SULADS STORIES

MONTHLY REPORT FROM DAO MISSION SCHOOL

by Jun Cardente

November, 1996

A big challenge is placed before each of us waiting for the second coming of Christ.  We must render service to the Lord.  We are to proclaim the everlasting good news of salvation to all the world.

We are happy to say that we are now using our “Korean Church”.  We call it the Korean Church because much of the cost of construction was borne by Korean students at Mountain View College.  We tore down the old church so that we could use the materials from it to finish the Korean Church.  The church is still not finished but we now use it for our Sabbath services as well as midweek meetings.

On November 11, 1996, we called a meeting and told the villagers that we would be conducting a sanitary inspection in each house in the village.  In fact, the first inspection by our mission school students has already taken place.  That was really just a reminder.   The second inspection will be done by us—the student missionaries.  The third and final inspection will be done by the midwife assigned by the government along with government inspectors.  There is an award to be given by the midwife assigned here.  Items inspected include the comfort room, the vegetable garden, the herbal garden, beautification of their yards, etc.  We worked out this program because we believe that cleanliness is next to godliness.

In support of another government program, we assisted in a tree planting drive.  Last week, we distributed five plastic bags to each family.  These bags are for collecting seeds from trees.  We lectured the people about the problems of cutting and burning the trees in the forest.  We told them that no one is allowed to cut any trees inside the barangay. 

We called an emergency meeting of the barangay and presented the possibility of reviving the “adult education” program.  It was voted by the group to bring it back.  This program is for villagers over 18 years of age.  The group will meet once each week and was started in the middle of November.  

On Sabbath mornings, we, accompanied by our students go out and serenade the villagers.  On Tuesday and Thursday nights, we visit those who are no longer regular in attendance at the Sabbath services. 

We also have other activities such as teaching the regular school classes, gardening, caring for those who are ill in the village, and conducting worship in the barangay hall each morning and evening. 

We praise God for guiding us here in the mountain.  Our peace and safety is quite critical now because of the activity of the National Peoples Army (NPA is a communist organization).  We continue the work here in Dao in spite of the threats to our safety.  Perhaps these things are all signs of the nearness of the coming of Jesus.  Please pray for us here in Dao.