Missionary Caregiver. Whaaaaaaat? Another overseas contract worker? We needed a tape recorder to explain this new ministry to our friends whom we invited to join in. A seminar on missionary care did the trick for most churches and prayer groups but we needed to verbalize a lot on one on one talks. But then we found out that the best way to teach was by demonstration and that was exactly what happened in April, when we received thirty seven ACM missionaries from other lands. They took part in ACM’S 10th Anniversary Missionary Conference with no less than Gordon Robertson, CBN Asia founder, in attendance.

“Please help us host these missionaries.”

“Can you bring these missionaries from Paranaque to their meeting place in SLEX?”

“Please buy a pair of sandals for a missionary because he wrecked his only pair during the game. There are no shops here in Caliraya.”

“He looks tired. He needs a spa massage.”

“What shall we prepare for lunch? Oh, I know! They don’t have bangus in Thailand!”

“A trip to Tagaytay will do wonders to tired missionaries!”

“Let’s give them a children’s party!”

School of hard knocks. Learning by demo. This happened to Dr. Susan Lim, Carol Roa, Aileen Munoz, Maggie Quirino, Esther Ylizarde, and Monette Tumangan when they said “Yes” to Meg Alag, MCare head honcho of Asian Center for Missions. Our mission was to host thirty seven missionaries while in transit to their Caliraya Retreat and man the MCare room during the Missions Conference. The above stated conversation were samplers of the confusion that followed the mission order. But the God of order brought out the best from our mixed giftings and capabilities.

“What do you have in your hand, Moses?” served as a reminder to us, fledgling caregivers. Dr. Susan Lim provided her house for accommodations. Carol Roa used her events’ savvy to make the children’s party one riotous fun. Esther Ylizarde organized the kitchen and the meals. Aileen Munoz came in with her giveaways and volunteered her driver for errands. Maggie Quirino used godly wisdom to the planning and execution. Monette Tumangan was her plain ‘busybody’ self! So, the three days in the Lim’s House of Prayer and the sputtering of days after the Mission Conference were described as “led by the Spirit” time. Rest, mall hops, spa massage, swimming, church visits, a children’s party, out-of-town trips, prayer and prophetic impartation times were organized with relish and gusto.

A little here and a little there – that was the best that we could offer and we were surprised at the missionaries’ thankful response! The camaraderie that ensued during their short sojourn with us was described in a hymn “Blest Be The Ties that Bind” – kindred souls and spirits. Yes, we have befriended God’s frontliners and that brought so much upliftment to our spirits.

“Have we done our best?” a missionary caregiver asked. “Have we touched their lives?” Mmmmmm. . . . maybe a little. But we consoled ourselves to the fact that this was just the beginning of a new ministry that God Himself has called us to join in. We were excited on how we could expand this call! A halfway house of missionaries on furlough, information channels and linkages for missionary needs, debriefing stations, a prayer retreat house for God’s servants, fundraising tool of senders and mobilizers. . . we wait on God’s instruction to complete our vision and mission statement.

In retrospect and after a hard soul searching evaluation, we came up with this prayer, THANK YOU LORD FOR A GOOD START. PLEASE HELP US TO PROCEED WITH THE SAME FERVOR AS WHEN WE STARTED THIS MINISTRY.