Bucana Update #5: Stories from the Team
It’s been a week since the fire razed 90% of Bucana (one of the communities our team serves). People are starting to get back on their feet though difficult. Here are some stories of members of our team to let you know how they have been reflecting through this tragedy:
From Sol Soriano (Relief Operations Educational Assistance Coordinator)
Saving Only a Drinking Glass
Mrs. Sajulan and her son, Paulo were out the whole day. Tired and hungry, she then scooped rice from the container, washed it then placed on the cooking stove. Paulo sat in front of the table, took off his shirt and drank water. As soon as the rice started to boil, Mrs Sajulan heard people screaming fire. When she looked at her window, the two houses before them were already burning. She then grabbed Paulo through the door and took the glass that he used. Had Paulo known that their house would be burned, he wouldn't have taken off his shirt. That way he would still have something on to pair with his khaki pants. Paulo is our preschool alumni and is under our educational assistance project. His school uniform were aslo included in the fire. His class will start this coming Monday, June 4th.
Where is your slippers?
Some of the community people and I were chopping vegetables yesterday afternoon for the feeding. I saw Jonel, a five-year old little brown boy and is one of our preschool students last year. His face was powdered with dirt and snut. His light blue shirt and shorts had turned to grey and black. On his left hand was a small plastic bag with few burned metals. He and other preschool students had been picking up pieces of metals (i.e. nails) since Monday morning. They collect them and sell it to a junkshop owner for seven to ten pesos per kilo. His feet were like that of a zebra, white with ashes and black with charcoal. Worried that he might step on sharp objects, I told him to wear his slippers. He just glanced at me, wiped his nose with his right hand and then went on picking nails. Realizing that he just ignored me, I asked him, "Jonel, asa imong tsinelas? (or "Jonel, where is your slippers?). He stood up, looked at me straight in the eye and said, "Ma'am, wala na. Nabilin sa apoy. ("Ma'am, it's gone. It was left in the fire.) I was so insensitive in asking that to Jonel. My good intension unknowingly reminded him of his loss. Please pray for me and our team to just be sensitive in asking questions and for God to give us wisdom to assist the community well during this time. Pray too that God will give me wisdom on asking the right questions. Ask questions that will cause people to reflect on life. Questions that will lead them closer to the GOD Almighty.
From Emo Yango (our incoming Team Facilitator who flew from Canada over the weekend to administer member care to the team and help us process the disaster)
Isn’t It Ironic?
As I engaged in a number of first hand story telling with folks in the community, one thing has become apparent. In their minds, the fire was intentionally started to get rid of the drug dealers and pushers from the community and surrounding neighbouring communities. In local media, the fire has been reported as a result of a candle. The stories of those who tried to put out the fire where it started related that the more water they threw to put out the fire, the bigger the fire became. Only one conclusion: there's gasoline in the fire. So, the water that was meant to save became the vehicle to spread the fire. I arrived around 6.30 am in Davao after a 21 hour trip. By 2.30 pm, I was out with Jerry and Mang purchasing materials to fence the boundaries of the centre. Once in the community, the youths who are participating in the drug rehab program that Mang has been facilitating immediately took the pieces of bamboo sticks and started to put up the fence. It didn't take me long to reflect HOW IRONIC indeed IS THE PICTURE I was witnessing. The fire was started to get rid of drug dealers and pushers. The centre where we were hoping to bring transformation in the community is being rebuilt by youths who are seeking release from the negative effects of using drugs. God has indeed "thrown the whole order of this whole universe out of balance" through the transforming work of the message of the good news of Jesus Christ. The repentance these youths have demonstrated from using drugs has brought God's light to this community.
Please keep praying for our team and the community. Pray that we will indeed be the extensions of God’s arms and feet so that love will be felt as we journey with the people. Pray for strength as we carry out the relief operations.
It’s been a week since the fire razed 90% of Bucana (one of the communities our team serves). People are starting to get back on their feet though difficult. Here are some stories of members of our team to let you know how they have been reflecting through this tragedy:
From Sol Soriano (Relief Operations Educational Assistance Coordinator)
Saving Only a Drinking Glass
Mrs. Sajulan and her son, Paulo were out the whole day. Tired and hungry, she then scooped rice from the container, washed it then placed on the cooking stove. Paulo sat in front of the table, took off his shirt and drank water. As soon as the rice started to boil, Mrs Sajulan heard people screaming fire. When she looked at her window, the two houses before them were already burning. She then grabbed Paulo through the door and took the glass that he used. Had Paulo known that their house would be burned, he wouldn't have taken off his shirt. That way he would still have something on to pair with his khaki pants. Paulo is our preschool alumni and is under our educational assistance project. His school uniform were aslo included in the fire. His class will start this coming Monday, June 4th.
Where is your slippers?
Some of the community people and I were chopping vegetables yesterday afternoon for the feeding. I saw Jonel, a five-year old little brown boy and is one of our preschool students last year. His face was powdered with dirt and snut. His light blue shirt and shorts had turned to grey and black. On his left hand was a small plastic bag with few burned metals. He and other preschool students had been picking up pieces of metals (i.e. nails) since Monday morning. They collect them and sell it to a junkshop owner for seven to ten pesos per kilo. His feet were like that of a zebra, white with ashes and black with charcoal. Worried that he might step on sharp objects, I told him to wear his slippers. He just glanced at me, wiped his nose with his right hand and then went on picking nails. Realizing that he just ignored me, I asked him, "Jonel, asa imong tsinelas? (or "Jonel, where is your slippers?). He stood up, looked at me straight in the eye and said, "Ma'am, wala na. Nabilin sa apoy. ("Ma'am, it's gone. It was left in the fire.) I was so insensitive in asking that to Jonel. My good intension unknowingly reminded him of his loss. Please pray for me and our team to just be sensitive in asking questions and for God to give us wisdom to assist the community well during this time. Pray too that God will give me wisdom on asking the right questions. Ask questions that will cause people to reflect on life. Questions that will lead them closer to the GOD Almighty.
From Emo Yango (our incoming Team Facilitator who flew from Canada over the weekend to administer member care to the team and help us process the disaster)
Isn’t It Ironic?
As I engaged in a number of first hand story telling with folks in the community, one thing has become apparent. In their minds, the fire was intentionally started to get rid of the drug dealers and pushers from the community and surrounding neighbouring communities. In local media, the fire has been reported as a result of a candle. The stories of those who tried to put out the fire where it started related that the more water they threw to put out the fire, the bigger the fire became. Only one conclusion: there's gasoline in the fire. So, the water that was meant to save became the vehicle to spread the fire. I arrived around 6.30 am in Davao after a 21 hour trip. By 2.30 pm, I was out with Jerry and Mang purchasing materials to fence the boundaries of the centre. Once in the community, the youths who are participating in the drug rehab program that Mang has been facilitating immediately took the pieces of bamboo sticks and started to put up the fence. It didn't take me long to reflect HOW IRONIC indeed IS THE PICTURE I was witnessing. The fire was started to get rid of drug dealers and pushers. The centre where we were hoping to bring transformation in the community is being rebuilt by youths who are seeking release from the negative effects of using drugs. God has indeed "thrown the whole order of this whole universe out of balance" through the transforming work of the message of the good news of Jesus Christ. The repentance these youths have demonstrated from using drugs has brought God's light to this community.
Please keep praying for our team and the community. Pray that we will indeed be the extensions of God’s arms and feet so that love will be felt as we journey with the people. Pray for strength as we carry out the relief operations.
posted by grace gaston-dousel | 6:33 PM
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