they arrived people in the village were so excited. From the oldest to the youngest villagers rushed into the house of Tatay Stan to take a look on that most awaited appliance. After few days, they started watching TV and Tatay Stan demanded them to pay 5 pesos each movie.

Right away, we reminded our pupils that nobody is allowed to watch TV during class days and Saturday. I also went and talked Tatay Stan about this matter and we made an agreement that he would not allow any pupils to watch TV except on Sundays.

One Sunday afternoon, Lobert, a grade I pupil and Rexel a primary pupil went to our house and brought a sack of charcoal. I asked them, where they got it and they replied, “We made it.” I was surprised! That was my first time to see two little young boys made charcoal to have some pennies. I asked them, “Where are they going to spend the money?” They refused to answer my question and they just looked at each other. I told them, “I will buy your charcoal if you will tell me exactly the use of this money.” Finally, the younger spoke and said, “We will watch TV, Sir.”

Well, I already had it in my mind but I’m glad they told me the truth. I talked with them and gave some words of advice about the bad effects of watching TV. I tried my best to let them understand how hard to make charcoal and they will just spend the pennies for nothing.

Finally, I told them, “I will buy your charcoal but I will not give you the money, instead I will give you paper and pencil.” The two boys left with very sad faces but I hoped they learned a lesson.

I really believed that the devil aroused such kind of worldly excitement of the innocent and ignorant minds of our young people in the village. But in spite of that, God made a way to stop it. Almost a month ago, the TV of Tatay Stan had an in repairable damage. It was burned because of the over power. We are very glad that there is no more TV in our village, now.

I’m so thankful that my Heavenly Father is always ready to solve any kinds of problem in our village.

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admin May 19th, 2008

By Lowella Gonzales,

Missionary-Teacher in Binuangan Excel School

“Sometimes we get awfully busy with the minor things of life, forgetting the major ones.”

I remember a wonderful story some years ago, when I worked at Naga View’s library.  One day, my co-worker, Ate Bebs and I decided to mound the big files of old newspapers in the Library’s stock room, for collecting some of them for our projects.  I fondly took home one of my collections and read every column.  Although, I couldn’t remember the name of the newspaper now, one column gripped me and I would like to share with you.

 The narration begins with the coming home of a young “Balikbayan” family of three.  A married couple with only child, a boy in his wiggly two’s.  Then, there was a big reunion; they visited with never ending laughter, feasting and fun stories at night time.  Soon, it was time to go back to the United States.

However, the wife’s father, a respectable political leader, insisted that the trio should stay a few days longer for his birthday celebration.  Of course, the thoughtful daughter and husband agreed.  So, plans got underway to make the occasion real festive and the merry making unforgettable.

With many people and relatives involved in the planning and preparations of the dreamed celebration; the wife thought, “Why don’t I use my time packing our suitcases, so we can leave right after the celebration?”  She shared the idea with her husband who immediately affirmed his wife’s bright suggestion.  Soon, the couple started packing the boxes of Philippines’ goods that supposed to go on the trip.

After a couple of hours fixing their baggage almost simultaneously they asked, “But where’s Toni?” 

Then, the frantic search for Toni began.  Each bedroom, cabinet, locker and every corner were undergone scrutiny.  But no Toni!  Someone blurted out, “Look outside, everywhere around in the garden!”  So, they did!  And where do you think they spotted Toni?

You couldn’t have guessed it right, I’m afraid.  Toni was floating in the swimming pool.  His lifeless body surrounded by his multi-colored toys and balloons.  Of course, they rushed him to the nearest hospital, but it finally ended to the funeral parlor.  That time everybody’s attention focused on Toni, in his little white casket, and that tragedy blew the birthday gaiety altogether.

Sometimes even in Christians’ life, I wonder if we don’t get awfully busy with the minor things of life; forgetting the major ones.  I wonder whether the priorities we set aside are for transitory and insignificant.

Although, the narrative was very sad but I liked it so much, because the story can give lesson all the aspects of our lives.  As an individual, as a parent, teacher and Christians, “Are we concentrating on our ‘suitcases and boxes’ instead of our own Toni?” 

Thank you Father for reminding me to concentrate the important things in life and to have constant connection with You, especially we are working with You in Your vineyard.  

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admin May 18th, 2008

By Boni Jose,

Missionary-Teacher in the remote jungle village of Pinagbayanan

Illegal activities in our place are rampant.  Even Mangyan people knew how to do it.  “No Fear!”

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admin May 18th, 2008

By Virgilio Veloria,

Missionary Teacher in Binuangan Excel School

Last month, some of the missionary teachers from the other village visited here in Binuangan.  They just walked coming here in our village and spent four and a half hours in walking.  They arrived at the village, Friday afternoon.  They came and visited to spend their Sabbath with us.  They shared their inspirational messages and showed their talents to us and to the villagers who attended church worship.  We were very happy that moment.

During Sabbath night, we played “Uno and Scrabble.”  Before my co-teachers and I were just watching them because we didn’t know how to play the game.  Then, after watching them, they taught us how to play.  When we learned the mechanics of the game; we played until 11:00 p.m. and then went to bed.

When Sunday morning came, we ate breakfast altogether in the newly-built rest house.  After a few minutes the teachers packed their belongings to go back to their village.  One of them didn’t want to walk again; she wanted to ride in a boat to go back to their village.  But Sir Frank, the missionary leader, told her that it is better for them to walk because the waves were not calm.  She went to the seashore to see the condition of the waves.  She insisted that the waves were calming.  We called the captain of the boat; he chose me as his companion.  We prayed first before we left Binuangan.

When we were already in front of Aglimasan, the next village from Binuangan, the waves were really big!  One of the teachers was screaming so hard because of the big waves.  I felt nervous.  It was my first time to ride in a small boat.  It was very exciting but scary, too!  We almost sank.  My whole body was shaking.  The captain of the boat decided not to continue the trip.  We went back to the village of Binuangan.  The teacher who wanted to go back to their village riding in a boat was very disappointed.  They didn’t have much choice.  They walked again going back to their village.

I’m thankful to God that He always gives His saving power in any circumstances that we need His presence.  Though it was scary experience but it taught me to hold on to Him every time.  Lord, thank you for taking care of us.     

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admin May 18th, 2008

By Venus Trapse

Missionary-Teacher in the remote village of Pinagbayanan

I spent my first year of teaching in a remote but lovely village of Pinagbayanan.  I was teaching the lovable minority children that I loved so much.  I have had an enjoyable experience teaching all the grades and teaching all the subjects.  I admitted that I was poor in classroom management in disciplining the pupils at the beginning.  But I learned something that made me changed.  I learned that respect is earned not bought, sold or taught.

My first experience in handling grade I was terrible.  The pupils were at multi-levels.  Some were very fast learners and some had problems reading even Tagalog words.  Well, I didn’t expect much grade I to be capable of reading but they need to learn.  Now, I am so proud of them.  They can read very fast with comprehension.

Grade II is what we call “a pain-in-the-neck class.  The boys were naturally bullies.  They always ostracize the girls.  They were incorrigible or “pasaway” for Tagalog words.  These young boys were our challenged.  But we dealt with the challenge in a very unusual way.  We teachers killed the devil out of them.

My advisory class was Grade III and naturally well-behaved.  But they had the habits of mimicking and stuttering.  They used to say, “Oh, waz dah?” for “Oh, What’s that?” and “Dddddon’t!”  Well, they were the most studious children I’ve ever seen.  Some of them even got 100% on their report cards.

Grade IV was very active.  The problem was, I had only one girl and the boys hated this girl; the main reason that they hated this girl, because she had beaten the boys in the class.  My goodness!  I did a lot of storytelling and counseling them to love each other.

Grade V and VI were both very good!  The students liked to sing.  They excelled in the class.  With all these experiences I could say, I never regretted being a teacher.  The influence as a teacher will be forever.  All the challenges are worth for it.  

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admin May 18th, 2008

By Venus Trapse

Missionary-Teacher in the remote jungle village of Pinagbayanan

The last month of the school year, March is always the farewell time.  We are having lots of activities this March, including the Recognition program and the Teachers’ Evaluation.  I’m having mixed feelings this month.  I’m happy because I successfully finished my first year of teaching and I’m sad because my foreign missionary friends have to go home.  It’s sad to say goodbye to Kelsey, Trina and Leroy.  For a year, we enjoyed being together, sharing troubles and laughter.  We endured climbing the mountain with the leeches just to reach the town.  We spent many hours talking, walking and swimming.  My only assurance is that some of them may come back, maybe not next year but in the coming years.

Being a missionary teacher is great!  I’m blessed with sweet friends and pupils.  The experience is worth having.  In my life, it is the first time to have such joy which is coming from serving others.  Of course, we also have difficulties and misunderstanding in this village but we needed those in order to grow. 

We’re very busy this March.  We helped our pupils to practice for the Recognition day.  We made ribbons for the pupils.  I cut out letters for the stage.  We made hand-written programs full of designs.  We made paper flowers for decoration.  We computed our pupils’ grades.  I’m so thankful to the Lord for my grade III, because they all passed!  The lowest average or final rating was 90.75 and the highest was 96.  This school is really an excel school.

Above all the activities, I’m thankful to God for giving me missionary friends in this village.  The farewell makes me cry, but goodbyes are nor forever.

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admin May 15th, 2008

By Mildred Uy,

Missionary-Teacher in the remote jungle village of Pinagbayanan

One afternoon, I was worrying because we didn’t have enough water in our buckets.  I need to wash my laundry but the water coming from the hose was so dirty. “I hope it will rain,” I said to my roommates.  As I looked up in the sky, it was dark. I’m sure it will rain.  I was happy because I like to use rain for washing my laundry even though there wasn’t enough water.  I had a great faith at that time that God would send us rain.  I prayed to Him and waited patiently for it, so that I could rinse my laundry.  I couldn’t live without water.  But God promised, “All things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing ye shall receive.”

It was already night time but the rain did not come yet.  Before I slept, I put all the water containers outside.  In the middle of the night, I was awakened by the sound of the rain.  “Tak, tak, tak!” Oh!  It is raining.  “Thank you Lord for the rain,” I uttered.  I was very happy that God sent us blessing from heaven.  I woke up early in the morning just to rinse my laundry.  God is really good.  He really answers our prayers if we will wait patiently for the things we are asking from Him.

Waiting for something needs prayer and preparation.  It requires strength and we are hoping for it.  For those who thus wait, God works.

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