Greetings! from the Chaplaincy department. On behalf of the department, I would like to convey my heartfelt thanks to all of you for your continuous support in the volunteer work of the hospital.

Right now many of our volunteer chaplains have either move to other places due to work or family commitment. Due to this circumstance, we have a difficulty to make our on-call schedule because we don’t have enough volunteers who would like to be on-call. We would like to urge all other volunteers to stay on to give your support in this special ministry to meet to the needs of our patients. For those of you, who have not been in the on-call list, please volunteer yourselves.

As Seventh-day Adventists, we see healthcare as a continuation of the healing ministry of Jesus Christ. As volunteer chaplains we are members of one discipline in that grand endeavor. Regardless of what form our ministry takes throughout the day and throughout our lives, it is our privilege to bring good news and announce peace and proclaim salvation and wholeness (Isaiah 52:7) “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring glad tidings of good things!” (Romans 10:15).

While meeting the spiritual needs of people in the immediate context of healthcare, we can also be sensitive to peoples’ continuing needs for spiritual support and growth. In our faith-based facilities, the hope is that the seeds that planted may find nurturing; that the kindness and competence shown may instill a desire to learn more about the motivation and the mission. Therefore that glimpse of a loving God through caring people will lead to gaze upon One who is Savior and Friend. As volunteer, we have the opportunity to respectfully and authentically respond to inquiries and interest; either by referral to a specific congregation or person or in certain instances by personal follows through.

In our hospital, the volunteer chaplain will share in the challenge of keeping the ministry of healthcare and the ministry of the local and global church working together. Let us work together to finish the work that He has entrusted to us. The fields are ready but the laborers are few.

Let us keep the fire burning by sharing our faith and giving our support to our patients. If we don’t do it others will do it for us. Please come to the hospital at your convenient time to render your support by helping us to minister to the needs of our patients. Your help is very much appreciated.

Our next volunteer gathering will be on November 21, 2010. Please mark your calendar so that you don’t make any other appointments during this time. We look forward to seeing you at the next gathering. May God bless everyone. Thank you.

What makes a difference between Adventist and other private hospitals? Our vision and mission of PAH clearly defines our purpose and our existence. Inscribe at its entrance, "God Heals We Help," that makes us different than others. The hospital exist with that purpose of recognizing that God is the healer of sickness and we are just the instruments used by God. To many who come to seek for physical healing, they also have an opportunity to discover God's love through the work of our doctors, nurses and staff.

One patient ever mentioned this to us, "I can see angels of God walking around this hospital." Who are these angels we ask ourselves? Everyone who serves in this hospital is God's angel. We are demonstrating the love of God through our services that comes from the heart to serve the community.

Indeed, the service of our volunteers does making a difference. We give our patients mental, emotional and spiritual support. We work as a team together with our medical personnel to bring healing to our patients.

Patients suffering with terminal illness greatly need our support. Coming near to them or we call it ministry of presence is very important. At times, we have nothing to offer them or just being silence means so much to them. This is where we need to build up our relationship. As what Orlando Jay Perez mentioned in his book "A guide to creating a Meaningful Patient Experience in Every Healing Encounter says, "Better patients experience yields better healthcare outcomes." This is where Chaplains will instill a sense of trust, belonging and hope as they seek healing our hospital.

A patient with terminal illness would feel alienated, bored and lonely. This is where they need a sense of belonging. They need to know that they are not alone. You need to affirm them that you are there for them so that when they leave the hospital they need to have a sense of hope.

Gasping his breath and he said "thank you for accompanying me." This patient in his early 50's who was diagnosed with lung cancer. At first he was very positive that he would soon be healed. He shared many things about life, his family, and his business. He didn't have many friends except his wife who visited him everyday. He didn't believe in God but happily accepted prayer being offered to him. I visited him everyday to encourage and to give mental, emotional and spiritual support. There were times that he was alone when no one talked to him. I was there to instill in him a sense of trust, belonging and hope.

He learned to trust in me by sharing many things in life even by giving me the words of wisdom on how I should live my life to bless others. At the same time he felt the sense of belonging. He would also cooperate with our medical personnel who attended to him. He was friendly even in his sickly condition. I shared with him many words of affirmation from God that He is a loving God who cares for each one of us in time of need. Often times I would read the words of God beside his bed. He would just listen and hold tight to my hands when I prayed for him.

After receiving treatment for almost three months in our hospital his condition was getting worst. One morning before being discharge, his wife requested me to pray for her husband. She said that her husband wanted to go home because he didn't want to die in the hospital. Few days after being discharged, he passed away peacefully. After the cremation service, I was privileged to be invited to conduct a special ceremony of "throwing ashes" of her husband into the sea by using their blue ocean cruise liner witnessed by their close friends.

Our work is to touch the live of people in this very unique setting. Let us continue to serve Him because this is the very task that He has entrusted to us. We need your continuous support by volunteering yourself in this worthy course.

For your information, there will be no volunteer gathering in the month of December since many of us will be away for holiday. We will keep you update on the next meeting in January 2010.

May the Lord bless everyone.