God has truly blessed Hope for the Island (HOPE) with a great servant hearted team. Jerry and Ching are two of those servants living on the HOPE compound with their two kids Princess and Prince.
I still remember many years ago when Jerry and Ching were struggling with many things in their lives. They responded to the love of Jesus and experienced His salvation healing and started the journey to restoration. They desperately wanted to honor the Lord and be married. Unfortunately, like most struggling with poverty on our island, the costs hindered all wedding dreams. That set into motion prayers and plans to organize a mass wedding to make these dreams come true for so many that wanted to obey God in marriage. It was the most beautiful day at HOPE!!
Jerry and Ching have served full time at Hope since then. Jerry faithfully works as head of HOPE maintenance and is involved in outreaches within communities. Through the years HOPE has supported a number of our team to be educated and attend discipleship training schools with YWAM. Empowering our team and providing exposure has proven fruitful in many ways. Jerry has long desired to join a mission trip to Borneo, especially after Jing and Nerm had such a great trip with Jenn and I in 2018.
Derek Van Ryckeghem
Here is Jerry’s testimony from the trip he went on with Johnny, my friend from Hawaii and I in Jan/Feb 2020.
Borneo trip video
“First of all I thank our Almighty God for all the experiences and privileges He allowed in my life this year. I also thank God for all the people that God used to bless and enable me to go to Malaysia Borneo to serve the Penan with Kuya Derek and his friend Johnny.
It was my first time to ride a plane. I was a little nervous at first but quickly became comfortable in what became a 12-flight journey.
I was told to expect trials and to be flexible. The tests started already at Manila immigration. The officers gave me a hard time because I was considered a risk because it was my first time to travel. They harshly interrogated me for so long. I hadn’t even passed through security check point and our flight was already boarding. I was looking for Kuya Derek because they were asking me for a visa even though I didn’t need one. At that moment I asked God if it was His will for me to go to Malaysia. I saw Kuya Derek calling me over to the head office of immigration. Kuya signed papers guaranteeing my return and the chief of immigration allowed me to go. As we ran to the plane that was waiting for us, I was so thankful to God because He didn’t allow the enemy to prevail. I was overjoyed to face and overcome such a trial.
When we got to Kuala Lumpur I was faced again with a barrage of questions and escorted to a room with many others immigration was concerned to clear. I felt a little more relaxed knowing God is with me. I believe God will never leave me at that time. Joshua 1:9 and Psalm 27:1 was the verses I held onto in my heart that I shouldn’t be afraid. These Immigration tests were the best challenges I faced in a long time.
After many planes, 4×4 land travel and a 3-hr upriver boat trip we made it into the rainforest to spend time with the Penan. Even though I was raised on a simple island, it was my first time to sleep in a hammock surrounded by jungle. I was not able to sleep right away, because I’m not used to it. Birds were chirping loudly and then the noisy insects started. I wasn’t able to sleep till midnight. I woke up to many different birds chirping. I laid there for a long time happy to listen. They have different ways of singing early in the morning in worship and thanksgiving to Jesus God.
I was amazed with the beauty of God’s creation in the forest. God created all the trees bearing fruit and medicine for man and animals. God takes care of all, feeding them with His plants. I was overwhelmed with excitement at that time to experience a wild forest and to hunt and search for all our food.
My excitement slowly changed with the first leech sucking my blood. Every 5 steps I checked my legs to see if there is a leech on my legs because there are so many. The other challenge was trying to navigate with no paths we can follow. We forged our own path or followed animals’ trails. It was wet and slippery climbing steep mountains with heavy bags. I was full of sweat with all the climbing which attracted all the bugs. At that time, my mind was stirring with thoughts of giving up. My heart didn’t want to surrender. My heart encouraged my body that I can do it, because every challenge has a purpose and an end. That is only a little challenge in reality.
We came across what Parry (Derek’s friend guiding us) called the king tree. Many smaller trees and plants are intertwined growing together and out of the massive king tree. It was something special to witness and touch. God made me very aware how he takes care and sustains all creation. I just need to rest in that truth and trust and praise Him like the rest of creation does.
After long days of trekking, we looked for a suitable place to hang hammocks and make camp. We gathered wood for fire, many of which were wet but burn well when the bark is stripped off. I went to the river to throw nets with Parry for our dinner. We got a good catch of fish and frogs that I cleaned. Kuya Derek went out at night with Parry to hunt. They came back with a big wild boar. They had to drag the 100-kilo pig for 2 hours through the forest to camp. Watching it made me so happy and excited with what I was experiencing in the forest. In the morning I had to look for firewood to smoke the meat so it’s not too heavy to be divided and carried. The life of animal and plant is valued here and we God thanked for graciously providing.
After 6 days in the forest God led us to the village of Long Kerong. It wasn’t our initial plan, but God had other plans. Before entering the village, we met a family Kuya Derek is close to. This kind couple are the ones who gave Kuya his Penan name Lakei Payau (Deer Man). They were harvesting rice at that time. They gave us many kinds of fruit when they saw us.
When we got to the village, I was amazed with the fruit trees that surround it. So many fruits only found in the jungle. Witnessing the abundance, I said to myself, “wow God your love for these people is so great, because these people never go hungry like we do in Philippines. They have everything, actually they have too much because many fruits fall and get rotten on the ground. They actually don’t need money because they have rice, fruits and animals to hunt. They only need to work hard which is common for all Penan including women and children.
As each day ended my heart was overwhelmed with joy. The heart of these people is so hospitable and the world they live in so beautiful and full of life. They only understand a few English words, but hand signals helped with communication. It turned out we arrived at the village at the right time. Many were not feeling well and risked losing their unharvested rice to the birds. We arrived full of strength and ready to serve. Kuya Derek and I harvested rice for 3 days. One of the highlights for me was to teach the Penan something new. They have some coconut trees around the village, but they didn’t know the many benefits from it. On my island in Philippines it is covered with coconut trees. I taught them how to best climb and prepare the stock to gather vinegar. I learn so much from the Penan; so, I was happy to help them a little.
Kuya Derek also had special time connecting with the elders and the local Pastor to encourage them in God’s word. HOPE is praying for God to restore His good purpose and the God honoring cultural principles that the Penan once thrived in. They are trusting God despite the trauma faced. The uncertainty of whether the remainder of their home in the forest will be logged next is a threat always before them.
As our final days in the rainforest came to a close, I became very excited to be back with my family. From long Kerong we started walking to Long Suit where a 4×4 was supposed to be waiting to take us on 3-hour trip on logging roads to the small airstrip. It was a 2 day and 2 night walk through overgrown forest. We were lost on our way to the river a couple of times. It seemed like we may not make it on time due to getting lost and bushwhacking.
When we finally got to the river that led us to Long Suit I was grateful to God he gave us strength and joy.
Then as expected I faced another challenge to end off right 🙂 Arriving at the airport I found out my International flight to Philippines was cancelled. Worry started to overwhelm me especially that it was the start of Corona virus. As God only can do, a flight option was presented to me last minute. Before Kuya Derek and I parted ways, he accompanied me to immigration. We had time to pray together, thank God for all He did on this trip and for His grace to lead us home. I was overcome with peace reflecting on God’s goodness. All the challenges that I faced assured me of the gift of faith God has given me. For me, life with challenge has always been normal. These new tests were very important for my growth. We should appreciate all the trials that we will face, because through obedience in trials God is glorified and does amazing works.
God bless us all
Jerry Tulisana
