Sulads Story- One More

Being a part of the SULADS missionary is my Lifesong. I would like to share this story happened when I was there serving in the mission field.

ONE MORE
By:Daryl Famisaran, SULADS director
Mountain View College, Philippines

Would you care for one more baby? I asked my wife one
morning. Baby?(surprised)What baby are you talking
about? There is a baby in Lapangon Mission School who
is just like our boys, an orphan. His mother died
three days after, after giving birth to him. The
father poisoned himself to join his wife. That is
typical for MANOBOS who believe in “life in the other
world.” shortly after death. The Chief of the village
who is the grandfather of the baby so loved the boy
that he planned to kill the innocent tyke with that
belief that he will be united to his parents and live
a happy family in that “other world”. Good enough the
SULADS missionaries were able to convince the Chief
that they will rush the baby to the hospital.He is so
sick, dehydrated, mulnourished,skin and bones and
covered with scabies just like our Shad when he was
given to us by his father.
My wife was silent for some time. I did not insist for
an answer. I know that she is thinking deeply if she
is really ready for a fifth boy. I can see her
recalling back the days seven years ago when we
started the SULADS program. When these four orphan
boys were left to our care by the late chief of
Migtulod Mission School. A situation that we can never
say no and can`t close our door to provide home for
them. I can still remember during the first year when
these older boys who were used to wear rags, with
nails so long and unwashed became her headache. They
were fresh from the forest and they were used to climb
any tree they can find. Reaching MVC, where faculty
homes are separated by boundaries, these boys would
climb any tree and harvest fruits.There was even one
time when they were caught by the student guards
swimming in the reservoir. We got embarrassed many
times with these.One time we lost our patience and we
decided to send them home to their village. That was
the most trying moments of our lives as special
parents to these special children. We too regretted
later why we made that cruel move to send them home.
We were relieved and glad too one day when these boys
came to our door one early morning with their few
belongings wrapped in a ball inside a plastic bag
pleading. Please forgive us. We promise to be good
this time. Please give us one more chance.
It`s not a joke to stand as parents to these
children.Not bone of our bones,niether flesh of our
flesh. To train them to the ways that we want them to
follow, but to undo the traits they have learned from
their culture takes longer time than to teach them new
ones. Their financial needs is a bigger challenge. To
clothe them, feed them, and educate them.Thus, to be
special parents to these special children requires
committment, love, understanding and patience. Should
we have not been patient with them, we could have been
the next patients.
Now considering this new baby Dave,another mouth to
feed. With powdered infant milk so expensive these
days. How can we ever make both ends meet? I can hear
her questions from her wrinkled eyebrows.
I`m busy. She said.You well knew that I`m out everyday
for work. I don`t have time for another baby, she
explained. I understand you darling,I hugged. I
promise not to bother you with this new baby, I said.
But in myself I was just thinking of Jesus of long ago
in Bethlehem who was born in the lowliest situation,
the poorest of the poor.In the place of the animals,
in a stall on itchy brown hay. He was rejected. No
inn keeper took him in. This Dave was born on a hard
bamboo floor beside a dirty rag where a dog coils in
the night. No midwife attended to them. Just him and
his mother. Now the mother is gone and the father too.
Dave has no parents to go home to, save his
grandparents. But can I afford to see little Dave go
home and join the dog and share a rag? Can I afford to
see him fed by his grandmother mounching sweet potato
flavored with betel nut and give it to little Dave
when he needs milk only? I can see Baby Jesus on Dave.
Lord, I prayed. Please touch my wife to open her heart
for ONE MORE. “Darl,” do you want to just take a look
at the baby? He`s just so cute. I convinced. Yes sure
I`d love to. We visited little Dave in the hospital
and her heart just melted. I want to keep little Dave
she said as she wipes a tear away. Thank you LORD, I
whispered.We took little Dave home. Now we can have
baby Jesus in little Dave brighten our home.

SULADS is an extension program of Mountain View College to send missionaries to the hinterland in Mindanao, Philippines.