Filipinos and Missions

We were chatting with the language director here in the language school before we had lunch today. We casually mentioned about Filipino friends working here in Thailand as missionaries.

“To be honest, our organization is… struggling to have Filipinos work here in Thailand… because of the level of support that is coming in from the Philippines.” Ouch. That hurt.

Over the last few days I was on a journey with the Filipino people. Thanks to technology, I was able to connect with what is going on there. From the drama of hostage-taking, to the different opinions of our beauty queen’s answer on the question and answer portion. I have watched youtube posts about a Korean and his opinion on the Philippines, an English man’s view saying that the difference between Indonesia and the Philippines is that Indonesia has hope (and implying that the Philippines do not? Oh please!), a Filipino’s disgust on the situation, to some few hopefuls that our country can rise again. I am patriotic, but I don’t know what to think sometimes.

And now this statement– from someone who is possibly sympathetic about the Filipinos possibly wanting to be a part of their prestigious organization but just cannot because of financial constraints.

I feel pain. Are we that limited? I strongly believe that Filipinos could make the most excellent missionaries. We are one of those races that are so highly adaptable, we are a broken people. We can live under great risks, lack, hunger, separation, name it.

When I read, see and hear about other peoples’ opinions about the Philippines and when I listen to my heart and remember what God promised for the Philippines, I am strengthened. Filipinos cannot go to missions because of the level of support coming in? I beg to disagree. We can go because God wants us to go, He can move mountains and divide seas if He has to.

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1 year and counting

I mentioned in my other post about us being a year here in Thailand in a few days. I just cannot help it… I am so grateful. I am so thankful at how the Lord has changed many things in my heart. Funny I had to come all the way here to completely trust Him.. in everything. My life in the Philippines was not easy. Hubby and I had a business that just went downhill, and we did not know how in the world would we ever be able to fulfill God’s calling in our lives with that unsettled area. But somehow God just worked in ways way beyond our imagination. Although we have made wrong decisions, He knew our hearts and just made us come to this land we have been praying for for many years now.

Everything just happened too fast. We landed on Thai soil September 12 last year. I was teary-eyed during the entire Manila- Bangkok trip. I knew I was going to be a missionary not long after I became a Christian. I was 17 then, and 17 years later, I was on that plane. It was a long time of waiting, preparation and lots of breaking. But even with that ample time, God was not done with me yet. When we got to Thailand we were broken.. all the more– in a very, very, very good way. There were times that we felt forgotten, there were times that we just broke down and cried in the middle of the night. The loneliness, the uncertainty in the future was overwhelming. The fact that we cannot communicate in English was hard enough.

There were days that we had to literally pray for our daily needs. There were days that I just did not know how to pray. But His being a Father has never been this real. One year and counting… there was not a day that we did not have food on our tables. There was not a day that we are not taken cared of. There was not a day that He was not real, that He was not near.

One year later, and we are not afraid to ride on buses, cross the streets, ask anyone around. We don’t find Thai conversations too foreign, either. Our comprehension in Thai is just getting better and better everyday. One year later, we can exchange jokes in Thai– tease friends and even share our testimony.

When God works like that, I cannot help but be greatly encouraged– that He who called us is faithful to complete what He has begun in our lives. One year and counting… we will be here as long as the Lord would want us to.

Why I am here

We will be one year in Thailand a few days from now– September 12 to be exact. So… one year is a long time. If you ask me if I have done “anything significant”– disciples, perhaps? planted a church? raised the dead? No. I haven’t done any of those yet. I don’t mean to be defensive, but I really believe that language is a great challenge to muster when you are in Thailand. I have managed to “survive” Thailand in the last couple of months and I feel good. But I am not here to survive. I am not just here to instruct a taxi driver which way we should go, or simply buy fruits and vegetables in the market… or make friends. I am here for a reason much more than that. Which is why I need language.
I found this in my co-learner’s study table during my first day at language school.

I will have my disciples here in Thailand. I know, because God would never have to send us here if He did not have this in mind. Discipleship requires pouring out of our lives, and I would need language to do that. I don’t find Thai easy to learn, and there are many times that I just have to close my eyes and mumble so many vocabularies until I fall asleep. It’s not easy. I am not here on a holiday. I am willing to pay the price, to do whatever it takes. Jesus spoke our language when He came here. He stepped down to our level to reach us. I should not be scared to do the same– for Thailand and its people.

Testify!

Our life testimonies could be our most powerful evangelistic tool. Many times people see Christianity as a bunch of rules, way too overrated. But when we start to testify, it is our story. It could not be wrong. It is real. It is not to be questioned.

Today I got to testify to one of LLC’s oldest teachers. She has been teaching at LLC for more than 10 years, was exposed to the gospel but never publicly confessed she wanted to be a Christian.

She was not supposed to be my teacher, but since my teacher (the system of teaching here is one-on-one) was on a holiday, she took over. I had apprehensions, being with a new teacher meant another teaching style. Some students find it hard to understand how other teachers say things, being used to hearing their teachers for a time. I was scheduled for review for my two module test on Thursday so she had like a 3-page paper full of questions that I would answer in Thai. I was able to answer everything.. like I was to describe my country, my family, and many other things. Randomly she chose questions. The last one was: how long was I a Christian? I seized the moment. I did not just answer how long. I answered the “how” part, too. I just babbled. I just went on and on. To be honest I did not realize I had that much vocab for a whole story. I talked about my sister’s healing from her brain tumor. I did not have vocabs for the medical terms, but she provided that for me.

The whole time she was just nodding. And nodding. She asked me to go on talking. “Really…really….” was all she could say. She said, “Plian chiwit…” which meant “changed lives”… she mumbled. A changed life like mine, and the rest of the family struck her. She did not say anything else but “thank you” when I walked out of the door. I was floating. That was awesome. I can testify. In Thai. Yes i can! and I will continue to do so. Lord, empower me… as I testify time and time again.

Lopburi

Lopburi, our new home– until the first week of December. Minus the kids, we moved here end of July.
This is our new abode. Isn’t it too big? We were in a state of shock when we saw this. And this is just for 3,000 THB. Imagine we had to rent a one room in Bangkok for 2,800 THB?

This beautiful house came with this grand bike. haha! We call it “the bike no one would want to steal”

The other room is a spare room, and this was supposed to be for the kids. I miss them everytime I pass this room.

And this— this is our bedroom!
All this time they thought the kids were coming with us, and so they chose this big house for the family. I am sure I have emailed it one time, but they must have missed it.

OMF rents ten houses all over the city for the language learners. I was just so speechless at the sight of plants– I have not done gardening in a while.

Housekeeping and laundry are included in our fees here. Can you believe it? I would not be cleaning the house and do laundry for at least 5 months! And I did not for the last two months, either.. considering that I was in the Philippines and we were living in a hotel in Chiangmai. Oh, the rewards of missionary life! But of course, these pleasures are not free. Oppss..

Hearing tiny details

We appreciate technology more now than ever before– with Skype or Yahoo Messenger, we can actually just talk with our kids who are left in the Philippines anytime we want, and see them on the computer screen!

Of course, minus the hugs… it is never the same. But it is a lot better than just hearing their voices. Many times, though, we could not hear tiny details because our speaker is quite small. I think I need to surf for some headphone reviews from the net and purchase one. A mom like me who misses her kids so much everyday need to hear the minutest details, don’t you think?

Being multi-lingual

Being a Filipino means naturally being multi-lingual. Outside our filipino languages would come english. I personally think that we are blessed with the English language, being the main medium of instruction in schools.

Now learning Thai, I find myself at a loss of words many, many times. Sometimes I just casually and almost automatically answer in Thai… or in my language to someone who doesn’t speak it. It’s so easy to get mixed up.

I think really, my stress levels have gone high since we came to language school. Lopburi Language Center is an OMF-run language school, but it opens itself to non-OMFers like ourselves. Their program has proven to be very effective over the years of ministry in Thailand. I personally commend OMF for its excellent material and seasoned teachers. It is indeed a privilege and honor to be here.

Yeah, back to my “blank” moments. There’s just too much words in my head. We spoke English for 6 straight weeks in Chiangmai for our WO training. The readings were in English, and so were the interactions. Now in Lopburi, hardly any Thai speaks or understands English. My teacher bombarded me with so much vocabularies, and speaks to me in fluent, unadulterated Thai. I have to answer the same. My Thai vocabs are so exhausted and I go home just… empty and so tired.

Just yesterday while bathing I just thought of writing Cebuano poems. Cebuano language amaze me a lot. We have a way with words. I am just one who is blessed with rich Cebuano vocabs coming from a family of politicians. I have been listening to pure Cebuano campaigns since I was four. This was further enriched when I became a Christian and Cebuano preachings make use of such ancient, beautiful, rich words. I am satisfied with my poems. They make me laugh. Now I am de-stressed. Very much! I thought, I have not laughed that much in weeks. Multi-lingual? Not quite yet. It’s not as fun as it sounds… it is challenging. Sometimes it makes me feel empty. But maybe someday I could just shift from one language to another without shedding a sweat. Someday. But for now, I gotta work. Yes, do hard work.