Perfecto and Sinanduming

Let me introduce you to the oldest couple in our village.  We haven’t yet determined the exact age of Perfecto or his wife, Sinanduming, but we know they’re at least 70 years old, based on the stories he tells us of the American soldiers.  They were in the area during WW2 when he was young. 

I first remember Perfecto when we made our initial survey trip into the village.  As we passed by his house, he insisted that we join him and his friends for some food and coffee.  It hasn’t changed, as it’s not often we can pass by without Perfecto inviting us to join him for coffee. 

Since then, Perfecto has continued to help us in any way he can.  The house we rented while building Christina’s house is located next door to Perfecto’s house.  He was often at the door offering food, etc to us, or checking up on us to make sure we were ok.  He even allowed us to use his outhouse! 

When I was in the process of figuring out where all our lumber was, we had a meeting with the people to discuss it with them.  Perfecto was very bold as he voiced his opinion that they all needed to do whatever they could to help us and not cause problems for us, as we were there to help them.  (This is unusual for them to speak out like this with us around.)

Sinanduming is the classic elderly tribal lady in my mind.  Don’t let her elderly look fool you though.  This woman could work circles around any of us any day.  I’ve seen her carry 50 kilo sacks of rice and 5 gallon buckets of water on her head like it was a breeze.  Not only that, but she’ll do it while climbing a muddy slope (I can’t even climb it on my own without being on my hands and knees!) with a homemade cigar gently clenched between her teeth. 

Perfecto knows Tagalog and even a bit of English, which he tries very hard to use with us.  Sinanduming on the other hand only knows Ga’dang and Ilocano.  That doesn’t stop her from trying to communicate though.  The other day she stopped me on the trail to ask a question.  I smiled and nodded as she talked, not really knowing what I may be getting myself into.  It turned out ok, as later she showed up with peanuts.  She had heard we wanted to buy some, and had been trying to tell me that she had some to sell. 

Please pray for Perfecto and Sinanduming.  We are hoping they will be able to live long enough to hear the Gospel message.  It has been a very slow process for us to get set up in the tribe and then learn the Ga’dang language, but it is for people like them that we see the importance of communicating God’s Word to them in their heart language.  It would be so exciting to see them rejoicing and praising their Creator one day, especially after living in spiritual darkness for so long.

by Chuck