October 23, 2006

Mopiah Masalom! (A good day greeting of the Matigsalug tribe of Davao)

Sharing with you these victories as we endeavor together to help meet both the physical and spiritual needs of our Indigenous People. As one tribal chief puts it: "How can we hear your Gospel, when we hear much more of the noise in our stomach."


COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT WORK

ADULT FUNCTIONAL LITERACY
Our Adult Functional Literacy classes in 9 tribal villages yielded 251 graduates. Enrollment rate in nearby schools has improved because parents are now encouraged to send their children to school. Sanitation practices as well as participation in community activities has improved because of the empowerment they received. Foremost they learn how to read the Bible.

FOUNDATIONAL LEARNING FOR INDIGENOUS KIDS (FLIK)
Foundational Learning for Indigenous Kids (FLIK) on the other hand, yielded 100 children currently enrolled in 4 tribal villages whose parents have undergone TMFI’s Adult Functional Literacy. The project aims to educate tribal kids the science of reading and writing and develop their psychomotor skills. It aims as well to train parents how to teach their children with reading skills using illustrations at home or in the community. Integrated with this is a one-meal a day feeding for kids done before class with nutritious porridge prepared by parents.

WATER PROJECT
The lack of access to potable water is one of the major reasons why mountain people are hard-up. They tend to go from one place to another in search for water. An easy access to water source is crucial for the natives to stay in the area. This would help arrest their nomadic life and be engaged in other development initiatives. The women in the village benefited most in this project. Fetching water among this people is a woman’s task. With an accessible water source they can engage in other productive activities lighter than this back-breaking job. We already finished 8 water projects in Paquibato District and 4 more to go which we hope to finish by December this year. Along with this is a Bible Study being conducted in each village. We expect to have 144 people in this 12 villages affected by the Gospel at the same time 120 tribal men learn basic masonry and plumbing skills. Here is a testimony of a mother about the water project:

"Taking a bath was an unheard-of luxury two years ago. Just thinking of doing my laundry made me tired. When we thought of water, it was only for drinking, cooking and washing the dishes. That’s why when it rains you will see the children out having a bath. But then they would always end up with colds that would lead to cough and pneumonia. I think that was because they were not used to taking a bath. Now when our children are taught in school to take a bath everyday, wash their face and other things, they can really do them. Before, sometimes they cannot also go to school because we ask them to fetch water which is a 30 minute hike away but they have to make frequent stops on the way back with the water being too heavy for them. I really did not want to do this to my kids but I also cannot do the housework alone. Now I can do my laundry anytime I want and my kids don’t have to miss school just to fetch water,” says Susan Lorando.


TMFI’s LAND AND BUILDING PROJECT

"Go through the camp and tell the people to get their provisions ready. In three days you will cross the Jordan River and take possession of the Lord your God.” [Joshua 1:11]

CROSS OVER JORDAN... even while the river is flooded. The book of Joshua was very clear. At the start of this year we knew the ministry will be heavily challenged. The Lord is giving us the green signal to move ahead even at a time when so much adjustments are being made because ministry support is low, hosting the 6th WCGIP entails quite an amount needed, among many other reasons to consider.

But even though crossing the flooded river could be costly and risky, these past few days the staff took a step of faith. We have looked at a piece of land about 2 hectares at P2,000,000 ($40,000). Several of us took a prayer walk on the land. Though we saw no river filed up in one heap; we saw several really fine several building sites. Though we saw no river dried up right before our eyes, we could find no reasons why this land shouldn’t work for our future Culture and Development Center and a new and permanent home for TMFI. We appreciate all the prayers offered up thus far. To think that we could find a two-hectare land suited for our desired “Training Center”…but to find it at a lower price ….it could only have come through lots of prayer and patience. This was something we simply could not rush.

Now the hard part : we have to try to lock in this land and do all the preliminary survey and research. Please keep praying for wisdom for us as we decide as well as for the finances of this project. And God, if He is pleased with us, will lead us into this land!

Come dream with us! We can use your financial gifts, donations of resources such as building materials and furnishings and many prayers. Your gift will sure impact the Indigenous Peoples for Christ.

Thank you for you heart to see the Indigenous People won for Christ!

For His glory,

SISTER BENG J. BICALDO
Managing Director
www.tribalmission.org
www.wcgip.org