The
Philippines trip went wonderful – thank you so much for all your prayers! Every
day was different and every day brought new challenges, joys and experiences. Jubab
was fine while we were gone and we were so glad to be back together early last
week.
We want to
update you on many things but for now just wanted to share about Ronnie and
Aling so you can pray for them.
Two days after arriving in Lapoc, and during
the time that we were holding a Leadership Development workshop with 35 church
leaders, we started hearing news from Ronnie (one of the Lapoc elders and
Paul’s right hand man on all the building projects) that his wife Aling was not
doing well and things were very difficult for them out in town as they tried to
get medical help.
God worked
out some miracles for us through a dear doctor friend in Cagayan De Oro and
Aling was admitted into a good hospital and God provided for all her medical
costs through this dear doctor. Our friend kept us informed through daily
emails of Aling’s situation and results of all the tests, but within four days,
we had the sad news that her cancer has returned (3 years ago she had emergency
surgery for colon cancer and also chemo treatments before she was given
the all-clear. She was then symptom free for almost 3 years until last May when
she started getting fevers and pain in her chest.) The doctors told us that
there is cancer now in her lungs and through-out her body and that surgery is
not an option nor is chemo or radiation.
Ronnie and
Aling have been faithful co-workers with us in the Gospel since their salvation
in 2001, and did not falter in their walk with God even through the tragic
death of their 14 year old son Rodil during a severe asthma attack some years
back. Through many tears and hardships, they have served their Lord and have
been a great encouragement to the churches.
Now they
face – unless the Lord intervenes a we have prayed and asked – a temporary parting
from each other as the doctors have given Aling only weeks or months to live.
Our only time with them was in the hospital room where we found Aling happy in
our Lord Jesus and trusting Him as usual. Ronnie was looking a bit strained and
tired but was remaining strong and he told us that they had already prepared
themselves that the time may be close that God wants to call Aling home.
It was very
difficult for me during our two visits to Aling’s hospital room, to encourage
her and express my love when tears kept catching in my throat and I just wanted
to put my head down beside her and weep. I love Aling, she’s been a beautiful
friend to me and I was not ready for that visit in the hospital room to
possibly be my last time with her on this earth.
I was so
thankful to the Lord for the special gift He has given Paul of being a real
encourager at times like these. He told Aling that she is one of the most
cheerful ladies we know and that she lived with great joy from the lord that
was evident to all who knew her, and if God chooses to take her home to be with
Him then she needs to spend her last days just as happy in Him as she has been
all of her saved life. Such a beautiful way to enter the kingdom of heaven! And
when Paul prayed, he prayed that Ronnie would be able to cry and Ronnie
did……during Paul’s prayer and afterwards as we said our goodbyes. He needs to
let himself grieve.
They are
home now in Lapoc, and Aling is on morphine which is keeping the pain under
control at this time. Every report we hear of how she is doing, we hear that
she is happy and smiling as she talks with her family and other visitors – not
depressed or withdrawn or upset or fearful.
Please pray
for Ronnie and Aling and their sons Rhonnie-Jhon and Ton-ton. Rhonnie-Jhon is
the oldest son and he is very close to his Mum. He is in love with a girl he is
hoping to marry next year but now it seems – humanly speaking - like his Mum
won’t be here for his wedding. Ton-ton, the middle son is married already and
has two very young sons, Andy and Adrian, who Aling loves to bits, and she
wanted to come back to Lapoc to be with them. It must hurt her to look at them
and to think she will probably not get to see them grow up. Rodil, the youngest
son, is already in heaven.
We are so
thankful to our Lord for His blessings and encouragement. Two verses of
scripture that particularly encourage us are Ecclesiastes 7:1 “….the day of
death is better than the day of birth….” And Psalm 139:16 “All the days
ordained for me were written in Your book before one of them came to be.”
