MAPLINE February 2015

m a p l i n eThe Official Newsletter of

MEDICAL AMBASSADORS PHILIPPINES, INC. Volume XXVII No. 1 February 2015

Although Dr. Luke was not one of the disciples, God saw it fit to use him to do a detailed and accurate research (as a scien-tist would) of the data given him by eyewit-nesses and servants of the Word. He says in Luke 1:3-4, “Therefore since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, it seemed good to me to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the cer-tainty of the things you have been taught.” Among the gospels, Luke is the only one that goes into the details of Jesus’ birth, while Matthew deals with the history. Take note that physicians are trained to do ac-curate research work. This is probably why God chose to use Dr. Luke for this partic-ular work to insure the certainty of the events of Jesus’ birth and life. Again, as a physician, he was also trained in careful accounting. This, we observe in the two

How God used a Physician to Recount the Christmas Story

by Eleazar O. Sarmiento, MDMAP FOUNDERHappy New Year! 2014 was a year of overflowing provisions,

healing, and equipping of workers. With trust and faith in God’s power and grace, we were able to face the challenges in the ministry.

To all our partners, friends, and prayer warriors, I appeal to you to journey with us again as we endeavor to accomplish our vision, mission, and goals in the next five years.

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Journey with us in 2015

Our VisionTo see God-honouring, transformed, indigenous, marginalized, and least reached communities in the Philippines and other developing countries.

Our MissionEmpower and equip faith-based communities in integrated health care and cross-cultural missions toward wholistic transformation. Our Goals1. An established and operational MAP ECCLESHALOM (CB-HELP) Center for Primary Health Care and Discipleship Ministry (Cross Cultural Missions) 2. Faith-based communities equipped to do integrated health care and ac-tively engaging in cross-cultural missions and mobilization.3. Communities are able to prevent their own illnesses, maintain healthy lifestyle, are evangelized, and discipled.4. Transformed communities manifested by improved health status, capabil-ity in organizing themselves, making decisions, evangelizing, and discipling their own people.

Alicia T. BañasEVP

UMIRAY, AURORAAreas: Sitio Singawan, Sitio Pinamaypayan, Balete, Libis, Saplot, Maksa,Maypan, Malaya, and DayapanPeople Groups: Dumagat, Ilokano,Bisaya,Bikolano, and Tagalog

KINARAGAN, LIMAY, BATAANPeople Groups: Magbukon Ayta, Zambal Aeta and Tagalog

ABRA DE ILOG, OCCIDENTAL MINDOROAreas: Brgy. Poblacion, Sitio Bagolayag, Brgy. WawaPeople Groups: Iraya Mangyans, Visayans, Tagalogs

PUERTO GALERA, ORIENTAL MINDOROAreas: Sitio Sipit Saburan, and Sitio Ambang, Brgy. VillaflorPeople Group: Iraya Mangyans

SAN JOSE, TARLACAreas: Sitio Tangan Tangan and Sitio Dirita, San Jose, Tarlac

People Group: Ayta Abellen and Ilocano

COMMUNITY-BASED PRIMARY HEALTH CARE MINISTRY

HIGHLIGHTS-Ongoing Church-based Health Education for Lay People -Venue of Operaton Samaria last May with the theme, “PARANAWAN (All Nations)”

HIGHLIGHTS-Sustenance and strengthening phase-Family Health Workers’ Integrated Management of Childhood Illnesses (IMCI) Training-Leadership training and evaluation last May-Christmas program last December

HIGHLIGHTS-Sustenance and strengthening phase-Partnering with God’s Living Grace Ministry for M outreach

HIGHLIGHT-50 children graduated from Child-to-Child Health Scouts Training Program

HIGHLIGHTS-Community Assembly held last October-Installation of water purifying system by Dr. Jun Garcia and Sola Gracia -Medical and dental services done last August-Special youth gathering last August; 26 students accepted Christ as their Lord and Savior

Every Christmas season, people get busy preparing for par-ties, exchanging gifts and sharing food. That is how we usual-ly celebrate here in the lowland. Meanwhile, there is a group of people in the mountains whose holiday is spent in silence. They celebrate Christmas like an ordinary day, while we city people hold extravagant gatherings.

In December 2011, a group of young mountain climbers, in-cluding myself, conducted an event called Mission HIMpossi-ble to celebrate Christmas with the mountain communities. Later on, we decided to continue holding the event every Christmas season. The purpose of this seasonal event is to share the love of Christ and to celebrate the real essence of Christmas with our tribal family in Christ.

Recently, by the grace and blessings of our Lord Jesus Christ, we accomplished Mission HIMpossible 2014 in Sitio Sip-it Saburan and Sitio Ambang, Puerto Galera with Mangyan families. Although we were just four in the team, we did our best in the activities and committed them to the Lord. God gave me a lot of new experiences in this trip, the first time that I led a mission team. What a blessed time it was!

Here are some excerpts of insights from my teammates.

“...It allowed me to reflect on my own spiritual walk and how I trust God with everything. It reminded me of the fair-weath-er believers, those who follow God when everything is “smooth-sailing” or for what they can get. This kind of su-perficial faith can easily be destroyed by a taste of adversity. However, adversity strengthens genuine faith (2 Corinthians 11:23-30). It causes believers to dig their roots deeper into God and to lay their foundation on Christ in order to with-stand storms…” –Kheita

“… The Lord taught me how to mingle with the Mangyans, by showing respect, acceptance, by sharing our blessings and giving encouragement to them as we love them. At the same

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Mission HIMpossible – Christmas in the Mountain

by Natan Rotap1. Banate Baptist Church 2. Hilgendorf Clinic, Agui-naldo, Ifugao3. Lawaan and Hernani Eastern Samar4. Hernani, Eastern Samar5. San Roque and Barangay 95A Tacloban City6. UCCP Church in Tolosa, Leyte. 7. RHU Center of Dulag8. Action International Ministries KIDS Home9. UMC Southern District10. Caloocan Bible Church

11. Jesus the Great Shepherd Fellowship International12. Arenda, Taytay-Ms Medical service in part-nership with Community Development workers

Medical services- 3391Surgical services- 24Dental services- 309Optical services- 35Gospel was shared in every mission conducted.

1. Guiding Light Christian Church Health Education Training, Baguio City.2. PHC training in Abra de Ilog with Ministry of Christ the True Vine (MCTV) churches3. Started Benchmarking the CB-HELP Training Program - to evaluate the impact of HELP training to 300 churches/faith-based organizations in Min-danao, Bohol, Ilocos Sur, and Metro Manila among others.

MEDICAL MISSIONS SUPPORTED IN 2014

CHURCH-BASED HEALTH EDUCATION FOR LAY PEOPLE

(CB-HELP) Ministry

e d i t o r i a l s ta f fMrs. Belle Puruganan-Villanueva

Editor

Mrs. Alice T. BañasEditorial Adviser

MAP WorkersContributing Writers

Asheri Ira C. BañasLayout

c o n n e c t w i t h u s

M E D I C A L A M B A S S A D O R S P H I L I P P I N E S I N C .102 Scout Rallos St., Diliman, Quezon City Philippines 1101

Phone No. (02) 664-2292/ (02) 415-9068

E-mail: [email protected] Page: Medical Ambassadors Philippines

M E D I C A L m i s s i o n s p h i l i p p i n e sP.O. Box 3656

Modesto, CA, USA 95352

For your donations, please be informed of MAP, Inc.’s Bank accounts:

China Bank Corp Account (Peso):Account Name: Medical Ambassadors Phil. Inc.Peso Savings Account: 105-004024-2

PNB Account (Dollar):Account Name: Medical Ambassadors Phil. Inc.Dollar Savings Account: 399344200016

A C K N O W L E D G M E N T O F S U P P O R T E R S

BECAUSE YOU PRAYWe are encouraged and inspired to minister and provide healing to the sick, strength to the weak, and salva-tion to the lost.

BECAUSE YOU SHAREWe are enabled to go places and bring to many people your tangible expres-sions of love assuring them they are not forgotten.

BECAUSE YOU RESPOND TO THE CALLMany lives have been blessed by your presence, showing comfort, and let-ting people know they are not alone in their suffering.

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time I learned from them because they are faithful in serving .

the Lord despite the difficulties. They are satisfied with what they have; they relied on the Lord…” –Jestoni

“….God revealed to me that climbing up the mountains is like our Christian life. You will experience rains that will cause you to stumble and fall down, insects that will bite, tiredness and muscle cramps. In the same way in our Chris-tian life, we experience problems and wrong decisions that make us stumble and fall, people who hurt you, tiredness in waiting for answered prayers. But God reminded me of Luke 9:23...”-Renz

[email protected]

/medambassadors.ph

writings, Luke and Acts. Finally, note that the physician’s purpose was to bring about assur-ance and certainty of the things his reader has been taught. Note too that his reader was no ordinary person. Theophilus was believed to be a high ranking official of the Roman gov-ernment. As medical missionaries and health workers, there is a challenge beyond our work of giv-ing health care, to do continuing investigation and research of the information we receive from the Word and life itself. We also have a

responsibility of teaching and practicing the information we discover in an orderly man-ner. With this we keep in mind that our pur-pose is to instill certainty and assurance in the hearts of those that we minister to, whether to lay people or to people in important and influential positions. Dr. Luke, a partner of the missionary Paul, summarizes for us the work and responsibil-ity of a missionary health worker and sets an example.

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Let us celebrate God’s faithfulness!