He did it again for the second time. Reneboy Collobong left without asking permission. We learned that he had a clash with his classmate Airyl. Misunderstandings are common with our deaf students so with the problem of leaving the campus without permission. This gives us the headache of looking for them even in the night. As these children were endorsed to us by their parents so their security is our big responsibility.
In the morning I called his mother to check but he was not there. But anyway, it relieves us the burden informing the family about their son. After two days we received a call from his mother that Reneboy was found. Having no money he hiked for some fifteen kilometres to his older brother’s house. Reneboy was not back yet to school when the four American visitors Pastor John Blake, Pastor Jeff Jordan, Elder Larry Evans and Dr. Fred Webb came to visit the SULADS School for the Deaf. Everybody was excited to go to Cagayan de Oro city.
For many of the students, it will be their first time to travel that long four hour drive to the city. In Cagayan de Oro City we were joined with our Deaf church group led by Sunny Suan. It was a surprise for our Deaf students that we have a deaf group in that far city. We explained to them that these are our family too we visit sometimes to interpret for in church whenever we come to the city. But seldom can we come to take care of them when we started classes at the Deaf school.
When Pastor Jeff Jordan reviewed the doctrines we taught, I was praying in my corner that the Holy Spirit will move them. I saw that they were so attentive savouring every word they heard again but of different flavour as Pastor Jeff expounded it in a Deaf’s way of making it sweeter in their language. In the afternoon twelve precious souls were buried in the watery grave. We all shared tears of joy as we saw them come up to new life baptized.
Oh what joy! Oh what a relief! Who would ever think that these children who came from different homes, with different upbringings, with different bad influences, bringing us headaches of the different misbehaviours are now crying for what? Whatever that is only God knows who can read their hearts. But for me and my wife and for the rest of our volunteers it was the sweetest moment seeing a miracle of change in them.
In the morning we headed home with Pastors John Blake and Jeff Jordan. Reaching the Deaf school we found Reneboy there. He had come back. I missed all of you and I missed this school he signed.
Seeing the two Americans he asked. Where have you been and who are these two white visitors. His classmates happily explained the good time we had in the far city. They also shared their new life experience being baptized.
I WANT TO BE BAPTIZED he pleaded. We can set a schedule for your baptism after our visitors go home. I interrupted. You came late. I will be the one to baptize you. I said. I WANT TO BE BAPTIZED now by him pointing to Pastor Jordan. In the early morning the following day Reneboy together with his classmates cleaned and dug a portion of the stream that run by the school campus. Then we all gathered around as some of our hearing brethren sang and the Deaf classmates sang their hearts out with their hands as we witness Reneboy baptized. Tears of joy flowed again as we the Deaf family welcomed Reneboy with prayers and tight hugs.”
From Pastor Jeff Jordan’s Southern Deaf Fellowship Newsletter April 2015