“Mahal nating an Pilipinas” means “We love the Philippines”… and we do!
My team and I have been living in Aninuan on the island of Mindoro for over a week now, and I was hard-pressed to choose just one story to tell you.
Life on the island moves slowly. We take our time to eat, and naps in the afternoon are pretty much expected. Everyone calls one another by “brother” (kuya) or “sister” (ati), then their first name. I’m really starting to like the sound of “Ati Katie”, especially when it comes from the mouths of the children in the village about 30 times a day!
We have been taken in by the family of Pastor Al, who is the head of Aninuan Christian Church, just up the hill from his home. They are more-or-less in charge of Threads of Hope, and about 95% of the women in the village make thread bracelets by hand for a living. Before the ministry was established here, these women often walked for miles every day with heavy bags of bracelets, trying to sell them to tourists on the beaches. With the orders that come through Threads of Hope, there is no more walking, and a lot more money for them. We’ve enjoyed getting to know several of these women. My next podcast will feature one who is already very dear to me!
The pastor’s wife, Ati Marina, has a devoted team of women who have fed us way too much, three times a day. I have never eaten so much rice in my life, but it’s so so good.
Ati Marina insists that the thirteen of us aren’t a burden, that she loves to cook, but we’re still helping as much as she lets us.
Pastor Al has no problem putting us to work though! For the past 2 days, we’ve taken part in some good, old fashioned slash-and-burn deforestation in the jungle.
Before you go into shock that I’ve lost my “treehugger” ways (ahem… Lora…) we had good reasons.
The area we cleared seemed to be an untamed patch of bramble and coconut palms just across the path from the pastor’s home. But beneath the tangled jungle vines was a layer of trash: candy wrappers, abandoned shoes, broken bottles, and plastic bags lay like insulation on the dry forest floor. It was not “untouched” by any means, but a sort of camouflaged dump. Pastor Al thought it would serve better as a soccer field for the children. So we picked up our shovels and machetes, and got to work.
As we worked yesterday, a man drove by on a tricycle (motorcycle with a covered side-car, common public transport). He didn’t smile and wave as most of the people in this area do. He gave a stiff nod, and continued on his way. Pastor Al solemnly explained later: “This man blames me for his brother’s death.”
Shortly after Pastor Al came here to start the church, may people in the area welcomed him, and agreed to help him build the church where they now hold Sunday and Wednesday services, and basketball tournaments. As he worked one day, a young man offered to help. He picked up a sheet of metal like the ones that cover all of the small homes here, and went to climb the roof. He turned, and the sharp metal edge caught an electrical wire. He was electrocuted. He died there in the middle of the village.
The young man’s brother went into a rage, and came at Pastor Al with two swords. He swung and stabbed… and somehow did no harm to him. The swords went through his shirt, but not his skin.
Pastor Al had to pay a large sum to the young man’s family, a sort of “grief-debt” tradition that is required here. The mayor recommended that he leave altogether. Most of Aninuan saw this happen. It scared away some people, but many others believe that God protected Pastor Al that day, and were eager to join the church. Since that time, the brother has forgiven Pastor Al, but their interactions are still understandably tense.
Knowing that story, it is easy to see how important our work here is. We are not only extending the arms of their community development, we are reinforcing that Pastor Al and his family are trustworthy, that there presence here is good for the community. It’s a joy to work with a man who loves where he is, and who truly believes that God will bring joy and hope to the beautiful people in this paradise.
Days ago, the sky was so breath-taking in the clouds that we finished dinner quickly and ran the half-mile to the beach to watch the sunset. We stood on the sand in awe… and I didn’t take any pictures. You’ll just have to trust me that it was amazing. That beach holds an unforgettable moment for me. But that’s a story for my next post.
Magandang gabi,
Ati Katie
