MAPLINE MEDICAL AMBASSADORS PHILIPPINES INC. THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER VOLUME XXV NO.1 JANUARY 2013 MAP has 10 full-time nurse field workers and two volun- teers. They minister to the following people groups: *Mangyan tribe in Sio Sipit and Ambang, Brgy. Villaflor, Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro, *Aeta Abellen tribe in Sio Tangan- tangan and Dirita, Brgy. Maamot, San Jose, Tarlac, *Dumagat tribe in Umiray, Dinga- lan, Aurora Province, *Ayangan Ifugaos in Aguinaldo,and Alfonso Lista, Ifugao, *Gaddangs and Balangaos in Na- tonin, Mountain Province, *Informal Dwellers (Ms) in Metro Manila, and marginalized sios in Bobon and Catarman , Northern Samar. I.Community-based Primary Health Care Program 128 volunteer trainees joined the Family Health Workers Training conducted in all ministry areas. BHW Refresher Training on Inte- grated Management of Childhood Illnesses was conducted in Agui- naldo, Ifugao with 70 BHWs. Community Health Educaon for Aeta Program (CHEAP) was done in partnership with Limay Bapst Church, and Indigenous Missions Internaonal (IMI). 75 informal dwellers aended the Mothers’ Health Class, and 48 completed the health educaon course in Quiapo (Ms) and Baseco. 70 elementary students in each area joined the Child-to-child Health Educaon Program 270 children are recipients in the Feeding program. Curave service - MAP served and treated 1,769 paents. II. Church-based Health care Education for Lay People Training Program 120 trainees from Ifugao (Alfonso Lista), Mt. Province (Natonin), and Ilocos Sur completed the Primary Health Care and Boca Manage- ment Training. Church –based Health care Educa- on for Lay People Training was conducted twice this year among 44 Bible school students of Asia Center for Biblical Studies in Ma- jayjay, Laguna. The Asian Theological Seminary- Graduate School’s Center for Transformaonal Urban Leader- ship invited MAP to teach the course, Community Health-Prima- ry Health Care to its students. To page 2 I could only watch, as Tatay Miguel groaned in pain while the hospital nurses were changing the dressing on his infected foot. The doctors diagnosed it as a squamous cell skin carcinoma, a form of skin can- cer. The surgeon beside him said that he couldn’t do anything but amputate it to prevent systemic infecon that might cost his life. He’d been dealing with this pain for 27 years, so Tatay did not hesi- tate to agree with the surgeon. Tatay Miguel is a good man, one of the key leaders in the Mangyan community where I have been serving the past 1 ½ years. He’s responsible for the building of the sio’s health center. He always opens his home for Bible studies since he became a believer. He’s a man of strong will and character. The fact that he dealt with this physical pain for almost half of his life and sll was able to provide for his family confirms it. It was difficult to stand beside him – me, healthy, and he, crying because of pain, not just physical but emo- onal pain. Losing his leg would mean losing his ability to provide for his family. To page 3 NO MORE PAIN by Joab Afuang, RN, Mindoro CROSSOVER BY FAITH IN 2 0 1 3 ACCOMPLISHMENT REPORT by MAP EVP Alicia T. Bañas and MAP workers
Transcript
MAPLINEM E D I C A L A M B A S S A D O R S P H I L I P P I N E S I N C .
THE OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER VOLUME XXV NO.1 JANUARY 2013
MAP has 10 full-time nurse field workers and two volun-teers. They minister to the following people groups:
*Mangyan tribe in Sitio Sipit and Ambang, Brgy. Villaflor, Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro,
*Aeta Abellen tribe in Sitio Tangan-tangan and Dirita, Brgy. Maamot, San Jose, Tarlac,
*Dumagat tribe in Umiray, Dinga-lan, Aurora Province,
*Ayangan Ifugaos in Aguinaldo,and Alfonso Lista, Ifugao,
*Gaddangs and Balangaos in Na-tonin, Mountain Province,
*Informal Dwellers (Ms) in Metro Manila, and marginalized sitios in Bobon and Catarman , Northern Samar.
I.Community-based Primary Health Care Program
128 volunteer trainees joined the Family Health Workers Training conducted in all ministry areas.
BHW Refresher Training on Inte-grated Management of Childhood Illnesses was conducted in Agui-naldo, Ifugao with 70 BHWs. Community Health Education for Aeta Program (CHEAP) was done in partnership with Limay Baptist Church, and Indigenous Missions
International (IMI).
75 informal dwellers attended the Mothers’ Health Class, and 48 completed the health education course in Quiapo (Ms) and Baseco.
70 elementary students in each area joined the Child-to-child Health Education Program
270 children are recipients in the Feeding program.
Curative service - MAP served and treated 1,769 patients.
II. Church-based Health care Education for Lay People
Training Program
120 trainees from Ifugao (Alfonso Lista), Mt. Province (Natonin), and Ilocos Sur completed the Primary Health Care and Botica Manage-ment Training.
Church –based Health care Educa-tion for Lay People Training was
conducted twice this year among 44 Bible school students of Asia Center for Biblical Studies in Ma-jayjay, Laguna.
The Asian Theological Seminary-Graduate School’s Center for Transformational Urban Leader-ship invited MAP to teach the course, Community Health-Prima-ry Health Care to its students. To page 2
I could only watch, as Tatay Miguel groaned in pain while the hospital nurses were changing the dressing on his infected foot. The doctors diagnosed it as a squamous cell skin carcinoma, a form of skin can-cer. The surgeon beside him said that he couldn’t do anything but amputate it to prevent systemic infection that might cost his life. He’d been dealing with this pain for 27 years, so Tatay did not hesi-tate to agree with the surgeon.Tatay Miguel is a good man, one of the key leaders in the Mangyan community where I have been
serving the past 1 ½ years. He’s responsible for the building of the sitio’s health center. He always opens his home for Bible studies since he became a believer. He’s a man of strong will and character. The fact that he dealt with this physical pain for almost half of his life and still was able to provide for his family confirms it. It was difficult to stand beside him – me, healthy, and he, crying because of pain, not just physical but emo-tional pain. Losing his leg would mean losing his ability to provide for his family. To page 3
NO MORE PAINby Joab Afuang, RN, Mindoro
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men!
MAP staff, BOT members, and volunteersMAP sends you love, peace, and joy, as we remember each other in prayer.
CROSSOVER BY FAITH IN2 0 1 3ACCOMPLISHMENT REPORT
by MAP EVP Alicia T. Bañas and MAP workers
BREAK THE SILENCE by Joab Afuang, RN, Mindoro
“The place where God calls you is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.”- Frederick Buechner
The wrestling began, leading to days of confusion with only faith to help me to endure. I had many questions that were unanswered, and I knew there were many answers that were waiting to be questioned. But finally, with just the right amount of faith needed, I took that first step.
That first step—it was the hardest to take, but it amazingly brought me to where I am right now, a missionary nurse serving the Lord and His people in some of the most remote places unreached by health-care.
I have been climbing mountains for more than a year now. Those climbs have allowed me to experience God as never before. How His creation draws me closer to Him!
It is impossible not to see God in nature. As David Crowder once sang, “My eyes are small but they have seen the beauty of enormous things.” The more I realize how deep the ocean is, the more I com-prehend the depths of His wisdom. The more mountain peaks I climb, the more I understand the heights of His greatness. The more I grasp how wide the sky is, the more I fathom the magnitude of His love. It is when you experience creation with all its beauty that you experi-ence the Creator in His glory.
But in this mission I am living, the greatest of all creation that touched my heart are the people who live in the mountains, the Mangyans. To page 4
ROUTEDby Maria Martha Jimena, RN, Aurora
Just like Mary who experienced joy in the Christmas story, I thank God for preparing me to be part of His story of love, grace and re-demption.
How God led me to Medical Ambassadors Philippines (MAP) is my praise testimony. There were people whom God used to go before me and help clear the trail God has chosen me to take.
My father’s parents were dedicated church planters. My parents and their siblings were also involved in the ministry and loved God so much. I was raised in and fell in love with the church programs. I desired the work but with a wrong motive. This changed during the Chapel Hour in my third year of High School. God became the reason, the means and the end of my every effort.
As a member of a community church in Taguig City, I became exposed and motivated to do community work. This became the basis for choosing my college course, BS Nursing or BS Education. I took up Nursing, thinking that I could still teach, even as a nurse. It was an expensive course, but God provided all my needs, from tuition fees, books to my everyday allowances. To page 4
III. Spiritual Care Minis-try (Evangelism and Dis-cipleship) in partnership with churches and other
organizations.
•Evangelism - 5, 311 people heard the Good News of Salva-tion•Professed Faith in Jesus Christ- 405•Counseling - 400 asked for prayers and counseling•Mentoring and Discipleship – 84
Youth Evangelistic camp was held in Singawan, Umiray, Dingalan, Aurora Province with forty -nine ( 49) campers. 47 accepted Jesus
as their Lord and Savior. 43 were baptized.
The UMMAH (meaning gathering of believers) workers, in partner-ship with MAP and other mis-sion groups, conducted a youth camp last summer. Around 160 M-youth now know Isa Al Masih as their Messiah and Master. “Iba Ka, Level Up Na!” was the camp theme.
In Dingalan and Tarlac, the work-ers had Bible Studies with 10 adults and 78 youth/children us-ing Chronological Bible Study and Interactive Bible Storying (IBS) methods for discipleship.
IV. Mobilization and Partnership Develop-
ment
Medical Mission trips participated in by 500 volunteers were con-ducted.MAP served 5,140 people of all ages.
MAP nurses with Dr. Jun Garcia and MMI ( Medical Mission In-ternational) conducted a surgi-cal mission in Cambodia. Dr. Jun Garcia reported that they served 83 major and 77 minor cases.
MAP Board member Dr. Dan
Veneracion spearheaded a Con-cert for a Cause with The Filipino Tenors last August, 2012 that promoted the ministry of MAP.
MAP’s ministry was presented to 14 churches and three (3) mission organizations.
The Board members were chal-lenged and agreed that each BOT member would adopt one worker for prayer and financial support.
MAP moved office to the AB-CCOP building at 102 Scout Ral-los, Diliman, Quezon City last July 1, 2012.
V. Community Special Project and Ministry
Bead making is an income-gen-erating initiative of MAP workers in Mindoro where 8 mothers are involved.
A Reading and Writing class for 17 Aeta adults is ongoing in Tangan-Tangan, Tarlac.
Two simple multi-purpose build-ings were built in Umiray and Tarlac. In Ambang, Mindoro, the building of the Sitio Health Center is ongoing. To page 3
MA
PL
INE
1s
t Q
UA
RT
ER
20
13
2
1. Praise God for the sincere commitment of the MAP workers in spite of the delayed support. They did not lose heart nor quit from their designated work assignment. Instead, they are trying their very best to fulfill God’s mandate to, “ bring the Lord Jesus Christ into commu-nities where the Word is least preached and health care ser-vices are least provided.”
2. Praise God for having very sup-portive families of MAP workers, who provide the food supplies and other needs of their children in the ministry areas.
3. Praise God for volunteers who join MAP ministry activities by even spending on their own when they go to the ministry areas.
4. John Mark Abao, MAP Mo-bilization and Promotion staff worker, resigned last August. Thank God for Belle’s unwaver-ing commitment to take care of MAPline. Pray for MAP nurse Asheri Cabria, taking the post of John Mark while we are praying for a full-time staff worker.
5. Pray for Paul Bañas, as the newly appointed Mobilization and Partnership assistant, for wisdom and creativity in coming up with strategies and activities
on mobilization and partnership developments.
6. Pray for Dr. Francis Daytec’s availability and commitment to visit MAP’s ministry areas, and to provide medical training for MAP nurses.
7. Pray for the three new ministry areas to be started this year for Mangyans in Abra de Ilog, Aetas in Limay, Bataan and Aguinaldo, Ifugao. For commitments and good working relationships with Ministry of Christ the True Vine (MCTV), Indigenous Mission International (IMI), Medical Mis-sions International, churches and like- minded groups.
8. Pray with us for God’s out-pouring of His blessings upon MAP and His committed work-ers. For financial provisions for ministry expenses and workers’ support this 2013.
We offer these accomplish-ments, first to our Gracious
Abba Father and the Lord of the Harvest for His unfailing love, next to our faithful partners,
friends, families and volunteers for their untiring loving care,
prayers and financial support. Let us move on and never give up, for our labor in the Lord is
not in vain.
JABE Z EXPED I T I ON
Two years ago, Medical Ambassadors Philippines Inc. started to pray about going on cross-cultural missions. In 2012, Dr. Felipe Castro and his wife Mrs. Joy Gaces-Castro invited MAP to visit Cambodia and partner with them in their ministries, fulfilling their vision of putting up the first Christian Hospital in Kampong Thom Province. Thus Jabez Expedition was born. Like the prayer of Jabez, we asked the Lord to bless us and expand our territory and advance His Kingdom among the Khmer people in Cambodia.“Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, ‘Oh, that you would bless me indeed and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.’ And God granted his request.” 1 Chronicles 4:10
Goals and Objectives:•We aim to be immersed in a cross-cultural community and understand their worldview; gather information, and attend to their activities of daily living.•We aim to share the love of Jesus Christ through incarnational ministries: medical-surgical mission, evangelism, immersion, etc.•We aim to listen to God’s voice to expand the ministry of MAP in Kampong Thom through Community-based PHC/ CB-HELP.•We aim to develop and strengthen the partnership with Dr. Felipe Castro and MMI for future ministries.•We aim to know God more as we obey His great commission in serving the Khmer people and winning them to Christ.
The Lord Jesus has showed us a glimpse of cross-cultural mission. This is just the start of greater things to come. We thank you for being a part of this ministry.
Accomplishment...cont. from page 2
VI. MAP Workers Development Program
Last April and July, MAP staff attended the “KAIROS Course”- 4th Edition that helped them see the big picture of world Christian movement.
MAP workers have continuing education for updates in health-care.
On October 24 – November 4, 2012 MAP set its First Mission Trip to Cambodia called Jabez Expedition.
Three MAP workers attended the Global Leadership Summit Confer-ence on Nov. 17 and 18.
On November 30 to December 2, six MAP workers attended the Nurses Christian Fellowship Philip-pines National Conference.
No More Pain...from page 1How do we respond to hurting people?As days passed, the light at the end of the tunnel grew dimmer and dimmer. Darkness crept in as the infection spread in his system. On the day of the operation, the surgeon said that he would perform an above-knee amputa-tion instead of the originally-planned below-knee amputation. The surgeon asked the relatives if he could perform the operation while Tatay Miguel was sedated. Confused, they signed a piece of paper. Tatay woke up without his leg. This world harshly took away his physical pain but did noth-ing for his broken spirit. I visited him twice after the operation and these words he said never left me: “Huwag mo ako iwanan
dito”. He believed that his family already left him alone. I assured him that the Lord is always on his side and He knows our burdens. My words seemed to have no effect. I couldn’t penetrate his suffering, I could only watch. Can I say that life is unfair to Tatay? Maybe I can. “The cross,” Phil-lip Yancey said, “demolished the basic assumption that life will be fair”. The world was unfair to Jesus and yet He endured it because of the joy that was set before Him. (Heb. 12:2)I’m back here in Manila and I heard the sad news that Tatay passed away. Now, his tears have been wiped away. Finally, no pain after 27 years. I believe that right now, he’s walking with our Lord, experiencing His glory in its full-ness.
MA
PL
INE
1s
t Q
UA
RT
ER
20
13
3
Break the Silence... from page 2
I live with these amazing people for three weeks each month. I eat what they eat, drink what they drink, and laugh at their jokes. I sit where they sit, chew-ing nganga with the elders, and play tanching and trumpo with their young children. I sing their songs, share their worries when storms hit and smile with them when the sun shines.
As many faithful men and wom-en have proven, life becomes more exciting when we follow God’s call and jump into the un-known. Really. But that’s just one side of the story. For along with these amazing experiences, I must tell you that my heart keeps getting broken, broken by the things that break His heart.
Picture these with me, will you?
A very tired Mangyan mother with her eight-month-old daughter gasping for air, in desperate need of a salbutamol inhaler...
A sixty-five year old hemiplegic elderly lady lying on her bed, unable to speak clearly due to lack of anti-hypertensive drugs...
Hungry children during a feed-ing program, craving nothing but simple lugaw. Some of them have not eaten rice for three days...
Mang Lauding, a 37- year old man, struggling to write his own name on a piece of paper…
Seeing the world through God’s eyes makes the difference. If all of us Christians would only try to see the world His way, less people will feel unloved and hopeless. I know this is true for His grace has allowed me to experience it.
It pains my heart to say this, but the silence from His children is deafening. Yes, we are silent, so silent. We are the body of Christ. And yet, how would they know that God loves them if we, called to be His hands and feet, do not say a word? How will they know that there is hope, if we do not care to act?
Tough questions. I myself have been part of the problem. But this I do know now: it is time to break this silence. It is time to act. Friends, there is a story, a much greater story. Step in. And welcome.
It has been a great joy for me to live this chapter, word for word, just as the greatest Author wanted it to be.
“But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of
Christ.”
(Philippians 3:7 NASB)
ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF SUPPORTERS
MAP’s OFFICERS AND-BOARD OF TRUSTEES
President Emeritus: Dr. Eleazar O. SarmientoPresident: Dr. Eliseo A. GarciaChairman: Atty. Alex ParcoVice Chairman: Dr. Daniel Venera cionSecretary: Mrs. Jo SolisTreasurer: Mrs. Ivanna Dela PeñaMembers: Ms. Lu AsprecMr. Rene BajitDr. Pedro BañasDr. Ronald MacamMr. Rommel San Pedro
MAPLINE is published 2-3 times a year by
MEDICAL AMBASSADORS PHILIPPINES, INC.
ABCCOP Center, 102 Sct. Rallos, Diliman, Quezon City
Because you pray - we are en-couraged and inspired to minister
and provide healing to the sick, strength to the weak and salvation
to the lost.
Because you share - we are enabled to go places and bring to
many people your tangible expres-sions of love to assure them they
are not forgotten.
Because you respond to the call - many lives have been blessed by your presence, showing comfort and letting people know they are
not alone in their suffering.
Routed... from page 2
At the end of my college years, I did well in my Community Health Nursing . God answered my ques-tion as to where I was going next. I was also inspired by the life of my Community Nursing reviewer.
One year after passing the board exam and being a youth worker in our church, my aunt suggested that I try applying for MAP, where my other aunt formerly worked.
So I searched, contacted and met the MAP family. When Ma’am Alice Bañas oriented me on the
job of a MAP Nurse, I got goose-bumps. This is what I aspired to do - Nurses doing evangelism and discipleship besides primary health care and other community work.
God showed His great provision for my first six months in MAP as a volunteer. I thank Him for using my family and relatives to provide the rope of support. My Christian friends also caught the vision and became my faithful partners.
Missionary Nurse. I am that now. Praise Him.
“The Lord reaffirms my calling as His missionary to the nations, He is opening doors of opportunities and He is now working in my life in preparation for my response to go and make disciples of all na-tions...” - Paul Bañas,RN
“Having a short glimpse of Cam-bodia and its people opened my eyes beyond the joys of travel-ling... it is immersing in their ter-ritory without thinking of my own comforts...it is being sensitive of their worldviews... being able to speak the heart of Jesus through my life...appreciating their being different from us...it is identify-ing myself with them..” - Ira Cabria,RN
“Jabez Expedition 2012 made me realize (first-hand experi-ence) the challenges faced by frontier missionaries and even by OFWs in crossing language and cultural barriers... We, therefore, fervently pray to the Lord of the harvest to send forth workers into His harvest field so that one day there will be no more missions, everything will be worship.” – Yanyan Amarillo,RN
“...His heart represented people, poor people. His heart was for the prostitutes. The eyes of His heart were never off His servants, those serving Him faithfully on the field. His heart stood with the sick, His heart was for the confused, lost, marginalized, desperate…” - Precious Bañas, Medical Student
“Home, where is home? I thought I went home to the Philippines, but I don’t feel I am home. I am at home when I am doing what the Lord wants. I am at home with the Lord…”- Julius Melad,RN
“...My prayer to the Lord is to have the sensitivity to hear the hearts of the people I will encounter despite the culture and language barriers...Our trip to Vietnam and Cambodia helped me to put all these into practice. I felt fulfilled and felt closer to my Father.” - Em Jimena,RN
