Heroes of Hope - Mando, Carpenter

I was privileged to join Fazenda da Esperanca for a week in their month-long mission in Tacloban. The mission consisted of the repair of roofs, painting where possible, or giving building materials since the time and availability of labor was not enough for the needs of the people. Though I feel my contribution was small and insignificant, I offer my five loaves and two fish as my participation in the love of Christ for our brothers and sisters affected by Yolanda. 

In participating in this mission, I encountered inspiring people, some of whom I would like to honor in this blog.

Kuya Mando is the head carpenter from Masbate who agreed to join the Fazenda team in Tacloban. As head carpenter, his team of carpenters follow his lead--none would have joined the Tacloban mission without him. 

In joining the mission, Kuya Mando was absent at the pamamanhikan for his daughter scheduled in January. Pamamanhikan is the Filipino custom of getting engaged. The man's family goes to the woman's family to ask formally for the woman's hand in marriage; it is a significant event especially since Kuya Mando is the father of the bride-to-be, the one who would give his blessing to the man asking for his daughter's hand in marriage. 

The original plan was to go home for the pamamanhikan, and then come back to Tacloban afterward. But due to a storm, Kuya Mando had to stay in Tacloban and continue the carpentry work essential to restoring a roof over the heads of people. Thankfully, he had a man-to-man talk with his future son-in-law beforehand; on the actual day of the pamamanhikan, they called him over the phone. Not quite traditional but very touching nonetheless. 

Thank you, Kuya Mando, for saying yes... for working under the rain without complaint... and not watching the clock but working to get as many roofs done as humanly possible.