Paquito and Maribel

Let me introduce you to the largest family we’ve met in the village.  They are probably the most important family we’ve gotten to know as well.  Paquito and his wife, Maribel aren’t much older than us, maybe early 40’s at most, but their 9 children span over 20 years, and they are grandparents as well. 

Paquito, a carpenter by trade, is currently the baranggay captain of the area we live in.  Other villagers have commented to us that he is smarter than them because he’s not just a corn farmer like the rest of them.  That’s why he’s the baranggay captain right now.  Being a carpenter, he and I have a little bit in common.  (Some look at our families and say we’ve got something else in common too!)

 

 

 

Here are their children:

Mildred, who is 24, is married and recently had her first child.  Like her dad, she is very quiet and reserved.  She has only recently been coming around more to visit with Shannon and the kids.

 

Crynalyn, who is 22, is also married, and has a 2 year old son.  Unlike her older sister, she has made every effort to be around us and figure out who we are since we first began staying in the village.  Admittedly it gets a little tiring at times!

 

 

 

 

 

Geward is 18 and spends most of his time away at school.  This picture is from the only time I have actually met him in the village.  Paquito and Maribel have been able to send all of their older children out to high school, which is an expensive thing for them to do in remote areas such as this.

 

 

 

Novilyn is 14, and currently attending the same high school as her older brother in the town we were living in, about 30 km from the village.  Within the next couple of years, she will be of marrying age, if she returns to the village to stay. 

 

 

 

Fevilyn, who is 13, also attends high school with her sister.  They generally come back to the village each weekend, but she in particular much prefers to live out of the tribe.

 

 

 

 

 

Ogelon is the same age as our son, Kyle who is 9, and they didn’t take long becoming friends when Kyle first went to the village. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Aubrey is about 5 years old.  We see her, along with a crowd of other 3 to 5 year olds pass by Christina’s house every day during the week as they go to and from preschool.  Even in the tribe, kids start their education at a very young age.

 

 

 

 

 

Aldren is 3, and we joke about him being the screamer of the family.  Pretty much every day, at least once, he can be heard throughout the village as he wails loudly over something he’s not happy about.  Beyond that he’s really a nice little boy!

 

 

 

 

 

Evie is two now, the same age as her older sister, Crynalyn’s son, Nardz.  It’s funny to think she was an aunt shortly after she was born. 

 

 

 

 

 

Erik and I first met Paquito when we had a meeting with the men of the village in 2008 to ask if we could move there.  We explained to them how we wanted to learn their language and culture so we could clearly explain the Bible to them.  When we finished talking, Paquito spoke on behalf of all there, welcoming us to live with them.  He said they were looking forward to what we could teach them. Since then, he has been open as we get to know him and his family, and he’s been helpful to us in different ways as we get set up in the village.  Please pray for Paquito and his family as the Lord prepares their hearts to receive the Gospel message one day. 

By Chuck