BOHOL NEW LIFE CHRISTIAN CHURCH FOR THE DEAF

 

The first of two Faith Chapel short-term misssion teams arrived in the island of Bohol on May 26th. Their goal is to share Christ’s love through service to others and change out the old tin roof and wooden trusses on the Bohol New Life Christian Chruch for the Deaf. The six man, two women crew, along with some of IDEA’s deaf workers, tore into the project right away. As soon as the demolition is complete, then the experienced welders in the group get on with putting together the metal trusses. We’ll keep you posted as to the progress.

First Faith Chapel Team – May 26 through June 5

Church is located in Tiptip District, Tagbilaran City, Bohol, Philippines

Day 1- Demolition of Roof

Dennis Lenz, back in Bohol for his second time

(gave meaning to the saying, “Takes a Lickin but Keeps On Tickin”

Day 2 – Install metal trusses on first half of the roof

New Roof Decking Going On

Pastor Ron Todd (yellow cap)- leader of the project and Dennis Lenz

Three days into the roof project and the bumps and scrapes were mounting yet the crew kept on laughing . . . but only after a really good, “OUCH!!!!!” This daring duo now have the nick names of CHIP AND SLIP after their combined weight proved a little too much for the bamboo work platform they were standing on. They’re laughing about it “now”. Keep those prayers a-comin.

Other members of the Team

Shelly and Linda weren’t afraid to get their hands dirty, and faces. :)

A Montanan Bull Rider????

 

Same Carabao (Water Buffalo) but different team.

In Splitting up the tasks, one of the first was to demolish two delapidated buildings at IDEA’s former

Independent Living facility.

Local dentists funded by Dr. and Mrs. Steve Erickson as well as Faith Chapel, carried out an eight day dental clinic. They saw over 100 patients and repaired a lot of teeth. There were many kids with ice packs on their cheeks.

Each day of the dental clinic, another IDEA supported deaf school would send down kids that needed to see a dentist. Keeping these kids entertained before and after their doctor visit was a big job.

 

Some of the team from Faith Chapel took on this task and did a terrific job. They played games, put fun make-up on the kids, did puzzels, and generally had a great time. Some of the kids didn’t even mind getting teeth pulled to be part of this fun day.

Doctor Gene Bukowski came over to Bohol with the Faith Team to help with the audiology work of the foundation. He brought with him some wonderful equipment and hearing aids both new and used. He was able to fit many of the deaf students and staff with aids and had some amazing results. One of his star patients was Lewi (pictured above) who showed remarkable improvement with her two new hearing aids. Lewi is the head Administrator / Director at IDEA’s Bohol Deaf Academy.

Many of the team had various chances to share with the Four Square Church in Tagbilaran City during Sunday services and Wednesday night Bible studies.

Some of the team went out to Bohol Deaf Academy with new pressure washers to clean off the slimmy moss that grew on the sidewalks, mading them dangerous to walk on.

Back at Tiptip and the deaf church, it was a good thing that the first team had the new roof on because it began raining buckets almost everyday.

 

 

The second team concentrated more on putting in ceilings which ment working in a maze of bamboo scaffolding and metal furring

Besides the ceiligs, the team also tackeled repainting the entire building.

Jacque at the work site with a “wow, I could have had a V8″ moment.

There was time to make new friends and each team member was invited into a local home for dinner with a family.

Some of the team are sponsors of an IDEA deaf students and they had a chance to meet their child and spend time with them.

The crew took a little time to play.

A lot of work and a little play can sure be tiring.

ASMAE FOUNDATION VOLUNTEERS
Helping make metal studs for housing project

 

FAITH CHAPEL VOLUNTEER (James Movius)
Ready to put in a ceiling in a high school dormitory bungalow.

 

FATH CHAPEL VOLUNTEER (Richard Colberg)
Teaching IDEA’s Special Projects Director, Lee Duncan, (on the left) so that Lee can teach the high school students

 

Volunteered with IDEA for 3 years. She and her husband made the video AMANG

 

ASMAE VOLUNTEER ( Miryam Deaux)
Volunteered with IDEA for 2 years working as a psychologist.

Dentist with Faith Chapel Short Term Mission

Dr. Steve Erickson with wife Jane and his dental office crew

Jimmyi Krieger and Charlene Irion. Also IDEA Philippines staff nurse Analie Porter and a student.

Faith Chapel volunteer and board member Laura Odegaard

Landscaping at Bohol Deaf Academy in Tagbilaran City, Bohol, Philippines

Faith Chaple Short-term Mission Volunteer, Dr. Gene Bukowski, audiologist

Demonstrates a hearing testing devise to nuses and loctors at hospital in Tagbilaran, Bohol, Philippines

Faith Chapel Mission Team 2007

Faith Chapel volunteer Dennis Lenz

wiring on a dormitory bungalow at Bohol Deaf Academy

Along with a grant from the ASMAE Foundation, five ASMAE French volunteers came over for three weeks to help our crew build the Canteen. These young people live in the dorms with the high school students and really seem to enjoy the experience. The language barriers quickly fell away as the students taught the volunteers some sign language. The volunteers were able to go to the homes of some of the students over a weekend to experience Filipino rural life. They found out what it’s like to sleep on bamboo floors with only a grass mat and a sheet, and how to take dip-n-pour baths at the local pump. All seemed to enjoy.

These young people were amazing. None of them had grown up in this kind of heat and humidity and it was very difficult for them to work all day painting, digging holes, pounding nails, or carrying cement yet they really didn’t complain. Their spirits were high and their hearts were right. They made such a wonderful impression on the deaf students. Many evenings after work they would play games with the students like teaching them how to play soccer.

IDEA is really so grateful for the help these volunteers gave us and to ASMAE for the grant that made it possible to have a new canteen and bakery at the school.

Laura Andre, Marlene Renaire, Nicolas Vannavong, Simon Deren, Violette Douillet

ASMAE FOUNDATION VOLUNTEERS to IDEA PHILIPPINES 2008

Jeanne Martin-Pilleux Coordinator, ASMAE Philippines – Visayas

Jeanne ended of her contract with ASMAE here in the Philippines in October of 2008. She returned to France to begin her own family. It was a real pleasure working with her as she was so very supportive of the goals and objectives of IDEA Philippines. She is missed.

 

Kari Aune

Kari Aune is a teacher for the Deaf in the Seattle, Washington area. She volunteered to help the Bohol Deaf Academy move toward a project based teaching methods working with the teachers on a one-on-one basis. She gained a real insight into the deaf culture of Bohol in comparison to the deaf culture in Washington.

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