Let’s talk about dogs - A Nehemiah Team Update

Let’s talk about dogs. Yes, dogs. I know it’s not your usual topic for a ministry update, but dogs + village = ministry reality.

I can’t count how many dogs live in the village, nor who owns which dog. But, they roam free and obviously feel it’s their right to join us in any and every activity. Because the church has no wall on the south side, there is always two dogs hanging around inside the church, but the number grows during any meal. There will be up to six or seven dogs roaming, staring, begging, sniffing, and fighting in our tiny church at each meal. Of course the girls have named them, Bandit, Sundance, Tiny Tim, Wiley (as in coyote), Cowgirl, Mama, and Hangman. I’m not sure how much they are fed, because they are ALWAYS hungry. The only thing I’ve seen them reject is a hot chili pepper.

But I don’t want to leave out our other village visitors because cats, ducks, chickens, and roosters routinely wander in and out. I’m not sure whether it’s more like a zoo or a menagerie.

The Nehemiah girls are in the middle of planning as I type this update. It’s Sunday, and we have two more ministry days before heading back down to Puerto Princessa (a day earlier than stated on the schedule). We will be taking a boat (what else?) to a small town on a nearby Island, where we will host a VBS session tomorrow morning into the afternoon, and one on Tuesday morning. It will be a great way to finish up our ministry.

We’ve had a pretty busy schedule since we arrived a week ago. Using the beach village as a base, each day we’ve traveled to one or two small villages. We usually begin by gathering up the kids and doing two puppets songs and a “David and Goliath” skit. The kids love it! We then head out among the homes doing door-to-door evangelism. Door-to-door was once uncomfortable, but has now become part of our daily rhythm.

Yesterday we traveled to TayTay, which is the administration center of the province. It’s a small town but felt pretty big to us! It was a brutal hour and a half expedition in the “prison bus” up and down pot-holed gravel roads which jangled your brain and tested the strongest stomachs. We were the main event at a church hosting a “missions challenge” for their congregation.  Pastor Christian spoke on discipleship, I gave the mission challenge, Hannah, and Ele gave their testimonies of how missions has impacted their lives. There was coffee, fresh Philippine pastries, and donuts, which partially made up for the journey. Then one of the generous parishioners gave us money for lunch, where the pizza, panini, and other great foods made it all it all worth it…but it was still a nasty, hot, bumpy drive back.

But the team is doing great, and outside of a few cuts and bruises, everyone has been well! It actually feels weird thinking about leaving in two days. Although it would be nice to have running water, and more than a cold bucket of water for a shower; and it’s been hot and humid and always rains (monsoon downpour) at some point each day, it feels like home…dogs, cats, chickens, ducks, spiders-on-steroids, scorpions, and all!  And waking up to the sight of palm trees, sun on the water, and the sound of the waves on the sand isn’t a bad gig!

For the Nehemiah Team,

Tom