mapline The Official Newsletter of MEDICAL AMBASSADORS PHILIPPINES, INC.
Volume XXVII No. 2 September 2015
Together We Serve Presently, we have thirty- six Aeta and Mangyan family health workers who
completed the Family Health Workers’ Training program. They now serve in their respective communities, representing their tribal communities in the local health care sector of their barangay. We share this success with our partners in the government, churches, like-minded groups, and individuals. Together we served and joined our talents, resources, and commitment to develop confident and competent, enthusiastic volunteer-community health workers. Intentionally, we shared the Gospel of Salvation and teachings of Jesus Christ to the people we served and trained. Without reservation and with warm welcome, our FHWs were accepted as partners of the local government health care system. But we have yet to see the community people build genuine confidence in and respect for their family health workers. The challenge for the FHWs is to prove their competence and confidence in serving their own people. In order to sustain the interest and enthusiasm of the FHWs, and enhance their skills, we visit them at least once every quarter to provide continuing education in health promotion, disease prevention and intentional discipleship training. Another evident mark of serving together is the successful partnership project with the people in Batang, Hernani, and Eastern Samar. Just a month ago, we formally started the WASHE (WATER, SANITATION, AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH EDUCATION) program in Batang together with the barangay council, a local evangelical church and other groups. Within fifteen days, we were able to build ten sanitary toilets. The good news is that MAP was not alone in these tasks. The ten family recipients voluntarily built their own toilets. The barangay chairman was so amazed and proud of the cooperation and willingness demonstrated by the 10 families. Our partner church in the area was overwhelmed with joy. We pray that in God’s own perfect
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map 44th founding anniversary: that we may be one Last February 28, Medical Ambassadors Philippines Inc. celebrated its 44th founding anniversary. Dr. Eli and Dr. Elma Sarmiento graced the evening together with Medical Missions Philippines chairman Mr. Richard Hagerty and his wife Theresa. Almost 120 people celebrated with us and enjoyably listened to Dr. Eli’s original song compositions as the highlight of the program. Mr. Hagerty shared the importance of partnership and how Medical Missions Philippines plays a big part in sustaining the ministry by God’s grace. He challenged us to mobilize more of the local churches and individuals to support the ministry. The frontline workers were encouraged all the more when he stated that they will always be supporters at their backs, which is an essential part in the work of Kingdom. Dr. Sarmiento perfectly put it in one of his articles, “ Partners are important in our ministry…. We often take for granted the partners that we have in life - at work, in the marketplace, and in the ministry. The tendency for us is to receive commendations, awards, and compliments for ourselves. We forget
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MY JOURNEY WITH GOD TO THE PROMISED LAnd
I was amazed. My family had a flourishing business in Leyte which provided for all our needs and wants, but for some shal low reasons, we still left our hometown. It was the fulfillment by Angela Mendoza of God’s word in Deuteronomy 1 :7. At that time, God kept on reminding me about that revelation He gave me through the Five years ago, I entered a building where people were singing book of Deuteronomy. Phrases such as - “Do not be afraid… He and dancing. There was a total emptiness I felt inside of me. I will go before me… he will fight for me... Be careful in obeying cried so hard and found myself lying on the floor, speaking in an unknown language. I realized that it was God whom I missed and keeping all the decrees and instructions... God has been with you and you have lacked nothing… go and occupy the land so much. While my eyes were closed, I saw a vivid picture of myself in a mountainous place. I was wearing a nurse’s uniform, God has prepared for you.. and be careful not to have gods othstanding in front of multitudes of people. I did not know what it er than Him once you occupy the land”, - kept me secure. True meant then, but I was about to take the licensure exam for nurs- enough, the promised land has lots of giants in it, but the Lord destroyed them before me; and I succeeded them, and dwelt in es that time. From then on, I never stopped asking God what their stead. (Deuteronomy 2:21). that vision was about. I became actively involved in that church where I encountered God the first time. Now I know that the promised land He was talking about, was A month after that wonderful encounter with the Lord, I received Jesus Christ as my personal Lord and Savior with the leading of the Holy Spirit. No one taught me how to do it. I just felt a deep sense of urgency to receive Him right where i was sitting, looking after our store. I could not explain what was happening to me. Everything happened so fast. I learned how to read the Bible without someone from the church teaching me. It seemed that God was leading me all along. I was led to read the book of Deuteronomy where it shows the Israelites being commanded to leave Sinai and go to the promised land. I felt it was a personal message from God, that He would cause me to leave the place where I was and lead me to that Promised Land he set for me. I had a lot of questions that needed answers. I never realized that the pursuit of my answers would be a journey with the lord.
not literally a place. The promised land is His specific will for me. The promised land is the picture He showed to me when I encountered Him. If that is the case, I have finally reached the Promised Land.
I am not putting an end to what God is still showing me. In fact, I need to entrust everything to Him and need his will to be done in my life even in the smallest details. Basically, I can be anywhere to serve him, but for this season, I am blessed to be serving Him in MAP.
A few months after I got my license, my family decided to leave our home in Leyte and transfer to Cavite where we are now.
AHEAD OF US by Paul Bañas I’m still fascinated by the fact that Jesus himself needed his disciples to accomplish the tasks he entrusted them. Jesus never worked alone, He always had people with him who believed and embraced His message. Jesus’s words to his disciples, ‘I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you’, stress that we should serve and support one another. In the last 7 months, many churches and organizations partnered with us and together we have achieved great things for God! We have conducted 11 medical mission outreaches with Asian Center for Biblical Studies, Lucban Bethel Church
Temple, I am Redeemer Baptist Church, Bancalan Baptist Church, Antioch Community Christian Church, Kid’s Home Antipolo, Faith Bible Church of Vallejo, Jesus Our Life Manggahan General Trias and Diliman Campus Bible Church. Together we served 3,043 medical cases, 815 dental patients, 89 surgical cases and 70 optical cases. Most importantly, 2562 heard the Gospel of Jesus Christ and 1034 accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Indeed, God is always ahead of us. He is amazing and He is the one who enables us to do these things for His glory alone. Another avenue of partnership is our Primary Health Care Training. We conducted Primary Health Care training in United Bethel Church in partnership with
Practice His Care Ministry, Creative Prime Movers for Transformation Inc., Midtown Village Christian Fellowship, and during the Operation Samaria. We trained 114 participants the past 7 months.
Partnership is the DNA of Missions. Without mobilization and partnership, the Great Commission will not be accomplished and the Gospel will not spread to the ends of the earth. God designed partnership so His people will become one in loving Him and making Him known among the nations!
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that we did not do it by ourselves. God had planned to give us partners to accomplish the work that He had given us”. We thank the Lord for Drs. Sarmiento and Mr. Hagerty. We also praise the Lord for the partners, supporters, and prayer warriors of Medical Ambassadors Philippines. You are a vital part of this ministry.
I have a story to tell… a story of a girl who wanted to explore the beauty that God created by Chela Mequila It was 2009 when she started to explore the world outside her box. She joined her first mission exposure trip, Operation Samaria in Umiray, Dingalan, among the Dumagat tribe. From then on, she saw the world through the eyes of God. She found a new avenue to use her passion in sharing the love of Christ to the people in the mountains, along coastal areas, to the children and to those who speak a different language.
A few months after her exposure, she entered a mission school to broaden her heart and passion for the Word and the world. It was a faith-stretching time for her but God was faithful and she was able to embrace a Christ-like heart. After 4 years of training in the seminary and joining different mission exposures, she finally decided to “go… into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.”
Pray with us!
1. We thank the Lord for the Rehabilitaion Program in Batang, Hernani has started. We have built 10 toilets for the community, all by God’s grace. May you join Anj and Cris in prayer as they visit Hernani on September 14October 2 for the follow-up and building of remaining toilets and water wells for the community. 2. Mrs. Alice Bañas will have her US trip on October 15 until December 9. Praise God for this opportunity to visit friends, former colleagues, and churches,
at the same time, present MAP’s ministry. May more people be challenged and encouraged to take part in the Lord’s work. Pray also for safe travelling mercies, wisdom, and good health for Alice. 3. Please also pray for our monthly visits in our ministry areas by our workers ( Aurora, Mindoro, Tarlac, Ifugao, Bataan). 4. Our partnership with Kids Home has started. Please pray for Joab as he mans their clinic.
Thank you!
She considered joining some organizations before she decided to join MAP. When she told her mentor about her decision, she was discouraged. “Why MAP? Walang pera sa MAP.”(There is no money in MAP). She thought that he was just being practical about her welfare because at that time she was still adjusting to her life as a missionary. So she prayed, “Lord, whatever your will is, you will weave everything in the new tapestry of life that will lead to honor and glorify Your name.” It was a faith-stretching and grace-relying moment for her. In the summer of 2014, a Pastor handed her a small book “It’s time to launch out to the deep.” It was an exhortation from Luke 5 where Jesus talked to Simon Peter. She was challenged with the question, “How long will you stay in the shore?” The invitation to go from the seashore out into the deeper waters made her think about leaving her comfort zone in joining shortterm mission trips. She reflected, “How long will I stay here in the shore? Will I just settle for short-term missions forever? When will I respond to the call of Jesus to launch out into the deep to catch more fish?” She fervently prayed that God would give her a heart and attitude of trust and surrender to His will. to page 4...
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Last October 2014, she responded to God’s call to join MAP. Although there are some uncertainties, she is trusting God more, realizing He has been faithful to her from the very start of her calling, from her short-term mission trips and sending her to mission school to bringing her to MAP. Indeed, Philip pians 1:6 is true - “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”
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time, these families will become believers of Jesus Christ. Remember the ten families in your prayers.
BECAUSE YOU PRAY We are encouraged and inspired to minister and provide healing to the sick, strength to the weak, and salvation to the lost.
Now, she is serving in Singawan, Umiray Dingalan - where she had her very first mission exposure, and in Limay, Bataan
among the Magbukod tribe. God remains faithful to her and is using her in MAP through her gifts in teaching and dealing with people. This is my story with MAP. Jesus taught me not to be contented staying in the shore. He taught me to go and plunge into the deep to catch more fish for His name and glory….to step out and follow him further than my feet could ever wander... to walk upon the waters, in over my head, not relying on myself, but holding fast to him, trusting in him, casting all my hope in Him. Indeed, He is faithful and true when He calls us.
For your donations, please be informed of MAP Inc.’s Bank accounts: China Bank Corp Account (Peso): Account Name: Medical Ambassadors Phil. Inc. Peso Savings Account: 105-004024-2 PNB Account (Dollar): Account Name: Medical Ambassadors Phil. Inc. Dollar Savings Account: 399344200016
ACKN OW LED G M ENT O F SU PPO RTERS
BECAUSE YOU SHARE We are enabled to go places and bring to many people your tangible expressions of love assuring them they are not forgotten.
Let me challenge you to continue joining us in serving God and serving our people together. In Paul’s words, “…because of your partnership in the Gospel from the first day until now… “, we are able to finish the tasks God has entrusted to us. We cannot do it alone; the task ahead of us is still tremendous. Let us continue working together.
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.
ed ito r ia l sta ff Mrs. Belle Puruganan -Villanueva Editor
Alicia T. Bañas MAP EVP
Mrs. Alice T. Bañas Editorial Adviser MAP Workers Contributing Writers Asheri Ira C. Bañas Layout
MEDICAL AMBASSADORS PHILIPPINES INC. 102 Scout Rallos St., Diliman, Quezon City Philippines 1101 (02) 415-9068 medambassadors.org info@medambassadors.org /medambassadors.ph
MEDICAL missions philippines P.O. Box 3656 Modesto, CA, USA 95352