Healthcare Prison?
At a time when the United States is going through an attempted total reform of the healthcare system, it might be prudent to remember that we have the most advanced medical facilities and treatment options of any country in the world. In fact, if you have no money at all, you can not be denied emergency medical care at any hospital.
Let me explain my experience with Philip- pine healthcare this year. Don’t misunder-stand, medical care in the Philippines is first rate and second to none. It is the lack of credit or payment options that leaves much to be desired. Shortly before last Christmas, I fell and injured my back and shoulder. Six months later, it became clear that I would need to have surgery to repair the damage. I traveled to Manila, checked into the hospital, and underwent surgery. The surgery was successful, and after three days, it was time to be discharged.
I sent the young man that was taking care of me to the business office to pay the bill with my ATM card. However, the amount exceeded my limit, and the charge was declined.
If you can’t pay your hospital bill in the Philippines, you can be locked in a room in the basement of the hospital. And there you will remain until someone pays your bill. In essence, you are in what used to be called “Debtors Prison.” After several frantic phone calls and a trip to my U. S. bank by a board member, a 24-hour window was allowed to process the charge.
Always looking for meaning in the Scriptures for a trying situation, I found this scripture: “...Have patience with me and I will pay thee
all. And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he could pay the debt” (Matt 18:29-30).
Potter’s Hand Church
In September of this year, Joash Jaime was ordained a deacon with the CEEC. Joash was previously the pastor of a large Metho-dist church in Malabon, one of the poorest areas of Manila. This area was recently devastated by typhoons (hurricanes) that hit the Philippines in October of this year.
Since Joash is a chaplain at the Potter and the Clay Christian School, they have allowed the Ministry to use their facilities for a church and help center. In addition to conducting weekly church services, our mission has been to help provide food, clothing, and toiletries to the indigent people whose conditions were exacerbated by the typhoons.
The reality of being homeless
Currently, we are searching for a building that we can buy to develop our own facility.
Updated Report on Students from the Haven Children’s Home
As I’ve mentioned previously, I am helping several students attend college that had grown up in the Haven Children’s Home. When the home closed, the older boys that wanted to attend college had no place to go. I rented and furnished an apartment in the building where I have lived for the past nine years. I then helped them enroll in several colleges. The former board of the Haven Children’s Home has been very generous in continuing to provide most of the financial support needed for their continued education.
· Alban Wanawan – graduated from Grace Mountain Wesleyan Bible College (2009)
· James Pedgna – graduated computer technical training (2009)
· Decenio Yadis – 3rd year nursing school student
· Charles Balibalos – 3rd year electronics technician training
· Demcy Lunag – 4th year maritime academy
Prison Ministry
In October of this year, it was my privilege to ordain Conway Omaweng as a priest with the Communion of Evangelical Episcopal Churches. Conway has been a prisoner in Bilibid Prison for eighteen years. We were honored to have the Most Reverend Edward Malecdan, Presiding Bishop of the Philippine Episcopal Church, attend the ceremony inside the prison.
When prisoners are released from prison, often they have no place to live, or no means of support, and no job skills. Consequently, this results in a high rate of parolees returning to illegal activities, and often back to prison. We are in the process of opening a halfway house to provide shelter, skills training, and job counseling.
For tax-deductible contributions:
If you would like to contribute to or missionary work, make your check payable to Ron Rae Ministries and mail it to:
Ron Rae Ministries, c/o Roger Ratliff
15306 Mauna Loa · Houston, TX 77040
E-mail address: ronraeministries@hotmail.com.
Telephone: c/o Roger Ratliff, 713-466-0836
At the end of the year you will receive a contribution receipt.
Seasons Greetings
I would like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. May God bless and prosper you throughout the coming year.
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