I didn't really want to go with Wesley and Megan, but they wanted to make sure my group hadn't already visited the same house. On the way over, Wesley told me he had seen an old man and felt like he should go visit him. It was around 11:00 am, and it was blazing hot outside. The house turned out to be a one room nipa hut that stood about four feet from the dirt. An old woman sat on the floor in the doorway, as she prepared her chewing tobacco. There also a massive pig laying under the ladder that was leaned against the door.
I stood there mesmerized by the look of the old woman until someone pushed a stool into the back of my knees, which forced me to sit down. Wesley began talking to Lola (grandma in Waray) until her granddaughter walked up, and we all introduced ourselves. Then I was nominated to share the Gospel, for some reason unbeknownst to me because honestly, I probably appeared somewhat unengaged. First, we got a little more of Lola and Lolo's(grandfather in Waray) story. Apparently, Lolo came in from the rice fields one day about five years ago and he was really sick. Lolo has been bed ridden ever since.
So, I was a little taken aback by their story, but I just started to talk about the Bible anyway. Initially, I would talk, Wesley would translate to the granddaughter, and the granddaughter would translate to Lola. This process made me feel like Lola had no clue what I said, which was probably for the best, seeing how all of my thoughts were scattered. Nevertheless, Lola listened, as she spit out her tobacco juice. Then Lolo woke up and moved to the back corner of the hut to relieve himself. I tried so hard not to make a face as his urine ran through the floorboards into the dirt below.
I kept talking as Lolo crawled up behind Lola, and then began to pick up everything in reach and try to throw it out the door. But Lola just sweetly took each item away from him and kept on listening. Their granddaughter tried to explain that Lolo was basically like a child. Then Lola told us that is was very burdensome to care for Lolo all of the time. We all understood why by watching him for only a few minutes. And it quickly became apparent just how much Lola needed some hope.
Lola said that she knew she and Lolo wouldn't last much longer, but she wanted them to die in peace. The three of us looked at each other, trying to find the right words to comfort Lola. Unfortunately, we only had a Waray Bible, so I ran back and grabbed an English copy. Megan and I quickly picked out a few verses. Wesley then read the passages to her in Waray. I hesitantly reached up and put my hand on Lola's forearm. As she listened to the God's promises, tears began well up in her tiny wrinkled eyes.
Lastly, we told her, "Lola, this is what Jesus said, "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden in light." Lola wiped the tears from her face, and I fought back mine. It's the same simple truths…come to me, you will find rest for your souls, and my burden is light.
To Lola, those promises were not only new information, but they were hope. Before we left, we all prayed for Lola and Lolo. Then Lola took our hands and said, "Salamat" (thank you), and I knew she wasn't thanking us for stopping by. That day Lola heard about a God that loves her and will forgive her sins because of a man named Jesus. Better still, that same man said, "Come to me, you will find rest for your souls…"
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