86 – The first trip south to Nasukob
Early one Friday morning at 4.30 a.m. we left home by bus. Two hours later we got to the ferry and joined the crowds to board it. We found two deck chairs, my wife happened to pick a faulty one which collapsed when she sat on it! Seriously everything seemed so old and dilapidated. The owner of the old ferry must have bought it from Hong Kong as it still had Chinese characters written on it!
Three hours later we arrived on the other side of the river and had to rush to catch the next bus. We managed to secure two seats otherwise we would have to stand all the way for six hours to get to our destination. We sat with our feet on sacks of rice. Every available space on the floor seemed to be covered with all manner of goods to be transported to villages along the way.
The rickety old bus made one stop on the journey for the driver and passengers to have lunch or relieve themselves. We had brought our own food and drink, so ate ours in the bus, and then took a short trip to use the toilet in one of the shops. That stop was a welcome respite from the bumpy ride and the blaring music played at maximum decibels throughout the six hour journey!
Finally after travelling for twelve hours we arrived at Nasukub. It would not have taken so long had we taken a different but dangerous route because of terrorists. Actually the Chief Secretary Lieut. Colonel Jose Aguirre was indisposed, so we took over the responsibility. It suited us as we wanted to get round to see the territory as quickly as possible.
It was the opening and dedication of the new Corps hall. Not exactly new; it was an old Roman Catholic Church which The Salvation Army bought over at a very reasonable price and renovated it. It included a small unit beside it which became the officrs’ quarters. All this was accomplished through the generosity of overseas Salvationists. Thank God for the internationalism of the Army. The church, now Salvation Army Corps, called Hilltop Temple stood prominently on top of a hill.
Just behind the Corps building was a water tank which supplied water to the whole village. This too was sponsored by overseas Salvation Army and completed about a year before. This village had the best water supply for miles around. Eighty five per cent of the population had become Salvationists, no wonder the Catholics made the decision to move elsewhere!
The Corps Officers (pastors) were a young couple with three children, plus an orphaned nephew. For the two nights there, we used one bed room while the Divisional Commander and his wife occupied the other. The whole family slept on the floor in the lounge! The Filipinos always gave up their bedroom to the visitors while the family would sleep anywhere they could find space.
Their old quarters was an old bamboo and atap hut; the floor was just the bare ground. The hut was sold and the buyers carried it away on bamboo poles. I understand it required forty men to carry it away at the cost of a cup of coffee and bun each! Life was so simple.
For breakfast in the morning it was rice which is plentiful in the Philippines as the villagers are rice farmers. In fact every meal comprised of rice, fish or eggs and vegetables. The villagers lived very simply. For special occasions they would kill a pig for celebration.
Prior to the Holiness meeting there was a march of witness under the watchful eye of the military. The commander used to attend Salvation Army Sunday School in his younger days. I took the salute outside the new hall where we had the opening ceremony the day before. The hall was packed that morning and late comers stood outside. At the conclusion of the meeting the Mercy Seat was lined with seekers.
Then the feast began. God bless the Home Leaguers who worked hard to provide the feast for more than 200 people. They had to borrow plates and utensils from the villagers. We were also joined by the military personnel who were on duty guarding the village.
In the evening, three films were shown – one about the Salvation Army in the Philippines, one American film and one on the Crucifixion. The owner of the Video and television set very kindly loaned us his equipment. The hall was packed to capacity many stood outside the windows and doors to watch the show. There was no electricity in the village, but the Salvationists contributed to hire a portable generator, hence there was power for the film show.
We did not go to bed that night, but waited till midnight when we caught the bus on the first leg of our journey back to Manila. Even at that hour, five kilometres from the starting point the bus was full. We had the back seat kindly offered by two men who were alighting on the way. This kind gesture warmed our hearts. We sat, leaning on a crate of fish with lots of luggage on top of it; some fell on us as the bus jostled along. It stopped for more passengers despite it being full. It was truly overcrowded with hardly any standing room because of the goods on the floor including the aisles. Our travelling companions included chickens and ducks. We could hear the cackling and quacking. Then rained came and beside us the shutter was broken. Fortunately we had our waterproof jackets on.
The trip home seemed shorter and we arrived in less than 12 hours. There waiting for us was our Chief Secretary and he seemed pleasantly surprised there had been no mishaps. Now as I write, I wonder did he get sick at the thought of undertaking such a journey.
We were physically exhausted, but thank God for His care and protection and the privilege to serve alongside our Filipino comrades.
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