NEW CHURCH PLANTED IN MAT-I PHILIPPINES

September 2, 2010
Greetings in the Name of the Holy and Powerful God!
Note: The 2010 Medical Mission Team conducted a clinic in this community on June 14, 2010. This is the clinic we had so much fun with the CR. Do you remember the half doors and the dishes being washed? At the end of the clinic, because there was no pastor or church in Mat-I, Ptr Charlie gave the follow up cards to Ptr Mijares and asked him to find someone to do the follow up. Ptr Mijares accepted the cards and conducted the follow up.

Let me tell you of the glorious work of God in a small community called Mat-I. On August 02, 2010, Ptr Mijares was asked by Jo-Jo, a former church member, to go to Mat-I and share the gospel with a family member. While he knew to expect a few men, there were ten. Ptr Mijares was asked to come again the following week because one of the men wanted to invite his family. The family came as well as others. This is the point, I began to hear of the Holy Spirit moving in Mat-I.

The news of the Bible study was being shared by the attendees with the community. In Mat-I, there is a home where everyone meets to discuss the daily news. The centralized location has a special characteristic. The homeowner, Mr. Taliman, is a paralytic. About one month after Mr. and Mrs. Taliman were married, he became paralyzed. They did not understand the doctor’s explanation. The portion they did understand was the possible exposure to a dangerous element. According to Dr. Lina, the most probable is mercury because of its use in gold mining. Mr. Taliman wanted to hear the teachings of the Bible; he invited the people to his home. As the Lord planned, the study group was offered the use of Mr. Taliman’s home to learn, to worship and to fellowship. The people gather in the front room, 7’ x 10’, and on the front porch, 6’x 7’. Out of love for Ptr Mijares and the teaching, the men have made a pulpit and a T-structure to hold the song lyrics. Today is the one month anniversary of that first Bible Study.

When Ptr Mijares spoke to Ptr Charlie about me going to Mat-I to witness the events, I immediately began a campaign of supplication, also known as begging. On the evening of Wednesday, September 01, 2010, Gigi and I, with the full blessings of Ptr Charlie, were able to travel to Mat-I with Ptr Mijares and his son, AJ. We traveled by tricycle. A tricycle is a motorcycle with an attached side car without any doors. We sat with two passengers beside the driver, Jo-Jo, and two passengers behind the driver. Traveling in the city is bumpy ease. That is, the road is bumpy but you are unconcerned about it and the lack of doors is logical, natural. Once you are on the highway, the absence of doors is quickly brought to your remembrance. The sensation is similar to going around a race track at 100mph. However, the reality is very different. The Lord has provided an experienced driver who also lives in the area and knows the road, intimately. It is ridiculous how a physical sensation or impression can make us forget our Lord and the care He has placed in our way. The travel was beautiful and amazingly cool, as in jacket cool. In fact, the windows were fogging up due to the temperature change.

After traveling by highway, then by dirt road and, lastly by paved road, we arrived at Mat-I. In order to arrive at Mr. Taliman’s house, also known as the church or the worship center, you have to walk a five-foot wide dirt path for about thirty feet. The dirt path becomes the breadth of your foot through a grassy field in absolute darkness. Do you remember the stories from the Vietnam vets of the nationals bringing intelligence reports on the North Vietnamese Army? I was blessed to know many of these veterans. They used to tell me about being on patrol or guard duty and a national would appear in front of them without warning. The vets are not exaggerating! I hunted and fished with Daddy. I have good hearing and night vision; can move quietly and am comfortable in the open country. But, it is something all together different to walk through a grassy field and suddenly be greeted by another church-goer or to be in the front yard of the church and turn around to someone standing behind you. The hospitality offered to me was warm and loving. They were surprised about the “Cana” that wanted to meet them and share the love of God.

Mat-I is a community primarily of gold miners working in pit mines. When the people enter the pits every morning, they have told their families they love them and said their good-byes. The odds of surviving in the pits are similar to playing Russian roulette due to the earthquakes, volcanoes, heavy rains and cave-ins. Remember, the Philippines is part of the “ring of fire” and Mindanao is between and divided by tectonic plates. In spite of the threats and hard work, they go home clean up and come to Bible study. They come with excitement and joy in their hearts and on their faces. They are not tired nor do they sleep during the study. They are in fact vibrantly awake and alive. I can not help but examine myself when confronted by such enthusiasm and love. One family lives a kilometer away and has to deal with two rivers to walk to church. They arrive early or on time for every meeting. These are families attending the Bible studies: husbands, wives, and all their children. Only God can move and ignite a family in His love simultaneously!

There are two (2) Christian couples in the study group; they were members in Ptr Mijares’ previous country church. All of the other attendees are Roman Catholics (RCs). Ptr Mijares is not teaching doctrine or condemning them for being RCs. He is systematically teaching the foundation of salvation to the people, line by line and precept upon precept. Currently, they are learning about the new birth and why they must be born again. The people are captivated! You must remember these people struggle to put food on the table. Yet, they have bought or made notebooks and take notes on the teaching. Their Bibles are open and the people are waiting for Ptr Mijares to reference or quote a verse. Everyone is so quiet - adults, youth and children - one can hear the pages turning as the people look up the verses. It is necessary for Ptr Mijares to slow down during these times in order for the people to read and not be left behind.

One of the attendees is a walking testimony of how salvation changes a person. Mr. Reveche is a former inmate in the Davao Penal Colony (DPC). The reason for his conviction is unknown. He met Jesus in prison and began working with the pastors. The Lord trained him and raised him up to become one of the mayors of the DPC. The colony is owned by the government; however, the mayors are the daily administrators of the prisoners, the work assignments and the environment. It has been explained to me the presence of guards or police is minimal. Generally, the idea is if you want to eat then work. Gardens are planted to feed the men and the excess is taken to Davao City market(s) to be sold. The prisoners are compensated, food and money, based on the work they have done. The DPC is a maximum security prison, think Huntsville, TX or McAlester OK. Mr. Reveche radiates Light and humility. He has a calm, peaceable spirit. Praise the Lord for the work He has done!

The needs in Mat-I are numerous. However, I believe the most pressing are as follows:

1. for the protection of the seed being planted – Enemy can not steal it away;
2. for the Light to be fully manifested;
3. for Ptr Mijares’ strength, health, and family;
4. for the extension of the front porch using nipa and coco boards to make a worship
center;
5. for the surrender of the people to God’s call and will;
6. for the supply of their physical needs – Enemy can not distract them from the truth;

In my journal entry for June 14, there is notation about needing to be cautious in the area, Mat-I. The atmosphere is heavy and watchful. Politically, the people of the area are sympathetic to the New People’s Army. Fruitful Harvest is blessed to have been able to serve the tribal people, hold medical clinics as well as distribute school supplies in the area.

My curiosity had been aroused earlier. But the longing to witness the Lord’s movement is firmly established. He was preparing me to bring this report to you and God willing many more. I often think of the people of Mat-I as God’s people not based on doctrine or theology. But rather on the obvious work of the Holy Spirit and His drawing of the people. I know there are many in Mat-I that will surrender to the Father’s call! How many? I don’t know, but I am certain that He is present and mighty in the work. Please be praying with us.

The love of God for his people never ceases to astound me!

Ang Dios magpanalangin sa imo! (God bless you!)
Shauna Hefner