Blessed
is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding, for
the gain from her is better than gain from silver, and her profit
better than gold. Proverbs 3:13-14
I
have just returned from a two week trip down to Mindanao, where we
have several missionaries studying the trade language (Visayan, also
called Cebuano). Their task is to become fluent in the trade language
of that region before allocating to a tribal area, where they will
start again by studying the tribal language! As many of you who have
followed our work here, this was precisely what we did several years
ago, when we first studied Tagalog, and then moved out into the
jungle to live with the Palawano people and study their language and
culture.
I
am happy to report that my health seems to have improved and I am
getting some of my energy level back, though I am not yet to the full
strength that I was this time last year. In Mindanao, I did get sick
on the 2nd day I was there and had to rest for that day.
After that, however, I was able to recover and carry on with the work
I was doing there – that is, checking on and coaching the language
progress of the missionaries studying in that area. Thankfully, we
always do this as a team, and the new consultant we are training in
this area was able to pick up the slack on the day that I had to stop
working and rest. The big challenge for me is that while I can speak
Tagalog, I don't know Visayan. Nevertheless, our Filipino teacher,
who is fluent in both languages, helped fill in some of the details.
So with Visayan, Tagalog, and English all mixed in, we were able to
get the job done.
The
results of the visit were very encouraging, to say the least! All of
the missionaries in language study are doing well. Right after we
finished the evaluation of one missionary, she went to the hospital
for a check up on her pregnancy, and they decided to deliver the baby
that day! Wow! And praise the Lord, mother and baby are doing fine.
On the day I was leaving, as a friend was driving me to the bus
station, coming down the road just opposite from us was this family
returning from the hospital with their new baby girl! It was a
fantastic moment, and I was able to take this quick picture.
The
trip was not without other faith tests. For example, when I left,
Sarah had bronchitis and was feeling quite ill. It is always
difficult to leave on an extended trip when one of your own kids is
sick at home. Of course, she was in good hands with Ginny, so there
was nothing to worry about, but it still adds to the stress level of
the work. I am sure many of you have experienced exactly the same
thing when you have had to travel for work back in the US.
Another
thing that happened, which some of you perhaps have read about on the
international news, was the fact that some trouble began with a rebel
group making an attack on a town on the same island we were on.
Fortunately, this trouble was a long, long way from where we were
located. So while we needed to make sure we were aware of what was
happening, we were never remotely close to getting caught up in the
trouble. A fellow missionary said it to me this way, “It is just
like living in a big city in the USA. You know there are certain
areas that you just don't go visit. Here on this island, there are
certain areas where we just don't go visit.” I am always thankful
to have your prayers covering us while we serve here in the
Philippines. One day I believe the Lord will show us how His
invisible hand protected us because of your heartfelt prayers as we
sought to serve Him here and make the Gospel known to the tribes.
As
of the time of this writing, the news reports that the trouble down
there has been basically contained to one city. There are many
evacuees, however, so we ask that you also remember them in your
prayers, and that the trouble may be resolved peacefully.
God
is moving in other ways also in the Southern Philippines, and not
just in the tribal areas. I was able to learn while down there about
how God is using one particular family to bring the chronological
Bible teaching into the mainstream thought of many regional churches
(using the Visayan language) in the areas of central Mindanao. This
is an answer to prayer to see God moving in this way. So many errors
and factions in Christian teaching are a result of a misunderstanding
of Scripture. This misunderstanding leads to division among churches,
and syncretizing animistic, pagan, or worldly thinking with genuine
Christian thought, producing much error. However, looking at
scripture from a historical and chronological perspective helps
reduce and eliminate many of those errors, and brings greater unity
among the body. So we are thankful to see the Word of God moving
forward in a way that we hope will bring greater unity and glory to
God in the Philippines!
Meanwhile,
back home, Ginny continues to teach the missionary kids, and Sarah
and Abby are still active in school! Sarah has gotten better, though
we are all fighting off a kind of cold/allergy thing now which seems
to be related to the excessive rain the last week. In any case, I am
glad to be home now and to have been able to rest for the weekend
after 2 weeks of being gone!
In
my final note here, I would like to just mention something that
happened recently among the Palawanos where we used to live. As we
have related before, our former partners are currently teaching
through the Bible chronologically in the downriver village (this is
the 2nd village where they have taught). A couple of weeks
ago on market day, the chief's son, Dilto, who had listened to some
of the teaching, went downriver to mix with the lowland people, as
everyone normally does on market day. There was alcohol flowing, and
he returned to the village drunk and belligerent. When he passed by
his sister's home, he started slashing at the walls of her house with
his machete, angry about something. His brother-in-law came out and
confronted him, and there was an argument, and then fighting, until
finally the brother-in-law pulled out a gun and shot him, killing
him. It is a terrible tragedy for the village, and of course you can
imagine how this could be tearing the family apart. So please
remember this village in your prayers, that the teaching would
continue, and that there would be forgiveness. As far as we know,
Dilto, the one who was shot, had not yet heard enough of the Gospel
to know that Christ had paid the penalty for his sins. And we know
both the men involved quite well, so this hits close to our hearts.
Thank
you all again for your support and prayers, keeping us here in the
Philippines!
Pressing
on in His service,
George
(& Ginny)
Here are some more pictures from the trip:
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| One of the missionary families in language study with our consultant team |
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| Another missionary in language study with her language helper |
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| Observing and listening to language in action at the market |
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| preparing to visit the local electronics store |
Some views of this provincial town:
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| Selling wares at the market |
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| View of the market in this mountain town |
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| looking out from a Rela tricycle |
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| That is what is called a "Rela" - a kind of tricycle for public transportation |
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| local man with his horses |
