Reports of what have already happened
DLKC Christmas Party #1
DLKC Christmas Party #2
Wow!! A great party. Around 85 children. Including parents and volunteers, we had around 125 in attendance. With games (Going Bulilite versus Honeymoon versus City Camp/Queen of Peace), coloring, face painting, snacks, goody bags, prizes, and more… it was quite a time.
Thanks to all of the volunteers (youth and adults) that brought it all together!!
Sari-Sari
Above is the “store” of Divine Love Family Savings Cooperative. In truth, it is not really a store, in the normal sense. The cooperative pools its money and volume purchases items its members use regularly. Then members of the cooperative pay a very slight surcharge (between half a peso and two pesos, depending on the item) to get the products.
Why is this a good idea (and obviously not an idea that we ourselves invented)? The members win in two ways. First, they are able to get products they need cheaper than they could get them at a normal supermarket or sari-sari store. This saves them money. Second, it helps them build savings. The members pay a slight surcharge… but in fact, they are paying themselves. Therefore, every time they purchase, they build up their savings in the cooperative.
The savings they develop within the cooperative group can be used to draw from as a loan. If they get a loan “on the street” they often pay interest at rates close in the vicinity of 15% a month! Taking a loan from the cooperative is like taking a loan from one’s 401k (for those who are familiar with them). They are taking a loan from themselves, so the modest interest charged actually is paid back to themselves.
Members of the cooperative come to the meetings for business, training, and Bible study. We believe this integration leads to a gradual transformation with spiritual and economic empowerment.
Asia Vision Short Term Mission (AVSTM) completed their 4 week training, at its headquarters on the grounds of Philippine Baptist Theological Seminary. They had close to 30 students involved in it… focused on training up Filipino and International missionaries.
Celia teaching at AVSTM LDP
AVSTM LDP Group Photo
Bob and Celia Munson (of Bukal Life) had the priviledge in helping with the Training. Celia taught on Missionary Member Care, while Bob taught Contemporary Issues in Missions. It was a great time and we hope the students gained from the experience.
Bob and Celia will be talking on Missionary Member Care at the Morning Service of Shalom Christian Church (Baguio City) on January 17th.
The AVSTM blogsite can be accessed in the weblinks on the right.
Report from our December 2nd Meeting… Well, we can’t make up our minds sometime. Back last May, the CPE (Clinical Pastoral Education) program at PBTS called itself “Shepherd’s Oikos” (household of the Shepherd). But when we decided to form a “real” organizaiton, we came up with the name “Asia Association of Pastoral Care and Supervision” (AAPCS). While that sounds really impressive… somehow “it just ain’t us”. Therefore, we are going back. The Pastoral Care program at Bukal Life Ministries will again be called “Shepherd’s Oikos”. It is headed by Pastor Joel Aguirre of West Baguio Baptist Church (and PBTS). Assisting him is Celia Munson of the Virginia Baptist Mission Board. It will be focusing on three major ministries at this time. They are: CPE … See Moretraining (9 week practicum), Disaster Relief Care Chaplain training (1-3 days), and Shepherd in Every Pew Seminar (1-2 days). Hope to do some symposium work, and an electronic journal (if we have time).
Bukal Life Ministries and Local Host Team (PMA '94 Wives Group not in photo)
We had a wonderful day. Just got back so will give a fuller report in a couple of days. We partnered with the “PMA ’94 Wives Group” and with local missionaries and church workers in the Tublay area. Belong was hard hit by landslides in October. The following is a quick review of the results.
Medical services: 168
Dental services: 32
Eye Care services: 26
Total patients: 203
Children’s ministry: 120+
Our partner, “PMA ’94 Wives Group” provided arrozcaldo, pencils and treats for the children. Over 120 were served in this way. Balloon sculptures were also made, and opportunities to share their feelings regarding the landslides as well.
The counseling was of a crisis care form used by NOVA. We did not do normal evangelism due to the fact that shortly after a traumatic experience, it is unwise to push people to make major life decisions. We are seeking for them to find a new normal for their life, and see God’s care.
Celia and Angie doing pre-check-up evaluations
November 10, we did Phase III of our CARTS police cadet ministry. The police cadets were involved in landslide work and body recovery in response to Typhoon Pepeng.
Phase I. Provided supplies and vitamins to help cadets in their landslide work.
Phase II. Provided crisis intervention with cadets, and crisis care training.
Phase III. Held mini-medical with cadets. Many suffer from coughs as a result of the long hours of work at the landslides and breathing in the dirt and dust there. We were able to treat 173 cadets… giving medicines and vitamins for them.
Once again we thank Col. Paredo and Major Benitez, particularly, for their concern for the physical and spiritual well-being of the students under their care at the Police National Training Center at CARTS.
We also thank Dr. Colomma and the numerous nurses and other volunteers who helped make all of this come together.
Trip Report: Coroz, Tublay, Benguet
Date: October 31, 2009
Purpose: Post-Typhoon Pepeng Community Support
Host: The Winter Family, Missionaries in the Tublay region
Partners: Virginia Baptist Mission Board (Financial and Training)
Members of several churches including (but not limited to):
-Union International Church, Baguio
-Greenhills Christian Fellowship, Baguio
-Calvary Baptist Church, Baguio
-Beacons of Christ, Baguio
-Various AG congregations, Tublay
Services Provided:
Medical Care/Pharmacy/Crisis Care Counseling: 85
Dental Care/Crisis Care Counseling: 40
Children Ministry: Balloons, Songs, Coloring, etc. 70
School Teachers Trained in Crisis Care Counseling 5
Disaster relief Several sacks full of clothes.
Total people ministered to: about 180
Coroz is a small mountain community in the district of Tublay. During Typhoon Pepeng (also known as Parma), the area was devastated by landslides. At the request of the Winters, we visited the site and determined that it would be a good location for a medical mission. We decided to focus on crisis counseling. Often we do classic Christian evangelism, but decided that it was inappropriate under these circumstances. The recovery time after a traumatic experience is generally a bad time to make life decisions.
The road to Coroz was difficult. In many places on the Halsema Highway, the road had been cut away by landslide resulting in dangerous looking detours. The 1 lane road from the Highway to Coroz looked rough and slippery and was also damaged by storm. Nevertheless, we arrived at the mission site, the elementary school in Coroz, to find very few adults but lots of children. As the adults came in they were brought over to do crisis care counseling. This appeared to be very effective, with many able express their emotions about the disaster. The children we taken elsewhere where they sang songs, and did coloring. One of the things they were asked to do was to draw what they experienced during the typhoon. The drawings showed the depth of the fear and pain related to this event. When the principal of the school saw these pictures she saw the need for her teachers to be able to address the situation. Therefore, we provided training for the teachers in how to help the children in Coroz work through the emotions of the event and fears regarding recurrence.
While we were there, a truck arrived with school supplies. These were provided by UNESCO. That was a big help to the children… many of whom had considerable losses in this area.
Follow-up:
On of the major losses expressed by the children was of tsinellas (sandals/flip-flops). They are often placed just outside of the doors of houses. So many of them were washed away by the storm. Therefore, we bought a large supply of tsinellas. These will be delivered to the elementary school at Coroz.
Thanks:
We thank the Winter family, Shane, and others from the Tublay area for making arrangements for our mission. We thank Chaplain Charlie Benton, of the Virginia Baptist Mission Board, for coming from the US to help in training us in Crisis Care Counseling. We thank Ptr. Manny Domeris, of Calvary Baptist, for working with friends and local leaders in arranging transportation over the rough roads. We also thank Principal Brigette of Coroz Elementary School for hosting us in Coroz and being concerned for the teachers and children there. To all members of the team, we give thanks to God who brings together His people from all over the world to do great things in His service.
Children Singing during Disaster Relief Mission
CARTS Police Cadets Project.
Police Cadets Doing Landslide Recovery Work
Chaplain Benton leading training at CARTS
One of the hidden victims of disaster is recovery workers afterwards. We had the wonderful opportunity to develop a relationship with many of these people. One such group is the CARTS (Cordillera Administrative Region Training School) for police cadets. They had to set aside from their normal studies to work over 12 hours a day digging out landslides and search for victims. This is a very difficult job and one that, sadly, often does not get appreciated. We were able to work with a number of doctors, businessmen, and churches in providing vitamins, facemasks, gloves, and other needed items for their work. After their digging work was done, they needed to return to classes, but the memory lives on. For many, this was their first face-to-face encounter with the recovery of the dead. We were invited to speak to them on November 2nd. The day was divided up into 4 major sessions, each about 90 minutes. The first session was crisis intervention, where cadets were given the opportunity to share their experiences and discover meaning in this situation. The 2nd through 4th sessions were to help cadets and instructors in providing emergent crisis care. Since many of these cadets will become law enforcement officers who regularly meet people undergoing crises, this training should be a great help. We provided some Crisis Care manuals from the Virginia Baptist Mission Board Disaster Relief Program, and most of the discussion was led by Chaplain Benton of the same group. We provided merienda in the morning and afternoon, while CARTS provided a wonderful lunch for our team. Follow-up medical screening is planned for November 10th since a large number of cadets are suffering from coughs and other similar symptoms after the disaster relief work. Thanks to Colonel Paredo Jr., and Major Benitez in inviting us to be partnered with their work at CARTS. Approximately 221 cadets were helped and trained, along with several staff.
Crisis Care Chaplain, Charlie Benton
Chaplain Charlie Benton, of Virginia Baptist Disaster Relief, was able to join us in Baguio to work in providing crisis care intervention for those who suffered with the ravages of Typhoon Pepeng, which left hundreds dead, and thousands with destroyed or damaged homes. He also did training with our team and other groups so that we can provide effective crisis care in the future. The following is an abridged list of the activities that we did together.
The following shows list of activities:
1. October 31 Medical Disaster Mission, Coroz, Tublay
-180 total people served
-85 received medical care and crisis counseling
-40 received dental care and crisis counseling
-70 children did songs, games, and craft time.
-5 teachers received training in crisis care intervention
2. November 2 At CARTS (Cordillera Administrative Region Training School) for police cadets.
-90 minute intervention for 221 cadets
-4.5 hours of crisis counseling training for 241 individuals
3. November 3 and 5 Student Training, Philippine Baptist Theological
Seminary (Part 1)
-30 students
-3 hours training in Crisis Care
4. November 4 Teacher Training, Union School International (Empathic listening)
-16 students
-60 minutes
5. November 5 International Red Cross, Baguio Chapter training
-14 students
-2 hours in Crisis Care Training
This was a wonderful time to learn, fellowship, and help people (who, sadly, have suffered so much during this time).
Bukal Life Care 