The Mission

I've been so touched by the people of the Philippines -- I will be traveling to the Philippines many times over the next several years, helping with special needs children, helping Christian schools with curriculum and staff development, and even getting some new schools started. Along the way I will be helping local churches by providing school supplies for the children, as well as Bibles and other needs of the church. Join me as I help spread the Good News of Jesus Christ while helping to educate many of the "throw-away" kids of Bohol and the Central Visayan islands of the Philippines.

Friday, June 1, 2012

Bending The Rules?

Siquijor is the southern most island province of the Visayas.
I've been trying to put some definition to Educate: Bohol -- by it's own title, I've identified that the mission has some physical boundaries: the island province of Bohol.  So last night I received a FaceBook message from one of the pastors I worked with during the church build in Sierra Bullones.  He is from the neighboring island province of Siquijor.  It is one of those truly mysterious places among the 7,000 islands of the Philippines.  It is known for magic and witchcraft . . . one of the few places in the Philippines where such practices have not been squelched. That said, there are some pagan practices and customs that have been allowed by the Catholic church throughout the Philippines.  However, on Siquijor, witchcraft maintains a very firm foothold in the daily lives of the people who live there.  

Junrie and his twin brother Jungie -- both are pastors in the
Philippines -- and don't ask me which one is which one.
So my friend, Junrie Ramirez, is faced with working in this extremely challenging environment.  He has asked for some financial support.  He also has 35-40 children that he is working with . . . and most of them do not go to school because they are lacking basic school supplies.  He needs financial support to continue renting the building they meet in for church.  I don't have a "budget" yet.  By the end of June I believe I will.  And I believe I could find a church or Sunday school group who would take on Junrie's church as a mission project.  

The only problem is . . . Siquijor is outside of Bohol.  So do I bend my newly formed rules to help him?  His need is real.  The children need school supplies.  I won't make a decision today, as I don't have any resources yet to help him anyway.  I will surely pray for him and his work on Siquijor.  I will see what doors God will open.  

I will be presenting Educate: Bohol to two Sunday school classes and two VBS programs during the month of June.  I will see what opportunities these meetings provide.  Maybe more churches will contact me.  And maybe some individual or some group will decide that Junrie's outreach work is a project worthy of their  support and prayers.
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