Testimony from the Ati

This is a testimony from our project director among the Ati, Rev. Narciso Dionson. Jicil whom they talk about is one of our Mission Of Mercy kids! Glenn

Pastor Pete and I (this is Pastor Narciso) had just arrived from Cubay Elementary School where we turned over a set of Grollier’s encyclopedia and a computer. We were having lunch when Darryl, an Ati youth, came in and announced that Morito Tamboon had died. A couple of years ago Morito met an accident that paralyzed half of his body. Morito’s death puzzled me. I last saw him in May when Jaren Lapasaran went to Carla with his team. He didn’t look sick. There were other cases more severe that needed intervention.
There was the child named Jicel Justo. A year ago I thought she was just a chubby Ati girl. But as her face became puffier I realized she had a problem. She was still quite active and we thought our feeding program would help her. As the school year came to an end her condition had worsened. Her entire body was swelling. Her hair was falling out.
She was found to have an infected kidney that, unattended, had compromised other vital organs of her body, causing water retention and swelling. At first she was given antibiotics and sent home. I do not know whether the Ati parents followed the recommended dosage, because even in the case of Morito, medicine that were dispensed by the doctor were found unused. Jicel took a turn for the worse. She could no longer hold herself up. She had to be hospitalized. I thought it was too late to save her.
After a quick lunch Pete and I hurried to our next assignment. We have good news for the Baptist mission hospital in Caticlan. There a possible donor to replace their World War Two vintage x ray machine.
A dozen boisterous Ati children were rushing to their preschool room. I didn’t recognize her at first. She looked like she had shrunk. Except for the slight limp, there indeed was Jicel – alive and in good health. I called her and she smiled. It was a surprise for I never thought I would see Jicel again.
A month ago a four year old child by the name of Minitzie Sacapano died from diarrhea. And now Morito Tamboon. Work among the Ati is a humbling experience. There are limits to your ability to help. I knew Minitzie only by name but Morito I had known and visited. But both their deaths seem unnecessary.
Somehow, Jicel running around normally made up for being unable to save the others. At the Ati settlement of Carla they call her “ang bata nga nabanhaw,” the- girl-who- was- brought- back- to- life. We cannot stop caring because we aren’t able to help everyone. We just go on to help the next one. Like Jesus did.