Wow! What a week! Tuesday. Typhoon Pablo was scheduled to make a direct hit in our area. I wasn’t too worried because it seemed that the locals always exaggerated big news stories. Soon the rain came. Then the wind. Then more wind with more rain.
When we were preparing this house for us to move into, Sammy Romero and I opened all the glass windows and started nailing some of the screened windows shut. “Can’t think of why we’d ever want to shut the glass ones. It’s super hot upstairs.” I should’ve never said anything 
. Two beds were drenched before I could close the windows. We lost electricity first and then the water was shut off. We were thankful for the week’s worth of drinking water that had just been delivered. We only used one of the jugs to flush toilets and then we were catching rain from the downspouts for later uses. Didn’t realize how much water we really used per day. We then heard from our neighbor how the water and light would not be turned on for a few more days… “DAYS?!” 
We can do no power for many days but no water? We were thankful when the storm finally blew over but then regretted not having caught more of the rain especially to flush toilets. I was really concerned for those that already had limited access to water. My first thought was for our helper, Bebie, and her family. We ended up cooking her family a meal (thank God for gas-stoves) and giving her a jug of our drinking water.Most of our nights we used candles for lighting our living room. As soon as the big candle gave out, then it was bedtime. We still said our bedtime prayers and Advent reflections during the candlelight but it seemed so early. One of my main concerns of not having power was not having the fans on to keep the mosquitoes away. The mornings came and everyone woke up with no bites or itching. Praise the Lord! After about 3 days of off and on water shut-offs we finally had everything turned back on including electricity. God is good and we survived. Please continue to pray for those in Davao and other areas that suffered many deaths and damage to property.
Just as we celebrated the Feast of the Immaculate Conception this past Saturday, we began to have a sense of God’s hand guiding us towards the “start” of our new mission here in Malaybalay. Rarely does our family not go to Mass together but we had to the weekend before as Stacie was recovering from the birth of Josephine (both are healthy and well). So, this past Sunday we all walked to Our Lady of Mount Carmel Chapel just as Mass was starting at 6:28am (even MORE rare that Filipinos start earlier than scheduled!). We weaved our way through the line of lectors, altar servers and Fr. Noel Suarez. We were instructed to sit at the very front row as it was the only one that would accommodate us. After Mass, Father mentioned how HUGE of a witness it is to show the parish that we all come to Mass together…and take up the entire row! Oh, I forgot to mention that he also invited us to join him and the rest of the servers for breakfast after Mass…right there in the chapel! Anyways, this gave our family some bonding time with our new parish and its priest. Abram was asked if he wanted to be an altar server. He almost instantly jumped out of his chair and answered “Yes!” with a big smile. Father also introduced us to the President of Bukidnon State University and the other parishioners. Meeting Mr. Taga and Mr. Santoninyo was an answer to our prayers. We have felt a call to visit those who are sick at home and widows too. “Oh! Last year I gathered all of the widows and widowers together for a special Mass and made a list!” replied Mr. Santoninyo. “And after we eat here, we are heading to people’s homes to deliver Holy Communion to them.” **WOW!** We also met a nice lady who is in charge of her neighborhood BEC (Basic Ecclesial Community). “I will visit you later this week and invite you to our next prayer meeting.” I don’t know but I swore I could hear the rusty hinges of some ministry doors opening in the background. More to report soon. Pray that all these opportunities will come to fruition.
Now that things were settling down, the Holy Spirit decided to surprise us with a visit from Father Joe. “I am headed to Malaybalay and would like to stop for a visit. Is that ok? I have with me Gogoy and Marion,” he said. “Yes, we’ll be here,” I replied. When they pulled up, I saw with him those he mentioned…and the rest of Camiguin Island!
Twelve people poured out of two vehicles! Yeah, one of them was the famous blue Suzuki Samauri, which most of them were in! What a huge blessing that they would all come to see us and the new baby! Even more, I took Father Joe to Bishop Jose’s residence to ask him permission to celebrate a private, family Mass! It was awesome! We invited the Eckstines and our friend, Mayet Suazo, to join us. All in all there was 34 people in our tiny living/dining room about to worship, adore, and receive the King of Kings. It was a first time for us to celebrate Mass in our home and it will forever be one of the most special.VISA RENEWAL TIME!!! NOOOOO!!! I don’t know why but I just hate paying so much money just to stay here. This one is especially high since we have to pay for an I-card. All of us. Even Julian. Arghhh! Anyways, we felt like since it is the law we should obey it and fork over the money. We had been trying to apply for the missionary visas and hoping we wouldn’t have to pay the tourist visas at all, but did not get back the required paperwork from the Bishop in time. I also forgot to write back to the office at FMC to raise the ATM withdrawal limit so that I can pay for the visas. Good thing I went one day earlier than when it was due. Even better was that I was able to find a good helper (thanks, Sarah Carroll) on facebook to contact our bookkeeper in Louisiana. Abe and I decided to stay in CDO until the next morning but it still was only noon! What to do? We walked over to a mall for some lunch and heard a familiar voice call out to us. It was Richard and the rest of the Camiguin bunch… again! Father had extended their treat. Most of them rarely get away from the island! I could see it in their faces that they were having a good time. Father then showed up and assured us that Abe and I would have a place to stay at the Cathedral. Good thing we had kept St. Phillip Neri in the laptop (We highly recommend this movie). Oh, how could I forget to mention this: I had checked the messages earlier in the day and found out that a certain family had donated $1500 to our mission. Our visas cost $1200 this time around and it was a huge relief to know that our funds were not depleted but restored and more! God is amazingly GOOD!!! Up early the next day and sped right through the line at the immigration office in time to jump on the bus for the 3-hour ride back home. May God bless ALL of our benefactors and may He hear our prayers for their requests.
Please join us in prayer for the following needs in our mission:
- For us to be able to apply and be granted missionary visas and be allowed to stay for a year or two with no more recurring fees
- For these possible ministry doors to be fully opened: weekly prison visit, multiple BEC meetings, High School Catechism class, work among the poor and sick, work among the native mountain tribes
- For us to learn the Visayan language quickly to better communicate with those we serve
***Here is a little clip of Dianne, one of my students from last year on Camiguin***
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