As part of the Medical mission trip to the Philippines Dec 10 – 17 Rod Stokes found himself blessed in unexpected ways by his experiences ministering to people in the Philippines. As is often the case when we seek to give we often receive even more from the Lord! Here is an excerpt of his testimony.

We arrived at our first village stop, and to get to the church we have to cross this two bamboo pole bridge over a creek.  I mean just two poles laid beside each other over the water (nothing to hold onto either).  Oh yeah, and then the bridge decided to float away with all of us on the other side.  We had to travel down the creek, now a river, to another bridge to cross.  The water went down later in the day and then the first bridge was rebuilt.  All of this for me just added to the wonder of the trip.  Here we are coming in from other countries to strange things to us, but this is daily life to all these people.

People had come from all over, and many tribes people had to walk for an hour or two or more through the bush, either sick or bringing the sick.  We set up a line of the people in the room, starting often with the tribes people since they travel so far and would also need to try and get home before it got dark. Pastor Pancho would then translate for Eva, and they would bo

th do medical procedures for the patient.  Yoshiko would divide up medications and distribute some medication and clean the instruments after each use, while at the same time she would be making origami gifts for each child.

It was interesting to see the same thing happen at each new place we went to when she would do the origami - at first the children were all quiet and quite distant from us... then after a couple of hours all apprehension was gone and several would be surrounding her and asking for more and watching how she put them together and some even wanted to be taught.

I had also brought along over 600 Tagalong tracts, and 300 of a picture tract, which was perfect to give to the tribes’ people who could not read.  The pastor knew in each crowd who was best to get each kind of tract I brought.  We would then give a presentation going through a tract, explaining it to all the people as they were waiting for their turn with the doctor. This was wonderful to watch people’s faces as they focused and so many were so attentive.  Several times I was told by pastors that Muslims they knew in the crowd were asking for the tracts as well and sitting listening attentively to the entire message and reading the entire tract.  How God works!

A little later I would then bring out a soccer ball, Frisbee and a double skipping rope for each group.  Wow, turning a switch on would be the best way to describe how the entire atmosphere changed with each group.   The parents became happy and boisterous as well, and some even joined in, including some women jump roping.  Everyone was talking and there was laughter, and what had started as a sombre and trying experience, travelling to a medical clinic, ended with at least a little less burden and a little more love.

The medical workers were tireless.  Hour upon hour Eva, pastor Pancho and everyone would keep seeing person after person, often we ended late at night, and then were up at 6 am again (if we slept in) to head off and set up for the next village.  Here too the Lord’s Hand was at work, as He sustained all of us with energy and enthusiasm for the entire trip.  Adrenaline couldn’t touch this – this was the Spirit!

I am not sure of the total count of people, and I don’t think any of us know for sure, but I know that we had more than 500 or 600 people came through the clinic and also receive a tract and the gospel, and be prayed for. A blessing to those who were believers, and a full gospel message and prayer of concern and pleading for the lost.

Here we were, the four and ½ of us.  Nothing polished or glossy – just people who desired to serve the Lord and others.   Whom did the Lord use so often to accomplish His will, but people like Gideon (who was the youngest of the least tribe of a decimated Israel at the time).  Why?  So, when things are accomplished – all the glory goes to God!  The Lord did move, and bless this mission mightily, in spite of us.  Glory be to God!!