SULADS USA PART 1

Devotional: . Full Of Beauty Is The Path of Duty ...... Lillian Javellana

Editors Thoughts: . The Joys of Service ... Ardys Joy Caballero-Gadia

Featured Items:
1.
2.
3.
4.

Wants In a Name: The Navajo Way The Editor

Navajo Land .. The Editor
Code Talkers ..
Reporting: VBX @Beginnings .. Group Effort

SULADS Corner .... Testimony From My Ancestor .. Esao Dayon. SCHSL Teacher
Patch of Weeds: ... Jesse Colegado
LIFE of a Missionary: ... The Navajo Nation .... Romy Halasan
CLOSING: Announcements |From The Mail Bag| Prayer Requests | Acknowledgements
Meet The Editors |Closing Thoughts | Miscellaneous

Devotional: Full Of Beauty Is The Path Of Duty

by Lillian Javellana, BSN81
Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Philippians 4:4 NKJV

f you are like me, you would know that we don't just spring out of bed the moment our alarm
clocks start sounding. Most of the time we drag ourselves out of bed to be fully awake. And most
of the time we go to work because we have to and we need to. It is not natural for us to wake up
and be joyful just because we have to go to work. There are no warm, happy bubbles ready to burst out
for joy knowing I have to go to work. It just doesn't happen that way for me. But yet, we are supposed to
be joyful in our service, right? Being joyful in service may not be as natural for most of us but I have learned
that it can be developed.
Each morning when I wake up I spend time with my Heavenly Father. I am reminded that I must be about
my Father's business just as Jesus was about His Father's business when He was here on earth. And to be
entrusted with our Father's business is the greatest privilege. We know that our job will never be that
easy. There will always be so many challenges. But this I have also learned that with the challenges come
the reward.
Each day part of my prayer is asking my heavenly Father to pour His Joy of service into my heart, and He
does. He always gives me a song. Tunes will start playing within my head. Pretty soon words will come
out from my mouth, and I would sing as I prepare to go to work. "Always cheerful, always cheerful.
Sunshine all around I see. Full of beauty is the path of duty, cheerful we may always be."
By the time I get to work, I am reminded that my workplace is my mission field. Once again I ask my
Heavenly Father for His Holy Spirit to lead, to cover me and to allow Christ to shine through me letting His
beauty be seen. As I open the door and enter in to the workplace I know that His joy has already been
poured as I greet each one I meet with a cheerful good morning. I am ready to tell each one who would
ask how it was that "I am blessed," for truly I am.
As I leave for home at the end of my day, it is then that I realize how God made His joy complete in me.
As I reflect on the events that transpired during the day: of those whom I have served, the lives whom I
have touched, their expressions of joy and gratefulness is a priceless reward. My only hope is that they
saw Jesus in me.
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, Joy...." Galatians 5:22. NKJV. Joy is a gift from God and it can be ours
when we are willing to serve. Real joy in service can only then be experienced when we have walked
where Jesus walked, in the paths of ____ and duty. And remember, only those who are faithful servants
can enter into the joy of the Lord. (Matthew 25:21, 23) Truly, the path of duty is full of beauty!

Lillian C. Javellana

Editors Thoughts: The Joys of Service

By Ardys Joy Caballero-Gadia, BSN91

ast Tuesday Jason, a former explosives specialist in the US Army and a decorated hero, stood in my
office to report that if the blades of our network core were not replaced soon the results would be
disastrous for our medical center. Jason, 33, is one of our best IT technicians. He is probably 63 tall
and looking up at him from my desk was giving me a permanent kink in my neck. His military-style
crewcut, his straight posture and his clipped sentences reminded me that he has just recently returned home
from deployment in Iraq. He had yet to learn to loosen up a bit in his stance. I bit down a chuckle and told him
to sit down. What made him decide to serve in the military? What was the deciding factor? I ask him. [I didnt
address the IT issue because as Jason was talking I had already started the chain of events that would lead to
the coordination of a planned computer downtime.]

Whenever I ask that question, I am given differing motivating factors:

War after the September 11 attacks in 2001 and the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, many young
people voluntarily signed up to protect our country. They wanted to make a difference.
Economic motivation some signed up because it is a job with good benefits. They would get free
board and lodging, their medical and dental coverage would be taken care of while they also got a
regular paycheck. Those recruited overseas signed up because they are promised US citizenship
after their years of service.
Education - some signed up with plans of having the military pay for their education after they had
served. Others some signed up to learn new skills, gain experience or have the opportunity to
travel.
Family and friends some people, like my husband Andy, signed up because of family traditions
and expectations. Having been a military family for generations, both Andys Pops and grandfather
believed that nobody was a man until he had done time serving the country.
Drafted or conscription in times of war, males ages 18-26 like young Desmond Doss in the 1940s
get drafted to serve in the military. This is not voluntary. This is mandatory.
In Matthew 28:19, Jesus gave the great commission to His followers saying, Go ye therefore and teach all
nations When I was a student in MVC, I was often amused because it seemed that everyone was being
trained to be a minister nursing students were not exempted. Looking back now, I am glad for that because
now I realize that we have all been trained enough to be able to respond to the great commission. However,
for those who still feel that they are not qualified to serve know that God does not call the qualified but
instead qualifies all of those whom He calls.
Now I ask you: how are you responding to the great commission? How are you reaching out to teach others
about the God of Heaven? To those who are, what is your motivating factor? Are you responding because of
the war between good and evil? Are you responding because of economic motivation? Education? Friends
and family? Or have you been drafted and really dont have a choice?
In this issue of CyberFlashes we will get introduced to SULADS USA, a newly-organized group of Sulads in
Southern California who have responded to the Navajo Nations call to come and help them. It is our prayer
that you will be blessed by this issue and that you will hear anew the Call To Action to serve.
Will you serve? Please pray about thisas this is between you and God.

Whats In A Name: The Navajo Way

the editor

he Navajos (who call themselves Din or Naabeeh) are the second largest recognized
Native American tribe in the United States with more than 332,1291 enrolled tribal
members as of 2010. To get a feel of how many people that is, imagine Valencia
(population 181,556 in 2010) and Malaybalay (population 153,085)2.
Generally speaking the Navajos look like Filipinos, well except for their nose. And like Filipinos,
Navajos have very high regard for family. But they take this a step further.
When a Navajo formally introduces himself to Navajo clan elders or when they address a group,
it is customary to recite not only his own name but four other important things right off the bat
before even saying Good Morning. He must state
a) his mothers name and the family line she was born into,
b) his maternal grandmothers name and the family she was born into,
c) his maternal grandmothers mothers name and the family line she was born into and
d) his paternal grandmothers name and the family line she was born into.
Stop! Let us PAUSE and digest all that for a moment. Get a pen and paper and try introducing
yourself the Navajo way. Yes, try it right now just for a taste of Navajo culture.
Mine would go this way: Hello I am called Joy Caballero-Gadia, daughter of Patria Osorio
Caballero who was born of the Vicente Osorio Clan of Oroquieta City; granddaughter of Sebastiana
Taghap Osorio who was born of the Juan Taghap clan of Misamis Occidental; great-granddaughter
of Candida Aca-ac Taghap born of the Aca-ac clan of Lopez Jaena Misamis Occidental, and
granddaughter of Henorata Briones Caballero born of the Briones clan of Lipata, Minglanilla Cebu.
1
2

http://www.nec.navajo-nsn.gov/Portals/0/Reports/NN2010PopulationProfile.pdf
https://psa.gov.ph/content/bukidnon-posted-13-million-population-latest-census-results-2010-census-population-and

Now, thats certainly far more than how we would introduce ourselves in the Philippines!
Did you try introducing yourself the Navajo way? How did it go? As you went through the exercise,
did you realize how many ancestors you mentioned? Did you realize how many family trees you
claimed connections to and how many others would be linked to you through this introduction?
By introducing himself this way, the Navajo not only acknowledges ties to these 4 family lines
claiming their reputation as his own, good and bad. Notable ancestors will be remembered once
again. Disreputable ancestors and family members will also be remembered. The good and the
bad fame of ancestors and family members linked to these four family lines will be associated with
the Navajo introducing himself.
Wow - this certainly motivates me to be more mindful of my behavior because anything I do or
say will certainly reflect on my family not only today but generations in the future. This does not
mean just my blood family, but also my SULADS family, my MVCian family and the family of Christ.
Thankfully, because we are not Navajos you and I will not have to ever introduce ourselves the
Navajo way (unless you officially get adopted into the tribe!). For you and me, a simple hello will
suffice because someone else in the tribe will do the introducing for us. Because this is their
culture, whatever we do will reflect others.
But I wanted to share this cultural nugget so that we MVCians will get to know our Navajo brothers
and sisters a little bit more; so that we will be more mindful as we show our respect for their
culture, their ways and their people.
What do you think about that?

Navajo youngsters raptly listening to MVC alumnus Kib Ondap tell a story at VBS

Navajo Land

avajo land is located in the Southwestern United States including the 27,000 square
miles of land in Arizona, Utah and New Mexico. The Navajo Nation constitutes an
independent governmental body that manages the Navajo reservation. Most Navajos
speak English well.
Unlike the lush green Philippines where rains pours several times a week blessing the earth in
Bukidnon with an average of 40 inches rainfall a month 3, Navajo land is dry. The most rain they
get is in October for less than an inch rainfall at the most4.
The dusty ground of the Navajo land is colored red. Grass dont grow but desert plants like sage
do grow. Temperatures soar to a warm 95F (35.1C) in July, their hottest month, and dips low to
43-44F (6.2-6.5C) in December and January, their coldest months.
Most of the homes in Navajo land have no electricity, no running water, and no gardens.
Substance abuse, alcoholism and lack of access to healthcare and education are some of the many
challenges faced by those who live in this area. With suicide being the 10th leading cause of death
in the United States (the average is 117 deaths daily in the nation) 5 Native Americans and Alaska
Natives have the highest suicide rate compared to other ethnic groups. 6 When psychiatrist R. Dale
Walker, who specializes in American Indian psychiatric issues and himself a Cherokee, was invited
to a small reservation that had suffered 17 suicides in eight months, he reported feeling
overwhelmed at the toll suicide was taking on reservations and Indian communities especially
when he heard a community say, We can grieve no more. We are cried out. We just cant respond
anymore to the problem.
3

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climate_of_the_Philippines#Rainfall
http://www.usclimatedata.com/climate/page/arizona/united-states/usaz0152
5
http://afsp.org/about-suicide/suicide-statistics/
6
http://www.fronterasdesk.org/content/native-americans-have-highest-rate-suicide
4

Life in Navajo land is harsh but in these same lands there is beauty, peace and serenity. It is also
home to our Navajo brothers and sisters. For that alone, Navajo land has become a special place
to us. This was what many MVC alumni and friends learned when they went to Coppermine/Page
Arizona for a week-long Vacation Bible School (VBS) deep inside Navajo land.

Children of MVC alumni playing with their Navajo friends @the VBS

Navajo children working on crafts @ VBS

more craft stations at VBS

The Code Talkers

orld War II was going on. For three years, wherever the Unites States Marines landed,
the Japanese got an earful of strange gurgling noises interspersed with other sounds
resembling the call of a Tibetan monk and the sound of a hot water bottle being
emptied. Huddled over their radio sets in bobbing assault barges, in foxholes on the beach, in slit
trenches or deep in the jungles, the Navajo Marines transmitted and received messages, orders,
and vital information. The Japanese ground their teeth and committed hara-kiri.7
Who were these code talkers that caused the Imperial Japanese Military of the 1940s confoundded? What code did they use that was simply unbreakable to the enemy? 20th Century History
Expert Jennifer Rosenberg wrote (from http://history1900s.about.com/od/worldwarii/a/navajacode_2.htm):

In United States history, the story of Native Americans is predominantly tragic. Settlers took their
land, misunderstood their customs, and killed them by the thousands. Then, during World War II,
the U.S. government needed the Navajos' help. And though they had suffered greatly from this
same government, Navajos proudly answered the call to duty.
Communication is essential during any war and World War II was no different.
From battalion to battalion or ship to ship - everyone must stay in contact to know when and where
to attack or when to fall back. If the enemy were to hear these tactical conversations, not only would
the element of surprise be lost, but the enemy could also reposition and get the upper hand. Codes
(encryptions) were essential to protect these conversations.
Unfortunately, though codes were often used, they were also frequently broken. In 1942, a man
named Philip Johnston thought of a code he thought would be unbreakable by the enemy - a code
based on the Navajo language.

Philip Johnston's Idea

The son of a Protestant missionary, Philip Johnston spent much of his childhood on the Navajo
reservation. He grew up with Navajo children, learning their language and their customs. As an
adult, Johnston became an engineer for the city of Los Angeles but also spent a considerable amount
of his time lecturing about the Navajos. Then one day, Johnston was reading the newspaper when
he noticed a story about an armored division in Louisiana that was attempting to come up with a
way to code military communications using Native American personnel.

Excerpt from the September 18, 1945 issues of the San Diego Union as quoted in Doris A. Paul, The Navajo Code Talkers
(Pittsburgh: Dorrance Publishing Co., 1973) 99.

This story sparked an idea. The next day, Johnston headed to Camp Elliot (near San Diego) and
presented his idea for a code to Lt. Col. James E. Jones, the Area Signal Officer.
Lt. Col. Jones was skeptical. Previous attempts at similar codes failed because Native Americans
had no words in their language for military terms.
There was no need for Navajos to add a word in their language for "tank" or "machine gun" just as
there is no reason in English to have different terms for your mother's brother and your father's
brother - as some languages do - they're just both called "uncle." And often, when new inventions
are created, other languages just absorb the same word. For example, in German a radio is called
"Radio" and a computer is "Computer." Thus, Lt. Col. Jones was concerned that if they used any
Native American languages as codes, the word for "machine gun" would become the English word
"machine gun" - making the code easily decipherable.
However, Johnston had another idea. Instead of adding the direct term "machine gun" to the Navajo
language, they would designate a word or two already in the Navajo language for the military term.
For example, the term for "machine gun" became "rapid-fire gun," the term for "battleship" became
"whale," and the term for "fighter plane" became "hummingbird."
Lt. Col. Jones recommended a demonstration for Major General Clayton B. Vogel. The
demonstration was a success and Major General Vogel sent a letter to the Commandant of the
United States Marine Corps recommending that they enlist 200 Navajos for this assignment. In
response to the request, they were only given permission to begin a "pilot project" with 30 Navajos.

Getting the Program Started

Recruiters visited the Navajo reservation and selected the first 30 code talkers (one dropped out, so
29 started the program). Many of these young Navajos had never been off the reservation, making
their transition to military life even more difficult. Yet they persevered. They worked night and day
helping to create the code and to learn it.
Once the code was created, the Navajo recruits were tested and re-tested. There could be no
mistakes in any of the translations. One mistranslated word could lead to the death of thousands.
Once the first 29 were trained, two remained behind to become instructors for future Navajo code
talkers and the other 27 were sent to Guadalcanal to be the first to use the new code in combat.
Having not gotten to participate in the creation of the code because he was a civilian, Johnston
volunteered to enlist if he could participate in the program. His offer was accepted and Johnston
took over the training aspect of the program.
The program proved successful and soon the U.S. Marine Corps authorized unlimited recruiting for
the Navajo code talkers program. The entire Navajo nation consisted of 50,000 people and by the
end of the war 420 Navajo men worked as code talkers.

The Code
The initial code consisted of translations for 211 English words most frequently used in military
conversations. Included in the list were terms for officers, terms for airplanes, terms for months,
and an extensive general vocabulary. Also included were Navajo equivalents for the English
alphabet so that the code talkers could spell out names or specific places.
However, cryptographer Captain Stilwell suggested that the code be expanded.
While monitoring several transmissions, he noticed that since so many words had to be spelled out,
the repetition of the Navajo equivalents for each letter could possibly offer the Japanese an
opportunity to decipher the code. Upon Captain Stilwell's suggestion, an additional 200 words and
additional Navajo equivalents for the 12 most often used letters (A, D, E, I, H, L, N, O, R, S, T, U)
were added.
The code, now complete, consisted of 411 terms.
On the battlefield, the code was never written down, it was always spoken. In training, they had
been repeatedly drilled with all 411 terms. The Navajo code talkers had to be able to send and
receive the code as fast as possible. There was no time for hesitation. Trained and now fluent in the
code, the Navajo code talkers were ready for battle.
On the Battlefield

Unfortunately, when the Navajo code was first introduced, military leaders in the field were
skeptical. Many of the first recruits had to prove the codes' worth. However, with just a few
examples, most commanders were grateful for the speed and accuracy in which messages could be
communicated.
From 1942 until 1945, Navajo code talkers participated in numerous battles in the Pacific, including
Guadalcanal, Iwo Jima, Peleliu, and Tarawa. They not only worked in communications but also as
regular soldiers, facing the same horrors of war as other soldiers.
However, Navajo code talkers met additional problems in the field. Too often, their own soldiers
mistook them for Japanese soldiers. Many were nearly shot because of this. The danger and
frequency of misidentification caused some commanders to order a bodyguard for each Navajo
code talker.
The Navajo code talkers played a large role in the Allied success in the Pacific. The Navajos had
created a code the enemy was unable to decipher.
Bibliography
Bixler, Margaret T. Winds of Freedom: The Story of the Navajo Code Talkers of World War II. Darien, CT: Two Bytes
Publishing Company, 1992.
Kawano, Kenji. Warriors: Navajo Code Talkers. Flagstaff, AZ: Northland Publishing Company, 1990.
Paul, Doris A. The Navajo Code Talkers. Pittsburgh: Dorrance Publishing Co., 1973

John Sells was a Navajo Code Talker during WWII. Because of the classified nature of his job, it
wasnt until close to 60 years had passed when he told his family that he was one of the select
group.
US Marine Veteran Willard Varnell Oliver chuckles whenever he told of how confused the
Japanese were over the code the Americans used. When the Navajo Code Talkers were declassified Oliver, who was a member of the Navajo Code Talkers during World War II, took the
opportunity to share stories of the role Native Americans played in saving the country. His younger
brother, Lloyd Oliver, was also a member of the Navajo Code Talkers.
Winnie Breegle was a WAVE, an American Woman Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service
who served active duty in the US Navy in 1944-1949 and another 10 years in the reserves. She
was also a Code Talker. Graduating from High School at the age of 16, she pursued a teaching
degree majoring in English, Spanish and social sciences. In 1940, her dream to teach was realized
but her career got slightly diverted after the
Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor in 1941.
Now 21 years old and married, she was
teaching but kept her marriage a secret
because back then married women were not
allowed to teach. Her husband was in the US
Army Corp and deployed in the Pacific. That
same year she enlisted for military service.
Upon enlistment, she attended training for a
year earning her commission as a naval
officer then she went to Mount Holyoke
College where she and other cryptographers
received Navajo Code Talker training.
Photo at right: Asher Himbing, President of SULADS
USA, poses in front of the Navajo Code Talkers
Memorial at Window Rock, Arizona.

SULADS USAs VBS Team Report

The team of young people who represented SULADS USA leading the Vacation Bible School (VBX)
for Navajo children held in Coppermine/Page Arizona last July 17-23, 2016, were from Covina
International SDA Church (CoISDAC). They were accompanied by their church pastor and the
Executive Secretary for SULADS USA Romeo Bong Caales , his wife Pheobe Caales, Sammy
Salarda, Nanding Eusebio, Grace Bahian, Alma Jean Prajes, Alger Prajes, and Augielo Caales.
Asher Himbing, the President of SULADS USA who coordinated the VBS with the Navajo leaders,
was on hand during the opening and closing ceremonies. Towards the end of the week, more
members of CoISDAC joined the team.

Below are some of the young people who lead the VBX:
Aiva Gallardo is a 3rd year high school student in Los Angeles, California. She dreams of being a
lawyer someday, one specializing in Family/Business Law. Trained in VBX leadership at Loma Linda
along with JayR Ondap, she was the Co-Director of this event. She stated that at the mission trip,
I have an idea of how VBX is supposed to go but I didnt know what exactly to expect when we
got to Arizona. We had to prepare for everything. We didnt have materials but we gathered what
we had, drew and painted what we could, and brought what we could.
This trip was simply LIFE CHANGING. We got to engage kids who didnt know about God. We
got to teach them, to share with them, and become their friends. We touched their hearts. They
touched our hearts. By the last night, Friday night, we were all crying. We did not want this
experience to end.
On this trip, I learned the hardships of other people. I learned how the smallest things could
either mend or destroy your relationship with God. That no matter who you are or where you are,
never lose your faith in God!
Karen Decina is the daughter of Sulad Nelson Decina and his wife. She calls Thailand her
hometown. She is in 8th grade. She was the Co-Director/Animator/Artist for this VBX. Looking
back, she shares that she learned how privileged we are, how lucky we are to have what we have.
God has blessed us with everything we have and own but even with all our blessings we must share
it with others and show Gods amazing love.
Andre JayR Derequito Ondap is the eldest son of Kib and Eleanor Ondap. He calls Tupi, South
Cotabato as his home town. He is in 11th grade but is undecided on what he wants to major in
college. JayR was the Co-Director for this VBX. He confides, My passion is to serve. I learned how
diverse the world is. Outside our bubble there are others living life differently than what we expect.
Before getting to Arizona, I did not know what to expect. What language will the Navajo kids
speak? How will we interact with them? Will they even be interested to participate? But when we

got there, we found the kids more than willing to participate.

He pauses for a while and softly smiles to himself, as if debating whether to share what he is
about to share. Then he continues. Our first day was very tough. We picked up the kids and
brought them to VBS but they would not listen to us. They just kept running around doing their
own thing. The whole day felt like a complete disaster, a failure. This was not how we imagined it
to be. It would have been so easy to just quit right then and there. But we stayed. The second day,
the kids showed some interest. Little by little they started to participate until everyone was. At the
end of the VBS week, the kids were crying and hugging us begging us not to leave them. It was
heartbreaking.
There in Arizona, I also saw a lifestyle so different from my own. I saw kids in homes but their
parents were not around. I saw kids fending for themselves, many where hungry and simply
surviving without adult supervision. Many homes had little or no water and no electricity. It is heart
wrenching. Suddenly, I realized that whatever problems we have at home is nothing compared to
what our new Navajo friends were experiencing. Suddenly, I realized how much we could give and
how abundantly blessed we are. Their need is huge. We need to help them.
Keiffer Von M. Rubillar lives in Rancho Cucamonga but calls Davao City his home town. The
youngest member of the team, the 9 year old will be in 4 th grade when school starts this month.
He went with the group without his parents and family, his first time ever to travel without his
family. He was so energetic he was often one of the first ones up in the morning and was always
helping with the chores.
There were 2 routes at the area. The group lived in what appeared to be the communitys
barangay hall. It was at the roadside. The road to the right was the route of Sulad/Pastor Bong
Caales and Keiffer. With the pastor driving the van, the pair would start driving out early each
morning to visit homes and bring the kids to the VBX. On the other route went Sammy Salarda
and another youth.
During the interview last week at Covina International SDA Church, Keiffer grinned thinking of
all the fun he had at the mission trip. The Navajo kids loved watermelon! It was such a treat to
them! . My experience in the VBX is so unforgettable. It was my first time away from my family.
But I have found my second family while I was away and that is my VBX family. They took good
care of my needs and gave me the opportunity to make friends with other kids. ..
The paused, looking very serious as he confided. I want to become a computer engineer
someday. Although I am still young, being friendly and nice is my mission in serving God. Kids will
look at me through my words and actions. So I should be careful in everything I do and say so that
they can see Jesus in me.
As more than 10 young people reported what they thought of their mission trip experience, other
youth and their parents indicated to SULAD leaders that they would definitely want to go on the
next mission trip!
Stay tuned for the SULADS USA Part 2 issue of CyberFlashes
for more exciting interviews with the youth who led in the Navajo Vacation Bible School (VBX)

SULADS USA: Our beginnings

t Covina International SDA Church, MVC alumni and friends gathered for the MVC alumni
get-together last Sabbath July 30. They feasted on Gods word, on warm fellowship, and
on exciting reports provided by the youth who served the week-long Vacation Bible School
(VBX) held for the Navajo children and by the officers of SULADS USA.
In true Native American fashion, SULADS USA President Asher Himbing used storytelling to explain
how SULADS USA came about. He told of how a Navajo couple at an ASI Convention befriended
MVC alumnus Charles Ed II Aguilar of SULADS CANADA, how the couple learned of the many
positive things Native Americans in Canada are experiencing because of the SULADS Program!
They couple flew to Canada to see everything for themselves convinced this program was exactly
what they wanted for their own people. Then they and the Navajo Nations leaders worked
together towards persuading the sulads to come to Arizona and help them. The needs are many.
Next to Arizona is California where churches like Covina International SDA Church, Waterman
Visayan SDA Church, Inland Empire Filipino SDA Church and Pasadena SDA Church (among many
others!) stand as at the SULAD Mission Schools in Bukidnons mountains. But, realistically, who
would go serve in Arizona? For most, it has been 25 to 35 years They have their own jobs, their
own responsibilities, children and grandchildren! Prayerfully, they brought their concerns to the
Throne of Grace. Is this what God wanted? Would He provide a way? What was His will? What
would He want us to do?
Taking a leap of faith, the group officially organized on March 5, 2016, at Los Angeles, California.
Officers were selected to serve a 3-year term of office. They are
President: Asher Himbing
Executive Secretary: Pastor Romeo Canales
Treasurer: Levi Sisona
Auditor: Jay Salcedo
Project Director: Pastor Gabriel Reyno
Communications Director: Ardys Joy Caballero-Gadia

SULADS began in the late 1960s with a dream of Mr. Apo Napoleon Saguan, a supervisor at
MVC. He dreamed meeting a Manobo Chief in the market. The following day Apo went to the
nearby city, Valencia and when he went to the market, lo and behold, he met the Manobo Chief
in his dream, named Datu Tibalaw. The Chief as well was given a dream that we would meet a
man in the market. The moment the Chief saw Apo he exclaimed, I saw you in my dream! They
then had a dialogue in their local dialect and the Chief related to Apo the need for teachers to
teach his people.
Upon arriving MVC, Apo related their meeting with Datu Tibalaw to James Zacchary, who was
then a teacher at Mountain View College. Apo relayed the need for teachers who were then living
in the nearby Mountain ranges across Mountain View College. Two students (Peter Donton and
Dave Saguan) were then sent to survey the villages and they found out a very primitive, war-like
tribe. They were hunters and gatherers and moved from place to place within their territory in
search of food. Entrance into the territory of another clan or family could bring retaliation, and
many times including bloodshed. For months, Peter and Dave made frequent visits to the
villages. During one of their visits, a Manobo came up to kill them and so they ran for their lives
in different directions. Two weeks later, they meet again at Mountain View College.
So in 1969, the Student Missionary (SM) program was conceived. It was a Community based
extension program under Mountain View College where students from Mountain View College
would take a year off to live and serve these people. It was learned that the Manobos were
suspicious of lowlanders and did not readily accept strangers in the mountains. Yet over time,
the student missionaries won the confidence of the datus or chiefs and the student missionaries
were welcomed into the villages and culture of the Manobo.
Their work included teaching the people farming methods, village sanitation, public health, and
(civic problems assist in civic problems, helping their sitio and barangay leaders, teach them
hygiene, teach them to be good citizens of our country the Philippines, and above all teach the
value of having an almighty God to worship.) literacy. A method used in teaching was the singing
of religious songs and studying of the Bible stories for reading. The first datu to accept the
beliefs as brought by the missionaries was Datu Tibalawan in the village of Dampaan located at
Conception, Valencia City. The first formal mission school was formed in his village by Abraham
Carpena and Samuel Napigkit. Eight mission schools were eventually established which spawned
churches and schools in each of the villages. Bulalang was developed as a secondary school for
the Manobos and included an airstrip, dormitories, cafeteria, classrooms, and a sanitary water
supply. All schools were non-formal and received no recognition from the government.
Then it crept through the forest to San Fernando, Bukidnon. The eight active literacy centers in
70s and 80s were Durian, Bulalang, Dao, Balaas, Usarayan, Mahayag, all from San Fernando and
Sto. Domingo in Quezon, and Dampaan in Conception Valencia, Bukidnon.

All new students entering the program were required to attend a training program which included
teaching techniques, health education, agricultural techniques, home treatments, anthropology,
and other needed topics. The students would spend a year working with their assigned village
after which they would return to school.
Eventually women students were admitted to the program and community service was extended
beyond cultural minorities to include hospital based outreach and health education. An airplane
was used to service three of the schools and airdrops of supplies helped others.
Work for the Muslim in the Philippines started when Harlan Gaid was assigned in Bongao.
In 2011 the Deaf Ministry was launched by Sarah and Daryl Famisaran.
Today, the newly formed SULADS USA is joining SULADS Canada, SULADS Thailand and SULADS
ASIA (Sulads Philippines?) in actively serving to reach the unreached. The mission is the same. It
is still a community-based program, meeting peoples needs at the grassroots seeking to do them
good.
Who are the sulads in the United States? Where did they serve? What is their story?
Stay tuned for the SULADS USA Part 2 issue of CyberFlashes

SULADS CORNER: Testimony From My Ancestor

By Esao Dayon. SCHSL Teacher

his story comes from my own family. Once upon a time, twenty-five years ago, there was
a couple who loved each other. They were faithful servants of God doing literature
evangelistic work. Neither of them had a proper education. They only had some
elementary level education. They were good citizens; a good son and daughter to their parents.
Now as they lived as a couple planning to get married, they worked extra jobs to prepare for their
home. He was a furniture maker making sofas. When finally they got married, a daughter was
born but they didnt have a permanent home for they were just renting. Eventually, they became
a good example in their way of life and were faithful servants in the church where he led out as a
layman. His friends testify that he was the most generous person they have known.
The happy family was blessed again with a baby boy. As this childs birth was approaching,
something bad happened.
One stormy night around 8:45PM the furniture maker was walking down a dark street when
people with bad intent were waiting to pounce on their enemy. Mistaking the furniture maker as
the person they were waiting for, they pounced on him with vengeance even hitting his head with
a hatchet. With his skull cracked, the furniture maker lay motionless bleeding profusely on the
street. Realizing that they had attacked the wrong man, the attackers became frightened and tried
to save him. But there was nothing they could do. He seemed to be already dead. So they covered
his body with a net and put him under a truck. They planned to move him near the river knowing
that the heavy rushing water would certainly take him to the ocean.
Meanwhile, the furniture makers wife waited at home feeling worried and nervous that he hadnt
come home yet. They normally would have eaten together with their daughter by 9 pm but
tonight he was not home yet. She waited until 10 pm, 11 pm, 12 am, 1 am, and he still wasnt
home. She had been praying hard. About thirty minutes later, there was a knock on the door. She
immediately opened it. She found her husband lying unconscious on the ground, his clothes

soaked with blood. She cried for help and their neighbor immediately brought him to the hospital.
This man was miraculously still alive despite his injuries. God had brought him back to his family.
God was truly with him. Regardless of his injuries, God kept him because He had a great purpose
for him. The men who harmed him were amazed that he survived the attack. They repented and
he forgave them even though his family wanted them to go to jail for their actions. Then the men
asked to have Bible studies. They are now Seventh-day Adventists.
Two weeks after that incident, the furniture makers baby boy was born. They named him Esao,
meaning God with Us because of Gods presence, goodness, and guidance in their family. Now
this child is working as a missionary in SCHSL and is continually used as an instrument to
strengthen those weak in faith in his family.
SULADS International, Inc.
If you would like to support this mission program dedicated to taking the Gospel to the people of Mindanao, please write a check to Gospel Outreach. Mark it for the SULADS
and send it to: Gospel Outreach P.O. Box 8 College Place, WA 99324 You may also donate to the SULADS using your credit card by logging on to Gospel Outreach's donation site
(http://www.goaim.org/) and follow the directions. Again, mark it for SULADS. If you would prefer, you may write your check to the General Conference of SDA and mark the
donation for SULADS and send it to: General Conference of SDA Donations 12501 Old Columbia Pike Silver Spring, MD 20904 Thank you for your support of this very important
project. If you do not want to receive any more newsletters, Unsubscribe To update your preferences

Another shot of sulads in the United States

Sweet Rebuke

uring the Russian revolution a mob broke into a convent, looted and destroyed and shot dead
several nuns. The head nun, Antonina, fled to another convent but posters were displayed
offering a reward to anyone who found her.

Time passed. Then a young girl arrived at the convent. With tears she begged to be taken in saying that
her parents had been killed. She played the part so well that she succeeded in winning the confidence of
the nun in charge, who out of sympathy not only took the girl in but also soon confided to her the secret
that Antonina was in hiding there.
Soon after this the girl disappeared. She had been an agent of the secret police. That night the militia
surrounded the convent so no one could escape. They broke in to search and demanded that Antonina
be given up.
When Antonina was told what was happening, she said, "Well, what can I do? If it pleases the Lord that
they find me, let it be so. But if it is not his will, he will close people's eyes; they will not see me. Come,
we will go out in front of them."
The nuns put a sheepskin coat on her, and the three women went down the stairs and simply walked out
of the convent gate, before the eyes of all the Red Army soldiers.
Before her martyr death several years later, Antonina met the girl who had informed on her. She said, "I
valued very much the tears you shed when asking to be received as a nun. It is very difficult to fake
tears. They must have come from a heart in whose depths there is a spark of genuine love for Christ.
You were young, you did not know what you were doing. But God did not only see you denounce me. He
heard those prayers you said, in which not all was falsehood. There may have been an occasional note
of sincerity. God will pity your soul; only repent."
There was so much friendliness, spiritual beauty and complete lack of resentment in her words that the
girl's heart was pierced. She became a real believer in Christ.
Thank You, Father, for making such love available to those who will receive it.
"Correct, rebuke and encourage -- with great patience and careful instruction" (2 Timothy 4:2).
Aletha Hinthorn
As seen in Come to the Fire)

Vice President Pride

om was so excited about his promotion to Vice President of the company he worked for and kept
bragging about it to his wife for weeks on end.

Finally she couldn't take it any longer, and told him, "Listen, it means nothing, they even have a vice
president of peas at the grocery store!"
"Really?" he said. Not sure if this was true or not, Tom decided to call the grocery store.
A clerk answers and Tom says, "Can I please talk to the Vice President of peas?"
The clerk replies, "Canned or frozen?"
(From Pastor Tim)

Book Collector

collector of rare books ran into an acquaintance who told him he had just thrown away an old
Bible that he found in a dusty, old box. He happened to mention that Guten-somebody-or-other
had printed it.

"Not Gutenberg?" gasped the collector.

"Yes, that was it!"
"You idiot! You've thrown away one of the first books ever printed. A copy recently sold at auction for half
a million dollars!"
"Oh, I don't think this book would have been worth anything close to that much," replied the man. "It was
scribbled all over in the margins by some clown named Martin Luther."
(From Clean Laffs)

The Directions

friend was thinking about buying a new house in the country and asked me to come out and look
at it. We found the town, but we couldn't locate the road. We drove over to city hall, where a
community get-together was going on, and asked around, but no one had heard of the road. Even
the policemen and fire personnel were stumped.
We went in to city hall and consulted a map, with no luck, until finally one young man came to our aid. He
pointed to the map, showing us exactly how to get there. I thanked the young man and asked if he was
with the police or fire department.
"Neither," he replied. "I deliver pizzas."
(From You Make Me Laugh)

How Old?

ileen's two-year-old great-grandson was excited about having his birthday in a few days. When
asked how old he would be, he always said he would be four and held up four fingers.

His mother tried to explain that he would be three, that three came after two, but he wasn't convinced.
He told her that he had to be four because when he tried to hold up three fingers, the fourth came up too.
(From Doc's Daily Chuckle)

Impossible Argument

married couple were having a disagreement while sitting in bed. The wife said to her husband,
"You're impossible," to which the husband replied, "No. I'm next to impossible."

(From Cybersalt Digest)

Can Cold Water Clean Dishes?

ohn went to visit his 90-year-old grandfather in a very secluded rural area of Saskatchewan. After
spending a great evening chatting the night away, the next morning John's grandfather prepared a
breakfast of bacon, eggs, and toast. However, John noticed a film-like substance on his plate. He
questioned his grandfather, "Are these plates clean?"
His grandfather replied, "They're as clean as cold water can get 'em. Just you go ahead and finish your
meal, Sonny!"
For lunch the old man made hamburgers. Again, John was concerned about the plates, as his appeared
to have tiny specks around the edge that looked like dried egg. He asked, "Are you sure these plates are
clean?"
Without looking up, the old man said, "I told you before, Sonny, those dishes are as clean as cold water
can get them. Now don't you fret. I don't want to hear another word about it!"
Later that afternoon, John was on his way to a nearby town, and as he was leaving, his grandfather's
dog started to growl and wouldn't let him pass. John yelled and said, "Grandfather, your dog won't let me
get to my car!"
Without diverting his attention from the football game he was watching on TV, the old man shouted,
"Coldwater, go lay down now, yah hear me!"
(From GCFL)

Navajo Nation

hen I was still in elementary school, there was no TV in our place in Maramag,
Bukidnon. From time to time, company salesmen advertised their products like
Darigold milk, by showing free movies in the town plaza. The townsfolk flocked to the
plaza with chairs or stools to spend some leisure time watching those free movies.
Usually, the salesmen drove around announcing that a free movie will be shown in the evening. I
can remember many of these movies are related to American Indians at war with white men.
Usually the battle was between white men with primitive guns and Indians with bows and arrows.
Through these movies I learned of the culture and life of Indians.

Looking for Indian Spices

Native Americans were first called Indians because of a major navigational error committed by
Christopher Columbus and other European explorers who followed him during the Age of
Discovery in the late 15th century.
After the fall of Constantinople to the Turks in 1453, Europeans lost their overland/Eurasian trade
route to India. The need and desire for Indian spices (needed for food preservation and
preparation) remained, however, and so they were motivated to find alternate trade routes.
In 1492, Columbus set out westward from Europe on one fine day, hoping to reach India by a
westward route as opposed to the eastward one that the travelers and merchants of the day used
to travel by. Columbus's logic behind his incredibly brave leap into the unknown was apparently
infallible: if the world was round, he would ultimately reach India, irrespective of whether he

sailed east or west. And so he set out into the Atlantic Ocean. On a voyage that no one, not even
his own crew, really believed in.
Now imagine the joy of the man when after months in such a voyage, he actually reached land.
On that landmass he encountered men and women with painted faces and wearing feathers on
their heads.
He went back home to Europe with stories of "Indians" who lived in pyramidal tents, shot animals
with arrows and practiced rain dancing. And the Native Americans, who had been living in America
for centuries before Columbus arrived, became "Indians" in the eyes of the entire modern
world.

t was on this back drop that I became really interested in Native American Indians. The
Navajo Indians are Native American people of the Southwestern United States. They are
the second largest federally recognized tribe in the United States with 300,460 enrolled
tribal members as of 2015. The Navajo Nation constitutes an independent governmental body
that manages the Navajo reservation in the Four Corners area, including over 27,000 square miles
of land in Arizona, Utah, and New Mexico. Last year, I visited these places of the Navajo Indians
from Utah, New Mexico and Arizona. Although brief, I was able to see how these people live and
earn a living in their desert reservation.

Signs along the roadside

We drove from Orlando, Florida to California which took us 3 days. We passed through Utah, New
Mexico and Arizona. On the final leg of our journey, we visited the Grand Canyon. It was in
Flagstaff, Arizona where we visited a SDA church. With the aid of the modern wonder called GPS,
we found the church in Flagstaff. It was here where we were able to talk to a Navajo Indian. For
many years, I had been longing to see a real American Indian and it was here in Flagstaff that that
dream came true. Of course it is not the American Indian that I had seen in the movies with
painted faces and feathers. We befriended her and took some pictures with her.

We later learned that she had a small problem. Her car had only a small amount gasoline and she
could not reach her home. She ask if we could help her. She said, she likes to visit the small SDA
church in Flagstaff because the church members are very friendly. We Filipinos are generally very
helpful so we decided to contribute some cash for her to buy gasoline.

The SULADS Program

I fully support and like the idea of the Sulads plan to reach out to the Navajo Indians. I hope I can
be of help to the Navajos three years from now, after I retire from active service.
When I was in the Publishing Department, I used to quote this text in Matt. 24:14 And this gospel
of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the
end come. The preaching and reaching out to the Navajo Indians is the fulfillment of this text.
I am leaving you these images of the Navajo Nation.
Romy Halasan
Singapore

Entering the state of Arizona

The Navajo lady at Flagstaff, Arizona

The small SDA church

A Navajo Center in Arizona

Native products for sale

Navajos earn some money selling crafts

A Navajo boy decked out like an Indian brave

Native Americans dancing

Navajos with their colorful costumes

A store selling crafts, shaped like a tepee.

A Navajo adobe home

ALUMNI CALENDAR
When
Aug 3-6,
2016

What
ASI International Convention

Where
Phoenix Convention
Center, Phoenix
Arizona

Point of Contact
http://www.asiministries.org/

Aug 6

SULADS USA Reporting Part2

1665 San Antonio

Avenue, Pomona,
California 91676.

Asher Himbing
Pastor Romeo Caales

Aug 4-7,
2016

MVCSNs Zoarkes91 Silver

Anniversary Reunion

Northern California

Annaliza Wilensky &

Alison Sabanal

Aug 19-21,
2016

All Filipinos of Southwestern

Union Conf FAMMANA
Convention
Southwest Youth Conference
2016
Fall Retreat. MVC Alumni Chapter
in Maryland Virgina and
Pennsylvania will join with MVC
Tri-State (New York)

Lone Star Camp,

Athens, TX

Pastor Rolando Baysa

rhomher@gmail.com

Pine Springs Ranch, CA

http://www.gycsouthwest.org/eventregistration
To Be Decided
Save the date!
NEW

Sept 2-5,
2016
Oct 7-9
2016

MVC-SN Golden Jubilee

Anniversary Reunion

date tbd

To Be Decided
Save the date!

MVC Campus,
Bukidnon

Many classes are planning on coming

Devaney M. Bayeta, president of

MVCSN alumni association
(homebase chapter)

WANTED: Your Stories

The CyberFlashes editors are looking for alumni to share their stories! Please contact the
following editors for more info or simply message them in Facebook for more info:
Topic

Contact/Editor

MVC Work Education experiences

Stories of MVC Pioneers, students in the 60s
True life experiences of MVCians (Journeys)
MVC experiences at MVC
Answered Prayers
Working Student Stories

Joy Caballero-Gadia
Evelyn Porteza Tabingo
Raylene Baumgart
Eddie Zamora
Lily Lare
Melodie Mae Karaan Inapan

Acknowledgement
This issue of CyberFlashes is truly a labor of love. For three weeks multiple people toiled to
put this together so that alumni members around the world will have something meaningful
(MVC related?)to read this weekend. After working more than 12-hour shifts at the hospital
on their feet, or 9 hours at the office, or hours of sleepless nights hopping from one airport
to the next the team still set aside dedicated time to work on CyberFlashes. Thank you for
your commitment to the ministry of keeping MVC alumni and friends and touch
Special mention goes to the following:
Alma Jean Prajes who gathered much of this issues material, interviewing people,
taking pictures, taking a week off work to be on location with news broke out.
Alger Prajes and Augielo Caales who provided us these photographs
Asher Himbing - for his leadership, reminding people to turn in their write ups
Lillin Javellana for the thought provoking devotional. She comes home from work
hours past midnight and yet she takes the time write for CyberFlashes.
Jesse Colegado for the chuckles, and the frequent encouragements.
Romy Halasan who is an inspiration. He juggles so many tasks and responsibilities,
is frequently traveling and is rarely home. Yet his commitment to sharing with us
mission stories is unrivaled.
Ed Zamora who gives up so much just to make sure each of the editors have help
completing each issue of CF and for the one-last-check for typos and errors.
Sulads and Gospel Outreach for the updates and inspiring stories.
And to all of those who support the work of the SULADS

Meet The Editors

This weeks issue of CyberFlashes is by Joy Caballero-Gadia. Next weeks issue will be
by Lily Escara-Lare. Please direct all entries to her or to any of the editors.
NAME:
Eddie Zamora
Evelyn Porteza-Tabingo
Jessie Colegado
Joy Caballero-Gadia
Lily EscaraLare
Melodie Mae Karaan-Inapan
Raylene Rodrigo-Baumgart

EMAIL ADDRESS:
ezamora594 at aol dot com
etabingo at gmail dot com
Cyberflashes at gmail dot com
watermankids at yahoo dot com
Lily_lare at yahoo dot com dot ph
melodieinapan at yahoo dot com
raylene.baumgart at gmail dot com

If you wish to subscribe to CyberFlashes, to unsubscribe, or if you changed your email address
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correct symbols.

CLOSING REMARKS
Suddenly,
I realized how much we could give
and how abundantly blessed we are.
by Andre JayR Derequito Ondap
Copppermine/Page, Arizona

The VBX team at Coppermine/Page, Arizona