Thee abnormal Adventures of Jeff Kelly

As Doulos approached Cebu, Philippines, the ship was greeted by several small paddleboats. For us new crewmembers coming to Cebu for the first time, seeing these people in need of food, of money, of hope, even before the ship had docked was a shock. But it is for those people that Doulos returned to Cebu. Girls in blue dresses and boys clad in black shorts and white shirts from the day-care centre built by crewmembers during a previous visit welcomed the ship to the quayside with singing and dancing

Cebu is riddled with corruption and poverty; I will never forget the scene as I went for a walk down a random street outside the port at which we were docked.  I was with friend and chief cook Phil Cooling on our first night in town; it wasn’t more than 30 steps off the ship that we were barraged by street children ages 3-14. Grabbing for our hands to hold, jumping on our backs, smiling, and asking what our names were in their visayan language.  At first I wondered if I was dreaming, Could this really be happening, do people really live this way? Where are these children’s parents? All these thoughts bombarded my head at once, along with the stale, stagnant, smoke filled air of Cebu City. This was vastly different than our port just 3 days previous in 1st world, job filled Kuching Malaysia. 

Towards the end of our 5 week stay in Cebu I was assigned as leader of a program done in the streets for common people that might not be able to actually step foot on the Doulos. This was both a challenge and honor to put together such a program with 15 of my fellow shipmates.  I decided from the very start that the emphasis of this program needed to be the presentation of the gospel, and furthermore a challenge to those in attendance. The great thing about doing Ministry here in the Philippines is the openness and freedom to speak your mind and believe what you want. Much like the United States, tolerance for Religion is popular here and as long as you have a microphone and passion, people will gather.  Armed with 2 translators, large speakers, and props for dramas, we headed out on a drizzling Friday evening to share the great hope of the Gospel with the street kids and working class people of Cebu, Philippines. The venue we choose to use was close to the ship an open air stage located in the back corner of a popular park.   We started the event we dubbed, “Street Jam” with drama’s and testimony applications. I recall the children’s intent and focused faces as they watched the skits and dramas.

 Afterward we went into a teaching about Sin, who we are, and were we are going after death. Using the prodigal son as a theme for his teaching, it was a basic sermon but to the point and filled with truth. After ward once about 175 people were gathered around us we ask “If anyone here would like us to pray with them?” Much to my shock at least 100 people raised their hands; I scrambled about setting up different prayer stations around in a circle.  We put the Cebuano’s into groups of 15 and the translator made his rounds making sure everyone understood what we were speaking.  I wondered what God thought, looking down at these groups of children holding hands and accepting Him as their savior and Lord. Tears filled my eyes, and I Gave up control allowing God to take over and minister to these people right were they are, I Began to intercede in prayer on behalf of these new brothers and sisters, for protection in the future and spreading the blood of Jesus over them.

(Journal entry)

It seems it is not very often that we can do a large service to the public with such a basic need being met, even in fulltime ministry on the Doulos. I now understand the importance of Politics’ in ministry and how much things can be manipulated and controlled without the consent of God’s will.   I organized a team of 5 people to come with me for the day as we went to a local community gathering and did a feeding ministry for children.  We had told our local contact person who was a pastor in the village that we had enough food for about 100 children, after telling him that he quickly replied that word will get out quick around the village and there will be more than 300 children there expecting a meal from us. After hearing this we revised our plans and made a lot more food, gathering a lot more donations. Both cooks of onboard Phil Cooling from England and Joyce Van Doornik from Netherlands, prepared 275 meals of chicken, rice, and cabbage, placing it in plastic bags and storing them in large plastic crates.  Soccer balls, Baby formula for teething infants, and donated lollipops were gathered to give away as well.  

Heading out in a Doulos Van we quickly made it to the gathering center and there stood about 100 children patiently waiting in a single file line for their meal.  As we started to distribute the food to the 100 kids, 150 more started to swarm the place we were located. The food started to go so quickly as I made my way around the children taking photo’s of their excited faces in line and again after they received their meal and sweets.  There was no program, drama, or even verbal testimonies but I believe Jesus was their ministering to all involved. What a blessing it is to give unto a community, especially kids that are so grateful for every little thing. I thought about how children would react back home in America if we put on this same type of program for them. We left after just an hour in this location and began thinking about the next time we could put something like this together again, the consensus was very soon; I looked forward to it with excitement.

Having your one off day on Sunday is usually relaxing, comfortable and boring if you stay on the ship for the day. For me the Last Sunday in Cebu was anything but that as I traveled to Danae City. One of the port security guards I have befriended named Gary, invited me  to his house for the Day and how could I say no to such a unique offer. We left early Sunday morning around 630, heading out on a few local buses until finally catching a large bus for the remainder of the trip. A 2 hour bus ride in total, we stopped half way through at a local market in order and bought pork, fresh fish, and hanging rice for our afternoon feast. I took my camera into the open market and got great footage of all sorts of different meats being butchered. Everyone in the market thought I was doing a documentary so they posed and asked me to take their picture while they were doing their Job.  After arriving at Gary’s province in Danau, he began to cook lunch for us over a plastic bag filled with charcoal (they usually just light the bag on fire) as I did some exploration of his “neighborhood” on my own. A few of the men were gathered in the local cock fighting ring training their highly valued roosters against each others. Food was ready in an hour and we took a tricycle ride to the beach to relax and eat in huts right on the water.  For the next 5 hours we ate, joked, and relaxed at a private beach as children splashed around in the water. The water was clean and clear with smooth rocks lining the bottom on the entire walk out.  Out here there was no agenda for the entire day it was great, everyone knew each other in this village and respected each other, very warm and welcoming to visitors. As we made it back to Gary’s house we all took a bath around the Public water pump, yes we actually had to pump the water out. There were 7 of us taking turns dumping water on ourselves and pumping water out from the cool ground below. I said my Goodbyes and thank you to all those around the village, boarded a Bus heading back to Cebu and thought about how great a day I had. We only get 1 off day a week, and the way I look at it is, you must make the absolute most of each one.