Participants:
Series Code: JFAN
Program Code: JFAN000092S
|
00:00 (bright inspirational music)
00:21 - Hello, and welcome to Jesus for Asia Now. 00:24 I'm Natalie Wood and my husband Jon is with me today 00:26 as we bring you to some new uncharted territory. 00:30 Hello, love. 00:31 - Hi, darling, how are you? 00:32 - I'm doing fine. 00:33 - Very good. 00:34 - I'm excited to see where we're going today. 00:36 I have been praying for this for a long time, yes. 00:39 - Okay, so where are we going? 00:42 - Okay, well, I have to describe a little bit about 00:44 the geography in that area because it's hard to wrap 00:47 your mind around that 00:48 like if you take United States it's one 00:52 piece of Earth 'cause you got Hawaii in Alaska, Yeah. 00:56 Right and then you take like South America, 00:58 it's one piece of Earth. 01:00 You know, even Thailand, India, most countries, Australia, 01:03 one piece of Earth, you take the Philippines. 01:07 It's like 7000 pieces of earth. 01:10 And then Indonesia is another 17,000 pieces of earth. 01:16 And you go and actually the Philippines and Indonesia, 01:19 Malaysia is all one, 01:21 and New Guinea. 01:24 I all the way down to Australia is one big bunch of islands. 01:29 And so, this where we're going today is, 01:33 the southern most tip of the Philippines. 01:37 - Okay. 01:38 - and it's actually islands out in the ocean, 01:41 on the way to Indonesia. 01:43 So it's like it this, this archipelago sweeps down 01:46 from the Philippines all the way down to Indonesia, 01:49 Australia and everything. 01:50 And so this is like, like, there's an arbitrary line 01:53 between these islands and Indonesia. 01:56 And it's called Tawi-Tawi. 01:58 - Tawi-Tawi, okay. 02:00 - And it's a group of several hundred islands, 02:01 like 300 Islands. 02:03 - Wow, Not all of them 02:05 are inhabited, but it's a vast region. 02:07 And I found out about this a couple years ago 02:11 and was impressed with the work that's going on there. 02:14 And with the need that's still there, the opportunities, 02:18 the doors that are being opened by a special group. 02:20 It's a Filipino group, missionary group called the SULADS. 02:26 - Okay, 02:27 Who are the SULADS, what do they do? 02:29 They are based from what I understand mainly out of, 02:33 Mountain View college, which is in Mindanao, the southern 02:36 most Big Island in the Philippines, and it's our evidence 02:39 college there in the center up in the in the mountains. 02:42 When I visited there, the President took me around he says 02:46 that on every Sabbath, 02:48 about 600 young people, 02:51 leave the campus and conduct Sabbath School, 02:55 church services in the surrounding mountains. 02:58 And there's this volunteer organization called the SULADS 03:01 now I can't tell you what SULADS stands for, 03:04 but it's an acronym. 03:05 - Okay. We'll probably 03:07 put it down here so people can see what 03:08 it stands for, but I don't remember it. 03:10 But anyway, it's a volunteer organization of volunteer young 03:13 people, they take a year out and they go volunteer and they 03:16 go up into the mountains, they go out to remote places, and 03:19 they just spread the word of God through teaching. 03:24 And this group has been working 03:26 in Tawi-Tawi for several years 03:30 and it's amazing what has taken place, 03:33 and what they've been able to accomplish. 03:35 So we've got some really cool videos that we're gonna be 03:38 showing you today. 03:39 And I think you'll feel transported, also. 03:43 - Yeah, so shall we show the first video? 03:46 - Yeah, absolutely. 03:47 - Okay. 03:50 (calm inspirational music) 04:01 - [Pastor Ranny] Tawi-Tawi is situated at the far end 04:06 of the tip of the Philippines, very close to Malaysia 04:11 and it is composed of three hundred islands, roughly, 04:17 some are inhabited, most are not. 04:21 These are small islets, 04:23 but then they span about 300 all over. 04:29 The people are relatively Muslims in religion. 04:32 There are now approximately a, 04:37 population of Christians 04:39 in the mainland, which is Bongao. 04:43 However, in the stretched out islands there are no other 04:49 religions or Christians that are able to enter the islands 04:52 except the Seventh Day Adventists. 04:55 (calm relaxing music) 05:04 We have about, 05:06 40, 05:08 volunteers called SULADS. 05:11 SULADS stands for Social-Economic Uplift Literacy and 05:15 Anthropological Developmental Services. 05:19 Their main work is to teach children, 05:23 but because this is a 05:25 Muslim area, we cannot openly to preach the gospel. 05:28 However the SULADS employ the use of IFL, 05:33 which is Integration of Faith and Learning. 05:35 That is where we are able, to spread the gospel, 05:39 through the stories and lessons from everyday life. 05:46 - [Translator] Ministry to the Muslims is quite different. 05:48 It's not preaching or public evangelism. 05:51 I am just a layman and I know we have to use a different 05:53 approach here and it's difficult. 06:00 - [Translator] Before the arrival of SULADS in Tawi-Tawi, 06:02 fighting was commonplace. 06:05 With people often shooting each other. 06:10 [Pastor Ranny] Tawi-Tawi is known to be a Notorious 06:15 province, where killings happen almost every single day. 06:21 And so everybody has a weapon. 06:23 Everybody has a gun. 06:24 At least one in every household. 06:27 This is the 06:29 characteristic of the people of Tawi-Tawi. 06:31 We especially the Tausugs. 06:34 They call their weapons their second wife. 06:37 (speaking in a foreign language) 06:44 - [Translator] When SULADS came in, 06:46 (speaking in a foreign language) 06:50 The inhabited islands gradually became peaceful. 06:54 They became peaceful because the SULADS were able to show 06:56 them the value of the life of each person. 07:00 (speaking in a foreign language) 07:03 (calm inspirational music) 07:08 (speaking in a foreign language) 07:13 We have plenty of children in this community. 07:16 The school where we used to send them is very far, 07:19 and it was very difficult for us to visit them. 07:22 It would cost 1000 pesos or $20 for gasoline to go there 07:27 and back which was very hard for our financial capability. 07:30 (speaking in a foreign language) 07:35 - [Translator] It was very hard for the children to go to 07:37 school before the SULADS were here, 07:39 because the nearest school was located on another island. 07:44 (speaking in a foreign language) 07:46 - Before they could reach the school. 07:48 They needed to go through areas with big waves, 07:51 because it can only be accessed 07:52 through a 10 minute boat ride. 07:54 (speaking in a foreign language) 07:58 - When the teacher would arrive. 08:00 While the boat was still a long way off, 08:02 you could see the children eagerly waiting on the shore. 08:05 They are so happy to have a teacher arrive. 08:09 (speaking in a foreign language) 08:13 - [Translator] Right now, by God's grace, 08:15 the fighting has ceased. 08:18 (speaking in a foreign language) 08:20 - [Translator] The people here say that the SULADS 08:22 are different, not only in teaching but also in attending 08:26 to the needs of the children. 08:28 (speaking in a foreign language) 08:32 We heard in their testimonies that because of the presence 08:35 of the SULADS, because of their teachings, 08:38 the island has been transformed by God's grace. 08:40 (speaking in a foreign language) 08:49 - [Translator] I always say that the presence of SULADS 08:51 teachers here has a huge impact on the community. 08:54 They are not only teaching, but they also care. 08:57 They take care of my people. 08:59 Even those who are sick. 09:01 (speaking in a foreign language) 09:02 - [Translator] We are very grateful for the SULADS, 09:05 the missionaries, 09:06 - [Translator] They made a lot of sacrifices just for us. 09:10 No words could express how much we are thankful for them. 09:13 - So it's our way of saying thank you. 09:16 We don't just treat them as teachers of our children here. 09:19 But also as part of our family. 09:22 We treat them as our brothers and sisters. 09:27 (bright upbeat music) 09:36 - So you can see how the SULADS have integrated 09:39 into the society and uplifted the society. 09:41 - Yeah, that's wonderful that they do the, 09:43 you know, the caring part. 09:45 - [Jon] Yes. 09:47 - That just opens doors and people see the difference, 09:51 because they care not because they have to. 09:52 - [Jon] Right. 09:53 - They care because they care. 09:55 - [Jon] Yes. 09:56 - And I've been watching this for many years and I see how 09:58 the progress from it, this is a dangerous place to be too. 10:02 Now they're accepted, they're loved. 10:06 They're considered part of the community. 10:08 And the kids are so excited to see them and have them there. 10:12 (Jon laughing) - Yeah, 10:13 that's really wonderful, 10:14 - And all those towns, you know, on stilts over the ocean. 10:18 - Yeah. 10:19 - It's like what an exotic location. 10:21 But there's some challenges that go along 10:23 with that kind of situation. 10:25 - Right, and I think the next video is 10:27 one of those challenges. 10:28 - Yes, definitely. 10:29 - Okay, let's play that now. 10:34 (Sea waves sound) 10:36 (engine roaring) 10:38 (speaking in a foreign language) 10:45 (sea waves sound) 10:53 (speaking in a foreign language) 11:56 (sea waves sound) 12:10 (sea waves sound) 13:39 (Jon sighs loudly) - Wow. 13:42 - They survived. 13:44 - Yeah. 13:44 - And they have good attitudes. 13:46 - Yeah. 13:47 - To live is Christ and to die is gain. 13:49 - Right. 13:50 - And it's good to learn to swim. 13:51 - Yeah, it's very important to learn to swim. 13:54 - Wow. 13:55 I've seen when we've gone to the Philippines 13:57 and we've ridden in the boats from island to island, 14:00 I've seen everybody making sure 14:01 everything's in those dry bags. 14:03 And it's like you can see why. 14:05 - Yeah, 14:06 - Because that was one of the ones that didn't 14:08 have the outriggers, a lot of them have outriggers, 14:10 which helps them to be stable in large waves. 14:12 But they still can capsize, - yes 14:14 stuff can break, the water's merciless sometimes. 14:17 - Yeah. 14:18 - Wow, floating for over three hours and, 14:20 - Yeah, so this is one of the challenges 14:25 that SULAD missionaries face in reaching, 14:28 just getting to their mission post. 14:30 - Right And of course, 14:31 being in an island, they have to bring in a lot of supplies. 14:34 So it's dependent on the shipping lines 14:36 or the building lines. 14:39 - Alright, so 14:40 Right and to go from island Island. 14:42 You have to use a boat. 14:43 - Yeah, so 14:44 - And previously, before the SULADS came, 14:46 the kids had to go across that open expanse, 14:50 to get to school. 14:51 And they were in the previous video, he's talking about 14:54 costing, you know, $20. 14:57 That's a lot of money, - For fuel, 14:58 - If you don't make much at all. 15:00 so bringing - right 15:01 the school to that island 15:04 was a huge blessing - right 15:05 for the local community. 15:07 - Right, wow. 15:08 Well, I know they experienced a lot of challenges 15:10 and our next video talks about some more of the challenges. 15:13 - Yes. Okay. 15:16 (calm relaxing music) 15:25 (speaking in a foreign language) 15:27 - [Translator] The challenges I see on this 15:28 island are different. 15:30 Every mission field has different struggles. 15:32 In urban areas, it is different 15:34 and here in the islands it is different. 15:37 One of the struggles we have here is the language, 15:39 because we are not knowledgeable in conversing 15:41 in Tagalog and Sambal. 15:44 (engine roaring) 15:47 (speaking in a foreign language) 15:50 - We didn't grow up here, 15:52 where we are surrounded by sea. 15:54 So one of the challenges is traveling. 15:56 It's far and you have to travel from island to island 15:59 and then ride a pump boat with all those waves. 16:02 (speaking in a foreign language) 16:05 There are huge in small waves that to get used to. 16:09 (speaking in a foreign language) 16:11 Here in this mission field rainwater is our, 16:14 It's what we call life, water. 16:16 (speaking in a foreign language) 16:18 Because there is no source of water here. 16:20 (speaking in a foreign language) 16:25 and the rain here is not consistent. 16:27 (speaking in a foreign language) 16:29 If there is no rain, then there's no water. 16:32 If there's no water then there's no bathing, 16:35 no water for cooking. 16:36 (speaking in a foreign language) 16:41 - The weather here is really hot. 16:43 And then the water here, we're experienced 16:45 taking a shower using two liters of water. 16:48 (speaking in a foreign language) 16:50 We see water as precious as gold. 16:54 (speaking in a foreign language) 16:56 Sometimes there is no rain for two weeks. 17:00 The last option is to buy water from a neighbor who sells. 17:04 But there are times when they run out of water too. 17:06 That's when we really depend on God. 17:09 (speaking in a foreign language) 17:14 - Sometimes our drinking water contains mosquito larva. 17:18 But since we don't have any choice, we just have to remove 17:21 the larva and drink the water and pray to God, 17:24 "Lord, please sustain our life here. 17:27 Don't allow us to get sick." 17:29 (speaking in a foreign language) 17:31 So water is the primary need here. 17:33 And the food which our Muslim Brothers give. 17:36 Our Tausug tribe brothers do their best to help us. 17:40 But the rain, it's solely from God. 17:43 our neighbors won't be able to provide that, 17:45 because they run out of water too. 17:48 (speaking in a foreign language) 17:49 - [Translator] When we checked our container, 17:50 the water was low. 17:52 doves often land on our roof. 17:55 (speaking in a foreign language) 17:59 and of course leave their feces. 18:01 (speaking in a foreign language) 18:03 Sometimes the rats play in the gutters. 18:05 So we're assuming that they will leave their waste also. 18:08 (speaking in a foreign language) 18:13 When I was at home I would just drink water, 18:15 without giving thanks to God. 18:18 Here we entirely depend on God and trust him, 18:21 (speaking in a foreign language) 18:25 Lord bless this water." 18:26 Every time we drink, we say that prayer. 18:29 "Lord, please bless this water." 18:31 It has become my habit to pray 18:33 and ask God to make the water safe. 18:36 It is nice to go through this experience and still have 18:39 a healthy body despite the unsafe water. 18:41 (speaking in a foreign language) 18:43 Put in God's hands through prayers, 18:45 even this has become a blessing. 18:48 (speaking in a foreign language) 18:52 - [Translator] As SULADS missionaries, we left our home 18:55 where we had a good life. 18:57 (speaking in a foreign language) 19:01 And we came here. 19:03 Because 19:05 the Word of God motivated us. 19:09 And because they have the right to the tree of life. 19:13 They have the right to go to heaven, 19:16 and to meet the one who created them, and saved them. 19:20 What motivates me is that I want them to see, 19:24 not only through the missionaries, and through our teaching, 19:27 but for them to see Jesus personally, when He comes. 19:31 (calm inspirational music) 19:40 - Yeah, that's those are some of the challenges. 19:43 - Yes. 19:44 - And the big one is the water. 19:46 I mean, that's really hard. 19:47 - Yeah. 19:49 - And for, I mean, it's one thing if you live in a cold 19:51 country, you don't take a bath very often, 19:52 but it's another thing when it's very warm and hot 19:56 and you can't take a bath, 19:57 you start to feel pretty yucky. 19:59 So as the hand sanitizer, 20:01 the hand the wipes to clean themselves. 20:04 - Wow. 20:05 - So is there, maybe we can, find out somebody that can look 20:09 into a desalination plan or something? 20:12 - Yeah. 20:14 - To give them fresh water there because that's really, 20:15 I mean, they could collect rainwater. 20:17 But if it doesn't rain, then they have nothing. 20:20 Yeah, that's a really good idea. 20:21 And I wonder if they drill a well in the middle 20:23 of the island, I guess some islands might work that way. 20:27 And some wouldn't, - Yeah, 20:28 but a desalination plant, 20:31 machine. 20:32 But a desalination. Yeah, that's a great idea. 20:35 - Yeah, we'll have to see what we can find out. 20:37 But it's definitely a need to pray for. 20:39 - Yes. Yes, for sure. 20:41 - Right. 20:42 So we have one more video and this is talking about 20:44 more on the spiritual side, 20:45 because what we were talking about before was mostly 20:48 education and the water situation and yes, 20:52 and the waves - Yes. 20:53 So let's learn a little bit about the spiritual side. 20:57 - Yes. 20:59 (calm music) 21:01 (speaking in a foreign language) 21:03 - [Translator] Because of the presence of SULADS, 21:04 because of their teachings, 21:05 these people are able to know about Isa Al Masih, 21:09 their name for Jesus. 21:10 Muslims are afraid of the judgment, 21:12 because there's no one to save them. 21:14 So when they learn about Isa Al Masih, 21:17 they say that He is the one they were searching for. 21:20 (speaking in a foreign language) 21:21 We've noticed that through word of mouth, 21:23 the news is reaching other islands about the SULADS. 21:26 So that now we already have a SULADS presence in a number 21:30 of islands because of the testimony of those who are 21:33 influenced by the SULADS. 21:35 - We were talking with the mayor of 21:38 one municipality, 21:40 a few days ago. 21:42 And she is even asking for more SULADS because 21:46 all other villages are asking for, for educators. 21:50 Unfortunately, we have none to give. 21:53 You know we can only do so much. 21:55 The work is so huge. 21:57 Because imagine if we can do all this, 22:00 even our whole lifetime. 22:03 (speaking in a foreign language) 22:04 That's why we don't want to stop this work, 22:07 because there are many people who are influenced by SULADS 22:10 to know about Isa Al Masih. 22:13 They are confident now to face God in the time of judgment. 22:16 Why? 22:17 Because they know Jesus, Isa Al Masih. 22:21 (calm inspirational music) 22:25 SULADS has no money. 22:28 In terms of stipend, we give a very very meager stipend. 22:34 It's only like, what $50 a month, that's all they get 22:40 For many a SULAD, they don't care. 22:43 How much they receive. 22:45 They don't care what living conditions they have. 22:48 All they care about, is advance 22:50 the work of God on this earth. 22:53 - We are very thankful for, 22:54 We are very thankful for SULADS, 22:56 because they came to our aid, 22:58 especially at the time when we had 23:00 a scarcity of teachers here. 23:02 (speaking in a foreign language) 23:05 Though they come from afar. 23:07 They came here and gave importance to us, 23:08 because they love us. 23:10 The people of Tawi-Tawi. 23:13 (calm inspirational music) 23:16 - [Pst. Ranny] Brother's and sisters, if you have the heart, 23:21 to reach the Muslim people, 23:25 come and help us. 23:27 (calm inspirational music) 23:40 So this is where, Jesus for Asia comes in. 23:45 Pastor Ranny has just last week sent me a request. 23:47 Can we please have 10 Bible workers? 23:51 And I was thinking that he would request for SULADS. 23:55 And I asked him, "Are you sure you need Bible workers?" 23:58 What about SULADS? 23:59 He says, "No we need pastors, we need Bible workers," 24:02 they can go in and take the influence that the SULADS 24:06 have developed, the goodwill and start to develop that 24:11 into groups of believers that can follow Jesus all the way. 24:16 - Wow. 24:18 Wow. - So 10 Bible workers 24:20 for over 300 Islands, 24:23 it's a drop in the bucket. 24:24 And he feels very overwhelmed by the need, 24:27 and the vastness of the territory. 24:29 And sometimes I feel like well, you know, 24:32 what is 10 gonna do among 300 Islands, 24:34 but when it really boils down to it, 24:37 is I wanna be part of that. 24:39 I wanna be a part, I know they're doing that work. 24:42 But I wanna be part of, what God is doing there. 24:44 - Right. I wanna 24:46 contribute my little bit and even if, 24:48 they win one soul to the kingdom, even if I get one 10th 24:52 of that jewel, you know, even a 10th of the jewel, 24:58 that represents a human life saved for eternity. 25:02 - Yeah, 25:03 - That's an eternal investment - Right. 25:05 That's an eternal gain. 25:06 - Right? 25:08 - So I really wanna be part of that. 25:09 - Yeah. 25:10 Well, and to see, you know that 25:14 that heart that the young people have, 25:16 where they don't really care, how much they're getting, 25:19 and some of the stories, they're barely surviving. 25:22 - Yes. 25:23 And on that little bit that they get, 25:25 but they just wanna see the gospel go, 25:28 - yes to everywhere it can go. 25:29 - Yeah, and you know, 25:31 10 doesn't seem like many, among 300 Islands, 25:34 but it's better than none. 25:36 And there are no Bible workers there now. 25:38 It's just the SULADS working, teaching and teaching about 25:41 Jesus and so we're just thankful that we can be 25:45 a part of this and lift up their hands so to speak, 25:48 - Amen give any little bit we can. 25:50 To help - Yeah, yes. 25:55 So how much does it cost? 25:57 How much is Pastor Ranny's estimate an 25:59 actual Bible worker to live there and work among the people. 26:03 - He's actually requesting $300. 26:05 But he says that's not a requirement. 26:07 That's just a request, because it's expensive to travel 26:11 between islands and any extra that they don't use 26:16 for their personal needs. 26:18 They invest in the local work, 26:20 and other people that have needs. 26:21 Maybe there's people that are very poor, 26:23 that may not be able to make it through the month, 26:25 or provide them food. 26:26 And so it's more like investment 26:29 in the total ministry in the name of, 26:31 So it's not just their stipend, 26:33 it's stipend and project funds, 26:35 travel funds, that kind of thing. 26:36 - Yes and so you know, I trust pastor Ranny very much, 26:40 and I know that they will use the money for for God's work 26:44 and of course, seeing the testimony of those SULADS. 26:47 We had one young SULAD up in Mindoro, 26:49 and he was the one that says, you know, 26:51 when we can't go down and get food, 26:54 I get really hungry and I just go to my hut 26:57 and I sleep off the hunger pangs. 26:58 - Yeah. It's like, 27:00 this is the mentality. 27:01 This is the heart that they have for the gospel. 27:04 And so, I feel good about, you know, it's a lot of money. 27:08 Right? But, 27:10 You know, well, it's a lot of money 27:12 compared to what we normally pay a Bible worker 27:14 like in India, they need a $90 a month, some of them make 27:18 more depending on their 27:21 - Location and travel requirements and stuff like that. 27:23 - The cost a living, but $300 a month seems like a lot, 27:27 but could I live on that, in America? 27:31 - No, - that puts it 27:32 into a different perspective. 27:33 - Right. 27:34 And so I praise God for these opportunities, 27:37 that we have to, while we're sleeping, they work. 27:40 - Right. 27:43 Well, if you would like to help make this history for 27:45 heaven, in Tawi-Tawi, you can contact us at Jesus4asia. 27:51 p o box 1221, 27:53 Collegedale, Tennessee 37315. 27:56 Call us at (423) 413-7321 28:00 Or visit our website, at Jesus4asia.org. 28:04 May God richly bless you until we see you next time 28:07 on Jesus for Asia Now. 28:09 (bright inspirational music) |
Revised 2020-07-08