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On my travels throughout Myanmar and the Philippines, I’ve had the honour of watching in action some of the most wonderful Christian workers. People who have given up just about everything for the sake of the gospel. True believers. Devoted followers. Loving disciples. These people are both lowly servants and giants of the faith. Heroes born of sacrifice and joy. Ordinary vessels performing extraordinary deeds. And I’m so inspired by them.
Albert Mercado is one of these people.
Albert, who is Filipino, and his wife Kim, who is Korean, are both Deaf and they have founded and run the dormitory for Deaf students which is attached to their own family home in Bacolod, The Philippines. The dorm, currently housing twelve, serves as a home for those who live too far from the local government Deaf school, or who simply come from homes so broken they end up alone on the street. Albert and Kim give them a safe family environment, school support and a living faith.
But it sure hasn’t been easy.
There have been huge challenges in repairing broken lives, sorting out the schoolwork, fostering healthy lifestyles and, in the early days, keeping the boys in the boys’ dorm and the girls in the girls’! Establishing wholesome routines and meaningful roles required a strict approach, but as I watch it now, their hard work has clearly paid off.
I withdraw to observe from a distance and marvel not only at how well-run this place is, or how happy and healthy the students are, but how much richness they can get from so few resources. It’s quite incredible. It’s a meagre existence by any measure. The dorms have no comforts to speak of. The floors are bare, the mattresses are wafer thin, and hot water only flows in their dreams. There are no smartphones or screens of course, no wifi or internet, and little recreational equipment.
Yet they have so much more.
Every evening they gather together around the big table in Albert and Kim’s house. There they study together, eat together, joke together and have evening devotions together. These devotion times are not an academic exercise. I speak with the students about them and many declare them to be the highlight of their day. The value of supporting each other, sharing their lives with one another, praying together and growing in the faith together is rich indeed. Their contentment cannot be faked.
I’m quite frankly blown away by this community that Albert and Kim have created. And I’m in awe of this couple. I want to know more about them. I sit with them one evening and they open their lives to me.
Albert grew up as the only Deaf member of his family. There were only hearing schools in those days so Albert had to labour through his education with his sister beside him translating as best as she could. Albert did well with his studies and went on to a Deaf college in Liguna before attending (with a translator) a hearing seminary in Bacolod. He was ordained by Neville, and once again I see the far-reaching works of this gentle Melbournian and the fruits of his apostleship to Deaf communities around the world.
It’s not easy to explain God’s Word to the Deaf, and it was this challenge that originally nudged Albert into ministry. He founded the Philippine Immanuel Church for the Deaf in 2004, one year before he set up the dorm for the students. The two work well together. Every Sunday morning the kids go running off to church in a tripping bustle of giggles for Sunday School/youth group, after which they all have roles in the service itself. Again, the hand of a wise and caring leader is evident.
Kim is indefatigable by his side. Kind and generous, lavish with hospitality, she is one of the most aggressive signers I’ve ever met, regularly slapping her hands loudly and using exaggerated gestures to punctuate her signing. She laughs hard and loud, and nothing gets by her. Most of my questions are addressed to Albert, and most of them are answered by Kim. Seems like a very normal marriage to me:) Except for their uncommon devotion to their congregants and boarders. The fruit of this commitment is everywhere. I intentionally ask the kids I interview about their personal faith in Christ and they each have this.
Albert and Kim are doing something right.
They also meet with each student individually to encourage them and work through any problems. They pray one on one with each of the kids, Albert with the boys and Kim with the girls. Some of the older kids are so appreciative of their mentors’ work, they aspire to become evangelists to the Deaf themselves.
I ask Albert what he sees for the future of this dorm. His immediate answer is to continue serving the Deaf as needed. As I wait for him, though, he tells me more. The most pressing matter at the moment is not one of ministry vision or personal need. It’s regulatory. The government has determined that their dorm must have a full time social worker. The dorm has little need for a social worker and the cost of employing one is greater than Albert and Kim’s own salaries. It’s one thing when the budget is stretched by vision or need, it’s quite another when it’s an unnecessary imposition. But these are the obstacles that must be overcome in mission work.
What’s the most satisfying thing is about running the dorm? I ask them. Albert smiles. When the kids have all gone off to school, he signs, and they have a few moments of peace to themselves. Kim laughs raucously and claps her hands again. Albert looks back at me, with a more serious expression but still smiling. Encouraging the kids, he says, and guiding them though their life, teaching them the life skills that no-one else would give them, and bringing them to maturity in their faith in Jesus. There is nothing greater than that.
I wholeheartedly agree.
Temporary blog hiatus
Because of travel restrictions in place from Covid 19, Neville and I have been unable to go on any of the trips planned (most notably the DMI International Conference set for August this year). Most of our schools have poor internet connections (if any) so I will be unable to conduct any more interviews for the time being. I’m hoping this changes soon so I can keep writing about the wonderful work that God is doing through DMI in the lives of our students and staff. For now, thank you for following me in this journey.
Thank you!
A huge thanks to those who so generously donated to build the wall at the school in Kale, Myanmar. Because of your generosity a full brick wall was recently completed. This will ensure none of the little ones can wander away, and that the students will be safe and sound. A very big thank you once again.
Thanks for these regular updates. I love reading these stories, it is very encouraging. God bless.
Esther (from Australia, living in UK)
Amazing how they are all so happy with so little of the physical comforts of life!
Thank you Andrew, I love reading these very personal ‘peeks’ into these amazing people’s lives. So inspiring … 😍
Praise God for such wonderful people whose lives are dedicated to Him and to others. Praise Him that He is using them so wonderfully to bless others.