How Tough Are You (Part 2)

Gathering firewood and some coconuts

I mentioned a few articles ago about how tough and resilient the Filipino people are.  The recent typhoon which blew through the central Visayas region (which is where I as at) has wrecked havoc for many people. Homes are destroyed, possessions washed out to sea, lives lost, families separated and neighbors missing.  These aren't in any particular order -- I suppose loss of life should be the most significant, but frankly, all of these are quite catastrophic and probably deserve nearly equal emphasis.  This same region was hit by a typhoon around Christmas time last year.  Regardless of these tragedies, the Filipino people seem to be able to bounce back.  It makes me ask again, just how tough are we?

I was visiting one of the churches in Ubay - there are actually seven churches in that community, but I have only visited three so far.  Anyway, as we were leaving I saw a woman and a young boy coming out of the jungle.  The woman was carrying a large bundle of sticks on her head and the boy was carrying a branch and  a couple of coconuts.  This is something they do three or four times each week. I'm not sure I could carry the bundle of sticks.  I don't think I'm tough enough.

Pastor Jul, Scott and Buena

I paid a visit to Faith Christian Church in the Tubigon barangy of Panatayon . Home to a significant squatter settlement, I am always amazed at how much they do and with so little.  One of my favorite people that I've met there is Buenaventurada -- or Buena, for short.  She was struck down with polio when a very young child.  Her legs are severely impacted by the disease and so she's confined to a wheelchair.  No one was willing to take her to school until she was much older.  She finally graduated from high school last year . . . at the age of 26.  How many of us would stick it out?  I don't think most of us are tough enough.

Every time I think about these people, I wonder what is it about them that makes them so tough.  It makes me evaluate my own life, to scrutinize my own values -- and to complain a lot less and to work a lot harder.  And so I ask the question: How tough are you?