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.