Emergency need

Prayer warriors, we need everyone's prayers for this urgent matter. The details are a little sketchy, but this is what we know to the best of our abilities.

One of our pastors serves in a high-risk "critical" area of Muslim Mindanao. Apparently, the church performed the wedding (our source called it an "elopement" of a young couple in the church. However, the girl's parents are Muslim.

The Muslim family has gotten angry and is demanding an exorbitant dowry. (In the Philippines, you pay the dowry to the bride's family.) The family is demanding a dowry of 153,000 pesos. This is a poor area of Mindanao, and there is no way the church can afford that amount. That is just a little less than $4,000 US. The penalty for failure to pay this dowry will be that some of the church's young people will be put in prison by the Moros. That's the threat, though we expect this particularly violent sect of Muslims to react with more violence than their initial threat.

This makes no sense to us in the West, but it is a reality these people are facing. The offended family has given some grace and allowed the "damages" to be paid in installments. The first amount to be paid is 15,000 pesos, and after the pastor solicited funds from the barangay (think "village"), they were able to raise only 4,000 pesos. So, they have three weeks to get the final 11,000 pesos. That is roughly 300 pesos needed in three weeks. (The number is actually a little less, but we round up to account for transfer fees and fluctuating exchange rates.)

We will try to update this as often as we can in the near future. But please pray, because this need is urgent. We understand this pastor has had a great impact in his area lately, and there is no way Satan is happy to hear of people leaving Islam for Isa (the Arabic name for Jesus).

Folks, this need is urgent. Please join with us in serious prayer. Let's show these Muslims that Christians around the world will help their brothers, and maybe this act of generosity by us will lead to a bigger harvest in the field of Muslims.

If you desire to help financially, we will be glad to have your help. As always, you can contact our friends at Love in Action if you want to make a tax deductible gift.

In a related point, there is a church member of this pastor's flock who used to be a part of the Moro National Liberation Front sent to kill the pastor. Now this man desires to be a missionary pastor. God is doing tremendous things. Let's join with Him in His work.

To the praise, glory and honor of Jesus Christ our King!

Nowhere to go

Our friends in the Philippines often live in conditions we cannot imagine. Pastor Mario Montero, his wife and his four children live in a small room above the church.

The kitchen and sleeping area for this family is smaller than most of our bedrooms in the United States. They don't complain; they work and serve the Lord while living in a small area.

But lately, the roof has started leaking. We would say it only leaks when it rains, but on Mindanao, it always rains. Even though the adult daughters sleep down inside the church now, there is not much room for the pastor and his wife and two small children to go to avoid the water.

The repairs can be done for only $1,300. But for this church in Punta, which ministers primarily to the poor, this amount is hard to reach. Let's join with them in praying for this amount of money. (Full disclosure: This amount of money includes repairs to church benches, but we don't know how much is roof and how much is benches. Since they need both, we ask for the whole amount.)

If you desire to help financially, we will be glad to have your help. As always, you can contact our friends at Love in Action if you want to make a tax deductible gift.

Many thanks for your prayers, and for your gifts. May our Lord Jesus Christ richly bless you!

Couple of needs

Today we want to share two prayer needs for our friends on Mindanao.

First we update the ongoing ministry of Pastor Carlito in Mabas. He held the first Bible study on Sunday, and he reported to us that the people there were "hungry to know more about Jesus." We rejoice to hear that! As you may recall, Mabas is the place that had no church at all when we visited in April/May.

Pastor Carlito is praying for a digital camera so he can take photos of the Bible study. Let's join with him in praying for that (he estimates the camera should be 4,000 Philippine pesos, about $100 US). Also, since the mountain Subanen are poor in English, the usual KJV Bibles we usually send probably won't work. So, let's pray for some Visaya Bibles for this church. Pastor did not request those, but we take it upon ourselves to pray anyway.

Our second request is a bit different from our normal request. We have learned of a dear sister who is attending college "by faith." She is close to finishing her next-to-last semester. In two more weeks, she will have to pay the full balance of her tuition, which is 15,000 pesos, roughly $370 US.

This sister has worked while she pursued her education, but she is facing a total lack of funds. In fact, she did laundry for her the school board members throughout the time to try to earn more money, but she is nearing the time when the balance must come due.

She told us recently she is very discouraged, but we told her we would continue to pray for her need. Now, we are not usually in the habit of putting these personal requests here. But in this case, we wanted to alert the praying family of Christ to this need.

Recently, our Sunday School class looked at the wedding in Cana in John 2. There, Jesus performed a miracle in large part to save a family extreme embarrassment. We can be tempted to only pray for "spiritual" things, but we might forget that God is also interested in the "earthly" things. This matter is important to our sister. So let's pursue God's grace for her. We won't ask you for money for this, but we do ask you to pray. We only have two more weeks to see Christ answer this prayer.

Incidentally, this sister was on the fourth floor of her school building on Tuesday when a 5.1 magnitude earthquake hit. There was very little damage, thankfully, but imagine being on the fourth floor of a building when an earthquake hits. She said, "I thought this is the Day of JESUS CHRIST COMING. That all problem will be ok."

If we are Christians, we long for Christ's return. But until then, let us join with our mga igsoon and mga igsoon (brothers and sisters) in praying for their needs, for ministry and for their personal lives.

God bless you more for reading. Grace to you!

A shepherd on the way

Several months back, we told you about a place on Mindanao called Lopez Jaena. Within this general city was a churchless village called Mabas.

During my trip there in April, we made a visit to the little village, way up at the top of Mount Malindang in Misamis Occidental.

Even though we had a great response to the presentation of the gospel there, it was a bittersweet time because these new believers had no instruction in the word of God. I remember thinking of the people as "sheep without a shepherd."

We have reason to rejoice now, because we have learned that a new missionary pastor is going out to at least Lopez Jaena, and as far as we know, he is going to continue to Mabas.

Mabas is a difficult place to reach. You must ride a motorbike up an occasionally paved road (only wide enough for a motorbike) for about three or four hours to reach the top of the mountain. The people are poor, and you must be prepared the traditional animistic religion and the communist rebels who occupy the mountains on Mindanao.

The stepfather of this missionary referred to Subanen outreach (reaching to the people in the mountains; "Subanen" is a Cebuano word meaning "native") as "suicide." When missionaries go to the mountains, they expect to do without food, money, medicine, things we take for granted. They expect to suffer sickness and watch their children die of malnutrition. That's why they don't usually last long on the mountains but eventually descend to the plain.

So, let's pray for the missionary. Pray for his support. Pray for his needs. With only $100 a month, this missionary would have enough funds to be able to focus on his ministry.

We rejoice that a shepherd is going to minister to the flock. Let's also send along our prayers, and let's see what God will do.

Also, we received word today that one of our pastors is struggling with some financial matters. Just please pray for these indigenous missionaries who live among the poorest of the poor at times and live off the tithes and offerings of their flock.

Politics as usual

We bring you a special need for our mission school in Punta, Dipolog City. We are rejoicing that all the funds for the school to be built came in, and we know there is constant work going on at the school to construct the building.

However, there is an urgent need for which we ask your prayers. There is a new divisional superintendent for Dipolog City, and with the change in leadership comes a surprise bribe -- I mean -- fee.

Normally, the school must pay government fees four times a year. However, with the ascension of this new superintendent, all Christian and private schools are required to pay another fee of 1,000 pesos per child this month (September). The new superintendent is apparently able to set arbitrary fees without explanation.

The 1,000 pesos translate to roughly $25 in U.S. currency. That's not much to us, but for the people in the Philippines, it is quite a bit of money, especially when you start multiplying that per child.

We have been given an extension until next week, ending Sept. 14 (subtract a day for International Dateline).

Let's pray God will provide the funds for all the kids.

Also, let us pray as our friends at the school, Obadiah Learning and Development, have asked us to pray.

They are praying the new superintendent will attend the dedication service for the school. The church will feed the guests, and the pastor will preach the gospel. They are praying that all will be able to attend and come to know Christ. Let's join with then in this prayer.

Our God hears our prayers

"And the prayer of faith shall save the sick." -- James 5:15a

During my trip to the Philippines a couple months ago, we got to know one particular woman. Her children are in the Obadiah Learning and Development Academy, and the family was introduced to the gospel of Jesus Christ through the school. 

In the hospital

Up until the time of my visit, this dear woman had been sick for a long time. In fact, before my trip, Bro. Joel told me of this woman who was so sick she couldn't sit through the service without collapsing. Her husband earns his living as a motorcab driver (a motorcab is a motorbike with a side saddle). The family was left with very little money for the needful medicine and treatments.

The children were often missing school to take care of their mother, and most expected the worst. She tried many different medical treatments, including visiting "kwak"doctors who were unable to do anything for her. My first full day in Punta, we met with the Obadiah parents, and they asked me to pray over this woman. Then, later during my stay, they told us she had been admitted to the hospital. 

So one Sunday after the service and some baptisms, her husband took me and some others to the hospital to visit this dear woman. How do you offer encouragement to a perpetually sick woman who understands maybe one-fourth of the words you say? I didn't do it very well, I don't think. But one verse that came to mind was the passage referenced at the top of the page. I let this new believer know that God promises to heal the sick if they pray. 

Jesus tells us that we will see amazing things if our faith is the size of a mustard seed. Well, that's being generous to describe my faith that day. In fact, I prayed for her with very little faith. I can be guilty of very weak faith at times. But after we prayed and we talked, she told Bro. Joel (who translated for me) that "now I know I must trust Jesus to heal me." (Quotes are as well as I can remember after two months.)

How is the family now? Well, after prayers of many believers (most of whom have greater faith than I do), we get this report from Bro. Joel.

"If she was so sickly before," Bro. Joel said, "it is the opposite now, to God be the glory! Now she drives motorbike to fetch her relatives to church, Amen!"

In fact, the family is reaching another family, bringing the family to the church and to the in-home Bible study. 

"Pastor Mario and the whole church were amazed last Sunday for her," Bro. Joel said.

God's people praise Him because He restored the health of this dear woman. Notice what else Bro. Joel told us.

"Her testimony, if not of Obadiah, she will not know Christ and believe on Him and got healed from her illness," he said.

Her children attend the school because of a third-party sponsor. This is why we tell you these stories. For between $15 and $50 a month (depending on government department of education fees), you can sponsor a child in the school. Imagine that. You may never get to go to the Philippines, but you could be a part of reaching an entire family with the good news of Jesus Christ.

When you join with an indigenous mission work, do you realize you are partakers in their fruit? Just look at this family. A poor family with minimal income, a sick mother, and multiple children. Now, they have Christ, the mother is driving a motorbike under her own strength, and not only are they converted, but they are reaching other families. 

What on earth can compare to being a part of impacting the eternity of people? Please pray for this ministry, and pray about joining in with the work. 

And let's rejoice at the work that God is doing through these dear, wonderful people. 

Praising our Provider

This week, the news has been dominated by an evil man's empire crumbling, the kingdom of a man who was willing to sacrifice children to protect his own reputation.

But we are rejoicing today because of the generous gift of a man with no reputation who invested in Christ's kingdom.

We expected a donation of $500 would go to the construction of the Obadiah Learning and Development building at Punta. The would leave us $1,500 short of the goal of completing the building. However, after Tuesday night, we are pleased to report that the entire goal has been reached. As we say in Visaya, "Dalaygon ang Diyos."

Now, we're not at liberty to discuss (nor do we know) how much was given by whom. But we are told with solid testimony that a very generous donation was given by a man who is far from wealthy. He simply wanted to invest in Christ's kingdom.

We are so thankful. Salamat for all the prayers, and for all the gifts. Now, please pray for Obadiah, that God would continue to use this ministry to reach the lost in and around Punta, Dipolog City. These children have no hope of escaping the poverty into which they are born without this ministry school. But the children have hope, and not just in this life. Baptisms are "almost daily" as a result of this outreach.

Obadiah's leaders are also praying for additional sponsors. The amount each child needs varies from month to month. Some months, it is only about $15 per child, because the needs are fare to school and daily snacks. Other months, government fees are due, so the cost is $50 per month those months.

Please pray for more sponsors for these children. Also, pray about being a sponsor yourself. Perhaps God will use you to reach a child, a family, a nation with the grace and love of Jesus Christ.

Construction continues

We wanted to give you an update on the Obadiah Learning and Development mission school that is being built. We are grateful that through Love in Action Ministries we were able to send $1,000 toward the needed $3,000. There is still a need of $2,000 to complete the construction of the school.

Pastors from other churches help in construction
to keep costs down.

Currently, Obadiah meets in the multipurpose building at Shiloh Bible Baptist Church in Punta, Dipolog City. Several months back, a neighbor donated a plot of land for five years of minimal rent for the school to have its own place. Construction began soon after, and we have seen the progress.

The school is an outreach ministry, reaching poor families who cannot afford to send their children to private schools. The public schools on the plains are too crowded, and the poor children often fall through the educational cracks.

A view from the back of the building

The families to whom the school ministers are often very generous with what they do have. Bro. Joel tells us of one family that offered to donate a palm tree to the construction of the building. This family is poor, and the mother fights sickness often. The father is a motorcab driver, so his earning income is small in comparison to the family's need. But Bro. Joel tells us of great spiritual growth in this family.

God has provided in many ways for the building construction. Contractors and inspectors have waived their fees, for example, and God continues to work through us to bring the funds to complete the building. Fortunately, other pastors in the area have been willing to help build the school house. You will notice a few men in the photos. They are pastors in other areas who have been willing to help build the building so the school does not have to hire workers.

Pastor Ronilo "Carpenter Bee" Buyog works on the building.

The working conditions are rarely ideal. In fact, since the construction began, tropical depressions have rolled through the area constantly. There is urgency to complete the task because the wood and cement are exposed to the elements. Work days go on through hot or high water, literally.

Weathering the storm

Bro. Joel told us of one particular day when it was
"so hot from 8 a.m. to noon, and it rains from 1:30 to 6:30. Yet we still work."

Let's do our part, too. This is not just an educational opportunity. This is an investment in eternity. Let's join together and invest in the gospel outreach to the poor on Mindanao. Let us seek God's blessing, in this life and the next, for these dear children.


If God lays it on your heart to help with these needs, please contact Love in Action Ministries. You may contact them through the website, by mail to Love in Action International Ministries, Inc. P.O. Box 85 Dothan, AL 36302 or by calling 334-494-4995.

Praise report

We want to pass along another praise report. Yesterday we told you about a teacher in Ozamis who was suffering from typhoid fever. We got an update from Pastor Manuel Obut, who told us he visited her in the hospital after the day's classes ended.

In part, here is what he told us, "She's doing fine, no more rashes, fever, and typhoid virus. God used the injectable medicines for her fast recovery." Pastor Manuel told us the teacher could have been released today, but they are keeping her for another day or so to try to get her blood pressure back to a healthy level. So, we praise God for our sister's response to the medicine, but we continue to pray for her full recovery.

Let us thank our God for His answers to our prayers.

Various updates

Aloha to all.

It has been a while since we updated this blog site. It will be a bit harder for us to update for a while. Internet access is less than it was before, so it will be harder to give the updates than it has been.

But we have a few things to let you know about.

First, we are $2,000 from our goal of completing the school at Obadiah Learning and Development. Our friends there are continuing to work on completing the building. The line of tropical depressions has not made it easy, but our friends keep on working. Please pray for us to be able to reach that goal. We just heard from our friend there in Punta. He said, "Thank God for the gift. Sorry for not online. Pastors Clemente, Buyog and I busy roofing the building. We continue praying. God bless more Igsoon." Amen!

Second, we are still without an update on the pastor's wife who needs a transfusion. This dear woman has had a blood issue her whole life, we believe. In December, she was attacked by Muslims while sharing the Gospel. Mercifully, God spared her life then, and we are trusting for His provision again. This bleeding issue does not appear to be related to the December attack.
UPDATE: Since we published this item, we received word that this woman is now out of the hospital. Another pastor lent some money for the transfusion, so she was able to leave the hospital and is doing well.

Third, a teacher in Ozamis has been struck with typhoid fever. Last report we have on her is she is in the hospital. Initial reports said she also needed a transfusion, but that diagnosis was changed. Our friends and family there in the Philippines are subject to plenty of health hazards. Let us remember to pray for their health as they go about the business of reaching the lost. This lady teaches at the school of Pastor Manuel Obut. We told you of his needs here. We would ask you to continue praying for the needs of those schools and their church.

Fourth and finally, my hostess during my trip fell at her home on Sunday and hurt her arm. You may recall the photo of us walking on a long, single-plank bridge over stagnant water. She fell off that bridge during the rain, and she hurt her arm. She has trouble using her hand, now, and it is her writing hand. She has midterm exams this week, so she is very concerned about her ability to take her test. She endured a hilot on Sunday, which is what many Filipinos who can't afford a doctor us. Hilot is a healing massage, but as one with cracked ribs can attest, it is really torture on an injured bone. So, let's pray for Aiza's healing. Also, her Bible was ruined during the fall, and she is very sad about that. She does have another one, but this one was especially important to her.

There are many other needs, of course. Many pastors with lot needs and building needs. But the main thing is our prayers. Let us remember our brothers and sisters in other parts of the world. May Christ reach the lost through us!

Rain, rain, rain

A fact of life in the Philippines is rain. When you're trying to build a school building, the rain is more than an inconvenience.


We have written often about Obadiah Learning and Development and the school building they are trying to build. Obadiah is an outreach school out of Shiloh Bible Baptist Church in Punta, Dipolog City, Philippines. God has provided in many ways so far, from discounts by engineers to cheaper than expected materials to timely gifts.


But with the rain, the exposed lumber is being compromised. 


"The wooden materials started to be destroyed due to the weather changes," Bro. Joel told us just this week. "Please do earnestly pray."


With a low-pressure system hitting the island, the rain is constant. Please join with us in praying for the remaining funds to be provided. The need stands at roughly $2,800 USD, but we are praying for $3,000 in case there are unexpected needs. 


Further, please pray for the families of the children who are served by Obadiah. Many live in low-lying areas near the water, so flooding is expected.


Please remember, if God lays it on your heart to help with these needs, please contact Love in Action Ministries. You may contact them through the website, by mail to Love in Action International Ministries, Inc. P.O. Box 85 Dothan, AL 36302 or by calling 334-494-4995.

Interceding for Aloran

The life of an indigenous missionary in the Philippines is hard. There are many obstacles that come into the lives of the missionaries. Health is a problem. Money is a problem. And an almost universal struggle is that of a meeting place.


My friend in Aloran, Pastor Manuel Obut, and his wife, Marylo, are quite busy. In addition to the Bible studies and church work, they also have two outreach schools. Since public schools are crowded in the Philippines, and since private schools are expensive, a common outreach for churches in the Philippines is to provide education for children. It allows the church the ability to teach the children (and their parents) the Gospel of Jesus Christ.


Pastor Manuel, his wife, and the church have many needs, and we would ask you to pray for them. It may not be proper to speak of all of them now, but we do ask you to remember the needs. Please pray for their school, for the teachers, for the children. Also, we are still seeking the 200 Bibles for Pastor Manuel's Bible studies to the many people in Aloran.


However, the pressing need for this time is the church lot. For eight years, the Obut family and church have been caretakers on a lot where there are many buildings. They have been able to use a building for a church and a dwelling place. It hasn't always been the most comfortable place. But they are thankful that the landlady has allowed them to stay there and watch God grow their ministry.


"The houses here are made cement, but we are sheltered in an old bamboo house destroyed already by termites almost to fall down," Pastor Manuel told me. "We received insults and hurting words."


Now, they need help. The landlady's family are not supportive of the church remaining there. The church and the family feel pressure from the landlady's family to move.


There is a lot nearby available for purchase, but the cost for this lot is 1.2 million Philippine pesos. That is more than $28,000 in US currency. They are also praying for another temporary lot so they can build their church and "stand on their own." Pastor told me they have been praying for the temporary lot for two months now. Let's join with them in praying for the lot. Let's also pray for their opposition who are causing them trouble.

Finally, let's continue to contribute Bibles for their work in reaching the lost in Aloran, Misamis Occidental. Remember, we need King James Bibles. We are praying for 200 of them. We have many already, but we have not reached our goal.

Preaching in Polanco

The final Sunday of my trip was spent at the church service of Pastor Ronilo Buyog, brother of Queen Bee. So, he is affectionately known as Pastor Bee, or Pastor-in-Law to me (and remember, in Visaya, the stress in on the second syllable in pastor).

The building you will see in the photos is soon to be demolished, if it has not been already. This church, and the parsonage attached, are on a rental property. The landowner has decided to divide the lot among his children, and he is planning to raze everything on the property, including the church as well as the house of the neighbor.

This was taken on our way to Mabas. We stopped here
to see Pastor's church and get some things for our trip. I
include this photo so you can see the name of the church.

Pastor Buyog was not originally a Shiloh missionary. You see from the photo, his church is called "Ambassador Baptist Mission." He attended Bible college in Manila, and he went to his home in Mansawan to start the church there. However, when the swarm of Buyog moved off the mountain, he started the new mission in Lingasad, Polanco. Lingasad is not far from Dipolog City. I think it's between Dipolog and Dapitan, but then, my directions were often confused. Whenever we went to Dapitan, or through Dapitan (such as the trip to Mabas), we passed by the church. Even though Pastor Buyog is not originally from the Shiloh family, Pastor Mario Montero, of Punta, Dipolog City, mentors and disciples Pastor Buyog now and does what he can to help support him.

We hear that the church has found a new rental property. We are not certain if they have been able to move into the new temporary place yet or not, but when we do learn, we will update. However, the church is praying for its own property. There is a lot near them for 140,000 pesos. That is a little more than $3,300 USD (right now, the price is $3,311.38, but that number changes). Let's pray with them for the amount they need.

Well, anyway, now that we have finished that part of the blog, let's return to my trip. It was a joy to spend time with the believers there in Lingasad. We arrived early, because Pastor Buyog came to get us in the morning. He drives around on his motorbike to pick up church members before the service, so he had to bring us up there very early so he could go and get his parishioners.

Pastor Buyog teaches about Satan
during the Sunday School hour.

First, we had the Sunday School time, when Pastor Buyog taught from the streamer Pastor Mario had made. If you have been following these blogs, you have seen these streamers throughout the series. They are made by Pastor Mario to help teach various doctrines. They are illustrated to help those who struggle to read (or understand the English of the KJV Bible) to follow the lessons or sermons. It helps greatly to have a visual aid.

This particular streamer deals with Satan, his history, his works, his future. You can't really see it on these photos, but there are many scripture verses on the streamer, all showing the scriptural basis for the various points.

Church members await the start of the service.

During the Sunday School hour, there was a very beautiful red rooster tied up right outside the front door. Whoever started the rumor that roosters crow only at daylight was seriously mistaken. He thought he needed to crow all through the Sunday School hour. However, we had the last laugh, because we ate him for lunch. So, the moral of the story, if you're going to be a rooster outside a church in the Philippines, don't interrupt the service. You may end up as manok adobo.

As is common practice, Pastor did ambush the guest one time to sing. So, accompanied by Queen Bee, we sang a hymn in Cebuano. My Cebuano is much worse than anyone else's English over there, so I do hope they had some grace for me. But it means a lot to them for us to try to learn their language.

Queen Bee and I singing a song in Cebuano. 

The message God put on my heart for that Sunday was from Psalm 103. Someone once said, "If you want to know your God, read the Psalms." It is true. The Psalms are a collection of praise songs to God, and they always tell of a particular aspect or virtue of God to be praised. Psalm 103 tells us how David overcame his own tendency to forget God and His attributes, so we talked about how we should do the same. I say "we" because, as you can see from the photo, I had an interpreter. Some parts of Mindanao understand English better than others, so sometimes I had a point-by-point translator. Sometimes, the pastor would summarize at the end.

I'm preaching, and Bro. Joel is translating.

At the end of the Psalm, David calls on all of God's creation to join with him in praise. When we were talking about those particular verses, the Pentecostal pig tied up just outside the window you see in the photo started hollering. It made a good illustration point, that even the baboy was wanting to praise God. Unfortunately, we did not give the baboy the same treatment as the manok. The baboy lived to squeal another day.

It was a joy to be able to encourage these believers. It is always a pleasure to be able to be with the believers in another part of the world. It is an amazing thing to see people who are so different from you in so many ways worship the same God you worship. Their sins are forgiven the same way ours are, if we are in Christ.

There are some other needs Pastor Buyog and his family have. Let us pray for them and for their church. Let us pray for God's blessing and protection, as well as His power in their lives. Let's pray we can be a blessing to them for Christ's sake as well.

Lifting the spirits in Mansawan -- Subanen outreach Part 3

Queen Bee getting ready for the trip in her sarong and
borrowed Alabama national championship hat. 

Our final journey into the mountains of Mindanao was to visit the village of Mansawan, affectionately known as the Beehive. My hostess for the trip, Aiza Buyog, is from Mansawan. Her family name means "Bee," and most of her family fled the threat of communist rebels in the mountains to live on the plain.

However, her father and some relatives still live on the mountain, and thus I call it the Beehive, since we were going to see so many Buyogs.

We had a couple of purposes to the trip. First, since Aiza and the entire church are praying for me to marry Aiza, I had to meet her father. Second, Aiza's brother, Ronilo, founded the church in Mansawan. He also fled the rebels and now preaches in Lingasad, Polanco. However, the church in Mansawan is his extension church.

Pastor Romolu Yarag, left, and
Pastor Mario Montero take a break
from riding the motorbike up
the mountain.

Of all the trips into the mountains, the Mansawan trip was probably the hardest. Characteristically unpaved, the road also was very steep in many places. The village was high up on the mountain, and the rocky, muddy road was too rough for us all to ride on the motorbikes. In fact, at some points we had to push the motorbike up the mountain. Rather exhausting.

Joining us was Pastor Romolu Yarag, who is a pastor to the Subanen near Salug. He preaches in the mountain, and he is supported by Pastor Mario Montero. Those two, as well as Pastor Buyog, Peter Buyog, Joel and Leah Elorta, the Queen Bee, and I all made the trip up the mountain.

Part of the way up the mountain, Queen Bee's uncle met us with a horse. I think I was supposed to ride it, but I felt it more appropriate to help the others push their bikes up the mountain. So Leah took my spot.

Queen Bee and Leah horsing around.

Mansawan from the viewpoint of the high school.

The views going up the mountain were spectacular. It was a very steep climb, and we stopped along the way to view the villages or the scenery. Pastor Buyog was driving the motorbike I rode, and he was a bit more of a risk-taker than the other drives at times.

Finally, we arrived in Mansawan. The air was very thin up there. In fact, we were above the clouds. When the fog rolled in later that day, it had to roll up to us.

One of the first people I met was Papa Bee, the father of mga Buyog (mga is the plural form for a noun; I'm just trying to appear smart for a moment and show off my limited Visaya). Not long after that, I met his mother, Aiza's grandmother. As is customary in the Philippines, she was rather blunt. She asked through an interpreter, "Are you the one to marry Aiza?" My standard response, "I'm praying about that."

Papa Bee

The family is not rich, but they treated us with great hospitality. We ate lunch there, and one menu item was a dish involving coconut milk, rice, pineapples and a bunch of other stuff. My indulgence in said goodness may have contributed to the sickness I suffered that night and the next day.

The church is right next to the family's home. Even though it was a Friday, we held a service with the intent of encouraging the believers who remained in the village. Many of the church members had fled the threat of trouble, so the church was greatly reduced in members.

Before the service, the church members gave a love offering for all of us travelers. They gave cabbage, "cute" pineapples and chayote. (Where we were, "cute" meant "little." Up in Mansawan, the pineapples did not grow very large, so they were called "cute" pineapples. No one ever referred to my nose as "cute.")

Our love offering from the people in Mansawan.

Unlike other expeditions into the mountains, the focus was not to share the Gospel. The people in attendance here were already believers. Instead, we tried to encourage them to persevere in their difficult circumstances. The mountains are rife with rebellion by the New People's Army. Much like the American war in Vietnam, the civilians often get caught in the crossfire.

So, my message for these people was from 2 Kings 5. I encouraged them with the story of Naaman, how his conversion and healing were brought about by the testimony of an orphaned slave girl in his household. It amazes me how God often uses the disadvantaged to accomplish His purpose.

I preach, with Pastor Mario interpreting.

After my sermon, Pastor Buyog encouraged the members further. I have no idea what he said, though, because he spoke in either Visaya or, more likely, Subanen. Even Pastor Mario, my host pastor, does not understand Subanen.

After the service ended, Aiza's father gave me a chicken. The chicken endured the drive down the mountain, and it enjoyed a few days of living at the church in Punta. My last night in the Philippines was the chicken's last night on earth. She made an enjoyable dinner.

Pastor Buyog encourages the believers still in Mansawan.

Me, many members of the Buyog family, and my chicken.

The Queen Bee at her high school, where she was
valedictorian, and my chicken.

Peter Bee, left, Pastor Bee, right, me, and my chicken
at the high school.

"That God will finish what He started"

We're taking a break from our account of my trip to the Philippines to bring an urgent matter before you.

Our friends at Obadiah Learning and Development have begun construction on the school building we mentioned before. So far, $1,100 has been donated to help build the school building. Just to remind everyone, right now, Obadiah Learning and Development meets in the church building at Shiloh Bible Baptist Church in Punta, Dipolog City. The school is an outreach arm of the church.

A few months back, a neighbor donated a piece of property to build a separate building for the school. The property is loaned, as it were, with a 5-year lease for a very small price. But our friends need a building.

Work begins on the Obadiah school building.

So far, the donations that have come in have been worth $1,100, or close to 50,000 Philippine pesos. The church has started construction of the building, but funds are still needed.

With a typhoon in the area bringing heavy rains, Bro. Joel Elorta is very concerned that the construction continue rapidly. Some of the lumber is already in place, but heavy rains can rot the wood and cause damage to the concrete.

"We plead to God that He will finish it before the typhoon hits it bad,that God will finish what He started," Bro. Joel told us.

Bro. Joel also told us the need to complete the project is "at least 120,000 pesos." That total translates to $2,758 in US currency. Since Bro. Joel said "at least," we are praying for $3,000 to help the building complete.

We can see evidence of God's mercy in this ministry in many ways. One of them is the consideration of the engineers planning the building.

"The most amazing of this Igsoon is that we don't have to pay for engineer fee,plumber fee and electrician fee, God touched their heart so they give their service for free," Bro. Joel told us.


As far as the typhoon goes, I don't think the typhoon is near Mindanao (the only news reports I could find about a typhoon near the Philippines placed it near Manila, quite a distance away). It seems, from those reports, that the typhoon has passed the islands, but the rain is still heavy. If we find out more about that particular issue, we will update it.


Let us join together in praying for this wonderful ministry. May God, indeed, finish what He has started in providing for this building.

The squatters

One of my favorite things during my trip, and one of the most important ministries Shiloh Bible Baptist Church does, was to visit the poor. On Mindanao, many of the poorest live in squatter settlements. I had the privilege to visit several of them while I was making my visit, for various reasons.

Many of the poor who live in these settlements are Subanen, the native people who are fleeing the violence in the mountains. 

The water is stagnant pond
water with a colony
of mosquitoes.

One of the places we visited was in the home of one family in the church. These particular people left the mountains because of communist rebels, and they bought a house for about $70. It is in the swamp, a nipa house with bamboo floors that are not very sturdy. Perhaps the overweight American was not a good fit for the floors and added extra stress, but there's no reason to speculate on that.

The family never complains, but they are often sick from the water and the constant mosquito attacks. When it rains heavily (as it often does), the water rises through the floor, and all that nasty water comes into the house. The plank walkway you see in the photo will then be covered by several feet of water. The family members have to walk through the water to get to the street and go to school or work or church. We are praying we can help this family have a better home. May God allow us to do that.

Lessons in Katipunan

One Saturday, we made the short trek to a settlement in Katipunan. The settlements are often on the waterfront, since this is mostly public land. The settlers make their living as fishermen or other sea trades. On this day, I saw a children's Bible study. The children were taught Bible lessons, and just as the adults would be, they were taught doctrinal lessons from the streamers Pastor Mario draws.

Our teacher, sister Grace, did a good job with the children. They sang songs, played games and were instructed out of the Bible. They even claimed to see an Amerkano, but I never saw him.

My personal highlight, though, was when we traveled to the extension in Pasil, Roxas. This extension is the fruit of the labor of Bro. Soliva. I am hating myself for forgetting his first name. But should his daughter send me a message, I will update the blog with that information.

There is a public meeting space in the settlement, right next to the Roman Catholic chapel. Many of the residents are Roman Catholic, and our brother has done a great job of explaining the true Gospel to these dear souls.

Some girls do a special music number in Pasil, Roxas.
In the background is Pastor Mario, on the right, and Bro. Soliva,
who founded the extension in this village.

Can you say full house?

The first thing you notice when the bus stops in these settlements is the smell. The people have their pigs and chickens and dogs (some for pets, some for food), and the smell of excrement is strong. But the people are very eager to meet you, and they are very friendly. I was, frankly, surprised at the turnout.

We met on a Wednesday morning in Pasil, but the place was beyond full. Children were especially plentiful once again. Frankly, I underestimated the gospel knowledge of these dear souls. Bro. Soliva has done a wonderful job explaining the doctrines of the Bible to these precious people.

I tell you this next part hesitantly, because I don't want it to be prideful. But these dear souls are not used to seeing an Amerkano. In fact, one of the adults shook the hand of Bro. Soliva and thanked him for bringing "the Amerkano" to them. It meant so much to them that there was an Amerkano there. We don't know how much encouragement we can be by simply spending time with the poor, the outcast.

After the service, the parents wanted their children to have their photos made with the Amerkano. At first, the parents brought their babies up. Some were more excited than others. One baptized me with his cracker, and I had crumbs all over my shirt. Fortunately, I later spilled my orange juice on my shirt to wash off the crumbs.

After the service, they also asked me to teach the children a few Hawaiian words. That's good, because I only know a few Hawaiian words. I taught them a few, including the favorite Hawaiian word "aloha." It means, hello, goodbye and love. This quickly became the kids' favorite word.

This gentleman was not happy to see me.

Someone got the idea for us to take a photo by the sea. So, we went through the maze of houses to find a good spot to take photos. I walked with 20-30 shadows, all walking very close. At one point, they shouted in unison, "al-o-ha, al-o-ha," as we walked around the settlement.

What a blessing for me to spend time with such precious children. It is humbling to know I encouraged them at all. Such an incredible blessing to me.

Let's remember that the Bible often calls us to remember the poor. How wonderful to remember those who cannot do anything for us. Let's pray for SBBC Punta and its effort to reach the poor in the various parts of that country.

Let's also pray for men like Bro. Soliva, who travel to the extension churches at their own expense. Pray they will continue to have their jobs that pay them well enough to accomplish God's purposes. Also, let's pray and see if God would have us support the ministry as a whole. Perhaps God will use us for that purpose. 

Me and my shadows.

May God draw many of these dear ones to Himself!

Proclaiming Messiah in Mabas -- Subanen outreach Part 2

The first Sunday I was in the Philippines, I was blessed to preach in the church of Pastor Clemente Gumapit, who lives and works in Salug. 

The associate pastor reads
from Luke's Gospel.

It was a joy and a privilege to help him celebrate his anniversary service at Salug. Pastor Clemente's church is one of the first we were able to help last year when the ministry first began.

Below you will see photos of Pastor Clemente's parsonage. Thanks to our partnership with Love in Acton Ministries, we were able to buy the church a new lot in 2011 and pay for the construction of the parsonage earlier this year. The parsonage is almost complete, with only a little work left to be done. At least, such was the case when we visited there in late April. The progress is very likely further along at this point.

We are thankful to be able to help Pastor Clemente with those needs, but the point of this blog entry will be the ministry we were able to do with Pastor Clemente. On May 7, Pastor Clemente led us to Mount Malindang, the home of many villages of Subanen, the native tribe we mentioned in an earlier post. You see, Pastor Clemente is Subanen, and he has family members still living in the places where the Gospel has not reached.

The parsonage for Pastor Clemente in Salug.

Mount Malindang is the tallest mountain on Mindanao, and it is also in a critical area. Pastor Clemente was living in the municipality of Lopez Jaena many years ago when he encountered the Gospel. He now carries a deep burden to reach his fellow Subanen with the truth of Jesus, and His death and resurrection.

The day started very early for us. We had a convoy of motorbikes, and we left around 5 or 6 a.m. from Punta. Pastor Clemente, his wife, my hostess, her two brothers, Pastor Mario, Bro. Joel and I started the journey to Mabas, in the municipality of Lopez Jaena, in the province of Misamis Occidental.

We were beset by many difficulties. While we were traveling, we had to replace the tire on one of our caravan's motorbikes. We also had to buy rice and some other necessities because Mabas would not have rice. It was too high up in the mountain. On the way back, Pastor Mario's motorbike had many issues, and we had to stop for repairs often. Such is the life of these pastors. They are often hindered from ministry by challenges to their transportation and resulting expenses.

Mount Malindang in the clouds. Near the mountain is the
base of the New People's Army, the communist rebels of
Mindanao. Last September, an officer in the Philippine army
was killed in a skirmish with the NPA.

But God provided, and we were able to make the trek. The road up the mountain was similar to the others roads we traveled, but thankfully, part of it was paved. The military has paved a strip for many kilometers, but the road is only wide enough for a motorbike. The trip was rather tiring.

Along the way, we stopped to get a look at Mount Malindang in the distance. It was beautiful going up there. As we looked at the mountain, Pastor Mario pointed to another mountain near where we were going. It was where the New People's Army, the communist rebels of the island, has a large outpost. Violent clashes with the military are common, and in September, a high-ranking officer in the Philippines military was killed there in a skirmish with the NPA.

In fact, we spend the night in Mabas because of the rebels. Pastor Mario told me, "If we travel at night, the communist snipers think we are military and will shoot at us, and the military snipers think we are communists and will shoot at us." I agreed that staying overnight was wise.

Even though the road was paved in parts, it was still hard on the motorbikes, the drivers and the passengers. We had to stop for rest often to eat a snack or just to get some rest.

Pastor Clemente takes a break from driving. Notice the narrow
pavement we had traveled. We were thankful for paved roads,
no matter how small.

Finally, when we got to the end of the road, we stopped. That was Mabas. If we had driven any more, we would have fallen off the cliff. We visited with Pastor Clemente's mother and sister for a few hours while we rested. I also tried some local food called "sweet ginaums." Since the village is at such a high elevation, fish are not easy to obtain. So, when they do venture down to the plain to buy the small fish that are a staple of the diets on Mindanao, they heavily salt them for preservation. After a few days, the fish start to smell bad. But after 40 days, the fish start to smell sweet. That's how you know they are ready to eat.

Additionally, since the village is far too high for rice fields, the staple food is kamote, a kind of sweet potato. If you are on the plain, you will have "rice and" for breakfast, lunch and dinner. On the mountains, it will be "kamote and" for all three meals. They also will boil the greens from the kamote. We had that for part of our meal.

Up in these mountains, the food is not at all like what is eaten on the plain. The tropical fruits don't grow up in the mountain jungle, and so the diet is much different. The people live off of kamote, chickens and whatever vegetables they can grow. They also hunt for wild animals, frogs, monkeys, wild pigs, snakes, etc. I was promised a wild-game supper, but apparently, the hunters did not fare so well. There's always next time.

The people were kind and friendly in the village, or barangay, of Mabas, even if they were shy around the Amerkano. They had an elementary and a high school. But they had no church. No church of any kind was in Mabas.

So, that's why we were there. We said earlier that Pastor Clemente was a Subanen. Actually, he was more than that. His late father was the chieftain, so when he arranged the meeting ahead of time, everyone was sure to be there. I asked my hostess for the trip, also a Subanen, how much authority the chieftain had. She was a member of a group from a different area, so she had a different chieftain. Still, I asked her if the people had to obey the chieftain. She said, "Yes, or you get shot."

We did not take any guns, of course, but you get an idea of how the Subanen live. So, when the son of the late chieftain says, "We will meet on this date," everyone shows up. We were told the meeting would begin at 5 p.m., so we went to the barangay hall a few minutes early. About 5:15, Pastor Clemente made sure all of the traveling party was assembled, and then he looked toward the village. He stood where he was clearly visible, and he clapped his hands.

From left, the barangay captain, Pastor Clemente, Pastor
Ronilo Buyog and me, Taas Na Ilong.

Immediately, doors started opening up, and people started walking toward the barangay hall. Now, the hall was a wood building with dirt floors and an elevated stage. There were no lights. But the people came. The entire village was there, from babies to the barangay captain.

The religion of the Subanen is an animistic religion. They worship things in nature. I am not exactly sure about all they believe, but as I understand it, they believe in many spirits.

God really impressed on my spirit the sermon Paul made to Mars Hill in Acts 17. When you are preaching to people who have never heard the name "Jesus" in their lives, who worship all manner of false spirits, how do you start? It's best to follow Paul's lead. Paul begins with creation, and declares a message from the God who created all things. Incidentally, that's why we as Christians must not compromise on the lie of evolution. We serve the Creator, and it is His message we declare.

Many from the village attend the meeting.

So, after Pastor Clemente made introductions and with Pastor Mario translating for me, I declared the God of creation. Basically highlighting the sermon Paul preached, I told them of the God of creation, Who had made every single person. I gave them Paul's message, that God has created every race and every culture, and He is the God of all men. I shared with them how God commanded men to worship God and God alone. I warned them of the penalty for disobeying this command.

Pastor Clemente prays to start the meeting.

Then I got to share with them how God has been patient up until now, but now He had appointed a time when they must repent. I shared how He would judge all men by the One who was dead and lives again. I shared with them how Jesus, who is fully God and fully man, died for the sins of all who would believe. How God poured out His wrath on Jesus, and by placing our faith in Jesus, we can be saved. I told them how Jesus came back from the dead, and so will we if we believe on Him.

Pastor Mario then spoke for a little while in the Visayan language. Then, Pastor Clemente returned to explain the Gospel further. He then led the group in a prayer of repentance. As far as we can tell, the entire group prayed to receive Christ. Including children, the total number is between 40 and 60.

I say, "as far as we can tell," for one main reason. Romans 10:9 tells us, "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." Notice the two elements there. First, confession with the mouth. We heard that. But second is belief in the heart. We can't see another person's heart. Furthermore, we remember Jesus' parable of the sower and the seeds, that there are many who appear to believe but who, in fact, do not.

Pastor Mario, left, interprets for me.

However, prior to the trip and on the day of this meeting, I was drawn to Acts 9:35. It is a small verse, and Luke seems to pass by the wonder of it in such a matter-of-fact way. It says, "And all that dwelt at Lydda and Saron saw him, and turned to the Lord." I remember praying with this verse on my heart. I wanted to see something like this. If God could turn two entire villages to Himself back in the first century, why couldn't He do it now? I think sometimes we forget Who our God is. It may be that God answered that prayer of mine. Only He knows for sure, and we will know only in eternity.

Pastor Clemente leads in a prayer of repentance.

After this meeting, my heart was saddened yet. I watched these new believers go back to their homes with no pastor, no church, no way to grow. They can't even read English up there, so the KJV Bibles we send to the Philippines would do no good. Pastor Mario told me they are praying for a man to be willing to go up to Mabas and be either a pastor or an extension preacher, such as we noted in a previous entry. Since the land is all public, they can build without buying a lot (different laws than in the U.S., huh?), and since the place is in a jungle, lumber is not an issue. All that is needed for the building is labor, nails and metal for the roof.

Please join me in praying for this village, with so many new believers, that there will be either a pastor or extension preacher willing to make the trip up there. Perhaps God will use us to support a full-time pastor in Mabas. A pastor would need support, because the village is too poor to support one itself.

Pastor Clemente told us about another village that is beyond Mabas. It requires a four-hour hike through the jungle. There is no church, no Gospel outreach in this village, either. Does that concern you? People living, marrying, having sadness and joy, growing old, worrying about their children, all without the light of Christ. What does that do to your heart? Please join us in prayer for the Subanen.