For I am bought with a price: therefore I glorify God in my body, and in my spirit, which are God's (1 Cor. 6:20), through these short stories. These are stories that do not glorify myself for my own good works but they are meant to glorify God for the works that He has done to me and to all of us. These are true stories and not literary works. These are real stories with emotions and fear of the Lord. I do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
Many people feel awkward on the way we do, that is, the most important thing in our lives. Even so, some friends and relatives had alienated themselves from me and laughed at my back. Still others became blind, dumb and deaf. I feel being sentenced without a trial. This is the reason why I write short stories like these: to share digestible information about the way we do according to the Word of God. If you have comments or questions, feel free to send through the Online Guest Book.
About Calapan City
The city's economy is dependent on agriculture and fishing. However, a growing industry in machinery and tourism has contributed well to the city's annual income, making it one of the fastest growing new cities in the last 10 years. The Calapan City Seaport is the largest and busiest seaport in the Mindoro island with ships that travels to and from the Batangas City International Seaport. Calapan City is 45 minutes away from Batangas City and is accessible by ferry boat and RORO ships.
Since 1998, the city has experienced rapid development. Calapan City plays a major role in the Philippine economy as one of the major food suppliers in the country. The city is also a major exporter of rice, supplying to Metro Manila and major parts of Luzon making it both an agriculturally progressive and urbanized city. The top five industries in Calapan City are trading, tourism, services, marine and aquatic, and food processing.
Where Did the Burden Come from?
I couldn't remember how it started to feel this craving compassion for the lost souls. I was an ordinary, typical province boy. Just as written in Acts 2, I'd repented of my sin, baptized in water in the name of Jesus for the remission of my sins, and received the gift of the Holy Ghost with the initial evidence of speaking with other tongues as the Spirit gave utterance. I had a stable job. My wife and I got two young daughters during that time and they were still in primary school. We normally went to church every service. There were ups and downs in our married life. Even so, I resigned from my job to have a better earning from a business that my brother and I put up. It was only lately that I realized that God had authored my life, like a masterpiece in the hands of the Almighty God, and set all things work together for good for the honor and glory of His name. However, until the time of writing this story, I still could not comprehend some portions in my life. I would just place everything in the hands of my Creator because He knows what's best for me.
As a young believer that time, I was not really keen on discerning the voice of the Lord. My wife and I had a habit of reading the Bible in addition to other books that we reproduce and purchase. We had a prayer life but it was just coming to the presence of God for some thanksgivings and personal petitions. All at once, we were at the missions field. The last time I could remember was hearing the words, "Whom shall I send and who will go for us?" Then I said, "Here am I; send me."
Anybody may be tempted to be surprised on the success of missionary work even during the first few months and the reaching out two Mangyan (Alangan and Iraya) community tribes, with believers being baptized in Jesus name, received the Holy Ghost, and accompanying signs and wonders. These were not my own works. They were the works of the Holy Ghost. The following photos paint a thousand words and they tell you a lot of stories. However, they could simply be described in one statement, "God is awesome."
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This narrative was written 14 years after the events. It was intended not to mention any name of church or person, except few names of places. The purpose was to lift up the name of Jesus, the name above all names, and the only name given under heaven among men by which we must be saved. These photos and narratives were kept hidden in 14 years for the following reasons: (1) to understand well the uncertainties of events that happened during that time; (2) to conclude that all things work together for good to them that love God and the called according to His purpose; (3) to magnify God in good times or in bad times.
First Missions Headquarter
The second floor was our bedroom, with the same area as the ground floor. We divided it into a study area (near the window) and bedroom.
First Few Months of Loneliness
These photos was taken in Brgy. Suqui when my mother and brethren visited us. One of the burdens that God placed in my heart was the lost souls of Mangyans (tribal people of Mindoro). I wondered how they could experience the salvation that I had; how they could repent of their sins, knowing they had another dialect; how they could be baptized in water; and how they could receive the Holy Ghost. While driving around the town plaza, I met a group of Mangyans (lately, I found out that they belonged to the Tawbuid tribe). My natural approach was to befriend them and to find a way of discussing anything about God. When I mentioned that our God was a healing God, the Mangyan was amazed. Without hesitation, he brought me his son, having high fever and stomach trouble. I was put into immediate claim to the message that delivered. The simplicity of the Mangyan had shattered all barriers of getting the message across. Hence, I laid my hand to the boy and prayed for a miracle. Suddenly, the boy changed his physical appearance from signs of weakness to being lively. Surprisingly, his father commented that my God was a very powerful one.
I didn't see that Mangyan thereafter. I didn't know how he and his companions could receive the plan of salvation. I just hoped that the miracle he witnessed on that day could lead him to the truth someday, somehow.
It was immediately after we landed in Calapan City and settled in our first missions headquarter when my daughter had fever and stomach ache in eight day. Any missionary could relate how the situation was modest and financially down. We relied on praying to God for healing. At the end of eight days, we consulted the nearby doctor. We found out that our daughter suffered Dengue and she was already at her healing or recovery stage. This was how God supported us through the power of His healing.
The Children Became our Support Group
God has many ways, different from my own way and style. This situation had taught me to be calm in the arms of the Lord and to allow Him lead our way in the green pasture where there is calm water. God knows best.
To put the story short, Sunday School produced believers. New believers led to Home Bible Studies for their parents and relatives. Home Bible Studies gave birth to more believers, while others were convinced of the Bible message that we presented. We just hoped that the seed we'd sown, if it didn't grew up to be a plant on that day, would be a foundation of their faith someday at God's appointed time.
See the smiles of these Sunday schoolers. I hope you could hear their laughter and giggling. They were music to our ears because we are convinced that God gave them to us.
The Spaceship
There was a time when we had a Home Bible Study in a remote and dark barangay. We parked it near the trees. It was dark because the trees shaded it from the moonlight. Residents nearby complained out of fear because the silhouette of our vehicle looked like a funeral car. Their fear came from a traditions that "death" might be fetching somebody from that place.
The door locks were also improvised and they were made of hard wire, fastened around the door's bolt. There was a time, my daughters and I were driving around the city. When I turned left from a corner, the lock accidentally released' the door opened; and my daughters were at the verge of being thrown out. I pulled my elder daughter as she pulled her younger sister. I compared the feeling of pulling a lost soul from eternal damnation. That feeling of compassion was in no way a simple emotion but the totality of all emotions that brought all my focus and senses upon the act of saving.
Going back to "The Spaceship," we used for fetching the Sunday school students, for home visitation, for tracts-giving, for Home Bible Study, and for roaming around as we made a closer and detailed look at the city life. Occasionally, we also used it for fetching fresh drinking water from a far barangay.
Later in our missions, we used it when we moved to another headquarter, when we fetched our visitors from the Calapan pier, when we visited the adjacent towns, when we transported the coconut lumber from Baco to Calapan for the construction of a new headquarter. All in all, it was very useful to us and I couldn't imagine how it would be without it. I believed that it was not an accidental that I purchased this vehicle. God prepared it for later use. And so it was. Thank you, Lord.
Joy from the Inside
So, Sunday came and we were very prepared: the house, the wooden benches, the piano, the songs, the message, our clothes. We were having a mixture feeling of excitement for the positive outcome and of fear of the negative outcome. The ticks of the wall clock were like crescendos that synchronized with the beats of our hearts. Finally, the hour had come and our neck added and inch or two in length. To our desperation and exhaustion, no one showed up. I was thinking at that time: "How much more does God feel while longing for a repentant sinner?" Instead of the one-month prayer meeting during Sundays, we worshiped God with praise and songs this time. Then, one visitor came all alone. She was one of our Sunday school students. What a great joy we had! We felt like we had more than a thousand visitors. Much more when she confided her conviction about attending this worship service.
I learned from this experience that joy was not just a feeling that we expressed out of some good things that happened in our surroundings. Joy was the good thing that God filled in our hearts and we expressed it outwardly. Therefore, whether there would be good or bad things that came about, joy remained as God remained always.
God rewarded faith to the one who heard His Word. Our first visitor decided to be baptized in water in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of her sins with hope that she would receive the indwelling of the Holy Ghost.
We Took Opportunity from House to House
As mentioned, we used this vehicle wherever we go as in this home visitation. It was along the seashore of the city where some squatters lived. Our first convert lived here and we naturally visited her parents and relatives. Later, God opened doors for Home Bible Studies and Children Outstation, resulting to a number of additional converts.
In the same place during one of our home visitations after sunset, we met a man who lived adjacent to our new convert's house. He claimed that his wife was being possessed by an unknown spirits and they provoked her to perform faith healing. Unknown to them all, we prayed in our mind, calling upon the name of Jesus. That woman, who was said to be very boisterous, could not appear to our presence and was afraid to talk to us. We proposed to the man a Home Bible Study or just a non-formal conversation but he refused. He even boasted on her wife's situation.
God did this so that every person will bow down to honor the name of Jesus. Everyone in heaven, on earth, and under the earth will bow. They will all confess, "Jesus Christ is Lord," and this will bring glory to God the Father. (Philippians 2:10-11)
Sunday School Culmination Was Not the End
Like the traditional Sunday School Culmination, we prepared it with literal flying colors, as we decorated the place with multiple colored flags that were attached together in a string. We called it "banderitas." We prepared the program and the food, too. Most of all, we invited the parents of our students and neighbors. On the whole, the celebration was successful. However, we didn't consider that our students thought that culmination means ending the Sunday School. That was the reason why we had no students in the following Sunday. Urgently, we visited them in their homes and met their parents a few more times until we were able to set up Home Bible Studies. Jesus touched the hearts of those who heard the scriptures. Some where convinced, some believed and got baptized, while some ignored what they heard.
This was a lesson to us. What man had thought is already closed, God can open anything with His mighty hand. With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible (Matthew 19:26; Mark 9:23; Mark 10:27; Mark 14:36). The false conception of other people was to stay still and wait for God to do the impossible. The truth is that God used man (not angels) to spread the gospel, to seek the lost souls, and the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved. God uses human touch for the human souls.
The Mother Supplied the Baby's Milk
We were always obliged to provide the good report. We were not given the chance to express the pain of being detached, the discomfort of doing all the task alone, the uncertainty of future including our young daughters. We were looked up as if we were really champions of faith. We were not given the chance to cry a little more and show how weak we were. But we thanked the Lord that these consequences led us to seek the arms of the Lord where we found healing, comfort, vision of the future and strength to continue a few more steps ahead.
One Step at a Time
We were tempted to think of what to eat on the next day, on the next week, and on the weeks to follow. We were tempted that we would rely greatly on our vehicle for fetching fresh potable water almost everyday from a far barangay. We were tempted to think of the clothes we would wear, or our daughter's school uniform, at least. But the Scripture spoke clearer than the cloud of thoughts we had. God provided us according to our immediate need. We needed food; God provided food for the day and not clothing. We needed water at the moment; God provided it and not food or clothing. We needed clothing; God provided it and not food or drink. God taught us to deal one problem at a time and to do the work one step at a time.
The tree in front of the house became our meal source for a season. It's called "Gratilis." We gave thanks to the Lord with gladness in our hearts. It was only for a season when our kettle was empty. We tried fishing in Brgy. Balete. Some times we catch plenty and and other times none. Again, it was only for a season when our kettle was empty. Did God leave us forsaken? No! He was there all the time, in good times or in bad times.
This photo was taken during our outstation in Brgy. Tibag, along the seashore. We had many children to teach but only few parents to reach out. These children where excited to hear Bible stories and about the goodness of the Lord. Activities made them even more receptive to the lessons for the day. But their parents were too busy because money was hardly earned at that time. Evening became more lonely because of no electricity. Most of them were more aggressive to know "San Miguel" in a bottle than Jesus of the Bible.
The Joy in Heaven
After seven (7) months of labor pains, there came new births from our Sunday School students. They were not so many as we expected but just enough that we give back the glory to God and count these blessings as overflowing joy in our hearts. This was also what the angels would like to look into (1 Peter 1:12).
God's Compassion and Mercy
We learned the secret of evangelism. It was having the qualities of God of being compassionate and merciful. God is always move with compassion. For he said to Moses, "I will have mercy on anyone I wish; I will take pity on anyone I wish." So then, everything depends, not on what we want or do, but only on God's mercy (Romans 9:15-16).
In this regards, we wouldn't be driven to work according to our human impression and perception of the people that we approached. Our driving force would be be the compassion and mercy of God. He would lead us through.
Jesus Means God Is Our Salvation
Jesus Is Our Teacher
God had a purpose of His own. He knew the heart of everybody. He knew who would accept and who would ignore. He knew that He could use the eagerness of this young couple to spread the word of God. We didn't know how it could be. We just let God do His own will.
Jesus Is Our Leader
Second Missions Headquarter
God Softens the Heart
A Visiting Pastor Preached a Message
Calapan Believers
Believers in Oriental Mindoro Provincial Jail
Few days after, he was released from jail and reported to us that many of his inmates were interested to hear this teaching because it was new to them. We also found out that there were many other church denominations that regularly visited the jail for Bible study or church services. We agreed that it was a good idea to have jail ministry. Lately, we realized that it was Jesus who really opened the door for this jail ministry because he knew that the seed to be sown in jail would spring out new believers. So, we prepared the documents to ask permission to conduct the church activities inside the jail.
At the first meeting, I felt a little bit afraid because I was facing criminals. Although this work was the Lord's, I honestly said confess my fear. But when God had moved to the hearts of inmates, He gave me comfort. One after another, God added new believers. They scheduled the filling up of drum with water for each schedule of baptism.
The Way We Worship
“Lolita, our visitor and mother of our Sunday school attendees, was observing on one side. With this kind of worship service before her eyes, she felt afraid. She tried to bring down Melanie’s hands. She even embraced her daughter to stop her from worshipping God in this manner. At that time my wife was encouraging Zoila to continue worshipping God but she was stopped by Lolita.
“After the worship service, I explained what has just happened. Because of fear, Lolita wanted to go home at once. She commented that the teachings were all right but she was frightened on this way of worship. She continued to comment that we were out of our own control.”
Dear readers, if you have never had the opportunity to be in a Spirit-filled service before, you will discover that biblical expressions of worship are still practiced today. This is according to what the Scripture says about praising God in spirit and in truth. Such biblical expressions of worship are still practiced today. Allow me to explain the way we worship.
WE PRAY TOGETHER ALOUD because…
In the Bible we read, “They lifted up their voice to God with one accord.”
Acts 4:24
WE LIFT OUR HANDS IN PRAISE because…
In the Bible we read, “Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the LORD.”
Psalm 134:2
WE SING WITH ALL OUR HEARTS because ….
In the Bible we read, “Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise.”
Psalm 98:4
WE PLAY MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS because ….
In the Bible we read, “And all the house of Israel played before the LORD on all manner of instruments.”
II Samuel 6:5
WE CLAP AND SHOUT UNTO GOD because ….
In the Bible we read, “O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph.”
Psalm 47:1
WE DANCE BEFORE THE LORD because ….
In the Bible we read, “Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs.”
Psalm 150:4
WE TESTIFY PUBLICLY because ….
In the Bible we read, “I will declare thy name unto my brethren; in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee.”
Psalm 22:22
WE ANOINT WITH OIL FOR DIVINE HEALING because ….
In the Bible we read, “Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.”
James 5:14
WE ALLOW THE OPERATION OF THE SPIRITUAL GIFTS because ….
In the Bible we read, “When ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation.”
I Corinthians 14:26
“But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.”
John 4:23
The New Testament Plan of Salvation
The (1) death, (2) burial and (3) resurrection of Jesus Christ is the gospel preached by the Apostle Paul(1 Corinthians 15:1-4). He didn't leave us in dark to misunderstand thos gospel. He preached in Romans 6:1-5 that (1) just as Jesus Christ died, we must be dead to sin (our old sinful life ended); (2) just as Jesus was buried, we were buried with Christ and took part in his death when we were baptized; (3) just as Jesus resurrected, we can now live a new life. We have a hope that (when we joined with Jesus Christ by dying, too), so we will also be joined with Him by rising from death as He did.
God raised Jesus from death. And if God's Spirit lives in you, he will also give life to your bodies that die. Yes, God is the one who raised Christ from death, and he will raise you to life through his Spirit living in you (Romans 8:11).
There is no mystery at all! We will not all die, but we will all be changed. It will only take the time of a second. We will be changed as quickly as an eye blinks. This will happen when the last trumpet blows. The trumpet will blow and those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we will all be changed. This body that ruins must clothe itself with something that will never ruin. And this body that dies must clothe itself with something that will never die (1 Corinthians 15:51-53).
Apostle Paul opened his mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel (Ephesians 6:19). It's not apart from what Peter declared in the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:38), that is, (1) repentance, (2) baptism in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and (3) receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost.
The Bible records five historical accounts of baptism in the New Testament church that describe a name or formula. In each case the name is Jesus (Acts 2:38; 8:16; 10:48; 19:5; 22:16). The epistles also allude to the Jesus Name formula (Romans 6:3-4; I Corinthians 1:13; 6:11; Galatians 3:27; Colossians 2:12). Even Matthew 28:19 refers to this formula, for it describes a singular name that represents all the redemptive manifestations of the Godhead, and that name is Jesus (Zechariah 14:9; Matthew 1:21; John 5:43; 14:26; Revelation 22:3-4). Moreover, Jesus is the name described in the other Great Commission accounts (Mark 16:17; Luke 24:47).
Water baptism is part of salvation (1 Peter 3:21). It expresses faith in God by obedience to His Word (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:41). The scriptural mode of baptism is immersion in water, and only this method retains the biblical symbolism of baptism as a burial (Matthew 3:16; Acts 8:36-39; Romans 6:4).
The baptism of the Holy Spirit. The Bible records five historical accounts of receiving the Holy Spirit in the New Testament church: the Jews, the Samaritans, the Gentiles, the apostle Paul, and the disciples of John at Ephesus. This record establishes that the baptism of the Spirit is indeed for everyone (Luke 11:13; Acts 2:39) and is accompanied by the initial sign of tongues (Mark 16:17). Speaking in tongues means speaking supernaturally, as the Spirit gives utterance, in a language the speaker has never learned (Acts 2:1-11).
Signs and Wonders
You also remember how God became a healer to Mangyans in the city park during our first few weeks. The boy received a miracle healing from God as confirmed by his father. I also experienced the same miracle. Two years back (1996) I donated my right kidney to my younger brother. This time, I experienced pain at my upper back and my urine output had stopped. We prayed a lot. Several times, I went to the bathroom to get a cold splash. We informed the mother church about my situation and they rushed to visit me. After a while, my urine came out although there were traces of blood and fine granules, which I supposed to be stone. When those people from the mother church came over, they were surprised that I fetched them at the pier, as if nothing happened to me.
Our first missions headquarter was a witness of how God fed us during the times when we had nothing to eat. It also witnessed how the Holy Ghost touched the hearts of both believers and visitors. Who can deny? Our second missions headquarter was a witness to more convictions of the heart; it was more of the spiritual healing than the physical one.
The building in the photo above was our Sunday School, which was adjacent to the place of worship. More rooms were added to accommodate additional Sunday School students, including the the New Converts' Class. It was a witness of how God stopped the rain because we had to attend to an evangelistic work and rain was hindering us. At first, I thought that it was only a coincidence when I prayed the rain to stop and it stopped. But the second and third incidences, they were no longer coincidental or accidental. God really stopped the rain. I bent my knees in awe and asked God's forgiveness for doubting. How many miracles should God perform so that I should believe that He was always with us?
This was also the place when God told me in a dream that a new pastor (whom I also knew) would replace me, as Jesus increased my compassion for the lost souls of Mangyans. In one of the photos, we had Mangyan visitors who happened to be passing by in front of the church building. God used him to open the door to the Mangyan (Alangan) Tribal Missions in Arangin, Naujan.
During weekdays, we also conducted hospital ministry. The Oriental Mindoro Provincial Hospital was a walking distance from our headquarter. In one of our visits while I was preaching to Mangyan patients, an Iraya Mangyan agreed to what I was saying. God used him to open the door for the Mangyan (Iraya) Tribal Missions in San Teodoro.
First Visit to Alangan Community
On the same day, these Mangyans allowed us to go with them to Sinai, a highland area in Brgy. Arangin, Naujan. This was a very exciting experience when we visited their community. I was accompanied by the visiting pastor and a church worker.
From that day, I desired to reach the place of Brgy. Arangin once a week on Wednesdays. It was a 70-kilometer round-trip travel by bike. Along the way, I gave tracts. Upon reaching the target place, I looked for any Mangyan to start interacting. But it seemed that they were too shy to face me. I studied their dialect and culture. My family couldn't understand my desire to reach out the Mangyan tribe. Even so, I was also confused if this was God's will or just my own human desire. And so, my weekly visit to Arangin stopped when I experienced rectal hemorrhage due long travel on a bike. For a period, we changed our focus to hospital ministry.
Second Visit to Alangan Community
I guess that after this visit, I got confirmation from God through a dream that a pastor would replace me in Calapan.
Third Visit to Alangan Community
It was already dark when we started. We used the abandoned chapel of other denominations as the meeting place. Only one kerosene lamp gave us light. Mangyan arrived one after another, mostly elder male Alangan and few women. If this was my first and last chance to conduct Bible Study, I would take all opportunities to explain Jesus Christ and the plan of salvation. And so I did it until I forgot to ask their approval to stay in their community. I didn't expect that they would be very receptive to the word of God. When I asked who would like to obey the gospel, eight Mangyans decided to be baptized in water in the name of Jesus Christ, including my Iraya companion.
Fourth Visit to Alangan Community
When the new pastor was already in Calapan, we had a chance to be together for the fourth visit to Sinay. During the third visit, my intention to ask their approval to live with them was all missed because of the beautiful reception of Mangyans to the first Bible Study.
This time they gave me their approval. We discussed about our temporary shelter and the plan to build a place of worship.
The Mangyan (Alangan) Community in Sinai
I was very excited during my first day of stay in Sinai. At that time, I was alone. I brought a backpack full of my personal belongings, including a blanket. They allowed me to stay at the extension of the house. I was sitting on a small platform, measuring 1 meter wide and 2 meters long. the flooring was made of split bamboo sticks and the roof was made of weaved coconut leaves. From that platform, I had a better view of all the houses at the mountain slope and the panoramic view of the lowland from Calapan City to the left and the next town, Victoria, to the right. What a view! But underneath the platform was a native pig in a pen.
There were lots of things that I didn't know about their ways. They cooked for my first meal during that night, rice and leaves of bitter herb. The bitter herb was really bitter and I didn't like it. I showed them that I liked the food. When I was acting like putting in my mouth, I threw it at my back. Well, I didn't bother to think about the meal because I felt triumphant when I reached their place.
Late night and we had to sleep. At the start, we were silently feeling one another's situation. Finally, I felt asleep because of the tiresome trek from Arangin to Sinai. Around midnight, I was awakened. It was raining and water was pouring on me. Although I changed position, I couldn't keep out of the dripping water. So I just sat on the platform and looked on the horizon. I had three nights of the same situation. On the third night, I cried because I was succumb by self-pity. "I was living a good life before and then I resigned from a stable job. I was earning that much and then I find myself in the mountains of Mindoro, doing this hard work. What a fool I am!"
I guessed my Mangyan friend noticed how I felt. Since there was no work yet because of the rain, he suggested that I could go back to the mother church. You know, I felt like a bird being freed from cage. I took the trail down the mountain like a leopard and leaped the rocks like a hopper. Imagine that! I dreamed so much and I longed a lot to be with the Mangyan community. After only three days, I was already giving up! Same on me. However, God allowed such a feeling to remain in my heart until God's compassion for the lost went back, grown and strengthened like a lion.
When I came back to Sinai, I already had a companion. We stayed in one of the vacant houses as temporary shelter until we built our own house and until we built a place of worship.
The Way of the Lord Is Perfect
For all you know, Mangyans were not readily conversant. They were too timid probably because of language barrier, indifference in culture, and indifference in social involvement. These were barriers that had to be broken. Was I going through social psychology or philanthropy? Nay! I already realized that God's wisdom was the key and not the world's wisdom. But how could the barriers be broken?
"Your way is perfect, LORD, and your word is correct. You are a shield for those who run to you for help" (Psalms 18:30). Despite all of the qualities of my companion, God used him in ways that no one could readily expect. He was my support person, whom I always talk on anything under the sun. I had no worry about our meal because he was the cook. He had no outward sign of loneliness. I could leave him alone whenever I went to the city or to the mother church. Even so, he seemed to enjoy it. Because of being so playful, he won the hearts of the Mangyan children and then their parents. He learned the dialect faster that I did. So, whenever I visit a Mangyan home, he was with me and everything went fine. Hence, he was the one who broke the cultural barrier. This was the way of the Lord.
There were also other church workers who went to Sinai for one reason or another: (1) They wanted to experience the Mangyan Tribal Missions, or (2) They were forced by somebody. Upon seeing the place and staying for a day, a worker already got fever and complained that his lungs could not sustain the coldness of the place. So, I decided that he could go back home on the following day. Immediately, his fever was gone and he was able to take a cold bath late in the evening. At present, he is no longer a church worker. Another worker never anything whether he agreed to stay or he wanted to choose another place of work. Because I was not his pastor or mentor, I should leave the discussion between him and his pastor. At present, he is still a church worker. Another worker was very eager to seek and to save the lost. In fact, he always won the impression of his colleagues as far as evangelism was the point of discussion. However, he didn't like to stay in Sinai. At present, he is already a pastor somewhere.
Again, I stress a little more that the secret in evangelistic missions is having the qualities of God, that is, compassion and mercy for the lost souls. This is how anointing of God starts. The Greek word for "being moved with compassion" is "splagchnizomai". This is symbolized by "spleen" or "intestine" and figuratively means tender mercy. That is why we say the following expressions when there is tender mercy, "I cannot swallow the situation," "My stomach is not strong to take it," or "Hindi ko kayang masikmura ito." This is how we feel when we have compassion. It is accompanied with passion or pain. It is not just an emotion but the totality of all emotions, such that the focus is centered only on one thing. Therefore, being moved with compassion for the lost soul encompasses all situations, all places, all time, all opportunities, all people. It unifies all your emotions, body systems, efforts, strengths, to deal with one single purpose, that is to seek and to save the lost. Jesus says, "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations" (Matthew 28:19); "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature" (Mark 16:16); "should be preached in his name among all nations" (Luke 24:47). It is because compassion cannot be bounded by territories, situations, time, and personal agenda. Compassion is without reservation, without compromise, without limit, without fear. Compassion serves to battle the enemies and evil spirits. Compassion serves to break the cultural barriers, language barriers, educational barriers, social barriers. Compassion leads to climb the highest mountain and descend the lowest valley. Compassion crosses the seas and faces all waves. Compassion is not set by the condition of your life, you health or your pocket. Compassion is compassion. When you have it and you are moved by compassion, you will even say, "I haven't done anything yet." That is compassion.
Let Everything that Has Breath Praise the Lord!
As usual, I was the first one to be in that place. That was the sign the Mangyans was waiting for. Then, one by one, they came down while shouting "aywawa", which meant "come." Because of the tradition I received, I was the only one dressed well, with long-sleeved shirt, slacks and leader shoes, while the Mangyans were all wearing their old soil colored clothes. That was a little bit awkward on my part. It was already late when everyone has arrived. I started teaching them about the Bread of Life and completed the first service with a worship. That was the only time they knew about the biblical way of worship. They imitated my actions. When I waved to the left, they did also. When I waved to the right, they did also. When I raised both my hands, they did the same. When I closed both my eyes, they closed only one eye and the other eye for sneaking. When I jumped in praise and ran around, they stopped. I asked them why they stopped. They replied that I could do this jumping and running because I was wearing shoes. Immediately I removed my shoes and continued what I was doing. When they saw it, they did the same as I did without restriction. Since then, they were used to this biblical way of worship.
"Let everything that has breath praise the LORD! Praise the LORD! (Psa 150:6 )
The Pool of Sinai in Manor
Church Building Construction
This was the location of the church building. It was opposite the abandoned chapel of the other church denomination. Because of the sloping area, the soil must be leveled. My companion and I started working and waiting if somebody would offer help. Nobody came except onlooking children and chicken that were searching works for food.
It took us many days to finish it whether in the rain or under the heat of the sun. I guessed I was the only one complaining but my companion seemed to enjoy it.
The day came when we needed wood for posts and roofing members. We received offer of six big posts, enough for our need. On the other day, we received offer of bamboos, enough for our flooring and wall needs. Then, we needed roofing members. That time, we went to the forest into the higher part of the mountain where it that took us 4 hours of trek. Cutting trees and pulling down to the community were not the problem. It was the local leeches, which they called "limatik", blood suckers, that I was avoiding.
I was the first one to pull a pile of woods downhill. At a certain area, I was lost and it was getting dark. I was like a child left by his mother, shouting and begging somebody to lead my way. That was my funny experience in the forest. I waited for half an hour until my companion arrived right at my back and only to find out that I was on the right track.
We bought nipa shingles in Calapan City for our final roofing because we temporarily covered the building with plastic sheets. Transporting was only possible up to the foot of the mountain and they had to be hand carried uphill. I was assuming that Mangyans would help. However, they were also busy doing their own activities for a living or for daily food. The only way was to use their help in exchange of a kilogram of rice.
Little by little, the church building was completed. It's width was 4 meters and its length was 6 meters. Adjacent to it and separated by a wall of bamboo splits was our dining and kitchen area. The second floor was the sleeping quarter with a landing port as terrace, overlooking to the lowland.
New Church Workers to Continue the Work
Non-Formal Education
More Mangyan Believers
Sunday Worship Service
First Visit to the Mangyan (Iraya) Community
After resting a little, we started the Bible Study about the New Testament plan of salvation, after which we had a worship service.
The Great Commission
That is the reason for the power. God is using the human touch to reach the human race.
“And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.” (Ezekiel 22:30).
God is depending on us to preach the Gospel. He has not commissioned the angels to do this because they have not been partakers of God’s salvation themselves. However, in Acts the angels did direct men to where they could go to receive the truth. (Acts 10:3 to 5). In Matthew 22:37 to 40, you find the Great Commandment. We must love God and love people. These are the two greatest commandments. We show our love and loyalty to God by loving others and trying to reach them.
“Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not; But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost.” (Second Corinthians 4:1 and 3).
God has chosen us because He needs “the human touch for the human race.”