To and Through: The Beginning of My Mongolian Adventures

(A note from Gladys: Hello, everyone. Scribbles and Everday Miracles welcomes aboard Anthony, who will be sharing in this blog how God is leading him in his most recent missionary assignment. The following is only a first. We hope you are blessed by it and the others that will follow.)

On the morning that I received the confirmation of my travel to Mongolia, I was preparing to make an eleven-hour journey by bus to my parents’ home. It has been months since I first received the call to be a missionary in Mongolia, and for a while there it seemed that it would never happen. But it’s true that God does not think as man does.

It was a Wednesday, and I had planned to stay with my parents until the weekend. However, I was informed that I was booked for a flight out of the country on Saturday night. All plans of a nice and fuzzy weekend with family dissolved, and thus began a series of seemingly unfortunate events that turned out to be a story of grace.

I made the trip home to say goodbye to my parents (I’d be gone two full years!). The journey was supposed to be smooth, if not for the typhoon that raged almost all night and really slowed the bus down. As we reached the next province, a major part of the bus got broken and almost sent us rolling off the cliff. By God’s grace, no one was hurt.

From Better Way Foundation in Nueva Era, Ilocos Norte to my hometown in Echgue, Isabela, and back.

I arrived home Thursday morning. That same night I needed to travel back to the missionary campus. My parents sent me off with tight hugs and many tears. Two years would not go by so fast.

During the trip back came yet another typhoon. The stronger the winds blew and the heavier the rain poured, the more the bus shook, and the more intense the prayers.

Friday morning I was back in campus with only enough time to finish packing my things and say goodbye to my friends and fellow missionaries. If I were to make it to my Saturday evening flight, I had to make another night trip by bus.

The rain poured the entire day and flooded the creek that crossed the path to the campus, completely washing away the footbridge. But I and some friends, wet from the rain and wading in the creek, still managed to attend the vespers meeting and the simple farewell program prepared for me. My missionary friends sang “God Will Take Care of You.” I was moved and motivated.

After the program, my closest friends braved the still-pouring rain with me, crossing the flooded creek to bring me by jeepney to the city two hours away, where I could take the bus for another 12-hour trip to the airport in Manila. I would then have 16 hours in Manila before my flight, a safe enough margin – if the typhoon wasn’t there.

But it was.

As the rain kept pouring heavily, the flood water rose until the roads looked like a huge river. My friend drove carefully and slowly. Still one of the tires fell off the road and we found ourselves stuck in the mud. There was no way to move in any direction.

The scene brought to mind an incident about three days back. I had a truck bring my things down from our mountain campus. One tire slid into a ditch and got us stuck there. After hours of trying, my two friends and I could not get the truck out. One phone call later, our friends arrived from the campus, with two carabaos (water buffalos) to pull the poor truck out of the ditch and get us back on the road. Praise God!

But this time was different. We were in the middle of nowhere, too far for our carabaos to come pull us out; and it was literally the middle of the night, too late for phone calls (phone services and electricity were down anyway, due to the typhoon). We spent hours pushing, pulling, doing everything we could, and finally we got through.

Still, the night’s challenge was far from over.

It turned out that all the bridges that led out of our little town were either broken or covered entirely with water. We went this way and that, tried all the routes we knew, all to no avail. We were left with no choice but to wait for the water to subside. Our clothes still wet, we slept in the jeepney for two or three more hours – each minute eating away the precious time allowance before my flight – before the water was shallow enough for us to safely cross the bridge.

By then, dawn was already breaking.

As we drove, we could see roadblocks and fallen trees everywhere, landslides, once-dry riverbeds filled to overflowing, rice fields turned to seemingly endless expanses of water. We could only be thankful.

Two hours to the city. Twelve hours to the airport. Now I just had enough time to make it to my flight.

At the bus terminal, I bid my friends goodbye. What a night we had! I took the bus, and the trip proved so much better this time. But this calm, it turned out, was only as the passing of the eye of a storm.

From Nueva Era to Laoag City to the airport in Manila, to Tagaytay, and back to Manila.

True enough, I arrived in time at the airport and breezed through checking in. But a tint of anxiety grew on me as I went through Immigration.

As it happened, I didn’t have all the needed documents to travel abroad, and I was held in Immigration for interviews.

One hour before the flight. I sent frantic emails to the office in our mountain campus (where there has been no electricity for days), the LIGHT office, and the hosting organization in Mongolia. No reply. Tick tock, tick tock.

“Lord, is it really Your will for me to go?” I have spent the last three nights on one vehicle or another, the last three days saying goodbye to loved ones; I have been through storm and flood, I have prayed and used up the best of my strength. “Is it really Your will for me to go?”

Tick tock, tick tock.

The plane left without me. I went to a friend’s house for a place to stay. The following day, they were leaving for their new house and invited me to come along. We got lost along the way, and they wondered why – but not me. Not anymore.

A couple of days later, the documents were prepared, another flight booked, and Immigration passed.

Mongolia. Finally.

At the Mongolian airport, I was met by my first Mongolian friend who was shaking when I first saw her. I understood why when she told me later that they met a little accident on their way to the airport. Wow.

Baaska, the girl who came to meet me at the Mongolian airport - but not without meeting a challenge first.

The following morning, we prepared to make the eight-hour trip to Starting Point Life University, where I would be serving God for the next two years. But as we were leaving the city, a car suddenly hit the back of our car. Oh, when will this end?

From Manila to Ulaanbaatar (via Incheon) to the SPLU Campus in Bugat, Bulgan, Mongolia.

Still, gratitude and praises to God filled my heart and my prayers as we reached the SPLU campus in Bulgan Province. It was the Lord’s will for me to be here, after all.

The Philippine flag I presented to Academic Dean Cathie  and Khisgee (John), the School President (right). 

In the campus, as I met fellow foreigners who will also be working with SPLU, I learned that they too had their own versions of the long and bumpy ride that brought us together in one mission field. Amazing challenges and miracles filled their joyful stories.

Their experiences and mine helped me understand more clearly the Lord’s ways of preparing a soul for bigger challenges in life. It may be a typhoon, a flood, a ditch, a bump in the road, or getting lost in the dark – all of these remind me that if it is God who has called me, it will be God who will carry me through; If He brings me TO it, it only means that He will bring me THROUGH it.

Now just thinking of what the next challenges will be completely thrills my heart. Anyway, I know that God will take care of me. Like it says in the song my friends sang,

“Be not afraid whate’er betide,

God will take care you.

Beneath His wings of love abide,

God will take care of you.

God will take care of you
Through every day, all o'er the way.
He will take care of you;
God will take care of you."

Do stay tuned for more Mongolian Adventures with the greatest Guide ever.

Youth Convention 2013

Without really planning (much less, preparing) for it, I travelled all the way to Bataan to attend a weeklong youth convention with four of our teenage girls from church.

The youth convention, the fifth one organized by the Seventh-Day Adventists Present Truth Believers, was held May 14-19 at the Nuclear Power Village in Bagac, Bataan. It was also the first time the youth from our church were exposed to as many as 102 other young people receiving the light of the present truth in a gathering specially organized for the purpose.

We arrived in Manila May 13, 11 pm and were met by Pastor Dave Matudan and his son Jedd. They took us to dinner and, after vainly insisting on bringing us to a more comfortable place to stay, hesitantly agreed to bring us to their headquarters (called “mission house”) in Quezon City where we slept for about four hours.
In the morning, we had early morning worship before heading out for groceries, getting shocked at the poor quality of the veggies at PureGold and amazed at the low prices at a Korean store.

At around 1:30 in the afternoon, we (jamee and i) headed off to Bataan by bus with about 40 other delegates. Sadly, I slept through most of the trip so I didn’t get to see much.

The venue for this year’s convention was an old village originally designed for employees of the Nuclear Power Plant of the National Power Corporation. The organizers rented about eight houses that could accommodate around 20 persons each, distributing them across four airconditioned rooms in each house.

There’s a common kitchen, dining area and living room. Two rooms share a toilet and bath.
We were housed with the delegates from Bulacan and Palawan, with Pastor Michael Matudan as house pastor.

We woke up at 5:30 each morning for devotionals held at the driveway of our assigned house. After that, we went about preparing breakfast, taking turns using the shared toilet and bath, eating, and getting dressed for the morning session which began at 8:00. Some days the girls got to go out and tour the venue.

Morning sessions consisted of two topics discussed by different speakers. The group would then break up for lunch and come back at 2:00 pm for the afternoon session, which covered just one topic.

The convention’s theme was “God’s Special Force: Called to Stand Apart” and the topics dwelled on how SDA youth should be different from the world, not taking part in their dainties, working for the Master and making special preparation for the coming of Jesus. The topics discussed throughout the entire YC were:

• Called to Stand Apart - The call for young men to duty
• The History of the Church – How true religion calls you to be separate from the world
• God’s Special Force – A call for dedication of our Time, Talents, Treasures, Soul Temples
• Strength of Character – The power of will and the power of self-control and the danger of turning back against God
• The Everlasting Covenant – Yielding of the will and the heart in obedience to the will of God
• Love’s Twin Sister – The importance of coupling love with a sense of duty, diligence and thoroughness in small things, especially in home responsibilities
• Standards of Success – How our obedience unlocks God’s blessings
• Sanctuary and Atonement – The plan of salvation illustrated
• Creeping Compromise – The importance of being able to recognize the clever camouflage of the enemy
• Remember – The importance of the Sabbath and how it ought to be kept by God’s professed people

The rest of the afternoons were spent out in the field, playing team building games, which proved to be so much fun for everybody and provided for a much more comfortable environment for interaction and acquaintance among delegates.

The main event of these outdoor activities was apparently the kadang challenge held on Friday, the highlight being the all-star round with the pastors composing one team and the boys’ selection composing the other. The boys finally ended the pastors’ four-year reign as champions.

After the outdoor activities came the joint sundown worship, except for the Sabbath sundown worship which was conducted by house.

On Sabbath, the topics discussed throughout the week were summarized and condensed into three basic distinctions between the Seventh-day Adventist Youth and the world – distinction in DOCTRINE, PRACTICE, and CHARACTER. In the afternoon the group was broken into small groups, each group composed of members from different churches, to discuss the topics and how they can be applied in the day-to-day life of the average Seventh-day Adventist.

At the end of the Sabbath came the most-awaited topic of all – LCM or Love, Courtship, and Marriage. The discussion put forward the principles and safeguards that should be adopted by ever SDA youth if he/she is to have a happy, Christ-centered marriage and family life. The discussion ended at almost 12 midnight!

And thus ended the Youth Convention. The following morning, we slept in a little longer and had morning worship in the room. We then packed everything up and got ready to leave – which we did early afternoon. That gave us ample to time to take last-minute  photos and just bond with the other delegates.

The trip back to Quezon City took us about four hours and many stopovers, made easy by the presence of new friends.

Pastor Dave took us to a vegetarian restaurant for dinner, and then to Mount Clemens Church where we would spend the next two nights before our flight home to Davao.

Most of the pastors and workers were there to send us off at the airport. In all of our prayers throughout that memorable week, we always thanked God for the hospitality and kindness offered by our brethren in this part of the country. We were very well-taken care of and no week-long stay in a strange place could have been more comfortable.

It was a wonderful new experience for the five of us – new places, new friends, new learning, renewed faith and zeal for service. I keep praying that the things we have learned will help us to grow in our personal relationship with Christ, to relate ourselves more efficiently as Christians to a world coming to its end, to come to a clearer understanding of our responsibilities as a chosen people, to realize our opportunities and possibilities.

May this passage be instilled and realized in each of our lives, and may we live to fill the greatest, though often unseen, want of the world.

What a lifework was that of these noble Hebrews! As they bade farewell to their childhood home, how little did they dream of their high destiny! Faithful and steadfast, they yielded themselves to the divine guiding, so that through them God could fulfill His purpose. The same mighty truths that were revealed through these men, God desires to reveal through the youth and the children of today. The history of Joseph and Daniel is an illustration of what He will do for those who yield themselves to Him and with the whole heart seek to accomplish His purpose.The greatest want of the world is the want of men--men who will not be bought or sold, men who in their inmost souls are true and honest, men who do not fear to call sin by its right name, men whose conscience is as true to duty as the needle to the pole, men who will stand for the right though the heavens fall… Every youth, every child, has a work to do for the honor of God and the uplifting of humanity.  {Ed 57 - 58}

***If you are, in any way, impressed to attend next year's youth convention, feel free to contact me so I could get you in touch with the organizers. God bless you. :)

Visiting Mountain Heights Missionary Training School in Valencia

I rarely get the chance to travel. Most of my experience as a missionary consisted of typing away at a laptop computer a few steps away from bed.

So when I got invited to see the Mountain Heights Missionary Training School in Tongantongan, Valencia, Bukidnon, I was more than eager to go.

My friend, Brother Bruce, is one of the supporters of the school while another friend that I met through him, Sister Juliet, was volunteering as a teacher.

The three of us left Davao by bus around three o'clock in the morning and arrived in Valencia five hours later. From there, we took a tricycle (locally called a rela) to the home of Bro. Bruce's uncle where we will be staying for the night.

Bro. Bruce and the motorcycle we borrowed.

In the afternoon, we hopped onto a motorcycle and drove to the foot of the hill where the school is located. The uphill hike took a very exhausting (or was it only me?) fifteen minutes. I thought my heart was going to burst in my ears. haha.

Near the top was the school, itself a simple building which housed fourteen eager and aspiring Bible students.

The school was established a couple of years ago and has grown as far as getting their own electricity, improving the curriculum, establishing farms/gardens, and gaining volunteer teachers.

Sis. Juliet and the school that will be her home for the next four months.

The other side of the school and a view of the vegetable gardens.

Sis. Juliet currently teaches the students Health and English.The students also have classes on the Bible and trade skills like baking and agriculture.

Even without the support of parents and relatives, the students here are determined to continue with their education. Currently, they make bread that they sell to the neighboring village below. The school is also surrounded by vegetable gardens cared for by the students as a source of food and possible income.

Since the arrival of Sis. Juliet, work on installing a better kitchen has been started, an enclosed bath area put up, and students' work schedules implemented. Specific dates have also been set apart for student recreation and for visiting nearby churches on Sabbaths.

Other projects the staff and students will be undertaking include a kiln for better and easier baking, a separate staff house, kitchen sinks and cupboards, writing desks, and improved dormitories. There is also a need for learning materials (textbooks, workbooks, visual aides, etc.) and school supplies. The students do need all the help they can get.

Away from the hustle of the city and immersed in the scenes of nature and in the responsibilities that accompany self-support, the students have come to learn and understand that they need just this experience in order to be drawn closer to God and to be prepared for the ministry that is to be their life-work.

As it began to get dark, we decided to head back down, but took a few moments to marvel at the wonderful extra gift that graces the school at the end of each day - an awe-inspiring sunset.

Leaving Sis. Juliet behind, Bro. Bruce and I traveled back to Davao at two in the morning the following day. It was a physically exhausting trip, but on the inside I felt all light and happy.

Thoughts of eager Bible students and devoted Bible workers all over the world never fail to inspire me to constantly look to God to make me a more efficient worker for Him.

Who knows, He just might ask me to volunteer at Mountain Heights Missionary Training School someday. Just in case, I already got an answer ready. ;-)

Bro. Bruce, myself, and Sis. Juliet

Coming up soon on this blog: my recent trip to a hilltop church in Davao del Sur and our Fourth Anniversary of ministry at the Davao City Jail.