Juanito and Amelia

Let me introduce you to a Ga’dang couple who we have been getting to know over the last little while.  Juanito and Amelia have been married for about 3 years, he’s 28 and she’s 18 years old.  They have one son, Narvie, who is 2, and Amelia is expecting their second child in May.  I first remember Juanito when he helped me locate most of my missing lumber from our original order.  (He took the time to hike through the jungle with me for a whole afternoon, finding the wood that others had cut but didn’t deliver because the guy responsible for paying them for me ran off with their money.) 

I always see Juanito smiling when I come by, and he jokingly tells me he’s ok, even though their life is difficult.  He enjoys carrying his son around, and I always see the two of them walk by the house early in the morning, Narvie in his dad’s arms, as they go to Juanito’s sister’s house to visit them.  Juanito has been a great help to me in working on the house as he eagerly gives it everything he’s got.  Whether it’s mixing cement or hand planing wood, he doesn’t slow down.

Juanito has also been there many times when we’ve needed cargo hauled in or out by carabao. On more than one occasion he’s taken one of our girls up onto his carabao to ride so they don’t have to hike in the mud.  He’s also proven himself trustworthy in going to town to fetch supplies for us, whether it’s gasoline, LPG, and other supplies. 

Amelia has been busy doing our laundry for us while we are in the village.  6 days a week she comes to collect it so she can wash it in the river.  I’ve never seen my clothes come back so clean!  Early each morning we hear her down by the river, as they literally beat the dirt out of the clothes.  (It’s an amusing process to watch!) 

The thing I appreciate about Amelia is her willingness to come by the house and visit with Shannon.  Usually each morning after finishing the laundry and it is hung out to dry, she’ll come and sit on our porch to visit.  Even though they can only communicate at this point in limited Tagalog, she’s still been a blessing to Shannon as she helps her get to know the other ladies and children of the village. 

Recently, Christina’s house was broken into by some men from another village while we were not there.  Juanito made the effort to find someone with a cell phone and text me about it.  He was very concerned about whether or not anything was stolen, and the possibility of someone else getting in again before we could secure the house once more.  Erik was able to go in and investigate, and Juanito along with another man helped him secure the house better.  Juanito didn’t have to do this, but because of the friendship forming, he cares enough about us to watch out for us. 

Please pray for Juanito and Amelia.  As kind and helpful as they are to us, they are still lost in their sin and going to hell.  They still don’t know that Christ died on the cross to pay the price for their sins and that this alone is enough to have a personal relationship with the God who created them and loves them very much.  They don’t understand that trusting in that alone is good enough to give them eternal life, once and for all.  Ga’dang people believe in a form of reincarnation so they must do many good works for their eternal salvation.  One day we will know the Ga’dang language and be able to share the Gospel with them.  We look forward to that very much.

By Chuck