I know I said Junard’s story would come today, but tomorrow is a big day for him, so I figured I would just wait and tell you the whole story. The good news is that this one is just as cool and exciting.
Just a couple of hours ago, I joined one of our volunteer teams as they journeyed into one of the jungle areas a short drive outside of the city. This city is really one main street and everything shoots off of it and after 5 minutes on one of the back roads, we were in one of the most primitive areas I have been to. Nearly twenty minutes later, we emerged from the trees and saw a beautiful landscape of rolling green hills and mountains. At the base of these mountains is where nearly 50 students from early teens to mid-twenties call home for ten months out of the year. Today was their first day of school.
We were welcomed into their chapel area and invited to join the students in worship. As they warmed up their old pipe piano, I could tell this was going to be a treat. We sang a few songs in worship and the voices of these students were beautiful. They were worshipping a God in an intimate way that I think many of us miss out on. They literally have to rely on God for EVERYTHING. At this school, they have a roof, and not much else, but in their eyes, they have more than they will ever need.
Despite their primitive backgrounds, many of these students spoke English well, or could at least understand me if I talked slow enough. I wanted to know how old they were, where they were from, and why they came to this school. I found out the students were from every corner of the island of Mindinao and would leave their families for a majority of the year for four years. One student I talked with couldn’t afford the bus fare from his home town, so he walked three days to make it to Mountain Bible Seminary. This 22 year old has committed his to become a pastor. I’m beginning to learn how powerful of a word “committed” can be.
I wanted to meet the man that had the vision for a school like this that would focus on raising and training upcoming leaders in rural tribal villages. Pastor Jonny started this school 25 years ago and has seen over 200 students graduate from his four year program. Many have become the leaders their tribes need and this predominately Muslim island is getting the opportunity to hear some Christian teachings. As a Filipino, he longs to raise up other Filipinos from within their own tribes to teach and preach the Bible as the word of God.
One thing I wanted to do with this trip was to find out if there was anything these students needed. It was quick to realize that in their eyes, they didn’t need a thing. One of the things I noticed however, was that they had built bunk-beds but didn’t have any mattresses. They sleep on the wooden slats, completely content with having something close to a bed. I know it’s a long shot, but I’d love to provide that school with mattresses.
I know many of you read these blogs and feel encouraged, but also want to know how to help. Over the next few days or weeks, I want to continue telling stories, but also tell you some of the opportunities we have out here. If you are interested in helping with a specific one, or feel called to support I would love to tell you more information. I have been all over this city and there is so much need here. Even writing this, I’m overwhelmed because part of me wants to help out everywhere, but I don’t know if there’s enough time or zeros in my bank account (only one as of now…).
God gives us all a testimony and a passion, and my prayer is that you can hear some of these from thousands of miles away…
