Mavis Orton MBE
Serving God with Action International
Ministries in Manila, Philippines.
Mavis has been a long time member of Central and indeed remains a member of the church. She came home in January 2002 until September 2002 and spoke to many different and varied groups in the area in order to raise funds for her important work as a mid-wife in the Philippines.
Rev. John Rowe
Mavis Orton, a 44-year-old nurse and
midwife, left her native England for Manila in May of 1986. There she began what has become a
fruitful and fulfilling ministry among some of the city's most underprivileged
Here are extracts from her
Summer 2006 Prayer Letter
COUNT YOUR
BLESSINGS
One of the old hymns I used to sing was
“When you are discouraged thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings, name them one by one.
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done”
Sometimes when we focus on our problems
we lose sight of the good things in our lives.
Problem
When Becky was
out washing clothes in order to support her children someone broke into the
home and set fire to the place. Chairs,
table and bed, etc. were burned. Even though
this happened the Mom said to me “What a Blessing our clothes were not burned
and we are safe.”
We rejoice that
she was able to still count her BLESSINGS.
Angel is having physiotherapy to help her walk. She is such a happy child and a BLESSING to
many people and children
Prayer
We arranged a
Prayer Dedication and walked around the land purchased including the
Church. The Missionaries staff and
Pastors walked all around the land. Some
of the ACTION Missionaries were designated to pray at certain areas for the
Lord’s Blessing, Protection, Security, Ministry and Funds.
Praises
Lift Jesus Higher Church has been renting
a small place for two years. We now
PRAISE the Lord that He has provided land.
The Pastors have built a temporary Church out of plywood and sawali
(matting). We have a very large youth
ministry. These are young people, some
of whom have been born at the Clinic, or are children of our patients. We are excited in what The Lord is going to
do.
On the 7th of May 2006 we had
our Church Blessing. The Church is not
completed yet, as we need chairs, fans, etc., but we know The Lord will provide
in His time.
Project – NEW
BIRTHING HOME
We finally purchased the land of 1,165
sq. meters, at the end of December 2005.
We have had several architects submitting proposed plans. The toal cost is approximately 20 million
pesos (£250,000 or $400,000). The
building has a basement because of the land slopes. This will accommodate Driver/Caretaker living
quarters and utilities. The first floor
will include pre-natal check-up, two delivery post natal, nursery, treatment,
storage rooms, and toilets. Second floor
will include, staff room, offices, seminar room, accommodation rooms for
short-term workers and visitors, bathrooms and storage rooms.
Praise Items
1. The
Lord’s provision of L.J.H.C. next to the Birthing Home.
2. Granting
of my permanent visa.
3. A
new Christian Filipino midwife. Marciel started
experience training last February.
Prayer Items
1. Funds for Birthing Home Project.
2. Donation of an Ambulance for the
Birthing Home
3. Two Missionary Midwives and
Nursery Nurse specially needed for the new Birthing Home.
4. Successful physiotherapy for
Angel so that she will be able to walk.
5. For Brother Jonel, who has just
completed 10 driving lessons. Pray that
he will able to pass the Driving Test to get his driving license, so that in
the future he will be able to take patients to hospital in case of an
emergency.
Here are extracts from
her May 2004 Prayer Letter.
Mavis is often involved in other activities outside the Lord’s
ministry at The Birthing Home. Here are
some examples in her own words.
I always feel it is important to follow the Lord’s leading. I would like to share with you some of these
recent activities. Hebrews Ch 11 v8 says
: Abraham obeyed God and went out in faith, not knowing where he was going.
Analzia
Touched by His Spirit, Eva, my midwife and I went out in faith to
take Analzia and her 2 cats to find her relatives. We walked the streets in Cubao, but when we
did find where the house used to be, it has been demolished. We then travelled to Divisoria, and walked
and walked with no success. Analzia did
not recognize anywhere. We were hot and
very tired and felt like giving up, but we persevered with the Lord’s strength
and took a jeepney down to Moriones.
After a while Analzia seemed to know where she was going and
quickly led us down some streets. We did
not find her relatives but a crowd of friends who really welcomed her and
thanked us for bringing her back.
Analzia has not yet accepted the Lord.
I bought her some reading glasses and she has promised to read the New
Testament that I gave her. We intend to
visit her again at a future date. Olease
pray that she will accept the Lord.
Graduation
It was a joy to be able to support and attend the graduation of
Jenny aged 6 yrs. She is attending The
Church of the Nazarene School. I also attended
the graduation of her sister, Eileen (aged 13) and Criselda (15 years old),
daughter of Mila in Don Enrique.
Camp
The New Life Church organized a youth camp. I was able to support 6 young people and
visit one day. 43 young people attended
the camp for 5 days, and all of them accepted the Lord. Pleas pray for these young people that they
will mature in the faith.
General
Mavis knows her patients by
name and each one gets her special attention and love. Little Ricky was
underdeveloped and handicapped due to the debilitating effects of rickets. He
was over three years old before he was able to walk. These days, however, Mavis
is delighted to see how he is improving. She says,
As a midwife, Mavis is kept
busy delivering babies. She usually tries to arrange for the babies to be born
in the clean environment of her own home. However this is not always possible.
Recently she was called to help a patient in one of the barrios. When she and
her helper, Eva, arrived they found themselves caught in one of Manila's
frequent power outages. It was very dark and they couldn't even see where they
were going! Trusting the Lord to lead them through the darkness they picked
their way over dangerously uneven terrain to the right place. When they entered
the tiny house they found the baby had already arrived, but there was still
much to do for the mother and child.
Mavis' work has meant the difference between life and death to many
a Filipino infant, and her loving ministrations have brought physical relief to
uncounted sufferers. Her smile and encouraging words have lighted more hearts
than she knows. Her love for people and for her Saviour have led many to love
Him too.
Mavis' special request is: "...please
pray...for my Christian witness and sharing of the Gospel to my patients and
families."
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