| NEWSLETTER AUGUST 2023
Greetings from Asia
During the month of July schools in the Philippines finish for the summer, and this year for the first time we organised a celebration for pupils from the Turawa tribe in Capacunga. Beforehand Pastor Celsa, who works amongst the tribe, arranged to wash the students because these tribes people do not wash themselves. She purchased new clothes and sandals for them too, because they normally don't have footwear, and she wanted them to look smart for the celebration. It was very special for them to have new clothes because their habit is to simply wear the same clothes until they wear out, not even washing them. Each school graduate wears a special gown and hat on top of their clothes so it was important for them to be clean and presentable. The pastor has been running weekly bible studies for the tribe and each person who completed these was given a medal.
As I write, the Philippines is being battered by typhoons which frequently cause serious flooding and terrible disruption. But Nathan has just left Norway on his way to try and reach Mindoro Island via Manila, a two day journey. So please pray for the Philippines and for Nathan as he takes this arduous route, especially with planes and ferries not currently operating to Mindoro.
An elderly person being carried through flooded waters
A baby being caried to safety from the floods
On a more positive note, it is always encouraging for me to meet people whom the Lord is using powerfully to bring the gospel to very remote areas which other people avoid. Dr Lois Nell Joy Tica is one such person and I met her in the medical mission that Hosea mounted last spring. She takes a team to remote and dangerous areas where no one has previously preached the gospel. Her team carried out a mission in the mountainous areas on Mindanao island where no aid had previously reached. It is a Muslim island and there is ongoing warfare between the military and terrorists from the NPA, who control the area and even ISIS terrorists who have infiltrated there.
Security for the mission team was provided by both the police and the military but of course this is no guarantee against surprise terrorist attacks. One of the many issues on Mindanao is witchcraft, with the sick being brought to shamans for healing. People living in these remote areas are easy targets for both terrorist influence and witchcraft, both of which bring even more misery to the region. This drowning world needs more people like Dr Joy Tica to bring God's saving grace. She works for an organisation called the Health Education Medical Ministry.
As I have reported earlier, Mindoro Island is also a place where NPA terrorists rule some of the remote regions. Sadly there has been a recent resurgence of terrorist activity as young men have been recruited to the NPA, in spite of an earlier lull. These new recruits are often drawn from the remote areas and that is why our work is focused in these places, encompassing humanitarian and educational aid and gospel outreach, with the active cooperation of police and military security. We are constantly in combat with the forces of darkness. I am full of gratitude to those military leaders who recognize the life-changing power of the gospel. It is also very encouraging that state school leaders appreciate the importance of spiritual help and Hosea has been invited into many such schools.
A typhoon struck the island
A persons house is flooded
When I reflect upon our work I am in awe of what God has done, the favour He has shown to Hosea ministry and how he has raised up local people with such commitment whether on the mission field or elsewhere. And also you, our faithful supporters and intercessors, are a vital part of that team -- the work could not go forward without you, my dear friends.
Big blessings,
Anne
Mangyans had bravely formed a choir and even composed a song. We have now more than 40 adult students in the school, their ages varying from young to old. They told us that they were now able to vote for the first time in the elections. Earlier they had had to give their voting slip to others to fill in, without knowing what they wrote in them, because they could not read or write.
When the Mangyan students were singing their song, I was standing in the back of the church. Suddenly I noticed four small children hiding between benches. Our teacher said that they were our students, and she then went and asked why they were not among the other children. One of them explained with tears, that they were so hungry that they could not go to sing. I was so surprised to learn that they were already 6 year olds, even though they looked more like 2 year olds, skinny and bony small children. Nheng commented that this is due to malnutrition, which is the reason why all these tribespeople are so small: their continuous lack of food stunts their growth. We brought a 40 kg bag rice with us and also other foodstuff and fed them all after the meeting, thanks again to the donors! We made so much food that there was enough for evening meal as well.
Last spring Hosea organized a medical mission for the Mangyan tribe. We also left some medicines with the local Pastor, so the tribespeople could be given help later as well. The Pastor said that some Mangyans come even at night begging for help in their desperation. Also some people from other tribes turned up for medicine and were given some, for it is hard to turn desperate people away without help. Now we are in the process again of collecting funds for another medical mission, which should happen sometime next year.
While we were in the Mangyan village, I recognised that most of them were walking bare foot again. I wondered what had happened to all those sandals which had been donated for them a year earlier. The Pastor laughed and explained that the Mangyans have a peculiar walking style, they step heavily on their heels and that wears out the heels of the shoes very quickly. That means that they will need a new pair of sandals every year. One man had a good pair of sandals slung over his shoulders, so I went and asked him why he didn't use them. The man replied: “I don't want to use them as they would wear out. When they hang on my shoulders everyone can see that I have shoes.” So this man had still good shoes, while others had worn theirs out”¦ Now, who is the wise and where is the wisdom here?
We also distributed a bag full of clothes. Birgit and Ulla went to buy some more and as always the Mangyans put the new clothes on top of their old rags. They can't see any reason why the old clothes should be taken off, so they carry their whole wardrobe with them all the time. The same clothes are worn day and night and the extra clothing keeps them warm at night on the mountains. The price tags are also left on, so everyone can see they are new clothes.
Hosea's second fishing boat is now operating on the eastern side of Mindoro Island (Oriental Mindoro) where it is manned by our Mangyan pastor, thus serving the Mangyans also. There are more fish now on the Oriental side of the island because big Indonesian fishing trawlers have appeared close to the Occidental Mindoro shores (the western side of the island). Occidental Mindoro is facing the open ocean, so Indonesian factory ships come close to the shore and take in all fish, big and small, diminishing the fish population. Locals usually fish with spears, sparing spawning fish for reproduction. They understand the laws of the nature and know that spawn fish are needed to keep fish stocks -- you cannot empty the ocean of fish. Local small fishing boats can't drive away large foreign fishing vessels, so locals are deprived of their fishing livelihood.
The Hosea Filipino team want to send their heartfelt thanks to all the supporters and prayer warriors. They and also our students keep praying for you. They understand that it is because of you, your prayers and your donations, that they have this wonderful opportunity to get an education and thus a good start to their lives. It was really great to meet some of our very first students, the ones with whom we started this ministry in the Philippines. It was so wonderful to see the fruit of this work. Many parents are also saved as they attend our weekly Bible studies.
Great blessings from the islands,
ANNE
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