SULADS STORIES

FIRST REPORT FROM ANTWAL MISSION SCHOOL

By: Golly Policarpio

January, 1997

Antwal is located a eight kilometers from Tafal in the Neo Lake Cebu area of South Cotabato on  the island of Mindanao, Philippines. Tafal is the end of the road even for motorcycles so Antwal is quite isolated.  The village of Antwal is made up of T’boli people (an indigenous tribal group) and Dumagats (Lowlanders).  Prior to the coming of Adventists to the village of Antwal, the Baptist Church made an entrance and was successful in establishing a church there.  In spite of this, many T’bolis are supporting our programs and are willing to help.

The few Seventh-day Adventists in Antwal are thankful for the presence of the student missionaries in their village.  When we arrived in the village, we used a temporary structure for church services.  The small number of members were motivated to willingly work hard and they were able to finish building a new church by the first of January, 1997.   Because of our presence, the brethren are more active in our mid-week, vespers, and Sabbath Services in our new church building.  These brethren actually are the ones who are supporting our work and showing the spirit of cooperation and participation in all our plans. 

The school building where we had been having our classes collapsed Friday night, January 31.  We are busy now rebuilding our school.  We have forty-three students from grades one through six.  Almost half of these are of the T’boli tribe and are unlearned and therefore are all in grade one even though some of them are older and bigger children.

By February, 1997, the cottage for the living quarters of the student missionaries should be completed.  The missionaries, parents and relatives have worked patiently together to finish the dwelling.  The cottage is located in a very nice position near the school building. 

The students working with Sir Jun Pableo have started a banana plantation near the back of the school building.  The vegetable garden is under the direction of Sir Golly Policarpio.  They have planted a small garden and a nursery.  The combined efforts of the student missionaries are put into the planting of 100 mahogany seedlings near the school building.  More trees will be prepared and planted so that there will be an abundance of trees near the school. 

Our plans for the future at Antwal Mission School include gymnastics and singing.  We are currently practicing with the students in both areas and preparing to use these programs to solicit funds to rebuild the school building. 

The adjustment period of our partnership between the student missionaries is now over.  We are on good terms and expect that we will be able accomplish many things for God in the future at Antwal Mission