Three years ago (almost to the day) I had the opportunity to visit Mindanao with the Christian Reformed World Relief Committee (CRWRC). I visited projects and met with people that we are supporting with our offering today.
While in Mindanao I visited two CRWRC initiatives that I consider to be hopeful. One was the relocation of houses from a flood prone area near a river to a flood protected area on higher ground. When I was there CRWRC had constructed 30 homes and planned to build 1,000 in total. As you can expect, the homes built near the river were built by people who had no other options and they were no more than wooden shacks with dirt floors. The new homes are simple but are sturdy and much safer from the flooding that regularly occurs.
I also visited with a group of village development workers who travel throughout the area helping communities assess their resources and plan for improvements. The work of moving poor communities forward is an important one, however, what struck me was the work they are doing to bring peace to the region. CRWRC has hired a mediator and he is bringing together a number of different groups in to try to bring peace on a small scale. In any given region he may be meeting with communist rebels, government agents, various tribes, Christians and Muslims.
Finally I had the honour of worshipping with the Christian Reformed church in Butuan, also on the north coast of Mindanao, like Cagayan D'Oro. This is a small church of perhaps 50 people who worship in a covered space. They have been through much already but continue to worship God and work to help their neighbours. While I was there they preached on Matthew 22:37-40 and particularly about living in community. They too are living extricably linked lives within their church and with their neighbours.
- John
While in Mindanao I visited two CRWRC initiatives that I consider to be hopeful. One was the relocation of houses from a flood prone area near a river to a flood protected area on higher ground. When I was there CRWRC had constructed 30 homes and planned to build 1,000 in total. As you can expect, the homes built near the river were built by people who had no other options and they were no more than wooden shacks with dirt floors. The new homes are simple but are sturdy and much safer from the flooding that regularly occurs.
I also visited with a group of village development workers who travel throughout the area helping communities assess their resources and plan for improvements. The work of moving poor communities forward is an important one, however, what struck me was the work they are doing to bring peace to the region. CRWRC has hired a mediator and he is bringing together a number of different groups in to try to bring peace on a small scale. In any given region he may be meeting with communist rebels, government agents, various tribes, Christians and Muslims.
Finally I had the honour of worshipping with the Christian Reformed church in Butuan, also on the north coast of Mindanao, like Cagayan D'Oro. This is a small church of perhaps 50 people who worship in a covered space. They have been through much already but continue to worship God and work to help their neighbours. While I was there they preached on Matthew 22:37-40 and particularly about living in community. They too are living extricably linked lives within their church and with their neighbours.
- John
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