Listening to the Women in Cotabato

After more than 2 months of rest, I was eager to be back in action! I joined the disaster relief mission in Midsayap and Cotabato City where OB served scores of flood victims. Water lilies (water hyacinth) clogged the Rio Grande de Mindanao River causing massive flooding in 3 provinces after days of continuous rains. As a
result, thousands of families were displaced and had to stay in evacuation centers.
 
After serving Midsayap in Cotabato province during the first week of July, the OB team proceeded to Cotabato City to serve families still living in some evacuation centers. One of those we visited was the Tamontaka evacuation center.
 
It was in Tamontaka where I met these 3 friendly women – Zoriah, Sahina, and Monera. They were all married to farmers and were staying in another evacuation center. When they heard that OB was holding a clinic in Tamontaka, they came over hoping to be seen by a doctor.
 
As I talked to the 3 women, Zoriah talked about how hard life was, and how she was helping her husband send their children to school by selling beauty products. Two of her children already graduated while another 2 are still studying. She was beaming with pride when she told us that her son graduated from electrical engineering and passed the board exam, while her daughter is already a teacher. She hopes that her 2 children who are still studying will also finish college.
 
Then I started to talk to Jehan, a beautiful and very smart young girl. She says she is not in school anymore because she is waiting for her papers to be released and is on her way to Kuwait to work. She said she likes to go to school but has to help her parents in providing for her sibling and sending them to school. I asked her if she is doing well in school and she said she is. I asked what if someone gives her a scholarship or offered her work in the city, and her answer is firm NO. She would rather work abroad and it is important for her to help her family. Then I learned that her mom was one of the women I was previously talking to.
 
I whispered to Jehan I will be praying for her and she said she likes that and she thanked me.
 
After more than a month I still think of Jehan and continue to pray for her. I wonder if she has left... I wish I could have done more for her.

I thought of how important families help each other so they can survive. Jehan, like other Filipinos, sacrifice for the other members of their families.  But Zoriah also sacrificed by also doing additional business so she can help her husband and was able to send their children to school. 

I also thought of disasters that can happen to any family and we should be prepared to respond to the disasters that come our way whether we are the victims or we are the respondents helping them.
 
These are just 2 women in the evacuation center. Everyone in the evacuation center has a story to tell. By listening, you will learn what is important to them, what their dreams, hurts and hope are. By the smiles, the encouraging questions and words, the things and time we give them, the touch, the care, the concern and hug, and most specially the prayer - these will leave a mark and are important to people who are hurting and hopeless. It all starts in simply LISTENING. This is a ministry everyone can do – LISTENING MINISTRY.
 
July was a month where OB responded to flooding in Pangasinan, Davao, Cotabato City, and Midsayap. Medical missions, relief distribution, and counseling were done. OB is giving nets to 100 fishermen in Midsayap to help them in their livelihood. 
 
August, OB is still doing disaster relief in Cotabato and will be going to General Santos and Esperanza, Sultan Kudarat. OB will do medical mission, teach health education, do short programs for children, give small scale businesses, and see what else we can do to help the communities. But what is important is that we show and share the love of Jesus to the people we are serving. 
 
I am so excited to be part of this mission again. I want to touch, talk and hug people for them to feel the love of our Lord. I hope to meet and talk to people who are hurting and hopeless. All I need are 2 listening ears and then I will be able to introduce THE HOPE – WHO IS OUR LORD.