Two or three afternoons a week, I make the 6 km trek into the bustling town of Malaybalay. The entire town is located on one main road and can easily be walked in a matter of minutes, although there are plenty of multi-cab (small jeep/bus type vehicles) ready to drive us if we’re so inclined. But my interest lies at the beginning of the “strip” where Bethel Academy and Hospital are located. On our first trip into town, I visited the hospital, carrying my guitar to spend time singing and praying with the patients there. After we had spent time with several of the patients, the doctors asked us to go meet Rosario. She is in her early 50’s and is in the late stages of breast cancer. When we walked into her room, she barely acknowledged us. She didn’t even have enough energy to raise her head and her arm was so swollen and painful that she couldn’t bear for us to touch it. Her daughter, Hera, was sitting with her and discouragement was written all over her face. Hera is 19 and dropped out of the university to care for her mother. They don’t have money for the hospital bills and she knows her mother is dying. Our small group sang songs of life over her and prayed over her and left with our hearts already captured by this precious woman and her family.
When we returned a couple of days later, an entirely different woman greeted us. Her face broke into a huge smile when we entered her room and she excitedly began to chatter away at us, even speaking English, which we assumed she didn’t know. It has become the highlight of my week to stop in and visit with Rosario. This picture doesn’t do justice to the JOY that radiates from this woman. Here in the Philippines, when a family member is in the hospital, the family is responsible for taking care of them. So every time we visit, we meet more and more of the family, the legacy that this woman leads. When we first met her, we were praying for her healing and comfort, for her to know God’s love and peace. And while we still pray for those things, we now also pray for her grandchildren to grow up knowing the love of our Savior, for her children to rise up and be the men and women of God that they are called to be.
Some of Rosario’s family. Hera is in the pink shirt.
One of the last times we visited, a group of deaf friends were there as well. Translating from Viciyan to English to ASL is quite the challenge. So I wracked my brain and pulled out a few long hidden signs that I remembered. Before I knew it, we were agreeing that Jesus loves us all and then singing “Trading My Sorrows” together. They joined in on the chorus and together I sang and we signed
“Yes, Lord, Yes, Lord, Yes, Yes, Lord”.
Then we moved on to “Jesus Paid it All” and signed those beautiful words together.
How incredible to be worshiping the Lord together in such a way. I don’t know how the Lord will choose to heal Rosario, but I have every confidence that in some way, He will. And He will receive all the glory.
Rosario’s SUPER energetic grandson, Michael
