Eulogy for My Hero, Jeanette A. Sereneo

Jeanette was petite and always had a ready smile. Whatever she lacked in height, she made up in personality. Despite difficulties she encountered, she was often positive. She was a go-getter and did not let limitations hinder her. I remember seeing her at one time at the doctor's office. She had an ear infection, had herself examined and drugs prescribed and then told the doctor that she had no money to pay for his services. He had no recourse but to offer them gratis. She got what she needed.

I remember that sometime in 2001, Jeanette found a lump in her breast. The doctor told her that she needed surgery to remove it. The base staff surrounded her and prayed for her healing. The Lord miraculously answered that prayer: the tumor shrunk that the doctor called the surgery off.

A few years after, Jeanette left Cebu to follow her heart. The Lord had given her a burden to reach out to the Mabaca tribe in Abra. She left the comforts of urban life and embraced the people and their lifestyle. She trekked kilometers to where they lived. She ate what they ate (including exotic grubs!) and lived a simple life: fetching water, cooking over wood, doing without electricity. She learned their language and their ways.

When she was with them, she tried to meet their needs. She shared her provisions with those who had none, she cleaned their wounds, she counselled, she comforted, she pastored them. It was not a surprise that she endeared herself to the Mabaca people in such a short time. In my eyes, she was my hero. She embodied everything a humble, faithful servant of God is and would do.

She probably had many needs and prayer requests but I remember only three: she needed a guitar, a horse and a husband. We were leaving for furlough and the boys had guitars that were just going to be in storage. They decided to give one to Jeanette. As for the horse, she did get one and used it not so much to ride on but to carry the supplies she needed from the lowlands. About 2 years ago, the Lord answered her need for a husband in the person of Gerry Sereneo, a Mabaca convert. Gerry had just done a YWAM Discipleship Training School prior to marrying Jeanette. Together they would serve the Lord and continue to minister to the Mabaca tribe.

I remember her wedding vividly because it was so unique. It was held in Cebu and both our girls participated as bridesmaid and flower girl. Instead of flowers, they carried little clay pots with rice stalks. They wore traditional Mabaca clothing and walked down the aisle in bare feet. There was a part when a pastora to the Mabaca did a praise dance. It was a happy day for Jeanette, Gerry and for us who witnessed their union.

About the middle of last year, Jeanette was diagnosed with breast cancer. The tumor was large that she needed chemo in order to shrink it before having a mastectomy. Despite difficulties, Jeanette did well as she went through chemo. Despite Gerry's distraught, Jeanette remained firm in her faith. She was often found worshipping the Lord in song. An outreach team from our Cebu base visited her during this time. I saw a picture of her, without any hair and cooking over a large wok. She was smiling. I marvelled at her strength and good spirits.

Early this year, Jeanette finally had her surgery in Baguio (a few hours away from Bangued) and stayed with our YWAM missionary care staff for recuperation. After the surgery though, she started to feel extreme pain all down her back and had seizures. She was returned to hospital for further tests which revealed that the cancer had spread to her spinal column. The doctors could only prescribe more chemo and radiation. Jeanette was already so weak from the surgery, she knew that she could not survive another round of drugs and treatments. The doctors concurred and told her that there was nothing else they could do. Jeanette was sent home to die.

In her last text, she said that she would go home to Abra and wait until the Lord would "call her home to his palace". She thanked everyone for the love, prayers and support and hoped that they would still extend the same to her husband when she moves on. That is so Jeanette: to the very end, she was thinking of others more than herself.

Needless to say, all these news distressed me. Together with Jeanette and Gerry, we were believing for God's healing miracle. He did it once, could he not do it again? Lucille, our YWAM leader in Cebu had a good perspective. She said the Lord healed Jeanette the first time because he knew that she had a heart for the Mabaca people. She was able to go to Abra and win the village for Christ. The Lord had extended her life so that she could fulfill his purposes through her.

Jeanette lived a life of purpose and the Lord enabled her to accomplish what she could in her lifetime. It wasn't a long life but it was a life that pleased the Lord and brought glory to his name.

The last days of Jeanette's life was difficult. She was in so much pain and even had difficult breathing. These may have silenced her song but I know deep inside her heart, she was still singing praises to the Lord.

When she passed away on Sunday, Feb. 6, I learned about her death in the middle of our worship. I wept as I thanked the Lord for Jeanette and a life well lived; for enriching our lives with hers; for giving Jeanette as a gift to the Mabaca people; for the greater harvest among this tribe because a seed has fallen to the ground and died.

Jeanette no longer suffers. In heaven, her body is whole. There are no more tears. I know with all confidence in my heart that when she entered the Lord's palace gates, she heard the sweet voice of her savior say: Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter into your reward.

Well done Jeanette.