87 – Short trips to Quezon 1 and Tondo.
The old Quezon 1 Corps hall (church) and quarters was badly damaged by floods and earthquake. The International Salvation Army was quick to respond to our appeals for funds for repairs. The Property Board after careful consideration felt it was better to tear it down completely and put up a new hall and quarters at no extra cost.
So we had a lovely hall for worship on the ground level, social and Y.P hall for Sunday school and other activities on the next floor and the top floor to be used as officers’ quarters. We were there for the opening and dedication of the new building. As usual at the conclusion of the celebration meeting the Mercy Seat was lined with seekers – some to seek Christ as Saviour, others to rededicate their lives to God, including offers to become officers in The Salvation Army. Praise be to God.
The celebrations lasted a long time and finally we made our way to the street where I had parked the car. It had been raining heavily earlier on during the meeting. The street was flooded and good thing water was subsiding. Some comrades very kindly came and helped to drain the water from the car and got it started. We were able to drive home safely thanks to the Lord and the wonderful comradeship of our Salvation Army folk.
That same week we gave ourselves a treat by purchasing two pairs of Wellington boots. These came in handy on many occasions when we had to wade through floods. Anyway we were glad to get home late in the evening thanking God for giving us the privilege of sharing His blessing with the folk at this lively church full of enthusiastic Salvationists.
The biggest Corps in the whole of Philippines is the Tondo Corps. We were invited to conduct the Corps 54th Anniversary. This Corps was situated in the vicinity of the infamous Smokey Mountain – a big garbage tip covering a vast area the height equivalent to a six or seven storey building. Hundreds of scavengers went through this mountain of rubbish sorted out and salvaging anything and everything to recycle for a living. The stench could be smelt miles away. Our church and social centres were like oases in the desert.
Smokey Mountain operated for more than 40 years, consisting of over two million metric tons of waste. The flammable substances of decomposing waste led to numerous fires which resulted in many deaths.
In 1993, a joint venture agreement between the National Housing Authority (NHA) and R-II Builders Inc. (RBI) was made to build a low-cost housing project on Smokey Mountain.
During our term of office we made several visits to this Corps and Centre. I must highlight on one occasion it happened on the Feast Day of John the Baptist observed every year on 24th June. The practice is celebrated by youngsters and the not so young, pouring water on each other and on visitors. Filipinos know how to have fun and enjoy themselves. Unsuspecting travellers fall prey to revelry that sometimes gets out of hand.
It happened on Sunday we were visiting the Tondo Corps. It was raining and the streets were flooded. I simply could not drive the car through the floods, so we hailed a tricycle. Both of us were in our Sunday best full uniform – I in my white shirt, trousers, jacket and tie and my wife in her white long sleeved uniform complete with even a white hat. (In those days all ladies wore hats especially on Sundays!) We sat in the vehicle with our bare feet resting on the bar of the tricycle to avoid getting them wet!
Lo and behold we saw this group of youths with buckets of water thrown at the visitors. We prayed for guidance but prepared for the worst. However when we got near them, they looked at us and the leader must have felt sorry for these ignorant visitors who should have known better then to travel in their Sunday best on such a day! We smiled, waved and wished them “Megandang umaga” (Good morning) and Kamustaka (How are you) They returned the greetings and waved us on! What relief! Praise be to the Lord to meet such wonderful people who showed us great respect. They must have known The Salvation Army, or perhaps even been helped before. The Salvation Army is well respected in the Philippines.
We got to the flooded hall barefooted, shoes held in our hands. The Corps officers escorted us to the platform and gave us towels to wipe our feet. The congregation stood on their pews as we worshiped the Lord on this special day. We thank God for the wonderful ministry at Tondo that still goes on today. No doubt conditions have improved.
I am reminded of the words in Isaiah 43: 2 “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.” With these comforting words we go about our daily tasks God has called us to do. We can do it in the strength of our Almighty God who is always there to protect us not necessarily from hurts, but certainly from harm. Thanks be to the God who has called us into this wonderful ministry of saving souls, growing saints and caring for suffering humanity.
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